Freetrade Archives - COOLCURATION

May 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Stocks we bought in May 2026: our first portfolio diary

Last updated: 5 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Welcome to the inaugural edition of "Stocks We Bought This Month", a new monthly portfolio diary on CoolCuration. Each post records what I personally added to my own portfolio in the previous few weeks, the reasons each company caught my eye, and the things that could absolutely trip me up. In short, this is what we bought, why we bought it, and what we plan to revisit in future editions.

The stocks we bought this May were three: Brookfield Corporation (BN), Meta Platforms (META) and Tencent Holdings (TCEHY). All three went through self-managed UK broker accounts.

Important disclaimer. I personally hold positions in all three companies named in this post. This is a personal disclosure diary, not a recommendation, not a tip sheet, and not a personalised view of your circumstances. CoolCuration is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. When investing, your capital is at risk, the value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Please do your own research, or consult a qualified independent financial adviser, before making any investment decision. All content here is for informational and educational purposes only.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing

Tags: brookfield, china stocks, Freetrade, investing, lightyear Suggested Categories: Finance, meta, personal finance uk, portfolio diary, stocks we bought, tencent, us stocks

April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Trading 212 Review UK 2026 — Honest Verdict After 3 Months

Last updated: 19 April 2026

This is our honest Trading 212 review after three months of using it alongside Freetrade, our main broker. When Trading 212 kept coming up in conversations, we figured we should give it a fair shot. After using it daily for a full quarter, the verdict is clear: Trading 212 is a perfectly fine platform trapped inside a frustratingly cluttered app. The fees are competitive, the savings rate is genuinely good, but the experience of actually using it every day left us reaching for Freetrade instead. Here is why we are sticking with the alternatives.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Some links in this article are referral links. If you sign up through them, CoolCuration may receive a small bonus at no cost to you. This does not influence our opinions, which are based entirely on our own experience.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Cool Factor

★★☆☆☆

2 out of 5: Lukewarm

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews

Tags: Commission-free trading, finance, Freetrade, investing, investment apps, isa, reviews, Trading 212

March 16, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Investment ISA 2026 – Top Picks Before the Deadline

Last updated: 29 March 2026

The 5 April deadline is closing in, which means your 2025/26 ISA allowance is about to expire. Every UK adult gets £20,000 to shelter from tax each year, and if you do not use it, you lose it for good. So where should you put it? This guide covers the best investment ISA options for 2026, comparing the top platforms on fees, features, and who each one suits best.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk and you can lose money. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services

Tags: best investment ISA, Freetrade, invest tax free, investing, isa allowance 2026, ISA deadline, isa deadline 2026, JPMorgan Personal Investing, junior isa, lifetime isa, Lightyear, nutmeg investment review, nutmeg isa, robo advisor uk, stocks and shares isa, Trading 212, uk finance

March 15, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Cheapest Investment App UK (2026) – FX Fees Compared

Last updated: 29 March 2026

If you invest in US or European stocks from the UK, foreign exchange fees can quietly eat into your returns. So which is the cheapest investment app in the UK right now? Following Lightyear's big pricing shake-up in March 2026 and Robinhood's push into the UK ISA market, the landscape has shifted again. As a result, it is worth taking a fresh look at what you are actually paying.

We have compared the FX fees, platform charges, and key features of the most popular UK investment apps to help you figure out which one makes the most sense for your money.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk and you can lose money. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance

Tags: Freetrade, FX fees, investing, investment apps, isa, Lightyear, monzo, Trading 212, uk investing