AutoInvest is a powerful tool designed to keep your DIY portfolio aligned with your target ETF weightings, automatically investing any new cash you add.
Whether you’re investing regularly or topping up occasionally, AutoInvest takes the effort out of placing manual investment orders. It gives you control over your investment strategy, without needing to log in and press ‘Invest’ each time.
What does AutoInvest actually do?
When AutoInvest is turned on for a DIY portfolio, we’ll:
- Check for new uninvested cash in the portfolio each weekday at 12 noon
- Automatically invest that cash according to your latest target weightings
- Send you a confirmation once the investment has been placed
If there’s no new cash, no action is taken.
You can update your target weightings at any time by editing your portfolio. AutoInvest will follow your latest weights from the next investment cycle.
When does AutoInvest run?
AutoInvest runs once per business day, shortly after 12 noon (UK time).
To be included in that day’s investment cycle:
- Your cash must arrive before 12 noon
- AutoInvest must already be turned on for the portfolio
If your funds arrive after 12 noon, they’ll be picked up the next business day.
How to turn AutoInvest on or off
- Log in and go to your DIY portfolio
- Click Options
- Select AutoInvest
- Use the toggle to turn it on or off
- You’ll see a confirmation message when the change is made
You can only use AutoInvest with DIY portfolios. Managed and LifePlan portfolios are invested automatically by our team.
What kind of money will AutoInvest use?
AutoInvest only uses cash that’s already in the specific DIY portfolio. This includes:
- One-off payments you've made directly to the portfolio
- Transfers from your Cash Portfolio
- Top-ups made through a Savings Plan
AutoInvest won’t touch your Cash Portfolio or move funds between portfolios. It only works with uninvested cash already sitting in the selected DIY portfolio. Explore Managing account cash to understand how uninvested cash is handled
Can I cancel or edit an AutoInvest order?
Once an AutoInvest order is created, it will be placed in the trading queue for that day’s cycle. This typically happens shortly after 2pm.
- You can cancel an order up until 2pm by selecting “pending orders”
- You cannot cancel or edit it between 2pm and 7pm, as the trading window is in progress
After 7pm, your portfolio will update to reflect the day’s investments.
Next steps
Now that you’ve set up AutoInvest:
- Consider creating a Savings Plan to automate your contributions
- Review your target weightings to make sure they reflect your investment goals
- Learn how to rebalance your portfolio to stay aligned over time
AutoInvest is just one of the tools we offer to help you stay on track and we’re here to support you as your investing journey evolves.