Pete lives in London after spending several years in Serbia and Switzerland. He first started investing more than 20 years ago while studying, when buying shares meant visiting a bank branch, filling out paperwork, and paying a sizeable commission. After trying several traditional platforms, he discovered Freetrade during Covid.
Q: How did your investing journey begin?
A: I bought my first shares while I was at Cardiff University. I went into a NatWest branch, filled out a paper form and paid around £17.50 or £20 in commission to make the trade. There was very little information available to ordinary investors at the time. I bought a company I recognised because it felt familiar, but I did not properly understand things like market value or why a low share price did not necessarily mean a company was cheap. You had to educate yourself as you went along.
Q: What changed when you discovered Freetrade?
A: Before Freetrade, I had used platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays. Trading could still cost £10 or £15 each time, and that often stopped me from investing because the fee felt too high for a smaller trade. I discovered Freetrade during Covid, when there was a lot more interest in retail investing. The fact that I could trade without paying commission was a big attraction. The platform was simple to use, I could add money and buy investments easily, and any dividends were paid directly into the account.
Q: How do you structure your portfolio?
A: It is split fairly evenly between UK shares, US shares and funds. With UK shares, I tend to focus more on established companies and dividends. In the US, I have a mix of larger technology companies and more defensive businesses. Funds give me exposure to markets and companies that I would find difficult to choose individually, including emerging markets, Japan and other parts of Asia. I also invest around themes. I read the news, follow companies and think about how broader changes could affect different industries. That might be defence spending, an ageing population, or the effect of weight loss drugs on food and drinks companies.
Q: How has Freetrade changed the way you invest?
A: It has made me much more active and engaged. Before, the cost of trading could discourage me from making a decision. Now, if I decide an investment is no longer right for me, I can sell it without paying another large dealing fee on top of any loss. I also like being able to see when dividends are due and having funds available alongside individual shares. The app has evolved over time, but it has remained easy to use, which is one of the main reasons I have continued using it.
Q: What have you learned from experiencing losses?
A: I do not like losing money, but I have become more pragmatic about it. In the past, I might have held onto a share simply because I did not want to accept the loss. Now, if I no longer believe the company is likely to recover strongly, I am more comfortable selling and putting the money somewhere else. I think about whether that money could be working harder in another investment rather than waiting indefinitely for one share to return to the price I originally paid.
Q: What are you ultimately investing for?
A: Financial security. I want to know that if an emergency bill arrives, I can deal with it without needing to borrow money. I also do not want to work forever, so investing gives me another way to prepare for the future alongside my pension. A few years ago, I had to pay a large bill, and being able to access money from my Freetrade account quickly was useful. It meant I did not feel that every penny for a rainy day had to sit in cash.
For me, investing is about becoming more self-sufficient. It gives me the confidence that if something unexpected happens, I have resources available and more choices about what to do next.
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.
