5 reasons to invest your ISA through a platform from Fidelity

With thousands of products in stock and many bargains to be had, more and more ISA shoppers are turning to fund supermarkets, according to Fidelity International.

For those investors not yet acquainted with the benefits of online investing, here are…

5 top tips every ISA bargain hunter should know:

Choice: Not only canISA investors going online invest in thousands of different funds from multiple providers but they can also chose the method: Phasing, monthly savings plans or lump sum.

Cost: Don’t just wait for ISA season discounts from individual providers – fund supermarkets have permanent discounts and low-cost switching. For example, Fidelity FundsNetwork’sTM typical initial charge is just 1.25 per cent - a discount of 3 per cent in many cases.

Flexibility: Fidelity FundsNetwork ISA clients have flexibility both in accumulating savings – buying and managing portfolios at your own convenience any time, night and day - and taking an income through regular capital withdrawals.

Easier fund selection: Mix and match funds in your own personalised ISA - fund supermarkets offer tools which make choosing funds easier and help investors create an ideal portfolio.

Better portfolio management: ISA Investors can consolidate and view their whole portfolio in one place at one time.

Fidelity’s annual “Investor Watch survey shows that the number of savers who intend to invest their ISA allowance online this ISA season is up by a fifth on last year’s figures as more and more investors become web savvy.

The findings reveal an increase in the popularity of online investing on last year with almost one in three (30 per cent) investors likely to invest online in 2007, compared to one in four (23 per cent) who said the same in 2006.

The findings echo IMA sales figures for 2006 which showed that fund supermarkets became the main distributor of ISAs, representing 38% of gross ISA business for the year.

Richard Wastcoat, UK Managing Director, Fidelity International, comments:“Given the increasing accessibility of the internet, it is not surprising we are seeing a rise in the number of investors who would rather invest online this ISA season.

“By investing via an easy-to-use online supermarket such as Fidelity FundsNetwork, investors have access to a wider range of funds and substantial discounts on new purchases and switches all year round. In addition, investors can review their investments around the clock and use a range of online planning tools on offer to help them make better informed investment choices.

“For investors who don’t want to put all of their money into an ISA at one time, fund supermarkets also offer monthly saving plans and phasing options on more than 1,000 funds.”