Interactive Investor (ii) is a dominant force in the UK investment landscape, particularly for those who have grown tired of percentage-based fees. Owned by the FTSE 100 giant abrdn, it is currently the UK's leading flat-fee investment platform.
In early 2026, Interactive Investor underwent a significant pricing overhaul to simplify its structure. This move has made it even more competitive for savers with mid-to-large portfolios who want to manage their SIPP, ISA, and Trading Account under one single monthly cost.
If you are wondering whether Interactive Investor is the right platform for your pension savings, get in touch below and one of our independent financial advisers will review this.
Get 100% independent pensions advice today
Our independent financial advisers have a deep working relationship with pension providers across the UK, including Interactive Investor.
Whether you want to transfer your pension to Interactive Investor or have an existing pension with then that you want to get the most out of, we can help.
The IFA's we work with can provide independent advice about pension transfers, reviews, drawdown, annuities and much more. Book your free initial consultation with them below:
Who is Interactive Investor?
Interactive Investor has been operating for over 30 years and manages over £50 billion for more than 400,000 customers. Its "flat-fee" model is its primary selling point: whether your pension is worth £50,000 or £5,000,000, the monthly platform fee remains largely the same. This creates a "fixed-cost" environment that can save large-pot holders thousands of pounds over a lifetime compared to percentage-based rivals like Hargreaves Lansdown or Aviva.
Interactive Investor SIPP Products
The Interactive Investor SIPP is a "Self-Invested" powerhouse, offering one of the widest investment universes in the UK:
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Whole-of-Market Choice: Access over 40,000 investments, including UK and international shares, funds, ETFs, Investment Trusts, and gilts.
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The New 2026 Pricing Plans: As of February 1, 2026, ii transitioned to three simplified tiers:
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Core (£5.99/mo): For combined portfolios up to £100,000. Includes SIPP, ISA, and Trading Account.
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Plus (£14.99/mo): For portfolios over £100,000. Includes one free trade per month and free Junior ISAs.
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Premium (£39.99/mo): For frequent traders, offering free fund trading and advanced tools like 'ii360'.
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Free Regular Investing: You can set up monthly contributions into funds and popular shares for £0 commission, which is ideal for "dollar-cost averaging" your way to retirement.
Putting an Interactive Investor SIPP into Drawdown
Interactive Investor is a "drawdown-friendly" platform. They do not charge additional fees for entering drawdown or for taking regular income payments.
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Flexi-Access Drawdown: From age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028), you can take your 25% tax-free lump sum and set up automated taxable withdrawals.
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Investment Pathways: For those who find 40,000 choices overwhelming, ii offers four "Investment Pathways." These are ready-made portfolios designed by experts to match your specific 5-year goal (e.g., "I want a steady income" or "I have no plans to touch my money").
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Withdrawal Flexibility: You can easily change your income amount, frequency, or take one-off lump sums (UFPLS) through the online portal or mobile app.
Alternatives to Drawdown
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Annuities: While ii is a SIPP provider, they can facilitate the transfer of your funds to an annuity provider if you decide you want a guaranteed income for life.
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Cash Buffers: With competitive interest rates on uninvested SIPP cash (currently around 3%–4% for larger balances in 2026), some retirees choose to hold a "cash bucket" within their SIPP to fund the next 1–2 years of withdrawals without selling stocks.
Reviewing an Existing Interactive Investor Pension
If you have an existing ii SIPP, the February 2026 price changes mean a "health check" is vital:
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Tier Alignment: If your pot was between £50,000 and £100,000, you likely saw your fee drop from £12.99 to £5.99 under the new "Core" plan. A review ensures you are on the correct tier.
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Asset Consolidation: If you have an ISA elsewhere, moving it to ii now often costs £0 in extra platform fees, as the SIPP fee usually covers all your account types.
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Investment Hygiene: With such a vast range of international shares, it is easy to accumulate high FX (Foreign Exchange) costs. A review can help you swap to UK-listed ETFs to reduce trading drag.
Transferring To and From Interactive Investor
Transferring INTO Interactive Investor
The platform is built for consolidation and currently offers one of the most generous incentives in the market.
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Cashback Offer: For transfers initiated by January 31, 2026, new customers can receive between £100 and £3,000 cashback depending on the transfer value (minimum £20,000).
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Speed: Using the electronic Origo network, most cash transfers from providers like Aegon or Fidelity take 10 to 15 working days.
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In-Specie Transfers: You can move your actual shares and funds over without selling them, provided ii carries those specific investments.
Transferring OUT of Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor does not "lock in" its customers.
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No Exit Fees: They do not charge a fee to leave or close your account.
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Process: Your new provider simply sends a request to ii. For large pots, however, check that your new provider won't charge you more in percentage fees than ii's flat rate.
Pros, Cons, and Customer Reviews (2025-2026)
The Pros
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Fixed Costs: The larger your pot, the cheaper it becomes relative to the market.
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Feature-Rich: Award-winning research, news, and the "ii Super 60" curated investment list.
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Integrated Value: Pay one fee for SIPP, ISA, and Trading Account—and even link family members under certain plans.
The Cons
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Expensive for Small Pots: If your pension is under £20,000, a 0.15% provider like Vanguard is significantly cheaper.
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No "Junior SIPP": While they offer Junior ISAs, they currently do not offer a Junior SIPP (though this is frequently reviewed).
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Technical Interface: The sheer amount of data can be intimidating for casual savers.
What Customers are Saying
"The 2026 fee change was a winner for me. My combined ISA and SIPP now cost less than a single takeaway pizza per month. The app is fast and the research is actually useful." — Trustpilot Review, Jan 2026
"I transferred £250k from HL and the process took 12 days. I'm saving over £900 a year in platform fees now. Only downside is the FX fee on US stocks is still a bit high." — Smart Money People, Dec 2025
How Our IFA Service Can Help
At Money Helpdesk, we connect you with Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) who can help you decide if the "Flat-Fee" model is right for your specific financial trajectory.
Our IFAs provide:
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The "Break-Even" Calculation: We show you the exact math of when ii becomes cheaper than your current provider.
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Portfolio Diversification: With 40,000 choices, "choice paralysis" is real. We help you build a high-performance portfolio tailored to your risk level.
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Complex Transfer Management: We handle the "heavy lifting" for large transfers, including those with Medical Underwriting or Protected Benefits.
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2026/27 Tax Year Planning: Ensuring you maximise your £60,000 annual allowance
Get started here for an impartial assessment of whether Interactive Investor is the right platform for your pension for an independent financial adviser (IFA).