The United Kingdom’s Largest Retail Investment Firm
A very well established Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 company, Hargreaves Lansdown PLC now has more than 1 million investor clients or customers in the United Kingdom. The company manages more than 91 billion pounds sterling, a very impressive credential. They provide investment services for the individual investor and also businesses and corporations. They are also asset management specialists. The company has three main divisions: Discretionary/Managed, Vantage, and Third Party/Others.
Hargreaves Lansdown – Investment Services
Established in July 1981 by chartered accountants Stephen Lansdown and Peter Hargreaves and based in Bristol, England, in the United Kingdom. They initially worked as together in the tax accounting field dealing with unit trusts and tax planning. The firm soon started working with equity income funds and advising clients on investments. They have always prided themselves on educating client investors and creating well-informed investors. Due to changes in financing laws and regulations, the company becomes more involved in investing. In 1991, Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers was officially launched.
Early Adopters -Forward Vision
Hargreaves quickly expanded into providing more and more investment services and in 1994, they developed HL Fund Managers. In the spirit of enabling investors to learn and develop their own investing skills and strategies, they went to a “full discount” brokerage service in 1996. This was quite an innovation for the time.
Even more visionary was their early adoption of computer and internet technology for investment. Also in 1996, they revolutionized internet investment forms and created a standard form that greatly facilitated online transactions across the internet. In 1999, they started their groundbreaking online share dealing service. Working with this concept gave them valuable insight into investors’ preferences with online platforms. They have used this information to grow their business and to help improve the experience and profits of their customers.
A New Century of Growth
In 2000, Hargreaves started their annuity services program. Like their pension and other investment programs, the annuity service allows clients to comparison shop for the best rates and values. Soon after launching, Hargreaves and Lansdown were facilitating more annuities than any other United Kingdom broker and that continues to the present day. In addition that year, they started to publish their very successful “Investment Times” which is focused on investment advice. More than 100 issues have been produced.
In 2011, Hargreaves became part of the FTSE 100 Index meaning it is one of the 100 largest companies in the London Stock Exchange. Additionally, in 2011, they continued their innovative approach to investing and technology and launched their HL smartphone app. The app allows people to more easily and efficiently invest on the go. It also allows their clients to control their investments while away from their home or office.
Hargreaves Lansdown will continue to be on the cutting edge of investment insight and technology to make your money grow for you.
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