Stocks and Shares ISA - platforms and info

[Myfirstsecondthird]

Following a recent look at my savings etc and some posts I put on Mumsnet, I am now considering looking at starting a Stocks and Shares ISA. I have read the MSE page on them, and was wondering what platforms others use? I was considering Vanguard. Is that the best? Or how do you choose what suits best?

Then when choosing what to invest in, where do people get their info? Is it just reading the documentation, or is there a sort of forum you can get info about people's experience? I am hoping to start with say £5k a year (and then putting the rest in a Cash ISA), and then maybe increase as I get more confident.

Thanks

I get my info from YouTube, podcasts, Reddit news websites and they all say low cost index funds. No stock picking here!

I use vanguard as they had the lowest fees at the time I was looking. They’ve been pretty good and responsive. And I find their website easy to use.

I have some more shares to give out on trading 212, we both get one of anyone uses my link

Last one I got was a fractional Disney one for £15 and before that a H and M one.

I have 5 left and I think you need to top up with £1 to get it if I remember correctly.

Hope you get a good one if you use it www.trading212.com/invite/FMO8bREA

I have found that it is easier with a good app.
Aj Bell or Charles Stanley direct apps seam quite good and make it easier to pay money in

Vanguard are OK but only do vanguard products.

I would open one of the platforms with a good app and use until you have a good amount in, then transfer to a platform like iweb where you only pay a set amount per year instead of a percentage.

I have just opened up one for our son and used Charles Stanley and bought Fidelity Index world fund. Nice and easy and no stock picking.

Hope this helps

I use Hargreaves Lansdown for my own ISA and my childrens' junior ISA. I really like the platform, though I work in financial services and I have heard comments that it is less intuitive if you are not used to the world of investments.

For what to invest in Martin Lewis's money saving expert website has lots of good articles on the subject to help a beginner in the area.