Your investment options

Ways to invest

Investment types

Ways to invest

Unsure how to invest your money? Find out more about possible investment styles below.

Lump sum or regular investments?

Features of lump sum investing:

  • A higher proportion of your investment spends more time in the market, making any rise or fall in the markets have a greater impact on the value of your investments.

Features of regular investments:

  • You may be able to smooth out peaks and troughs of your investments over the long run and take advantage of lower dealing commission of just £2 per trade with a regular investment plan.

Investing for income or accumulation

Any income in the form of dividends or interest can be treated in two ways, whichever strategy you choose depends on your investment goals:

  • Accumulation: Reinvest any potential interest or dividends to increase the value of your holding. Increasing the value of your holding can help increase your potential returns.
  • Income: The potential dividend or interest is distributed to you as a form of income whilst you retain the same value of holdings as before. This allows you to take advantage of another source of income.

The value of investments, and income from them, can rise and fall so you may get back less than you invest. If you’re unsure about investing, seek independent advice.

Investment types

Would you like more information about the types of investment that we offer?

Take a look at the range of investments we offer and find your next investment opportunity.
 

Shares

Invest in a company

Shares mean you own a part of a company. They are usually bought and sold on a stock exchange with prices changing throughout the day. The price of a share depends on the supply and demand of that particular share.

International shares

With Halifax you can invest in a host of global markets. This includes direct access to markets based in: New York, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam and Brussels.

When certain shares are listed on a different global market that we do not have direct access to (for example the Japanese market) you may still be able to invest using a depository receipt. Depository receipts are investments that represent holding a share listed on an overseas market. To invest in an overseas share using a depository receipt, simply search the name of the company using our global search tool.


Before trading US shares

If you are looking to invest in U.S. markets for the first time; you will need to complete a W8-BEN form and the NYSE Subscriber Agreement which can be found on our International Trading page.

Please note, if you are looking to invest in U.S. markets for the first time you will need to complete and return a W8-BEN form (PDF) and the NYSE Subscriber Agreement (PDF).

  • Completing and returning a NYSE subscriber agreement:

    You can use our Web Chat service once you’re signed in, or you can call us on 0345 722 5525 to agree over the phone. Or you can return it by post using the below address.

  • Completing and returning a W8-BEN form:

    You can email a form to us, or you can return it by post to the below address.

Posting your W8-BEN or NYSE Subscriber Agreement?

Please send your completed forms to:

Dealing Administration Department
Halifax Share Dealing
Lovell Park Road
Leeds
LS1 1NS

Key feature:

  • Some shares can give you a slice of any potential profits (dividend payments).

Your should consider:

  • Shares can rise and fall quite a lot and can be dependant on the state of the economy.
Search for shares

Funds

Have a stake in multiple investments

Funds offer a collective investment where professional fund managers pool together investors’ money and invest on their behalf. Fund prices do not fluctuate throughout the day rather they are set at the end of the day.

In an actively managed fund, a fund manager monitors investments with the objective of ensuring that the fund achieves its expected regular income or investment growth.

In a passively managed fund, the fund manager follows predetermined guidelines (such as tracking an index) to meet the fund's objective which is to mimic the performance of a certain index, market or commodity.

Sustainable fund investing

  • Sustainability focussed funds Investments are included on the basis of fulfilling certain sustainability criteria and/or delivering on specific and measurable sustainability outcome(s)
  • Impact investment funds Investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
  • Environmental Social Governmental (ESG) ESG focuses on a company's attitude towards environmental and social issues as well as a company’s business practices and code of behaviour.

As there isn’t an industry-wide standard for ethical or environmental funds, we recommend you review a fund’s underlying investments to ensure they meet your own ethical standards before making an investment.

Top fund picks - our Select List

Our Select List makes it easier for you to create your own portfolio with a shortened list of funds. Independently selected by Morningstar you can view our Select List in our funds centre.

  • The Select List of funds are based on merit and not on commission.
  • The funds cover a range of sectors, risk profiles and fund types, for example; active and index trackers.
  • Morningstar monitor how the Select List funds are doing and may make suggestions to change some of the funds – View historic changes to our Select List.

Keep in mind, the inclusion of funds within this list should not be considered a personal recommendation but instead as a helpful aid to your own research.

View our Select List

Key feature:

  • Funds are likely to a have a large range of investments, so the risk is spread over various investments.

You should consider:

  • Funds could change what it invests in, away from your preferences.
Search for funds

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

Track the Market

If you want to track an index (like the FTSE 100 or S&P 500) or invest in a commodity (such as gold or platinum) you can do this via an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) or Commodity (ETC). They’re usually designed to replicate an index, sector, commodity or currency and a fund manager will invest in the relevant assets with the aim of closely tracking its performance.

Key feature:

  • As ETFs aim to track the performance of a market or commodity rather than beating it, their charges tend to be much lower. ETFs are also exempt from stamp duty meaning they’re a very efficient way of investing.

Your should consider:

  • Because ETFs track the market, in theory they do not return as much as shares or actively managed funds.
Search for ETFs

Investment Trusts

Companies listed on the stock exchange that hold a spread of investments

An investment trust is a collective investment. Unlike funds, when you invest in an investment trust you have to buy shares because investment trusts are companies listed on a stock exchange. Due to this the price of a share in an investment trust is based on the value of the investments held but also the supply and demand of the shares themselves. This means they can be a little more risky than other collective investments such as funds and ETFs.

Key feature:

  • They are traded in real time like shares but hold many different investments, potentially spreading your risk like funds.

You should consider:

  • The price of the share you buy can be less or more than the actual monetary value of the assets depending on demand.
Search for investment trusts

Bonds and Gilts

Stability and fixed returns

Governments and companies raise money (capital) by selling bonds and gilts to investors. With a bond or gilt you lend money to these bodies for a fixed time period in return for a fixed rate of interest.

Key feature:

  • Bonds and gilts can offer you a regular and predictable income, at relatively low risk. You can trade them, so your money is not locked in.

You should consider:

  • Income is likely to be low from bonds and gilts and the value of your bonds will drop when interest rates rise. Emerging market bonds and corporate bonds tend to be more risky than domestic or US bonds.

If you wish to invest in bonds and gilts please call us on 03457 22 55 25

I am ready to invest

If you feel you know which investment options suit you, take a look at the range of accounts we offer  so you can get started.

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Need more information?

Head over to the Understanding Investing page to find out more about different investment options and which may interest you.

Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered in England and Wales no. 3195646. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2RG. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, 12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.