You're buying a small piece of a company when you buy shares.Your shares will become more valuable if the company grows.When you buy shares in a company, you're betting that the company will become more valuable over time.You need to open a share dealing account to buy shares in the UK.You can buy the shares if you deposited cash in your account.You should hold your shares for at least 5 years after you've bought them.
Step 1: Share dealing accounts are compared.
The majority of UK traders buy and sell their shares online.If you're just starting out, look for a trading platform that has the lowest fees, a platform interface that's easy to navigate, and a broad offering of shares.Before setting up an account, you can look around the platform to see how you like it.You can use the comparison tool at Stockbrokers.com to compare online share dealing accounts.Compare to use it at https://uk.stockbrokers.com.IG, Interactive Investor, and Hargreaves Lansdown are some of the most popular online platforms.You may pay a higher fee if you use one of these services.You can be confident in the quality of the platform.Online trading platforms usually buy or sell shares according to your instructions, without giving you any advice.Many platforms have resources for beginning investors.
Step 2: At the platform you have chosen, complete an online application.
Once you've decided on a platform you want to use, navigate to the platform's home page and look for a button to register or open an account.You can fill out the form by clicking the button.Basic identity information will include your full name, address, date of birth, and National Insurance Number.You have to include your phone number and email address.Information about yourself and the bank account you'll use to fund your investment account are required by the application.
Step 3: You need to fund your account.
Once your application is approved, you'll get an email from the platform with your account number and instructions on how to use it.You can transfer money from your bank account to your share dealing account with the help of your usernames and passwords.Some online trading platforms require you to have a minimum amount of cash in your account at all times, while others only allow your first funding transfer to be at least a small amount.Most of them don't have minimums.If you want to fund your account, you can either initiate an electronic funds transfer from your bank account or use your debit card.The funds should show up in your share dealing account if you use your debit card.
Step 4: Define your investment strategy.
Risk is a big part of your investment strategy.You want to minimize your risk if you're investing for the long term.This leads to decreased returns, but you have time to build and grow your portfolio.A higher rate of return in a shorter period of time can cause you to lose your entire investment.How much you can afford to lose is something you want to think about.Imagine if you lost everything you'd invested in shares.You may be able to tolerate a higher degree of risk if you have other savings vehicles.The Money Advice Service suggests completing a "money fact find" to help define your investment strategy.The organization has a template you can use to conduct your own money fact find.Financial planners can help you come up with the best investment strategy to achieve your financial goals.
Step 5: Do you want to invest in companies?
Your online share dealing platform has a lot of information about shares that are available for trade.The past performance of the company is not a prediction of future performance.You should have the company's prospectus on your platform.You can usually get it from the company's website.Carefully read it.It will give you a good idea of where the company is going.The company's website, as well as news stories from financial news media, can give you some insight into the stability of the company.If high-ranking executives, such as the CEO or the President, have resigned or been fired, that may be a sign that the company is experiencing some upheaval.The company's performance can be compared to that of other companies in the same industry.Even in down times, look for companies that consistently beat their competitors.
Step 6: Your portfolio should be balanced with shares from several companies.
It's a risky strategy to only hold shares in a single company.Your entire investment depends on the rise or fall of that company, and you could lose everything.You can spread the risk by buying shares in different companies.Government bonds and real estate should be included in your portfolio.Diversification of the shares you buy across different sectors, markets, and company sizes is a good way to focus on buying shares.Smaller companies are more at risk than larger companies.The shares of larger companies are more expensive.If you want to balance your risk, put more of your money in larger companies.
Step 7: If you want to buy shares, place your order.
To purchase shares, log into your account and navigate to the buy and sell page.Set your order after searching for the stock that you want to buy using the company's name or stock code.You can either specify the number of shares you want to buy or you can order as many as you need.You can set the maximum amount you're willing to pay per share if you specify the number of shares you want to buy.Stamp Duty Reserve Tax is paid when you buy shares.Make sure you include taxes and trading platform fees in your budget.
Step 8: If you want shareholder benefits, keep your certificates.
Many companies offer perks to holders of certificated shares.You have the right to vote on company decisions.The company's register of shareholders will show your name when you buy certificated shares.The shareholder register is public information.Nominee-based accounts are offered by most online trading platforms.If you buy certificated shares, you can transfer them to your online share trading account.
Step 9: If you don't want to be on the company's share register, use a nominee account.
Nominee accounts allow you to buy and sell shares electronically.You don't have to worry about being publicly listed as a shareholder or playing an active part in the company's operations if you hold certificated shares.If you buy a stock that issues dividends and have a nominee account, you will receive your dividends from the platform rather than the company.You may have to pay a fee.Since the entire transaction is electronic, you can buy and sell shares more quickly with a nominee account.
Step 10: You can apply for an individual savings account through your share dealing account.
If you're new to investing, you should start with a stocks and shares account.You can invest up to £20,000 tax-free if you choose to do so.If your shares increase in value, you'll have to pay taxes.There are online trading platforms that offer ISAs.Although it's best to hold your investments for a long time, you can withdraw your money at any time without penalties.If you want to use another platform, you may be able to transfer your ISA to that platform.There is information available on the platform that will show you how to transfer an existing ISA.