Interactive Investor Review 2024

Interactive Investor (ii) is the UK’s biggest flat-fee-based investing platform, currently administering £59 billion in assets.

It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100.

It’s certainly one of my top choices as an investment platform in the UK, offering an impressive range of investment options, SIPPS and ISAs, a well-designed mobile APP, 24/7 customer support, and a thriving discussion forum.

To create this article, I’ve meticulously tested all of its specific features, evaluating its safety, product range, educational resources, customer service and more.

My goal is to help you decide whether or not it is the right platform for you based on expert, impartial advice.

Interactive Investor Review: Is it the best broker for your money?

Interactive Investor is the leading flat-fee investment platform in the UK, offering particular advantages for investors with portfolios over £30,000. It’s at that threshold that its flat-fee structure is more cost-effective than the percentage-based charges of other platforms. The platform’s fees are often lower than those of its major competitor, Hargreaves Lansdown, especially for Super Investor plan members.

In my view, it’s best suited for self-directed investors who prefer to manage their investments fairly actively. It’s also particularly appealing for those interested in exploring a wider range of investment options beyond the usual unit trusts, investment trusts, and ETFs. I also see it as an excellent choice for beginner investors thanks to its user-friendly and well-designed trading platforms.

It’s probably not the right choice if you’re investing less than £30,000, or if your main focus is on unit trust funds. Additionally, it lacks sophisticated charting and analytic tools that more experienced investors might seek. There is also a monthly account fee to consider, which could be a drawback for some.

Interactive Investor Special Offers

Current special offers include:

Offer	Details	Conditions
ii SIPP Cashback	Get between £100 and £2,000 cashback	Open by 31 August 2024, Minimum £10k account value, Terms apply	View offer
ii ISA or Trading Account Free Trades	Get £50 worth of free trades	Open by 31 August 2024, Terms apply	View offer
Referral Reward	Get a £200 reward when you recommend ii to a friend		View offer
Friends and Family Subscription	Give up to five people a free subscription for just £5/month extra		View offer

Who is Interactive Investor?

Launched in 1995, Interactive Investor is an award-winning online investment service. With 400,000 customers, it is one of the most engaged investor communities in the UK.

Interactive Investor was founded by Sherry Coutu and funded by angel investors Richard Caruso and John Cooper and the venture capital company Arts Alliance.

Until its purchase in 2022 by Abrdn, Interactive Investor was a private limited company majority-owned by funds advised by J.C. Flowers & Co, a leading private equity firm. O, Richard Wilson, continues to lead the business while retaining its brand and online infrastructure.

Interactive Investor is located in the UK and is a privately owned limited liability company (limited liability company called interactive investor Services Ltd) with no debt and net assets over £100 million.

How Does Interactive Investor Work?

Here’s how Interactive Investor works:

1. Setting Up An Account: The company offers several types of accounts, including Stocks and Shares ISAs, Trading Accounts, Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), Junior ISAs, and Cash Savings. The choice of account type will depend on your specific investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

2. Deposit Funds: After setting up your account, you’ll deposit funds. Interactive Investor accommodates different methods of depositing funds, such as bank transfers or debit card payments.

3. Choosing Your Investments: Interactive Investor provides access to various investment options, including shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs, bonds and gilts, IPOs, and international investing options.

4. Trading: You can buy and sell your chosen investments through the platform. Interactive Investor operates a flat-fee model, meaning you pay a set fee each month, which can make it a cost-effective choice for those with larger portfolios. This monthly fee includes free trades, with additional trades charged at a fixed rate.

5. Monitoring and Adjusting Your Portfolio: You can track your portfolio’s performance, make adjustments as needed, and use research tools to discover new investment opportunities.

6. Expert Guidance and Learning Resources: To assist your decision-making process, Interactive Investor offers expert investment ideas, quarterly investment review, and learning resources in their Knowledge Centre.

7. Withdrawals: You can withdraw money from your account at any time, although certain tax wrappers like the SIPP and ISA restrict you from withdrawing without incurring penalties.

What Can You Invest in with Interactive Investor?

Interactive Investor has one of the widest ranges of investment options of any provider we’ve tested. Their offering is as follows:

Shares

Interactive Investor provides access to more than 40 international stock exchanges, including the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and the NASDAQ. 

You can trade shares from companies worldwide, from the biggest blue-chip stocks to smaller, emerging companies.

Funds

Interactive Investor offers access to over 3,000 funds, including open-ended investment companies (OEICs), unit trusts, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

You can invest in funds from leading fund managers such as Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity, as well as a range of smaller providers.

Investment Trusts

Interactive Investor provides access to over 600 investment trusts, including well-known names such as Scottish Mortgage and Alliance Trust. 

Bonds & Gilts

Interactive Investor offers access to various bonds, including government, corporate, and high-yield bonds. You can also invest in bond funds and ETFs.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

ETFs are similar to mutual funds in that they offer investors exposure to a broad range of assets but have some distinct advantages. ETFs generally have lower fees and are more tax-efficient than mutual funds. They also trade like stocks, meaning investors can buy and sell them daily at market-determined prices. 

With Interactive Investor, you can access over 1000 ETFs to invest in.

Leveraged Trading

Interactive Investor offers various leveraged trading options, including Spread Betting (also known as Spread Trading on the platform), Contracts for Difference (CFDs), Options, Commodities, and FX Trading.

Interactive Investor Account Types

Interactive Investor Trading Account

Interactive Investor’s Trading Account is an award-winning investment account that offers low flat fees and provides access to over 40,000 UK and global stocks, funds, trusts, ETFs, and other investment options. By our analysis, it’s one of the most competitively priced share dealing accounts in the market.

You can trade in Stocks & Shares, ETFs (Share ETFs and Index ETFs), Investment Trusts, Investment Funds, Bonds & Gilts, Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), Leveraged Trading, Spread Betting (called Spread Trading on the platform), Contracts for Difference (CFDs), Options, Commodities, and FX Trading.

ii offers two popular subscription plans, an Essentials plan for those investing up to £30,000 and an Investor plan for those with £30,000+.

Interactive Investor Joint Trading Account

A Joint Trading Account from Interactive Investor provides all the benefits of their Trading Account with shared ownership, allowing couples to optimise their Capital Gains Tax allowance. It offers simplified portfolio management, easy account access for both account holders and access to the full range of investment options.

Interactive Investor ISA

A stocks and shares ISA is a tax-efficient investment account in the UK that allows individuals to invest in a range of assets, including stocks, shares, bonds, and funds, without paying income tax or capital gains tax on the profits. You can invest up to £20,000 each tax year (as of 2023-24), and any returns you make on your investments are free from income tax and capital gains tax.

Interactive Investor’s ISA account allows you to invest in a wide range of assets, including shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs, etc. You can invest in individual companies or diversify your portfolio with various assets.

Open an account in about 10 minutes, download the excellent Interactive Investor APP, and you can get started. There’s no minimum contribution needed, although you’ll need to put in at least £25 to take advantage of their free regular investment service.

Interactive Investor ISA Fees

Interactive Investor charges a flat fee of £9.99 per month, which includes one free trade per month. 
Any additional trades cost £7.99 each. There are no additional account opening, exit, or annual management fees.

Interactive Investor Junior ISA

The Interactive Investor Junior ISA is a tax-efficient investment account designed for parents or guardians to save and invest for their child’s future.

This account allows contributions up to £9,000 per year, and anyone can pay into the account once opened by the parent or guardian. There is no minimum contribution to start, but customers can take advantage of Interactive Investor’s free regular investing service by setting up a direct debit for £25 per month.

After the age of 18, the child gains control over the account and can withdraw or convert it to an adult ISA.

The account offers a range of investment options, including shares, funds, bonds, investment trusts, and ETFs. Interactive Investor charges a flat fee subscription plan of £9.99 per month for their Investor plan, which includes one free trade per month, or £19.99 per month for their Super Investor plan, which offers lower trading fees and two free trades per month.

Joint trading accounts mean you’ll each have a private view of any personal accounts, such as your ISA or SIPP.

Interactive Investor SIPP

A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is a tax-efficient pension wrapper you can invest in.

ii’s SIPP is ‘Which Recommended’, offering a low flat fee as opposed to the percentage fee favoured by many competitors. As a new customer, your Pension Builder Plan will cost you £12.99 monthly.

Other Interactive Investor Products

Interactive Investor Company Account Review

The Company Account offered by Interactive Investor (II) allows UK-limited companies to trade in a wide range of investments, including UK and international equities, funds, ETFs, and investment trusts.

It can be managed online or over the phone, with up to four nominated individuals authorized to place trades on behalf of the company.

Some benefits of a Company Account include the ability to pay salaries in connection with pension contributions, flexibility in accessing certain asset classes, and the opportunity to claim back expenses, such as subscription fees, against tax.

To open a Company Account, complete an application form, ensuring that all sections are filled out. Directors or Beneficial Owners with 25% or more share capital must sign specific sections. There is an additional monthly charge of £30 for maintaining Company Accounts. If trading US-incorporated stocks, a W-8BEN-E form is required.

Interactive Investor Pension Trading Account Review

The Pension Trading Account was offered by Interactive Investor (II) allowed customers to manage investments within a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) or Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) with another pension provider on the II platform.

However, since early 2023, II no longer offers new Pension Trading Accounts. Existing members of the Pension Trading Account can explore their options through the provided resources.

Interactive Investor Trading Account Review

Interactive Investor offers an impressive selection of over 40,000 global shares, ETFs, and funds, covering various regions and trading on 17 exchanges with 9 currencies. In my view, this is everything an average investor might need.

One standout feature of the Interactive Investor Trading account is the consolidated share dealing account, where all shares are stored. This means you have control over when currency conversions occur, reducing currency exchange costs and even enabling currency hedging.

A notable aspect to mention is that if you plan to purchase US-listed shares, you’ll need to complete a simple W-8 Form to comply with US regulations. The process is straightforward, and if you have a personal account, you can easily complete the form digitally on the investment platform.

When it comes to pricing, Interactive Investor’s share dealing account is extremely competitive. Their subscription packages are designed to cater to different investment sizes. Starting at just £4.99 per month for accounts under £30,000 and £9.99 for larger accounts, I see their pricing structure as one of the best in the market.

Interactive Investor Free Research Account

It’s a shame ii have stopped offering their research account. This was a hugely valuable tool for investors, providing access to various features that helped them track the performance of funds, shares, and trusts of interest. Unfortunately, applications for this account are no longer being accepted.

Interactive Investor Expert Picks

Interactive Investor Quick Start Funds

Quick-start Funds are a selection of six low-cost funds that provide a simple starting point for investing. These funds have been specially chosen by investment experts and are designed to provide investors with a diversified portfolio across a wide range of industries.

Quick-start Funds are a good option for those new to investing or those who want to start with a small investment amount. These funds are suitable for investors with a range of risk appetites, from lower risk to higher risk, and they are available in both passive and active/sustainable options.

Three of these funds adopt an active management approach and the other three are passively managed. The active funds are managed by Columbia Threadneedle and include CT Sustainable Universal MAP Cautious, CT Sustainable Universal MAP Balanced, and CT Sustainable Universal MAP Growth. They are aimed at responsible investing by avoiding harmful or unsustainable practices and focusing on companies that positively impact the world.

Vanguard manages the passively managed funds and include Vanguard LifeStrategy® 20% Equity Fund, Vanguard LifeStrategy® 60% Equity Fund, and Vanguard LifeStrategy® 80% Equity Fund. These funds aim to replicate the performance of a stock-market index.

Quick-start Funds have low ongoing charges, making them a good value-for-money investment option. For every £1,000 invested, only a small percentage goes towards management costs.

Fund Name	Management Style	Risk Level	Equity Exposure	Key Features
Vanguard LifeStrategy® 20% Equity	Passive	Conservative/Low Risk	20% shares, 80% bonds	Low-cost, wide market access
Vanguard LifeStrategy® 60% Equity	Passive	Medium Risk	60% shares, 40% bonds	Low-cost, wide market access
Vanguard LifeStrategy® 80% Equity	Passive	High Risk	80% shares, 20% bonds	Low-cost, wide market access
CT Sustainable Universal MAP Cautious	Active	Conservative/Low Risk	20%-60% shares (typically 30%-50%)	Focuses on sustainable investing
CT Sustainable Universal MAP Balanced	Active	Medium Risk	30%-70% shares (typically 40%-60%)	Focuses on sustainable investing
CT Sustainable Universal MAP Growth	Active	High Risk	40%-80% shares (typically 50%-70%)	Focuses on sustainable investing

ii Super 60

The ii Super 60 investments are a curated list of 60 investment choices, compiled by the in-house investment experts at Interactive Investor. The list is created with the primary objective of helping investors make investment decisions more confidently, providing them with a broad spectrum of high-quality choices across different asset classes and investment strategies.

These investments encompass a diverse range of funds, trusts, and ETFs, carefully chosen on merit, without bias or commercial incentives. The selection process involves rigorous assessment of each potential investment’s performance, quality, and suitability.

The comprehensive and regularly updated list covers various sectors, regions, and risk profiles, from active to passive strategies. It’s categorized into different asset classes such as equities, fixed income, property, and more. Furthermore, it’s also sorted by investment style, such as low-cost, income, smaller companies, enabling investors to refine their choices based on their unique investment goals and risk tolerance.

Interactive Investor’s team of investment analysts and their external research partner, Morningstar, closely monitor and analyse the funds included in the Super 60. They conduct regular reviews and updates quarterly, ensuring the addition or removal of funds based on performance and suitability.

Sustainable and Ethical Investing at ii

Interactive Investor (ii) offers a range of sustainable investment options that are aligned with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.

Interactive Investor uses an ACE framework to categorize the sustainable approach of funds on its platform.

ACE stands for Avoids, Considers and Embraces:

Avoids – These funds exclude or screen out companies, sectors or practices that do not meet their ethical standards. For example, funds that avoid tobacco, weapons or fossil fuels.

Considers – These funds use environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria when selecting investments. They actively consider ESG risks and opportunities as part of the investment analysis process.

Embraces – These funds go a step further to focus their investments on companies that deliver positive social or environmental outcomes. For example, funds investing in renewable energy or healthcare innovations.

Sustainable Investments Long List

Interactive Investor has created a “Sustainable Investments Long List” of over 200 funds, investment trusts and ETFs that invest sustainably in some form. This long list was developed in collaboration with SRI Services, an independent sustainable investment research firm.

The long list aims to provide a comprehensive menu of sustainable investment options across various asset classes like equities, bonds and property. The objective is to cover a diverse range of investment approaches from ethical screening to thematic environmental funds.

The long list classifications from Morningstar provide further insight into the precise sustainable style of each fund. This helps investors align their fund selection to their values.

From this long list, Interactive Investor’s investment analysts have hand-picked the “ACE 40”. This is a rated shortlist of 40 high quality sustainable funds and trusts to provide investors a filtered selection of sustainable investing options.

ii ACE 40

The ACE 40 by Interactive Investor (ii) is a curated list of what ii believes to be the 40 best sustainable funds, investment trusts, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The selections are considered high-quality companies from a variety of sectors and regions. They are chosen not only for their potential for strong financial performance but also for their genuinely sustainable practices.

The ACE 40 is designed to suit all investors and aims to offer a broad range of investment options without any “greenwashing” – a term for misleading information about a company’s environmental credentials.

The ACE 40 list includes global equities and fixed-income options sorted into different investment categories. These categories aim to suit your type of investor, from low cost (for those looking to control their spending) to smaller company and adventurous (for investors willing to take higher risks).

Benefits of using ACE 40:

1. Simplifies the process of sustainable investing, making it easier for individuals to invest in a manner aligned with their ethical and environmental values.
2. Offers a high-quality, diversified range of sustainable investment options.
3. A transparent and straightforward approach to selecting and categorising funds.
4. Helps in building balanced, sustainable portfolios.

ii Model Portfolios

Interactive Investor used to offers five model portfolios that were selected and managed by their independent research partner, Morningstar, and reviewed by in-house investment experts. The portfolios were designed to make investment selections easier for investors by offering growth or income options, with a choice of actively managed investments or low-cost tracker funds.

However, as of November 2023 this feature has been discontinued.

How Safe are my Investments With Interactive Investor?

Interactive Investor adheres to strict financial standards and practices and offers a safe environment for investments.

Interactive Investors Security Measures:

• Funds Segregation – Interactive Investor treats the money you invest as “client money,” meaning it is deposited in a separate account to ensure that it never enters the platform’s bank account, enhancing fund protection.
• Two-Factor Authentication – To add an extra layer of security, Interactive Investor requires users to enter a code sent to their mobile device or email in addition to their password, thereby preventing unauthorized access to your account.
• Advanced Encryption – Interactive Investor uses advanced encryption algorithms to safeguard customer data, including personal information and account details. This ensures that even if hackers intercept your data, they cannot decipher it.
• Compensation – As a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Interactive Investor provides up to £85,000 per person per institution in compensation in the event of a loss of funds due to bank failure or liquidation. This protects your investment against unforeseen events, providing added peace of mind.

Interactive Investor Fees & Charges Review

Interactive Investor works on a subscription model, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re choosing an ISA, SIPP or regular trading account; you’ll still need to choose a plan.

Unlike many investment platforms, which bolt on transaction fees, custody fees, inactivity fees, and more, ii focusses on a single, standard flat fee. That said, there are certain costs with making trades beyond what your account plan offers.

All the ii plans allow you to invest as little as £25 a month using their free regular investing service, which means you can avoid trading fees altogether.

While the monthly fee can impact the overall amount you have available to invest, at a certain threshold

Plan	Investor Essentials	Investor	Super Investor	Pension Builder*
Monthly subscription	£4.99	£9.99	£19.99	£12.99
Stocks and Shares ISA	✓	✓	✓
Trading Account	✓	✓	✓
Junior ISA	✓	✓
SIPP	+£10 per month inc. VAT	+£10 per month inc. VAT	✓
Friends and Family	+£5 per month	+£5 per month	✓	+£5 per month
Platform services**	✓	✓	✓	✓
Free monthly trade***	✓ x 1	✓ x 2
Free regular investing	✓	✓	✓	✓
UK shares and funds, US shares	£5.99	£5.99	£3.99	£5.99
Other international shares	£19.99	£19.99	£5.99	£19.99
Dividend reinvestment	£0.99	£0.99	£0.99	£0.99
What You Get
Exclusive seminars and events			✓
Independent editorial and recommendations	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mobile and web access, with phone support	✓	✓	✓	✓
Access over 40,000 global investments	✓	✓	✓	✓
Multi-currency account	✓	✓	✓	✓

ii Custody & Inactivity Fees

Custody fees: Interactive Investor charges custody fees only for its SIPPs and ISAs. The custody fee is £10 per year for the Investor Essentials plan, £5 per year for the Investor plan, or £2 per year for the Super Investor plan.

Inactivity fees: Interactive Investor charges inactivity fees for its SIPPs and ISAs. The inactivity fee is £10 per month if your account balance is less than £2,000 and you have not made any trades in the previous 12 months.

ii Sipp Fees

• Monthly account fee: £12.99 per month for the Pension Builder plan, or £10 per month for the Investor or Super Investor plans.
• Trading fees: £5.99 per trade for stocks and ETFs.
• Fund dealing fees: £1.50 per fund trade.
• Custody fees: £20 per year for the Pension Builder plan, or £10 per year for the Investor or Super Investor plans.
• Inactivity fees: £10 per month if your account balance is less than £2,000 and you have not made any trades in the previous 12 months.

Interactive Investor also offers a number of discounts on fees for certain types of investors. For example, students, 18-24 year olds, and over 60s can get a 50% discount on the monthly account fee.

ii ISA Fees

Account Type	Plan	Monthly Account Fee	Trading Fee	Fund Dealing Fee	Custody Fee	Inactivity Fee
Stocks and Shares ISA	Investor Essentials	£4.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£20/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months
Stocks and Shares ISA	Investor	£9.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£10/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months
Stocks and Shares ISA	Super Investor	£19.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£10/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months
Junior ISA	Investor Essentials	£4.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£0/year	No inactivity fees
Junior ISA	Investor	£9.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£0/year	No inactivity fees
Junior ISA	Super Investor	£19.99/month	£5.99/trade	£1.50/fund trade	£0/year	No inactivity fees
Cash ISA	Investor Essentials	£4.99/month	No trading fees	£1.50/fund trade	£20/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months
Cash ISA	Investor	£9.99/month	No trading fees	£1.50/fund trade	£10/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months
Cash ISA	Super Investor	£19.99/month	No trading fees	£1.50/fund trade	£10/year	£10/month if account < £2,000 and inactive for 12 months

Interactive Investor Deposits and Withdrawals

Deposit Options

Interactive Investor allows users to deposit funds into their account using different methods, including:

• Bank Transfer – Users can deposit funds into their Interactive Investor account by transferring money from their bank account. The funds should be available in your account by the end of the next working day.
• Debit Card – Users can deposit funds instantly using their debit card. However, a fee of 1.5% of the deposit amount applies.
• Direct Debit – Users can set up a direct debit to fund their Interactive Investor account regularly. This method can take up to 5 business days to process.
  Cheque – Although it is far from the easiest way to add money to your account, you can make a cheque deposit by posting it to Interactive Investor Services Ltd, 2nd floor, One Embankment, Neville Street, Leeds, LS1 4DW.

Withdrawal Options

Interactive Investor only offers bank transfer withdrawal, with a timescale being the next working day if you withdraw before 2 PM.

When selling shares, you cannot withdraw the cash until after the trade has settled.

Interactive Investor Platform & APP Review

ii app

The Interactive Investor app has been rated 4.4 stars out of 5 on the Apple App Store, with over 9.3K ratings, and has been downloaded over 50K times on Google Play, with 1.94K reviews.

The app is perfectly adequate for basic portfolio management, with features such as trading, orders, funding, quick quotes, newsfeed, watchlist, and market overview. It lacks the more advanced features of specialist trading apps like Etoro or IG.

The app also provides a secure Face and Touch ID login, protecting your personal information and trades.

Web Trading Platform

ii’s web trading platform is well-designed and does everything you need to manage your investments. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of as fully-fledged trading platform such as eToro, but for managing an ISA or SIPP it’s excellent.

You can set alerts and notifications and then receive a text on your phone or by email. The search functionality works well if you’re looking for a particular ticker or company name.

The only downside here is limited customisation options for charts or the workspace itself, but it’s easy enough to do this on a third-party tool like Trading View if that’s your interest.

Interactive Investor Education: Tools and Resources Review

Interactive Investor offers a comprehensive range of educational resources to help investors of all levels enhance their knowledge and skills. These resources are designed to be accessible and easily understood, making them ideal for beginners and more experienced investors.

Knowledge Centre – The Knowledge Centre is a hub of information on a wide range of investment topics, including investing in shares, funds, and other asset classes, as well as broader topics such as retirement planning and tax-efficient investing. It includes a range of guides and tutorials and a glossary of investment terms to help investors get to grips with key concepts and terminology.

Videos and Podcasts – For those who prefer to learn at their own pace, Interactive Investor offers a range of videos and podcasts. These cover a range of investment topics and are presented by industry experts, making them a great way to stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in the investing world.

Fund Finder Series – The Fund Finder tools allow users to search for funds based on various criteria, including investment style, fund manager, and performance history. Users can also compare different funds, making it easy to see how they stack against each other.

One particularly useful feature of the Fund Finder tools is the ability to filter funds based on specific criteria, such as fees, minimum investment amount, and geographic focus. This makes it easy to find funds that meet your specific needs and investment goals.

Blog – Interactive Investor offers a range of articles and news updates to keep users informed about the latest market developments. These articles are written by a team of experienced journalists and cover various topics, from company news to macroeconomic trends.

Interactive Investor Research

One of the key strengths of Interactive Investor is its research and analysis tools, which provide valuable insights for traders looking to make informed investment decisions. These tools help investors understand market trends and identify opportunities for profitable trades.

Interactive Investor News and Analysis Service

The company’s news and analysis service is one of the most helpful research tools available to Interactive Investor users. This service provides real-time updates on market trends, economic events, and company news, allowing traders to stay up-to-date on the latest developments that may impact their investments. 

The news service is backed by expert analysts who provide insightful commentary and analysis on market trends and investment opportunities.

Interactive Investor Technical Analysis

The technical analysis section of Interactive Investor’s website includes charts, indicators, and other tools that can be used to analyse market trends and identify potential trading opportunities. The charts allow users to view price movements for specific securities over different periods and to compare multiple securities on the same chart. 

The indicators can help users identify key market trends, such as support and resistance levels, and provide insights into potential buy or sell signals.

One of the most useful technical analysis tools provided by Interactive Investor is the Relative Strength Index (RSI). 

The RSI is a momentum oscillator that can help traders identify potential overbought or oversold conditions in the market. Traders can use the RSI to identify potential buy or sell signals and help determine a trend’s strength.

Another helpful tool Interactive Investor provides is the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator. The MACD is a trend-following momentum indicator that can help traders identify potential trend reversals. It can also be used to confirm a trend’s strength and help traders identify potential buy or sell signals.

Opening an account with Interactive Investor

Opening an account with Interactive Investor is a straightforward process that can be completed entirely online. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Visit Interactive Investor’s website – and click the “Sign Up” button at the top right of the homepage.
2. Select an account type – Interactive Investor offers a range of accounts, including Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account (GIA), Junior ISA, and Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Choose the account type that best suits your needs.
3. Fill in your personal information – such as your name, date of birth, and contact details.
4. Provide proof of identity and address – This can be done by uploading a copy of your passport or driver’s license and a recent utility bill or bank statement.
5. Fund your account – Interactive Investor offers a range of payment options, including bank transfer, debit card, and credit card.
6. Start trading

Customer Service on Interactive Investor

Interactive Investor is known for providing high-quality customer service to its clients. Here’s an assessment of the different customer service options available on the platform:

1. New Customer Hub and Common Questions – Interactive Investors offers a user-friendly hub dedicated to answering the most common questions, with a dedicated space for new customers.
2. Message Support – For non-urgent enquiries, you can contact Interactive Investor directly via secure message.
3. Phone Support – Interactive Investor offers phone support to its clients, which can be helpful for more complex issues or for traders who prefer to speak directly with a customer service representative. Phone support is available Monday to Friday from 7:45 AM to 5:30 PM. 
4. Social Media – Interactive Investor is active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Traders can use these channels to ask questions or get updates on the latest news and market events.

Interactive Investor Customer Reviews

Interactive Investor has received 22,168 reviews on Trustpilot, earning an “Excellent” rating with a TrustScore of 4.7 out of 5. This reflects a very customer satisfaction and people’s positive experiences with the platform.

Positive reviews speak of Interactive Investor’s customer service representatives as being ‘helpful’, ‘patient’, ‘courteous’, and ‘professional’, guiding customers through technical difficulties and making account management easy and straightforward.

However, 7% of Trustpilot users logged one-star reviews, highlighting several negative issues. These include poor software changes, the difficult-to-use new app, slow processing, poor customer service, and a clunky new website with poor design.

Despite a few negative reviews, Interactive Investor has received an overwhelmingly positive reputation on Trustpilot, with customers endorsing its credibility, reliability, authenticity, and trustworthiness as a financial investment platform.

Is Interactive Investor better than Hargreaves Lansdown: What are the differences?

The key difference between Interactive Investor is the way they charge and how much they charge.

Interactive Investor has a simple pricing structure with a flat fee of £9.99 per month for their Investor Plan.

On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown has a more complex pricing structure that varies depending on the amount invested and the types of investments made. They charge a platform fee of 0.45% per year on the value of investments up to £250,000, dropping to 0.25% on amounts above this level. HL are known for its outstanding research and educational resources, offering free guides, research reports, and educational tools like retirement calculators and portfolio planners.

In summary, Interactive Investor is more cost-effective for larger portfolios and ideal for long-term UK-based investors who value customisation, while Hargreaves Lansdown is more suitable for those with smaller portfolios who want to learn more about trading and have access to extensive research and educational resources. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your individual investment goals and preferences.

Read our full article on Hargreaves Lansdown vs Interactive Investor

Interactive Investor vs eToro

These platforms are easy to compare because they are very different offerings. eToro is the one to choose if you want social or copy trading: it really excels at that. Their commission-free structure also makes it very appealing to regular traders.

Interactive Investor is the one to choose if you want to invest through a tax wrapper like an ISA or SIPP. If you’re making a handful of judicious investments each month rather than the fast-moving activity of actual trading, ii is an ideal choice.

Interactive Investor vs Fidelity

Choosing between Interactive Investor and Fidelity depends largely on the size of your portfolio and your investment strategy.

Interactive Investor’s flat fee structure tends to be more cost-effective for investors with larger portfolios. Therefore, if you have significant investment capital and you’re planning to make substantial trades regularly, Interactive Investor might be a better fit for you. Their pricing structure rewards those who trade frequently or hold larger sums, due to the flat fee not increasing as your portfolio grows.

Fidelity, however, charges based on a percentage of assets under management, making it a more affordable option for those with smaller portfolios. If you are a beginner investor or have a smaller amount to invest, Fidelity might be the more suitable platform for you. Its robust educational resources can also be very beneficial to those who are new to investing and require additional support. Additionally, Fidelity is known for its strong retirement planning services, making it an excellent choice for investors focusing on long-term retirement savings.

Interactive Investor Review: Summary

Interactive Investor is one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, with over 400,000 customers. It offers a comprehensive range of accounts, including ISAs, SIPPs, and trading accounts. The platform’s transparent flat-fee pricing model starts from £4.99/month, making it a potential cost-saving option for investors with larger portfolios.

Interactive Investor offers access to over 40,000 funds, ETFs, shares, and trusts, catering to a wide variety of investment styles. Key account types include the Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA, trading account, and company account, each with distinct tax and investment benefits.

The platform also provides a variety of tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions, such as Quick Start funds, Super 60, and comprehensive research and educational materials. The Interactive Investor mobile app provides convenience for basic portfolio management, although it may lack some advanced trading features.

Security is a top priority at Interactive Investor, with measures in place to protect customer assets, such as encryption, fund segregation, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Assets are also protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000.

Customer support is rated highly and is available through various channels, such as phone, email, social media, and an online help hub.

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