Transferring from Hargreaves Lansdown – InvestEngine

How to transfer a Hargreaves Lansdown pension to InvestEngine

What fees does Hargreaves Lansdown charge?

HL changed its charges from 1 March 2026. Key charges include:

Account charge: 0.35% (previously 0.45%) for:
- Stocks & Shares ISA
- SIPP
- funds held in a Fund & Share Account (GIA)
Account charge to hold shares: 0.35% (and “shares” includes ETFs, investment trusts, and bonds) in those accounts
Account charge cap for shares (including ETFs): £150 per year per account (ISA, SIPP, Fund & Share Account)
Online dealing: £6.95 per trade (or £3.95 if you placed 20+ trades the previous month)
Fund dealing: £1.95 per online trade
Regular investing by Direct Debit: dealing charges do not apply when you invest regularly by Direct Debit (other charges can still apply)

Fees comparisons are based on publicly available information from Hargreaves Lansdown’s website as at 25/03/2026 and are for illustration only. They may not capture all charges or reflect individual circumstances. Please refer to the provider’s website for up-to-date fees and product details.

If HL is now 0.35%, should I still consider InvestEngine?

The comparison is not only the 0.35%. It depends on:

account/platform charges
dealing charges (especially for ad-hoc trades)
what you hold (HL supports many asset types, InvestEngine is ETF-only)
caps and thresholds (including HL’s £150 cap for shares/ETFs)

If you mainly invest in ETFs, InvestEngine removes the platform and dealing fee layer on DIY investing:

£0 platform fee (DIY)
£0 dealing fees (DIY)

What fees do I pay on InvestEngine?

If you choose your own ETFs (DIY) with InvestEngine:

£0 platform fee
£0 dealing fees

Other costs can still apply, including:

the ETF’s ongoing charge (set by the ETF provider)
the market spread (bid/offer)
other standard investing costs that may apply in certain circumstances

Are ETF fees different on HL vs InvestEngine?

The ETF’s ongoing charge is set by the ETF provider, so it is typically the same regardless of platform. Differences usually come from platform-level charges (account fees and dealing charges).

Can I transfer from HL to InvestEngine without selling my ETFs first?

If the ETFs you hold at Hargreaves Lansdown are available on InvestEngine, they can typically transfer in-specie (moved across without being sold first).

An in-specie transfer means your investments stay invested throughout the process, so you’re not taken out of the market and don’t need to sell and repurchase your holdings. This can help avoid potential market timing risk and dealing costs that may apply when selling and reinvesting.

If you hold investments InvestEngine cannot support (for example funds, investment trusts, or individual shares), those positions would usually need to be sold and transferred as cash, then reinvested into ETFs.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Before transferring, please consider whether moving your ISA or pension to InvestEngine is right for you, including any fees, exit costs, and whether your existing investments would need to be sold and reinvested into ETFs. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.' is missing from this section

What is an ‘in-specie transfer’ in plain English?

An in-specie transfer means your investments move to a new provider without being sold first.

Instead of converting everything to cash, your existing ETFs are transferred across as they are. This helps you stay invested during the transfer and avoids the need to buy back into the market afterwards.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

How long does an HL transfer usually take?

Transfer times vary. A typical expectation is a few weeks, depending on:

account type
whether it is in-specie or cash
processing timelines at Hargreaves Lansdown
whether any holdings cannot transfer directly

What do I need before I start a transfer from HL?

Typically:

your Hargreaves Lansdown account type(s) (ISA, Fund & Share Account/GIA, SIPP)
a list of your holdings (to check ETF availability)
an InvestEngine account ready so you can initiate the transfer

I hold funds or investment trusts on HL. Can I transfer them to InvestEngine?

InvestEngine is ETF-only, so funds, trusts, and individual shares are not a like-for-like transfer. A typical approach is:

sell unsupported holdings (where appropriate)
transfer the cash
reinvest into ETFs

Do you have like-for-like ETFs for what I own on HL?

Like-for-like matching usually means matching:

asset class (equities, bonds)
region (UK, US, global, emerging markets)
income type (accumulating vs distributing)
style (broad tracker vs thematic)

If the HL portfolio is already ETF-based, this is typically more straightforward than if it contains funds, trusts, or individual shares.

I hold individual shares on HL. Is InvestEngine a replacement for that?

InvestEngine is designed for ETF investing, rather than buying individual shares directly.

However, ETFs are made up of collections of companies, so you can still gain exposure to shares — often across hundreds or even thousands of companies — in a single investment.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.

Which HL accounts can I transfer to InvestEngine?

Common transferable account types include:

Stocks & Shares ISA
General Investment Account (GIA / taxable account)
SIPP (typically in the accumulation phase)

Eligibility can vary depending on circumstances.

Are there any transfers InvestEngine cannot accept?

Common examples include:

Junior ISA (JISA)
Lifetime ISA (LISA)
pensions already in drawdown
certain pensions with legal orders or protected benefits
workplace pensions where an employer is actively contributing

Can I transfer my HL SIPP to InvestEngine? What should I check first?

Before transferring a pension, check for benefits that could be lost, such as:

guaranteed annuity rates
defined benefit features
protected pension age
enhanced tax-free cash entitlement

If unsure, consider regulated financial advice.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.This information is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

Do I need to sell everything to switch from HL to InvestEngine?

Not necessarily. If holdings can transfer in-specie, they may not need to be sold. Unsupported holdings would typically need to be sold and transferred as cash.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.

Will I be out of the market during the transfer?

In-specie transfers aim to move ETFs without selling.

Cash transfers involve selling, and that portion may be uninvested until reinvested.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest.

What’s the biggest reason ETF investors switch from HL?

Commonly:

reducing platform and dealing costs
simplifying to an ETF-only setup
keeping more money invested rather than paying platform and per-trade charges

How to transfer a Hargreaves Lansdown pension to InvestEngine