Stock Brokers > BestInvest
About BestInvest.co.uk
Bestinvest take a different approach to most other investment advisers. Typically, they do not receive any commission from transactions, their income is derived mainly from the value of clients' investments. In that way they avoid the potential conflict of interest that can affect the impartiality of advice. They only prosper if clients remain with them and the value of their investments grow.
Their own research analysts carry out hundreds of face to face meetings with fund managers each year. They typically discount all of the initial commission on Funds and ISAs and negotiate further discounts with the managers.
Their approach is designed for the medium to long term investor who wants to sleep easily at night but earn competitive returns.
You can purchase practically any type of investment through Bestinvest - ISAs, Unit Trusts, Investment Trusts, Shares, Insurance Bonds, Stakeholder Pensions, Guaranteed Income Bonds, Venture Capital Trusts, Enterprise Investment Schemes and many others.
Services
Execution Only
This is available to all customers. You gain the benefit of Bestinvest's research and discounted dealing terms and your portfolio can be monitored via the Client Centre section of their website.
Advisory
Organising your own investment affairs is time-consuming and requires a thorough knowledge of investment matters. Their trained advisers can take away this problem by making a bespoke recommendation for you once they have an adequate understanding of your circumstances and objectives. There is no explicit charge for this service but it is usually restricted to investors with portfolios of at least £40,000.
Pension reviews and complex financial plans may be charged on a fee basis but this will be agreed in advance with customers.
Investment Management
If you want to delegate the task of monitoring and managing your investments and your portfolio is in excess of £250,000 you might want to appoint Bestinvest as your Investment Manager. They generally charge a fee of 0.25% of the portfolio value every six months.
Visit http://www.bestinvest.co.uk
Stock Brokers > Comdirect
About Comdirect
comdirect is Europe's biggest stockbroker and a subsidiary of Commerzbank, a financial group with banking and investment operations across the world.
comdirect ltd, which has operated in the UK since June 2000, is a member of the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Their expertise in online broking has been developed since 1997, when comdirect bank AG launched its internet service in Germany.
comdirect ltd is a pioneer of a fair deal for investors, offering the same flat price of £12.50 for online and phone trades. They also take the lead in technological developments and product innovation. They were, for example, the first online broker in the UK to offer limit and stop orders, as well as the first to offer a SIPP Dealing account that gives the investor the flexibility to choose his/her own pension administrator.
Products and Services
Range of investments
With comdirect you can trade in:
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UK and international equities
investment trusts
exchange traded funds
over 150 unit trusts from 5 leading providers
gilts
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Markets
Invest in all UK CREST-settleable equities (including AIM) and all major European and North American markets, all for the same flat fee.
Dealing online or by phone
Best execution from a range of market makers: 80% of trades better "the touch" or "yellow strip" price - the best prevailing bid and offer quoted on SEAQ (Stock Exchange Automated Quotation), or the best prevailing bid and offer on the Order Book (also known as SETS - Stock Exchange Electronic Trading Service.)
They also offer limit and stop orders at no extra charge. These are constantly monitored and good for up to 90 days.
Investor support
The Market Focus pages offer comprehensive market index information. Drill down through the indices to news and reports on specific companies, and set up advanced charting to monitor key movements in selected stocks. Account holders also get free access to broker research, consensus estimates and directors' dealings.
Visit http://www.comdirect.co.uk/
