Xest are the relatively unknown execution only sharedealing service from Charles Stanley. Why is this important? Because Charles Stanley was voted the best medium sized broker by Investors Chronicle, are highly succesful and have a major incentive to ensure the technology works. What's the ... Read review
Advantages: Low cost, dependable Disadvantages: Lack of public profile
Xest are the relatively unknown execution only sharedealing service from Charles Stanley. Why is this important? Because Charles Stanley was voted the best medium sized broker by Investors Chronicle, are highly succesful and have a major incentive to ensure the technology works. What's the incentive? The continued support of Egg and Fidelity who have both contracted Charles Stanley to provide the Xest technology platform for their own online sharedealing ... ...benefit to the private investor? Xest has a system that is built and maintained to commercial levels of tolerance in order to satisfy Fidelity and Egg that their brands are safe in Xest's hands it must be good. Because it is relatively unknown in the mass market the level of use throught the main system will be lower than on other sites leading to less down time. They also charge a simple flat fee per transaction so keeping costs down and transparent. ... more
Xest are the relatively unknown execution only sharedealing service from Charles Stanley. Why is this important? Because Charles Stanley was voted the best medium sized broker by Investors Chronicle, are highly succesful and have a major incentive to ensure the technology works. What's the incentive? The continued support of Egg and Fidelity who have both contracted Charles Stanley to provide the Xest technology platform for their own online sharedealing services (Fidelity throught their Funds Network). Why Xest so unknown? Because Charles Stanley have done very little in the way of promotion direct to private investors. Instead they have concentrated on building high volume partnerships with established brands who need an online share dealing system but lack the time and in house expertise to build it themseleves. What's the benefit to the private investor? Xest has a system that is built and maintained to commercial levels of tolerance in order to satisfy Fidelity and Egg that their brands are safe in Xest's hands it must be good. Because it is relatively unknown in the mass market the level of use throught the main system will be lower than on other sites leading to less down time. They also charge a simple flat fee per transaction so keeping costs down and transparent.
Advantages: Excellent customer service Disadvantages: Not cheapest for dealing fees
I have been with Fastrade for two years or so now. They may not have the cheapest dealing commission around, but when there's a problem they always sort it out on the phone. They are very easy going about not waiting until your cheque is cleared before you cna start trading with the funds.
Their website has improved quite a lot this year, particularly since they have brought in online statements. The prices they get for trades are usually good, now all they need is real-time pricing.
Their takeover by Charles Stanley (Xest) should bring some beneifts. I have also had a Xest account for some time, because it is cheaper to trade with Xest. So I look forward to £14.99 flat fee trading with Fastrade. ...
wallaby21 29.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Fastrade
