Personal Finance Writer & Self-Directed Investor
Personal finance writer and self-directed investor with hands-on experience navigating UK investment markets. Founder of Smart Investor UK — making investing more accessible for everyday people in the UK.
James Hartley is a personal finance writer and self-directed investor with hands-on experience navigating UK investment markets. He invests through platforms including Trading 212, Vanguard, and eToro — and personally tests every platform he reviews, holding real investments in ISAs, ETFs, and individual shares.
James founded Smart Investor UK to cut through the jargon and make investing more accessible for everyday people in the UK. Every guide, review, and comparison on this site reflects his own research and first-hand experience.
He covers trading platforms, stocks and shares ISAs, beginner investing, pensions (SIPPs), ETFs, dividends, and UK investment tax — with a focus on practical, honest, and up-to-date information.
Join UK investors who get our latest guides delivered weekly. Free, no spam.