Is IG FSCS protected?

Yes, IG is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means your deposits up to £85,000 are completely covered should something unexpected happen to IG.

No, IG has a fee structure in place for holding an account and making investments or trades. IG’s fees have a few layers, so you should check out our in-depth coverage of these in the review. For example, you can trade US stocks for free if you make at least 3 trades in the previous month. Also, you can avoid the £24 quarterly custody fee if you make at least 3 trades in a quarter. It seems like 3 is the magic number for IG.

Yes, IG is a well-established platform that’s fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the company has been around for over 45 years and is also a member of the FTSE 250.

Yes, the company is completely regulated and abides by all the rules set out by the FCA.

There are lots of things we really like about IG’s platform. It’s comprehensive, provides access to lots of learning resources, has a massive range of investments, and the fee discounts are great if you’re a regular investor. However, the user interface isn’t as smooth as some other platforms, and the layered fee structure can be quite confusing to grasp.

The company is based in London in the UK with an office at Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill. For international operations, IG has 16 offices worldwide.

How are dividends paid with IG?

As soon as IG receives dividend payments for any shares that you own, it deposits money into your account. You can choose whether you want to reinvest the money or withdraw it.

What is the IG inactivity fee?

If your account is inactive for 24 months then it is closed. IG then charges a monthly £12 inactivity fee if there are still funds in the account. As the IG Smart Portfolios are rebalanced every few months by the IG team (which counts as activity), you aren't charged inactivity fees for them.

How long do withdrawals take?

This depends on where your withdrawal is going to. If you are withdrawing by bank transfer or to a PayPal account, it should reach your account on the same day as your request. Withdrawals to a card take between two and five working days to clear.

How do I add money to my account?

You can do this once logged into your account. You can add money by card, bank transfer or PayPal.

Can you buy shares in IG?

Yes you can. IG is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Yes, although it’s not as slick as some other platforms. You can use the IG app or the website to manage everything – check stock performance, set alerts and find out about significant events when they happen. IG has made it customisable to suit your preferences and has integrated a live news and Twitter feed to keep you up to date with the latest stock market happenings.