Our bottom line
Interactive Investor’s share dealing platform is straightforward and uncomplicated, which means it could be a good choice for both the newbie and the more seasoned investor. The platform provides access to a wealth of investment choices, including UK and International shares, funds, investment trusts and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Interactive Investor will even alert you to the latest IPOs (initial public offerings) as they come to the market.
One of the platform’s biggest attractions has to be its pricing structure, which ditches the percentage-based portfolio management fee model that most other brokers use in favour a monthly subscription plan. For long-term investors this could prove to be very cost effective, especially as the value of your portfolio (hopefully!) grows. Investing carries a risk of loss of capital.
With Interactive Investor’s Share Dealing account, you can choose between three different monthly subscription plans starting at £9.99 per month. The plan you pick ultimately determines how much your trading fees will cost.
Additional charges may apply to trading UK shares, funds (unit trusts and OEICs), bonds, gilts and exchange traded products, US shares or other international shares if the value of trade exceeds a threshold.
Top features of Interactive Investor’s share dealing account
If you’re new to investing, Interactive Investor’s Quick Start Funds feature, offers you a way to start investing using low-cost investment funds that have been pre-selected by their experts. It’s also worth checking out the ii Super 60 investments feature which provides an easy way to screen across a range of funds, investment trusts and ETFs that have been short-listed by Interactive Investor’s impartial Investment Selection Committee. Other useful features include price alerts, watch list creation and a news feed option.
Keep in mind these features are not a substitute to seeking out independent financial advice if you are ever unsure about the suitability of an investment for your own circumstances.
Interactive Investor’s platform
I really like Interactive Investor’s portfolio page because it helps you know exactly where you stand. It shows the total value of your portfolio, and if you have multiple accounts it also gives a breakdown of the account type and value. It also shows the total amount of free cash and the amount invested.
Further down are important account details. At a glance you can see your current trading credit balance and the date when your credits expire. You can also see your service plan and when your next payment is due.
Your list of investments shows details of changes in value and percentage of the total. You can view more information including the performance of your shares over a selected time period.
Interactive Investor research offerings
As you can imagine, with this platform there is a wide range of research offerings. Through the news hub, I have access to share tips and ideas, insider videos and podcasts.
There is also a knowledge centre with an all important jargon buster section and some great beginner guides if you are new to investing.
Customer service and support
Call centre opening hours are 7:45am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday GMT and 5:30pm – 9pm Monday to Friday GMT for international trading calls only.
You can call 0345 607 6001 from the UK and +44 113 346 2309 from overseas.
While I have not had to contact the service provider directly, I do get useful email notifications regarding corporate actions and dividend payments.
Is an Interactive Investor share dealing account right for you?
The Interactive Investor share dealing service has a lot to offer and has widespread appeal. I would say that if you want a service that has a straightforward, subscription based pricing structure with a user-friendly platform, then this one is definitely worth considering.
To see how Interactive Investor compares to other share dealing platforms, check out our list of UK share dealing accounts.
Alternatives to consider
If you’re looking for a platform that gives you a huge range of investments alongside some great added features (including a mobile app), you should check out: