Mashood lives in West London, and works in enterprise sales. He started investing with Freetrade during the pandemic. Having invested through more traditional, telephone-based brokers in the past, today he uses Freetrade across several accounts and sees investing as a practical way to build greater financial security.
Q: What first attracted you to Freetrade?
A: I have always invested because I want my money to be working for me, but there has never been an easier way to do it. Freetrade is simple to use, and the lower fees are helpful too. I remember when you could pay £15 or £20 for every transaction and had to deal with paper-based or telephone brokers. With Freetrade, everything is app-based, so I can move quickly when I need to. It’s a completely different world.
Q: What do you value most about having your investments with Freetrade?
A: A huge benefit is having the different accounts in one place. I have an ISA, a general investment account, a SIPP and two Junior ISAs. It just makes things simpler. I transferred my children’s existing Junior ISAs to Freetrade, and the process was relatively painless. I use my phone for everything, so being able to see my accounts, check how markets have reacted, and take action quickly makes life easier.
Q: How do you approach investing?
A: My career has mostly been in technology, so my portfolio has tended to be tech-heavy. I am familiar with the sector and understand many of the companies. I also do my own research. The internet has made that much easier, and AI tools have made it easier again to explore companies and check my thinking.
Q: What has Freetrade enabled you to do differently?
A: The main thing is the ease and speed of investing. I have everything I need in my hand, and I can act quickly. The peace of mind matters too. I know the platform is regulated, and I would not want to put my money somewhere without that confidence. I also value the flexibility of the ISA. I have taken money out for other opportunities and then put it back in during the same tax year. Being able to do that without losing the allowance is a big benefit for me.
Q: How has investing changed your relationship with money?
A: I take investing more seriously now because Freetrade has made it so accessible. I can explore shares and funds, save ideas for later and look at how different investments have performed. Property used to be my main investment. Over time, that has flipped, and now I focus much more on stocks and shares. It is simply much easier. With property, you are dealing with tenants, maintenance, and all the other problems that come with being a landlord. Investing in shares involves less hassle and gives me more flexibility.
Q: What are you ultimately investing for?
A: It is for the future and for the day I eventually stop working. You work hard for your money, so you want that money to work hard for you as well. I want to invest in a tax-efficient way, build something for retirement, and leave whatever I do not use to my children. Young people have a difficult financial landscape ahead of them, so being able to help matters to me.
For me, financial freedom is the peace of mind that comes from knowing I can stop working without worrying about how I will live. I do not just want to get by. I want to live comfortably, and investing is part of the journey towards that.
The people featured in these interviews are actual Freetrade customers and were remunerated for their time. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest. Always do your own research.
