by Cliff Weight, Director ShareSoc.
The Gamestop upcoming AGM votes have highlighted the differences in the platforms. Some still do not allow you to buy US shares.
Notably Interactive and eToro will allow voting of Gamestop shares.
I was sent the information below by a journalist, which looks right, but I cannot guarantee it is so. These things often change. I understand that Hargreaves are looking at making voting easier and considering using Broadridge. That would definitely be a great step in the right direction.
Platform | Access to US Shares? | Able to vote? |
Hargreaves Lansdown | Yes | No |
AJ Bell | Yes | No |
Interactive Investor | Yes | Yes |
eToro | Yes | Trial for GameStop |
Trading212 | Yes | No |
Freetrade | Yes | No |
Barclays Smart Investor | No | N/A |
Bestinvest | No | N/A |
Fidelity Personal Investing | No | N/A |
We have an active forum about platforms, https://sharesocstagin.wpenginepowered.com/forums/forum/choosing-a-stockbroker-or-platform/ Please add your comments and views there.
A member who wishes to remain anonymous has emailed me this info (not fact checked!):
One point of interest in this list is that AJ Bell and many others only offer US shares that are traded as CDI’s (depositary reciepts) in London. This is very limiting once you get past the big companies.
IG is the only company I know that offers a broad range of US shares in an ISA and they say they charge £100 for corporate actions but I have never tested it. Also, their customer service has become appalling.