Empowering the DIY Investor
An ever increasing number of people are taking control of their financial affairs and online platform technology is the enabler, delivering levels of sophistication that were once the preserve of City professionals at affordable prices.
Investors can research companies, create watch lists, select an account type, trade on countless international exchanges at the click of a mouse, and build and monitor a diverse portfolio of investments – often at a cost of just a few pounds a month.
Options ranging from equity execution only (XO) brokers through to those offering far greater choice in terms of investments and available support.
Direct to consumer (D2C) platforms vary greatly so it is important to find the best combination of functionality and price for your individual requirements.
Selecting a DIY Online Broker
Selecting an Online Broker
Internet technology has revolutionised personal investing, bringing information, data and trading technology to a mass audience. Now the DIY investor is accustomed to the ability to research companies, buy and sell investments on a computer or mobile device in markets around the world and be able to monitor the performance of their portfolio in real time. Online stockbrokers have been around for a decade and a half now and there are a number of things to consider when selecting the right one for your personal circumstances and the financial instruments you wish to trade. Terms used to describe the various types of platform such as ‘execution-only (XO) stockbroker’, ‘fund supermarket’, ‘discount broker’, ‘wrap platform’, ‘direct to consumer (D2C) platform’ are often used interchangeably, but the common threads are the ability for an individual to open a personal account or accounts, and trade and monitor their own investments. 
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