Fees & documents
Comparing platform charges on a small balance
Compare the cost of the activity you expect, using the same balance and assumptions for every platform. A low headline rate can conceal a minimum or a different charging base.
Fees & documents
Read the conditions behind the headline number.
18 articles
Fees & documents
Reading an investment fee schedule
A fee schedule is easier to read when each charge is connected to a trigger, a calculation base and a collection date.
Fees & documents
Working through a percentage fee example
A percentage charge needs a base amount and a period. Converting the rate to a decimal is only the first part of the calculation.
Fees & documents
Fixed subscription fees and account size
A monthly subscription is a fixed cash cost. Expressing it annually and relative to the account helps show what the same price means at different balances.
Fees & documents
Finding costs beyond a trading commission
A zero commission describes one charge. The complete cost of a transaction may also involve execution prices, conversion and account or product expenses.
Fees & documents
Understanding a bid-ask spread
The bid and ask describe opposite sides of a quote. Their difference matters when comparing purchase and sale prices, even without a separate commission.
Fees & documents
Comparing a fund expense ratio carefully
A fund expense ratio summarises a category of ongoing costs. Compare like-for-like share classes and check which other charges sit outside it.
Fees & documents
Following charges through a fund illustration
A cost illustration can be useful only when its assumptions are carried with it. Translate the example into questions before applying it to your own account.
Fees & documents
Reading a fund factsheet in context
A factsheet is a compact snapshot. It is a starting point for reading a fund, not a replacement for the documents that define its terms.
Fees & documents
What to look for in a prospectus
Reading a prospectus is more manageable when it answers a sequence of specific questions about the fund, its risks and the investor’s access to money.
Fees & documents
Checking account transfer and exit costs
Moving an account can involve more than a transfer fee. Identify which holdings can move intact, which may need sale and what happens during the transition.
Fees & documents
Currency conversion fees in a transaction
A conversion cost can be explicit, included in the exchange rate or both. Label the direction of the rate before comparing the cash received.
Fees & documents
Recognising promotional pricing conditions
An introductory price belongs to a set of conditions and an end date. Compare the ordinary cost as well as the opening offer.
Fees & documents
Comparing recurring investment arrangements
Recurring arrangements differ in timing, eligible investments and failure handling. A regular bank transfer is not always a recurring investment order.
Fees & documents
Checking an investment account statement
An account statement combines holdings, cash and activity. Reconcile those parts separately before interpreting the change in the headline balance.
Fees & documents
Matching a trade confirmation to an order
A confirmation records an executed trade. Compare its identity, quantity, price and charges with the instruction and then with the account ledger.
Fees & documents
Preparing questions before opening an account
A first account comparison works better when the questions describe your intended use. Ask about the legal entity, costs, access and records before relying on a brand name.
Fees & documents
Checking who regulates an investment provider
Check the exact entity and permission through the relevant authority’s own records. A familiar name or a copied registration number is not enough.