Hargreaves Lansdown Review

Hargreaves Lansdown is a well known name in the online trading world. It is thought to be the UK’s biggest trading platform and has well over a million customers. Its large array of products and services are one of its main draws providing customers with many different investment options to answer their own individual needs and requirements. Additionally, its website is thorough and well thought out. 

Recently, however, the company has come into some negative commentary for its dealings with Neil Woodford’s funds which have been under scrutiny for mismanagement. Additionally, given the vast size of the company, some clients find the customer service a bit lacking at times and fees can be quite high, relative to the industry. However, for the vast majority of customers who use the platform successfully, they find using Hargreaves Lansdown a seamless service that helps them manage their money effectively.

“The largest trading platform in the UK with over 1 million customers”

Hargreaves Lasndown have spent a great deal of time and money investing in their own online trading platform to make it easy to use and intuitive. While many novice traders may find that some of the language is too technical, it only takes a little practice to get to grips with the technology which is built around promoting the entire suite of products that the company has to offer. The amount of supporting information available on the platform is what will help novice traders become experienced in a quick amount of time. 

The company has also developed an app that is user friendly. It is a slick and powerful tool. It can be used to invest more money as well as make trades. Customers can access stock research and market commentary from their device, whilst the app also allows them a quick view of all their accounts and investments.

Setting up an account with Hargreaves Lansdown is straightforward and gives you online access to any ISAs or trading accounts you open. For example, opening one of its Fund and Share accounts takes just 10 minutes and there is no minimum amount to get started. Customers can also pay in a monthly amount through direct debit, but the account can be set up with a bank transfer initially too.

There are some pretty mixed reviews of late when it comes to the customer service of Hargreaves Lansdown. Perhaps one of its biggest problems is its size, which means that sometimes the in house communication between departments is ineffective which has a knock on effect to its customers. However, the majority of its client base do not need to contact its customer service centers directly at all and those that do will often find their queries answered quickly and efficiently. It is perhaps just playing the odds, that when a company has over 1 million customers, a number will inevitably experience some poor customer service.

Hargreaves Lansdown remains one of the most popular investment platforms in the UK for a reason. It offers a wide variety of products and services, which is a big attraction for people who want a one stop shop to manage their money. Having investments all in one place makes them easier to manage, but the technology behind Hargreaves Lansdown's offering is also key. Its website and app make staying on top of investments a seamless experience that empowers customers to make appropriate investment decisions for themselves.