Guide to investment goals

To set up an investment goal, you'll need to:

Before you start investing

Make sure you've got an emergency fund to fall back on – ideally 3-6 months of expenses. This way you could be less likely to dip into your investment to cover any unexpected costs.

You should also aim to invest for at least 5 years. But, your money isn't locked away if you change your mind – you can sell your investments and access your money within 4 business days.

There are no fees to set up an investment goal or to open a Global Investment Centre (GIC) account.

If you decide to invest, there's an annual account fee of 0.25% of whatever you invest. It's calculated using the average daily value of the assets within your account in the previous quarter and it's payable quarterly.

Fund managers also apply an annual management charge and there are other expenses which are deducted directly from the fund.

Before buying any fund, you’ll see a breakdown of all of the charges in the relevant Costs and Charges PDF.

You can start investing by setting up an investment goal in the app from just £1. You can make an initial deposit or set up regular contributions.

For all other ways to invest with HSBC, the minimum amount to start is £50 as a lump sum or regular contributions.

Find out how much you can withdraw from your investment pot.

Yes if you already have one, you can use your Global Investment Centre (GIC) Stocks & shares ISA to set up an investment pot.

If you've not subscribed into your ISA in the previous tax year it will be inactive. Read our guide to find out how to reactivate your ISA.

A Global Investment Centre (GIC) account will hold your investment pot. We'll open a GIC account for you after you set up your goal – if you don’t already have one. We'll also open you an uninvested cash account.

If you have a GIC account already, your investment pot will be held alongside any other investments you may have.

Find out what's an uninvested cash account

An uninvested cash account (UCA) is a deposit account linked to your Stocks & Shares ISA or General Investment Account (GIA).

Before you invest

You can move cash into your UCA and leave it there until you’re ready to invest, but there's no interest paid on any money in this account.

When you invest

If you buy a fund, the cash sits in your UCA while we process the trade. It takes up to 4 business days to complete the purchase.

When you sell

When you sell funds, the cash will be paid into your UCA within 4 business days.

The cash remains in your UCA until you choose to invest in a new fund. Or you can select ‘Pay’ at the top of the app screen, then 'Send Money' and transfer it to one of your HSBC current or savings accounts.

Creating an investment goal will help you to decide how much to invest, but it can't guarantee that you'll reach your goal due to fluctuations in the market, known as market volatility.

Market volatility means that the value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.

Learn more about market volatility

You can withdraw your money at any time by selling your investment through the app. You'll then be able to access your money within 4 business days.

There's no fee for doing this, or for closing your account.

Find out how much you can withdraw from your investment pot

If your investment pot is less than £150

You'll be able to fully withdraw all of your money at any time, but you won't be able to withdraw just part of it.

For example, if you have £75 invested you'll only be able to sell and withdraw the whole £75.

If you withdraw the whole amount your investment pot will close, but your Global Investment Centre (GIC) account will stay open for you to set up another goal.

If your investment pot is £150 or more

You'll be able to fully withdraw all of your money at any time, and you can withdraw part of it, as long as you keep £100 as the minimum balance.

If the amount you want to withdraw means your balance would fall below £100, you would have to withdraw all of your money.

If you withdraw the whole amount your investment pot will close but your Global Investment Centre (GIC) account will stay open for you to set up another goal.

As long as you keep £100 in your investment pot, it will stay open and you can change your goal at any time.

If you sell your investments, your money will be available in your uninvested cash account (UCA) usually within 4 business days.

The cash remains in your UCA until you choose to invest in a new fund. Or you can select ‘Pay’ at the top of the app screen, then 'Send Money' and transfer it to one of your HSBC current or savings accounts.