Who is Bestinvest?
Bestinvest* is an award-winning online investment service providing a range of support services for the DIY investor.
Bestinvest is part of Evelyn Partners (formally known as Tilney Smith & Williamson) offers a broad range of financial planning, investment planning and investment advice services and boasts nearly 200 years of experience. Bestinvest has over 300 financial planners, investment managers and advisers supporting over 100,000 clients from a UK network of 300 offices.
Overview - Bestinvest review - Should you use them?
Whilst not the largest investment platform in the UK - Hargreaves Lansdown holds that title - Bestinvest's combination of competitive charging, wide investment choice and ease of use has now cemented Bestinvest as a viable option for most investors. In the UK those wanting to invest, generally have three choices: 1) invest using a DIY investment platform and pick your investments yourself 2) buy a cheap ready-made portfolio (usually via one of the robo-advice services such as Nutmeg) or 3) pay for expensive financial advice if they can afford it to receive a personalised portfolio recommendation.
But Bestinvest has reimagined its proposition and is one of the first investment platforms to offer all three services cost-effectively. It, therefore, has cemented itself as a good investment platform not only for beginners or those with smaller portfolios but also for those who want access to low-cost ready-made portfolios* (including a ready-made income portfolio), while maintaining the option to pick their own investments (i.e. the full DIY investor route) and having access to a qualified financial planner.
Having also recently slashed its investment charges, Bestinvest is an ideal platform for those who want flexibility and choice at a low-cost. Bestinvest's ready-made portfolios have also performed well against its peers (as shown later), particularly in regard to its lower-risk portfolios.
In the rest of this review we look at all aspects of Bestinvests proposition in detail, but the ability to have free coaching/guidance from a qualified financial planner, plus the option to pay a fixed price of up to £495 for full regulated advice and portfolio recommendation really sets it apart from its peers.
If you are looking for an easy to use investment platform, especially if you want a SIPP, through which to buy a range of funds then Bestinvest is a good and popular choice.
Bestinvest Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
 Its 'Smart' ready-made portfolios provide excellent value
|
 Higher ongoing charges for some of its 'Expert' portfolios |
What services and products does Bestinvest offer?
Bestinvest Stocks and Shares ISA
Investments held within the Bestinvest Stocks and Shares ISA* can be managed either by Bestinvest via one of the Bestinvest ready-made portfolios* (which we explain in more detail below) or you can run your money yourself. The latter means choosing the underlying funds yourself to invest in just as you would with other platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown, Fidelity, Charles Stanley or AJ Bell.
Bestinvest Junior ISA
The Bestinvest Junior ISA* allows parents or grandparents to start investing for their children's future in a tax-free environment. The usual annual contribution limits apply which for the 2023/24 tax year is £9,000. The advantage of investing via a Junior ISA is that any income produced by the investments belongs to the child and therefore does not form part of the parent's taxable income or capital gains. However, once the child reaches the age of 18 the money is legally theirs to do with as they wish and they do not require the consent of their parent or guardian to access the money.
Bestinvest SIPP
The Bestinvest SIPP* offers tiered service fees, which we look at in more detail later, and no set-up charges. Just like the Bestinvest ISA and Junior ISA you can choose to invest in a ready-made portfolio or you can choose to manage the investment selection yourself. The Bestinvest SIPP now accepts transfers-in and Bestinvest will pay up to £500 towards your exit fee charges. Bestinvest has recently simplified its SIPP fees, scrapping a number of charges including its £100 + VAT administration charge. It does however carry a minimum charge of £120 per annum.
Bestinvest Investment Account
In addition to the above tax-efficient structures, Bestinvest offers the Bestinvest Investment account*. It works in the same way as the aforementioned products (with the ability to invest in shares ETFs, unit trusts and investment trusts), but without the contribution restrictions or the tax-free status. That means that any income or capital gains produced by your investments held in the Bestinvest Investment Account will be liable to income tax and CGT (capital gains tax).
Bestinvest investment ready-made portfolios
As an investor, you have a few choices, you either invest via the Bestinvest ready-made portfolios* or choose your funds yourself, possibly with the aid of Bestinvest's onsite research. These investments are held in one of the four account types mentioned above (i.e a Stock and Shares ISA). Bestinvest recently reduced its annual service fee on its ready-made portfolios from 0.40% to 0.20%. The fee is tiered meaning investors will pay 0.20% up to £500,000, 0.10% between £500,000 and £1m and there is no charge on anything over £1m. We explain the fees in more detail later in this article. Bestinvest offers two types of ready-made portfolios and we explain each of them below:
Bestinvest 'Smart' portfolios
Bestinvest offers 5 'Smart' ready-made portfolios* which focus on low-cost investments such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs). They come with 5 varying levels of risk and ongoing charges range from just 0.34% to 0.37% making them an incredibly cheap way to invest. The portfolios are as follows:
Cautious - a portfolio that invests primarily in equity (45%) and fixed income (48%). It is likely to suit investors who wish to reduce the impact of inflation and grow the value of their portfolio in real terms, with a lower risk tolerance. The ongoing charge is 0.33%.
Balanced - aims to deliver income and capital growth over the longer term by investing primarily in exchange-traded products and tracker funds to gain exposure to investment markets. The portfolio invests approximately 56% of its assets in equities and 38% in fixed income. The ongoing charge is 0.33%.
Growth - approximately 66% is invested in shares, including emerging markets and Asia. There may be additional exposure to smaller companies. The rest of the fund is diversified, primarily across bonds, in order to reduce stock market risk and generate growth. The ongoing charge is 0.35%.
Adventurous - a portfolio of higher risk investments for investors with around 76% of assets invested in shares. There is a prospect of higher volatility in the short-term. The portfolio has a riskier investment strategy than the Growth portfolio but has the potential to give you higher returns. The ongoing charge is 0.35%.
Maximum Growth - aims to deliver an investment return of capital growth over the long term. The portfolio is riskier than the Adventurous portfolio with around 92% of its assets invested in equities, 6% in property and around 2% in cash. The ongoing charge is 0.32%.
Bestinvest 'Expert' portfolios
Bestinvest offers 10 'Expert' ready-made portfolios* which are actively managed by a team of expert fund managers. They come with varying levels of risk and differing objectives. Ongoing charges range from 1.47% to 1.55%, making them significantly more expensive than the 'Smart' portfolio range. The portfolios are as follows:
Defensive Clean - a portfolio for the more cautious investor with the aim of providing more growth than would be achieved through cash savings. The portfolio only invests around 21% of its assets in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.52%.
Conservative Clean - a portfolio for the more conservative investor with a lower exposure to equities, totalling only around 36%. The portfolio also invests around 24% of its assets in bonds. The ongoing charge is 1.53%.
Cautious Clean - a portfolio that invests in a mixture of equity, fixed income and alternative assets. Bestinvest states that this portfolio is likely to suit investors who would wish to reduce the impact of inflation and grow the value of their portfolio in real terms, with a slightly below average risk tolerance. The portfolio invests approximately 56% of its assets in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.50%.
Balanced Clean - aims to deliver an investment return of income and capital growth over the longer term. The portfolio is riskier than the Income portfolio but has the potential to give you higher returns. The portfolio invests approximately 56% of its assets in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.53%.
Growth Clean - a portfolio focussed on investment growth and aimed at investors comfortable with taking moderate risks when investing, two-thirds of the portfolio is made up of shares. The ongoing charge is 1.50%.
Adventurous Clean - a portfolio of higher risk investments for investors with a longer-term view, most investments are held in shares so there is a prospect of higher volatility in the short-term. The portfolio is riskier than the Growth portfolio with 77% of assets invested in equities but has the potential to give you higher returns. The portfolio adopts a moderate to higher risk approach. The ongoing charge is 1.54%.
Maximum Growth Clean - aims to deliver an investment return of capital growth over the long term. The portfolio is riskier than the Adventurous portfolio and has around 92% of its assets invested in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.50%.
Sustainable Cautious Clean - a portfolio that invests in mix of equity, bonds, property, commodities and cash. It is an ethical portfolio that invests in Environmental, Social and (corporate) Governance (ESG) products. The portfolio is likely to suit investors who wish to grow their portfolio in a sustainable way with a below-average tolerance to risk. The portfolio invests approximately 46% of its assets in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.45%.
Sustainable Adventurous Clean - a portfolio that invests in higher risk investments with around 75% invested in equities. It is an ethical portfolio that invests in Environmental, Social and (corporate) Governance (ESG) products. The portfolio is likely to suit investors who wish to grow their portfolio sustainably over a longer investment timeframe and with a higher tolerance to risk. The ongoing charge is 1.54%.
Income Clean - a portfolio that invests in equities, bonds and alternative assets. Its aim is to achieve a high level of income with the potential for modest growth over time. The portfolio invests approximately 50% of its assets in equities. The ongoing charge is 1.42%.
What other services does Bestinvest offer?
Bestinvest is a comprehensive investment platform where investors can purchase a variety of funds, investment trusts, ETFs and shares. Assuming you don't want one of the ready-made portfolios discussed above investors can use the Bestinvest 'Investment Selector' which allows them to research and compare a range of funds prior to selecting where to invest. This, together with the Bestinvest investment guides and research, provides a fairly comprehensive package for most investors.
Bestinvest Investment Search
A key element of the Bestinvest platform is the Bestinvest Investment Search tool which allows investors to research and purchase a wide range of funds, investment trusts ETFs and shares. Just like other platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown, Fidelity or AJ Bell, by using the search facility, investment choices can be quickly narrowed down to match your criteria. However, there are one or two notable differences in how Bestinvest's Selector works compared to other platforms.
The Bestinvest Investment Search tool allows you to search for specific funds, providers or sector. Filters can be also be applied that can focus the search to specific investment options, charges and yields. Once the search criteria have been selected the investment options are listed in a table and can be sorted alphabetically by the provider. This table shows the ongoing charges, yield together with a 'compare' option and 'invest' button. From a usability perspective, the ability to research funds is far easier than on Fidelity, for example. You can also choose to compare the assets that the funds invest in via the alaysis section. The screen isn't busy and the options to explore further only appear as you start making choices.
Bestinvest 'best funds list'
This is Bestinvest's take on the best funds available. The list picks out a number of funds in each sector that Bestinvest believes will do better than their peers and outperform their benchmark. Bestinvest states that a lot of time and effort goes into selecting the funds and that it "looks at the people, process and philosophy behind the funds". It has a list of '10 commandments' to ensure it has a fair and consistent framework when selecting the funds. Some of these commandments include staying away from fund managers that lack conviction, that is to say that they only seem to replicate the index that they're measured against. They also look at whether the fund manager 'tastes their own cooking' and by that they mean whether they invest their own money. The list is constantly evolving over time but at the time of writing, there are 149 funds to choose from.
Other investment research offered by Bestinvest
Bestinvest does offer a couple of other ways to research funds that you might want to invest in or ones you may want to avoid.
Sector insights - In this area of the website investors can find the latest news, articles, investment ideas and performance data from different sectors providing some good insight into the world of investment. It often includes weekly updates and market commentaries, however, all of this is readily available to anyone who visits the site and is not exclusive to Bestinvest clients.
Spot the Dog - The most widely known piece of research that Bestinvest produces is its 'Spot the Dog' guide which you can download for free. The guide uses statistical fund performance data to identify funds that have performed badly compared to their benchmark. These are referred to as 'dog funds' and are highlighted as funds for the investor to avoid. Whenever this guide is updated it features heavily in the national press money sections.
Top performing funds - In this area of the site Bestinvest provides the top performing funds and ranks them on their performance over one year. This table is interactive so the list can be refined using certain criteria such as charges.
Does Bestinvest have a minimum investment amount?
Yes. Investments can be made with a minimum of £50 (£100 for some funds) and all portfolios can be used for ISA, Junior ISA or SIPP investments.
Bestinvest fees
Bestinvest has recently made a number of changes in an effort to simplify its service and pricing, as well as bring down the overall cost of investing for its clients. Below we list the fees in full:
Bestinvest ready-made portfolio annual management fees
If you invest in one of Bestinvest's ready-made portfolios you will be charged the following fees:
| Products available | Amount invested in Bestinvest Ready-made portfolio | Bestinvest fee (per annum) | Notes |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | Up to £500,000 | 0.20% | Minimum charge of £120 for a SIPP |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | £500,001 to £1m | 0.10% | |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | Over £1m | No charge |
Bestinvest annual platform fee for other investments
If you invest in any other type of investment (ie not via one of Bestinvest's ready-made portfolios) such as unit trusts, investment trust and ETFs then you will be charged the following platform fee by Bestinvest on top of the underlying fund charge:
| Products available | Amount invested in unit trusts, ETFs & investment trusts | Bestinvest annual fee | Notes |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | Up to £250,000 | 0.40% | Minimum charge of £120 for a SIPP |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | £250,001 to £500,000 | 0.20% | |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | £500,001 to £1m | 0.10% | |
| ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP or General Investment Account (GIA) | Over £1m | No charge |
Bestinvest trading fees
Below we list the fees you will be charged for trading with Bestinvest:
| Type of trade | Fee |
| Online dealing fees for funds (unit trusts) | No charge |
| Online dealing fee for UK shares (including investment trusts and ETFs) | £4.95 |
| Online dealing fee for US shares (including investment trusts and ETFs) | No charge (0.95% foreign exchange fee) |
| High value dealing fee (equity trades over £100,000) | £4.95 |
| Phone transaction | £30 |
Bestinvest coaching and advice fees
Bestinvest offers a number of options to clients who may require extra help and guidance. It offers free coaching sessions which can be booked online with a qualified financial planner. Those that require a little more help with their financial planning can pay to access further advice and we explain the costs of the coaching and advice services below:
| Service | Fee |
| Coaching | Free and unlimited |
| Advice - Investing for your goals* | £295 |
| Advice - Portfolio healthcheck* | £495 |
Bestinvest customer reviews
Bestinvest is rated 4.4 out of 5.0 stars on independent customer review site Trustpilot from almost 750 reviews. 52% of reviewers rated it as 'excellent' while just 14% rated it as 'bad'. Many of the positive reviews mention helpful customer service and excellent advice while some of the negative reviews cite the website as being basic and that it provides a poor user experience, however, it is worth noting that Bestinvest's site has since been revamped.
Bestinvest performance
Below, we have compared 7 of Bestinvest's 'Expert' ready-made portfolios with equivalent portfolios from competitors Nutmeg and Moneyfarm. As you can see, the portfolios have fared particularly well in a year that was heavily impacted by stock market volatility.
| Portfolio Type | Bestinvest 2022 performance | Nutmeg 2022 performance | Moneyfarm 2022 Performance |
| Defensive | -3.54% | -8.6% (Portfolio 2) | -7.5% (Portfolio 1) |
| Conservative | -4.79% | -10.4% (Portfolio 3) | -7.8% (Portfolio 2) |
| Cautious | -5.38% | -12.2% (Portfolio 4) | -8.0% (Portfolio 3) |
| Balanced | -6.29% | -13.2% (Portfolio 5) | -7.4% (Portfolio 4) |
| Growth | -8.03% | -11.6% (Portfolio 7) | -9.8% (Portfolio 5) |
| Adventurous | -8.95% | -11.0% (Portfolio 8) | -9.7% (Portfolio 6) |
| Maximum Growth | -11.74% | -9.6% (Portfolio 10) | -10.1% (Portfolio 7) |
Updated 12/01/23
Bestinvest alternatives
From an ISA charges perspective, Hargreaves Lansdown and Bestinvest are on a par. In terms of SIPP charges then Charles Stanley Direct is on a par, however it charges a SIPP administration fee of £100 + VAT if you hold less than £30,000, a charge that Bestinvest has recently scrapped. So it then comes down to which platform is easiest to use and has the best functionality. Hargreaves Lansdown's popularity is a testimony to its strength in those areas, even if it isn't the cheapest investment platform for everyone.
Interactive Investor* can be a cheaper alternative for sophisticated investors thanks to its subscription charging model. Those wishing to invest in a SIPP might be interested in Interactive Investor's 'Pension Builder' plan which charges a flat fee of just £12.99 per month. Bestinvest has a minimum SIPP fee of £120 per annum and so you have to have a SIPP worth over £39,000 to start making a saving with Interactive Investor.
If you just want to invest in a ready-made portfolio then there are other alternatives from robo-advisers such as Wealthify, Nutmeg and Moneyfarm (the latter also offers guidance sessions with a financial planner), with Nutmeg also offering a selection of fixed allocation portfolios, similar to the 'Smart' portfolios offered by Bestinvest. Or if you just want an index tracking fund then you could consider one of the Vanguard Lifestrategy funds bought via the Vanguard Investor platform.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. But as you can clearly see this has in no way influenced this independent and balanced review of the product. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses - Bestinvest, Interactive Investor
