There was a time when Hargreaves Lansdown was the undisputed king of the jungle when it came to the provision of stockbroking and investment management services for the small investor. Now, competitors including its upstart rival AJ Bell and others offering low-cost funds for the individual punter, are lining up to try to take a bite out of the lion’s paws.
Hargreaves Lansdown was founded in 1981 by two Bristol-based entrepreneurs, Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown, to provide information on unit trusts and advice on tax planning. Built around its “supermarket” for investment funds, which used to be known as Vantage, the group gives investors access to shares, both UK and overseas, bond funds, investment trusts and exchange-traded funds. It also offers currency and cash