The Verdict
Average Success Rate
Charles Stanley 5-Year Avg The following dataset includes the performances of ready-made portfolios/funds offered by investment platforms and may include both actively and passively managed ready-made portfolios/funds. Performance indicated is also net of all fees to 31st January 2024, unless stated otherwise; any tiered fee structure will be disclosed. Ready-made portfolios/funds that include cryptocurrencies or any other securities outside cash and equities are not included in the dataset. The dataset only includes ready-made portfolios/funds which are explicitly advertised by their respective platforms as being for ‘beginners’, and which are exclusively offered by the platform itself. Funds which are managed by other providers and may be identically offered across multiple platforms were not included in this dataset. For example, the Vanguard UK All Share Acc. ETF was offered by Plum, but as it is not directly managed by Plum and customers could reasonably access it on multiple platforms, it was not included for the purposes of this research. Other discretely advertised securities or investments are not included.
Industry avg. The industry average is the median average of all fund/ready-made portfolio performance figures we collated from 23 investment providers. To see the full dataset, visit X page.
Charles Stanley offers a really wide range of services for both DIY investors and those looking for a managed service.
As a DIY investor, you'll get excellent educational materials, research tools and data, including in-house broker analysis and forecasts, as well as the option to add personalised financial planning from Charles Stanley professionals, which can be a bonus if you're not confident making investment decisions entirely by yourself.
The choice of stocks you can invest is isn't as large as that offered by providers such as interactive investor, Saxo Markets and AJ Bell but it's extensive enough to serve most investors.
A ready-made portfolio is a pre-made collection of investments that have been put together by investment experts. They are designed to be a simple option for those who don’t want to choose individual stocks or funds for themselves.Ready-made portfolio
performance hasn't been spectacular. Over the past five years, the ready-made portfolios recommended as suggestions for those who don't want to pick their own individual assets have averaged 24.2% vs the industry average of 24.8%. The more adventurous funds have done better, but the cautious fund has fallen far below the industry average: something to consider if you are drawn to a ready-made solution.
So what about fees? Charles Stanley's headline annual fees are competitive and have recently been lowered to 0.30%. Good news, right? Well, not necessarily, because alongside this fee reduction has come a rise in the account fee minimum and maximum payments. Whereas the maximum you previously paid was capped at £240 per year, it's now £600. I used to say Charles Stanley was incredibly good value for large value portfolio holders. And for those with £500k+, it is still a potentially very cheap investment platform. However, those with less could find other platforms better value, particularly as there is now a minimum annual fee of £60 too.
In addition to that, dealing fees for stocks and ETFs are also some of the highest around (£10.00 per trade), and since the fee changes came into play, you'll also have to pay £4 to trade funds (except Charles Stanley Multi-Asset Funds, which have remained free). FX fees for trades under £10k in value are also high (1%) so if you're regularly trading non-GBP assets, you won't find this a cheap platform.
All-in-all, this isn't a bargain brand, but if you value personalised service and have a large portfolio, then you might feel it's still good value for money.
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Pros
- Fees can work out good value on large portfolios
- No dealing fees on funds
- Superb research content
- In-house financial planning services
- Capital Gains Report available on request - helpful for tax returns
- All account holders receive £50 worth of trading credits every six months, in April and October
Cons
- Below average performance on ready-made portfolios for cautious and moderate risk rated portfolios
- Very high dealing fees for trading stocks
- High FX fees
- Trading platform isn't the most user-friendly
- Larger choice of assets at other providers
Fees
Whether you're holding stocks or funds at Charles Stanley Direct, annual fees for individual account holders are the same across the board: 0.30%. That's a recent reduction from 0.35%, which on paper sounds a good thing. However, along with this new rate has come new monthly fee minimums and maximums. Previously, there was a maximum annual fee of £240 which made Charles Stanley incredibly good value for large portfolio holders. However, the new maximum is now £50 per month, which is £600 per year. A considerable leap. If you have a very large portfolio, that's still a low fee (on £500,000, that works out as 0.12%) but it's not as good value as it previously was.
You'll also need to factor in dealing costs. If you're planning on trading stocks, ETFs, bonds, gilts or investment trust, you will be paying one of the highest dealing fees I've seen on any platform. Although it has just been reduced from £11.50 to £10, that's still a comparatively high rate to be paying, and could take a big chunk out of small returns. What's more, trading funds used to be free - you'll now be charged £4 per buy/sell, unless it's a Charles Stanley Multi-Asset Fund, which are free of charge.
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Pros
- 0.30% annual fees for holding stocks (min £5 & max £50 per month)
- Cap on fees (£600 per year)
- Free SIPP for clients who hold £30,000+
- Fees waived for 6 months when you transfer £200,000 or more
- Charles Stanley Multi-Asset Funds are free to trade
- All account holders receive £50 worth of trading credits twice per year
- No account minimum
Cons
- High dealing fees for stocks and ETFs: £10
- Funds are £4 to trade
- Telephone dealing costs are £25 - £150
- Fees to transfer out
- High FX fees (1%) on international trades worth up to £9,999
Account Opening
Opening an account was straightforward and took me 10 minutes in total. Identity verification went smoothly, although it requires a passport or driving licence and it wasn't clear how you clear the identity verification hurdle if you don't have one of those documents.
Pros
- 10 mins to open an account
- Fully digital process
- Documents needed: National Insurance number and passport/driving licence
Cons
- Not clear how you clear identity verification if you don't have a passport or driving licence
Research
Charles Stanley Direct provides access to a good range of research tools and features. I was able to get in-depth information on the various assets and their key fundamentals data, company information, news, and historical performance. Pleasingly, you also get in-house analysis and forecasts with broker verdicts on whether to buy, hold or sell, which is pretty unusual.
Pros
- Stock and fund screener
- Key features, documents, and information on fund composition and performance
- Data for stocks includes market cap, P/E, performance charts, and company financials
- Outlook and forecasts
- Company news
- Broker verdicts (Strong Buy / Buy / Hold / Sell)
Safety
Charles Stanley has been providing financial services for more than 200 years, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, so it is seen to be a very credible and reliable investing institution. It is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and cash held within a Charles Stanley account is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Pros
- Long history
- Listed on the London Stock Exchange
- Authorised and regulated by the FCA
- FSCS protected
Education
Educational resources are good for beginners, and more experienced investors are gifted plenty of insights from Charles Stanley Direct's extensive pool of experts.
Pros
- Regular articles on relevant topics
- Investment guides
- We Need To Talk About Investing podcast series
- YouTube channel
Customer Service
My experiences with Charles Stanley's online messaging service have been very positive. Helpful, very quick to reply and the automated chat bot which starts the conversation works great - by which I mean that it very quickly worked out my question required the human touch and put me through to a customer services agent.
Charles Stanley customers also seem to be mostly happy based on the results of their 2024 client survey. 79% said they were satisfied with the support they receive from the Charles Stanley Direct helpdesk.
If you're a customer, you can contact customer services through your customer portal. If you're not yet a customer, there is a 'request a callback' service and the online messaging service which you can access on their website.
Pros
- Very quick to answer enquiries
- Helpful customer service agents
- Available on phone, online instant messaging, and through the customer portal
Additional Services
Charles Stanley clients benefit from being able to access ongoing, holistic financial planning, should they wish to utilise the service. Financial planning can help to place decisions in context and ensure that each investment decision is aligned with your wider financial and life goals. There is also a one-off financial planning option, separate to the ongoing service. For £900 (including VAT), Charles Stanley financial planners can help you understand your current situation, and give you a clear action plan to help you master a specific area of your financial life.
Pros
- Ongoing holistic financial planning service
- One-off financial plan creation
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Disclosure 
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Charles Stanley 5-Year Avg 
Industry avg. 
Charles Stanley 5-Year Avg 
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Verdict 
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