Hargreaves Lansdown Review of Services and Features

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a range of services to help you manage your investments. They have over 1.2 million customers, making them one of the UK's largest investment platforms.

Their platform is user-friendly and accessible online or through their mobile app, allowing you to check your accounts and make changes whenever you want. You can even set up regular investments to make saving easier.

Their fees are competitive, with an annual management charge of 0.45% for their Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and 0.25% for their Stocks and Shares ISA.

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a very wide range of investments, including company stocks, ETFs, self-employed pensions, investment trusts, and bonds, with access to 20 international stock exchanges.

You can choose from thousands of investments, but don't worry if you're overwhelmed - Hargreaves Lansdown's Wealth Shortlist highlights funds with the best long-term performance potential.

The platform also offers HL Portfolio Funds, HL Portfolio Building Blocks, and HL Select Funds, which are simple all-in-one investment fund options for diversification with annual fees starting from 0.62%.

Here are some key features of Hargreaves Lansdown's investment options:

You can also earn competitive interest rates on cash held in your account through Hargreaves Lansdown's Active Savings Account, which is unique among U.K. brokers.

A fresh viewpoint: Share Dealing Account

The acquisition of the company was a significant event that took place in August 2024. The company's board agreed to an acquisition by CVC Capital Partners, Nordic Capital, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in a deal valued at £5.4 billion.

The deal included shares being valued at £11.40 and the company delisting from the London Stock Exchange upon completion. Founders Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown backed the deal.

Hargreaves announced he would sell half of his 20 per cent shareholding, rolling over the rest into the future private company. He intended to retain the remaining 10 per cent.

Lansdown, on the other hand, planned to sell all of his 6 per cent shareholding. This decision was likely made to capitalize on the significant financial gain from the acquisition.

In October 2024, 87 per cent of the company's shareholders voted in favour of the deal. This overwhelming support suggests that the acquisition was widely accepted by the company's stakeholders.

The court approved the transaction on 19 March 2025, allowing it to proceed to completion.

Check this out: Proposed Acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a very wide range of investments, from company stocks to bonds, with thousands of options to choose from.

You can buy company shares through 20 international stock exchanges based in Europe and North America, which can be overwhelming for beginners.

The Wealth Shortlist highlights funds that Hargreaves Lansdown recommends for the best long-term performance potential, which can be a helpful resource for those just starting out.

Hargreaves Lansdown also offers HL Portfolio Funds, HL Portfolio Building Blocks, and HL Select Funds, which are simple all-in-one investment fund options for people who want diversification straight away.

Annual fees for these funds start from 0.62%, which is a relatively low fee compared to other investment options.

If you're still unsure about which investments to choose, Hargreaves Lansdown offers financial adviser services, which include personal advice on investments, retirement, inheritance tax, and financial planning.

The charges for these services are either 1% to 2% of the value of your assets, plus VAT, or a minimum of £995 – whichever is higher, which is in line with industry averages.

A unique perspective: PNC Financial Services

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of tax-efficient accounts, including ISAs and SIPPs. These accounts are perfect for building a long-term portfolio with tax-free growth.

You can open a Stocks and Shares ISA, which lets you invest in shares, funds, ETFs, bonds, and investment trusts. This is ideal for building a long-term portfolio with tax-free growth.

For those aged 18-39, there's the Lifetime ISA (LISA), which allows you to invest up to £4,000 per year and receive a 25% government bonus toward a first home or retirement.

Parents and guardians can open a Junior ISA (JISA) for children under 18, which is fee-free at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Here's a quick rundown of the types of ISAs and SIPPs offered by Hargreaves Lansdown:

Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app is straightforward to use, although it's more basic compared to other platforms. It lacks charting tools and the ability to overlay different stocks or indices to compare historical performance.

You can expect the news tab to be updated regularly, providing you with the latest information. Hargreaves Lansdown analysts also share their investment ideas through the app.

Hargreaves Lansdown's trading platforms offer a range of features to help you make informed investment decisions.

The web platform is a comprehensive tool that allows you to annotate stock charts and overlay charts to compare different stocks and indices. This feature is not available on the mobile app.

You can also use the web platform to display corporate events and view stock overlays and index overlays. These features can be particularly useful for active traders who need to stay on top of market developments.

The platform offers 15 chart indicators, which is a decent number for everyday investors. However, some platforms offer more than 100 chart indicators, so if you're an active trader, you may find the limitations of Hargreaves Lansdown's platform restrictive.

Here's a breakdown of the trading platform's features:

Fees are a crucial aspect to consider when choosing an investment platform like Hargreaves Lansdown. Hargreaves Lansdown's fees vary depending on how much money you have invested, how often you trade, and what type of investments you hold.

You might like: Wells Fargo Credit Card Processing Fees

The platform charges 0.45pc a year for the first £250,000 you have invested in funds, 0.25pc for the next £750,000, and 0.1pc for anything over £2m. If you have a mix of funds and shares, you'll pay £270 a year for a £100,000 Isa, and £1,170 a year for a £500,000 Isa.

You'll also pay £11.95 per deal if you trade up to nine times in the previous month, £8.95 if you trade between 10 and 19 times, and £5.95 if you make 20 or more deals.

Hargreaves Lansdown is more expensive than its main competitors, with a £50,000 Isa costing £225 a year, compared to £131 with AJ Bell and £120 with Interactive Investor.

The fees for shares are capped at £45 a year, and for a Sipp, the fee for shares is capped at £200 a year.

Here's a summary of the fees:

Overall, it's essential to carefully review Hargreaves Lansdown's fees and compare them to those of other investment platforms to determine which one best suits your needs and budget.

Hargreaves Lansdown is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is a trusted and approved body.

This regulation is a big deal, as it means your money is in good hands. You can trust that Hargreaves Lansdown is following the rules and looking out for your best interests.

Your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FCSC), which is a safety net that will return up to £85,000 if anything happens to Hargreaves Lansdown.

Hargreaves Lansdown also holds your money in a separate trust account that they can't access, and the money can only be returned to you. This adds an extra layer of protection to your investments.

You can feel confident investing with Hargreaves Lansdown, knowing that your money is safe and secure.

Hargreaves Lansdown offers a great stocks and shares ISA, perfect for both beginners and experienced investors. You can start with a £100 lump sum or £25 a month.

The platform is detailed and easy to use, with reliable customer service and quick phone support. However, there's no in-app chat at the moment.

Hargreaves Lansdown's fees can be a bit steep, especially for mutual funds. For example, if you have £15,000 invested in mutual funds, you'd pay a £67.50 fee per year, plus separate fees to the fund manager.

Here are some key tips and recommendations from Hargreaves Lansdown's tipsters:

Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown's customer reviews praise the platform's ease of use and customer service, but deduct stars for the high fees.

If this caught your attention, see: Questrade Customer Service

Woodford Investment Management was a fund promoted by Hargreaves Lansdown through its Wealth 50 list despite concerns about the fund's investment strategy and underperformance.

In 2019, trading was suspended in Woodford Equity Income Fund, which had 130,000 investors who put their money in through Hargreaves Lansdown.

Retired founder Peter Hargreaves was reportedly annoyed that Neil Woodford wasn't truthful with Hargreaves Lansdown, and that they let the situation go on for so long.

Over 300,000 people invested in the Woodford Equity Income Fund, with 130,000 of them investing through Hargreaves Lansdown.

Claims firm RGL filed a High Court claim on behalf of 3,200 investors against Hargreaves Lansdown in 2022, and by 2024, the number of people suing had almost doubled to over 5,000.

Hargreaves Lansdown initially rejected the claims, saying they had no substance, but the number of lawsuits is still growing.

For another approach, see: Monzo Bank Contact Number

Most reviews of Hargreaves Lansdown are about the great customer service and how good the platform is to use.

However, many reviewers lose stars due to the expensive fees.

The platform is detailed and easy to use, with quick phone support available.

But, there's no in-app chat at the moment, which might be a drawback for some users.

If you're looking for a platform with great customer service, Hargreaves Lansdown might be a good choice, but be aware of the fees involved.

The fees can add up, especially if you have a large investment portfolio.

For example, if you have £15,000 invested in mutual funds, you'd pay £67.50 a year in platform fees, plus separate fees to the fund manager.

See what others are reading: Worldremit Customer Care Number

Let's take a look at the latest tips from Hargreaves Lansdown. Russ Mould recommends holding on to Hargreaves Lansdown with a performance of 1.23% since 2024-12-10.

Russ Mould isn't the only one who thinks this is a good idea, as Investec also recommends holding with a performance of 0.77% since 2024-08-14.

Peel Hunt is another tipster who thinks holding is the way to go, with a performance of 0.68% since 2024-08-09.

Intriguing read: Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC

Hargreaves Lansdown has no initial charges, so it's free to open an account and hold cash.

Despite the free initial setup, the platform charges high fees once you start investing.

Hargreaves Lansdown's retention rate was 92.1pc last quarter, indicating that many customers are sticking with the platform.

The platform's broad range of investment options, including Isas, junior Isas, and international shares, is part of its appeal.

Hargreaves Lansdown's customer service is top-notch, with a 5/5 rating from Platforum for content and investment choice.

You might like: Electronic Trading Platform

The platform's mobile app service also received high praise, with a 4/5 rating from Platforum.

40pc of Hargreaves Lansdown's customers give them a 9 or 10/10 when asked if they would recommend the service, according to Boring Money.

Hargreaves Lansdown's costs are falling, but it has become relatively more expensive compared to other platforms.

The platform's reliability and reputation, as a FTSE 100 company, are major selling points for some customers.

Hargreaves Lansdown is a great option for beginners, with a decent amount of resources to help you learn about investing, including videos and guides on their website.

The customer support is very traditional, with phone lines available from 8-5pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday morning. However, if you're young(ish), you might get a bit annoyed that there's no online live-chat option.

Having expert managed investment options can be expensive, with a minimum of £1,000 to get started, but it's great for those who don't want to do much after they get started. Just add money, sit back, relax and watch your money grow.

See what others are reading: The Great Western Cotton Factory

Customer support is a bit old-school at Hargreaves Lansdown, which might be a blessing in disguise for some.

You can contact them by phone, but be aware that the lines are only open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

They also offer email support, but be prepared to wait for a response.

Most customers seem to appreciate the personal touch, giving the company a great score of 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on over 7,100 reviews.

Some people might find the lack of online live chat a bit frustrating, especially younger users.

Hargreaves Lansdown is good for beginners, but it's not perfect. There's a decent amount of resources to help you learn about investing on their website.

You'll find videos and guides that can get you started with investing. They also offer a range of account options, including a Lifetime ISA with a 25% government bonus for saving for your first home.

For another approach, see: RBC Direct Investing

Having your investments managed by Hargreaves Lansdown can be expensive, and the performance may not be great. You'll need at least £1,000 to get started.

On the other hand, their expert managed investment options can make investing easy and hands-off. Just add money, sit back, and watch your money grow.