Investing:
as easy as
1, 2, 3

Important information - investments can go down as well as up in value, so you could get back less than you put in. The information on this page isn't personal advice – please ask us for advice if you’re not sure which investments are right for you. Tax rules can change and the benefits will depend on your circumstances.

Your three steps to becoming an investor

There are a few things to check before you get started with investing.

You should only consider making an investment if:

You’re willing and able to accept a level of risk and won’t need the money for at least 5 years. With investing, there’s no guarantee of making money and you could get back less than you invest.
You’ve saved a supply of cash that you can access easily for emergencies – a good rule of thumb is to have around 6 months of expenditure.
You want the chance to grow your money more than you could with cash.

You can also read around the subject. We've covered what we think you need to know, from investing rules of thumb, to understanding how to manage behaviours to make the right decisions.

Learn more about investing

Once you've decided that you want to invest, it doesn't need to be difficult. In fact, it might be easier than you think. Follow these three steps to get started.

This video has various animations, along with a voice over.

Title: Investing: as easy as 1,2,3

"With HL, becoming an investor is as easy as 1,2,3.

We have created 3 simple steps to help start your investment journey and make investing easier

1. Choose an investment platform

This is the company that you will hold your investments with, the website you’ll use, who you’ll speak to on the phone and who keeps everything going behind the scenes. Though it’s still up to you to check in regularly to ensure your investments still meet your needs.

HL are not the only investment platform in the UK, but we are the biggest - with over one million clients.

We have designed our platform with our clients in mind.

Through HL you have the choice of thousands of shares and funds as well as plenty of ideas and inspiration.

Supporting our clients has always been our priority so there is a real UK-based person just a phone call away to help clients make informed decisions.

2. Select an Account

Once you have chosen your provider, the next step will be to open an account.

This is where you’ll hold your investments.

There are many types of accounts available to suit a wide variety of situations. For example, you could invest in a pension for your retirement, build a nest egg for a rainy day, or open an ISA to shelter your investments from tax.

3. Pick your investments

Finally, you decide where to invest the money you hold in your account.

You can do this yourself by choosing individual investments, take inspiration from HL’s Wealth Shortlist or choose a ready-made option for ongoing management from our expert investment team.

There is no rush to choose an investment, and it is important to take your time to understand ideas like risk and diversification before committing to any investment.

And of course, we will be there to offer support so you can keep your investments on track. If you’re not comfortable making your own decisions, we can put you in touch with one of our financial advisers.

With HL, investing is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Investments and their income can fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. if you are unsure about the suitability of an investment please seek advice.

Choose an investment platform

This is the company you’ll hold your investments with. So the website you’ll use, who you’ll speak to on the phone, and who keeps everything safe and working behind the scenes.

You’ll probably want a platform that makes things easy, offers good value and keeps your money secure.

We’re not the only investment platform in the UK but here at Hargreaves Lansdown, we are the biggest for private investors. With us, you can:

See everything in one place

Get a helping hand

We're in Bristol, where a real person will always answer the phone.

Take control of your money

Choose from thousands of shares and funds, or take inspiration from our investment ideas.

Rest assured

We're one of the UK's biggest companies, trusted by over 1 million clients.

Select an account

Once you’ve chosen your provider, the next step will be to open an account.

This is where you’ll hold your investments. Most providers offer a range of options, with different benefits depending on your situation. For example, you might open a pension if you’re saving for retirement, or a Junior ISA if you’re saving for your child.

Try our filter to get an idea of which account might suit you best.

Compare accounts

Pick your investments

Next up, you’ll need to decide where to invest the money you’ve added to your account. This is an important step, so there’s no need to rush. You don’t need to do everything in one go.

Once you’re confident you understand key ideas like risk and diversification, you can pick your investments in different ways. At HL, we can support you in making the right decisions.

Do-it-yourself

If you know where you want to invest, you can pick from a wide range of funds and shares.

Take inspiration from our Wealth Shortlist

These are funds chosen by our analysts, according to strict selection criteria.
Find out more

Choose a ready-made option

Pick from a range of options depending on your goals and how much risk you want to take.
Find out more

Get ongoing support

We’ll send you our latest thoughts and research to help you stay on track.

Remember that once you’ve chosen your investments, you’ll need to check in on them. It’s important that the investments you’ve chosen continue to meet your objectives. This is much easier to do when you can see all of your accounts and investments in one place.

If you don’t feel comfortable making your own investment decisions, we also offer financial advice.

Not ready right now?

If you’re looking to learn more about investing before you get started, we can help.

Download our magazine for tips on how to be smarter with your money. Or read more about investing rules of thumb, and how to start building a portfolio.

Easy to use with polite well informed representatives
MR MITCHELL, West Yorkshire

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Investing: as easy as 1, 2, 3