Fifteen of the best self select Isas

A self-select Isa means you can choose which shares and bonds to buy, thus avoiding fund managers' fees. Here are the key decisions you'll need to make, plus some of the best execution-only self-select Isas.

Most fund managers struggle to beat the market consistently. Some never do. A recent report by financial advisers Bestinvest looked for equity investment funds that had underperformed their benchmark index by more than 10% over the last three years. It found 108. In total the funds, run by household names such as Scottish Widows and M&G, looked after (if it can be called that) £9bn of your money and racked up £133m a year in fees along the way.

No one claims investing is easy. But when major fund managers are charging so much for so little, you might be better off choosing your own investments. Enter the self-select Isa wrapper. How do you set one up?

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AJ Bell Youinvest0845 54 32 600From £4.95 per online dealNo account charge. 0.2% custody charge for holding funds (OEICs and Unit trusts).
Hargreaves Lansdown0117 900 9000£5.95 / £11.950.5% per year (capped at £45)
Alliance Trust Savings0800 032 6323£12.50£25.50 + VAT
Natwest Stockbrokers0808 208 4400£15£25 + VAT for portfolios less that £10,000
Charles Stanley020 7149 6437£10 (phone)£28.75 set up + £30 annual fee
Hoodless Brennan020 7382 8300£20 (phone)First year free, then £50 annual fee
TD Waterhouse0845 607 6002£8.95Starts from £30 + VAT
Barclays Stockbrokers0845 601 7788£6.95Starts from £30 + VAT
Selftrade0845 0700720£12.50£35
Fidelity0808 252 8375£9£5.10 per month
Walkers, Crips Sbs0203 100 80001.65% for first £10,000, 0.5% thereafter£15 per stock (min £25)
Share Centre01296 4141411% (Min £7.50)£12.50 per quarter + VAT
Jarvis Invest Mgmt01892 700800£9.50£50 + VAT
F&C020 7628 80000.20%£60 + VAT
Saga Share Direct0845 900 3002£11.50N/A
Halifax Share Dealing Ltd0845 600 0169£11.950.05% per month + VAT (min. £2.16; max. £8.33)
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