Funds

Frequently asked questions

• What is a fund?

  A fund is an investment that pools together the money from many individuals. Fund managers then use it to invest in a wide range of shares and/or bonds. Each investor is issued units, which represent a portion of the holdings of the fund.

• Which accounts can I invest in?

  You can hold any fund within the HL Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Lifetime ISA and Fund and Share Account.

  Help choose an account

• How do I buy a fund?

  Once you have opened an account, it is straightforward and secure to place a deal. Please ensure you have read the fund's Key Investor Information Document or Key Features first which is available from the individual fund factsheets on the website.

  1. Log in or call our experienced dealers

  Log in to your secure online account or call our experienced dealers on 0117 980 9800.

  2. Select the account in which you wish to deal

  Select either the Fund and Share Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA or SIPP.

  3. Choose your investment and deal value

  Find your fund online and enter the value you're looking to invest. Alternatively, provide your dealer with these details by telephone.

  4. Confirm the deal

  The details of the deal will be provided for you to check. Confirm you're happy with the fund name and value to be invested and the deal is done. We will send you a contract note either by post or you can download it online - whichever you prefer.

• What is the difference between income and accumulation units?

  The type of unit you hold determines how any income generated from the fund's underlying investments is treated.

  With income units, income is paid out to fund holders as cash. This could provide the investor with an income stream or the cash could be reinvested to buy additional units.

  With accumulation units income is retained within the fund and reinvested, increasing the price of the units. Generally, for investors who wish to reinvest income, accumulation units offer a more convenient and cost-effective way of doing so.

• How are funds priced?

  Funds are priced based on the value of their underlying holdings. Most funds will calculate and publish a price every working day. There is no continuous pricing of fund units throughout the trading day.

  The vast majority of funds price each working day at noon. The pricing system means that when you place a deal it will be traded at the next available valuation point, typically noon the next working day. This means that you will not know the exact price that you will buy or sell at when you place the deal.

  To check when your funds value please see the valuation point on the key features tab of the fund's factsheet.

• Can I get help choosing funds?

  If you’re not sure which funds to choose, explore the following options to get started.

  • Wealth Shortlist. Funds from a range of sectors, researched and chosen by our analysts.
  • Ready-made investments. Leave it to the experts with our all-in-one portfolio funds. With four to choose from, you can pick the investment most suited to you.
  • Investment advice. If you’re not comfortable picking your own funds, you could pay an adviser for expert help.