Bruce's story
Bruce has been able to fund home improvements, plan for retirement, and make more informed investment decisions.
"In 2007, I faced a turning point. After changing jobs several times and accumulating various pensions, I realised many of my investments were underperforming. My own attempts at investing had been adequate but didn’t meet my retirement goals. That’s when I discovered Hargreaves Lansdown, shortly after their IPO.
"I transferred two of my pensions to Hargreaves Lansdown, and I started a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) with them, where I continued to make informed investment choices using their insights. The stability and performance of the funds made me feel secure and confident about my retirement.
"Having experienced significant losses during the Great October crash, I valued the safety of funds compared to investing in individual shares. Hargreaves Lansdown provided access to a wide selection of funds. They’ve supported me well through their exceptional tools and services, which I found superior to those of other providers. Over the years, I’ve also had some investments with other organisations, but none matched the attentive service I received from Hargreaves Lansdown.
"As I approach retirement in August, I’m reassured that my funds have met my target. I’ve also dipped into my SIPP for personal needs in the past few years, like funding a home extension, and I’ve planned for passing on wealth to my children.
"The drawdown option Hargreaves Lansdown offers aligns perfectly with my goals, allowing me to manage income flexibly and leave a legacy. Initially, I considered traditional annuities but found their limitations restrictive. The drawdown option appealed to me because it offers flexibility and the potential to leave a financial gift for my family. It also provides the ability to draw additional funds if needed.
When I think about Hargreaves Lansdown, I see an organisation that has a depth of knowledge and experience which allows them to provide a huge range of services to individuals with differing needs. They’re simply outstanding.
"I’ve never used personal advice but have attended a couple of seminars, which I found very informative. I like having everything centralised at Hargreaves Lansdown. While I do have investments outside, having most of our wealth with them allows me to act on opportunities without delays, which is crucial.
"When I started investing seriously, I learned about pound cost averaging. It involves buying shares at different times to average out the cost, which often results in more consistent gains over the long term. I prefer making monthly contributions because it’s easier to manage than saving large sums to invest all at once.
"A few months ago, I had a question about one of my investments. I reached out to the helpdesk and the representative thoroughly researched and followed up with a detailed explanation, which impressed me greatly. It highlighted the importance of their customer service.
"I consolidated my investments and pensions with Hargreaves Lansdown. My wife and daughters also use them for their investments, making it easier for us to manage everything in one place.
"The knowledge base on their website is exceptional, though I recognise that it doesn’t replace personalised advice. For detailed queries, I’ve spoken to advisers who’ve guided me clearly without offering direct advice. If I could describe Hargreaves Lansdown in two words, it would be simply outstanding.”
CLIENT STORIES
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Christopher used the HL website to help him retire early. With HL he’s able to manage all his wealth under one roof, and uses the linked account service to manage his family’s money too.
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Phillip is now enjoying an early retirement thanks to increasing his pension contributions early on.
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Holli, age 33, is self-employed and recently opened an HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) to help her save for retirement.
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Peter uses the HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) to help him reduce his tax bill and to save on inheritance tax.
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Andrew invests monthly to benefit from compound growth. This strategy could turn a small savings pot into a significant amount when left untouched.
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Lynne uses HL insights to help her manage her pension. She’s able to keep on top of her HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) with ease and likes the wide range of investment options.
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Alan uses our tools and research to help him manage his family's HL accounts. He also speaks to our knowledgeable helpdesk to get answers to his questions.
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Haydn transferred his pensions to HL to make managing his money easier.