You seem to have gotten an idea that things are more complicated than they actually are.

Here's what to do:

1. Choose an online broker from the list at https://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/ . These are generally called "platforms". Which one is better/cheaper for you may depend a bit on whether you anticipate investing more in funds or ETFs/ITs/direct stocks and how often you anticipate trading.

2. Open an ISA account with your platform of choice. They may need some ID verification, and will almost certainly want your National Insurance number.

3. Put some cash (up to £20,000 per tax year, currently) into the account. The normal way to do this would be by debit card. You could either put in a lump sum, or set up regular payments, or a combination of both.

4. Invest that cash in your assets of choice. The platform provides all the tools you need to do this online (and usually access to some research tools like Morningstar)... you don't need to talk to some other stockbroker somewhere to buy/sell things. Vanguard's investment products (funds and ETFs) I'd expect to be available on all platforms these days (however, note that Vanguard's own platform only offers Vanguard investments).

5. Sit back and let the markets work their magic.

6. If you ever need to withdraw some money, use the platform to sell some investments to raise cash (or some investment dividends might have accumulated in the account) and the platform will have some mechanism for paying it to your bank account. But ideally you want to keep assets in the ISA and to reinvest dividends to benefit from the miracle of compound growth... your future self will thank you.

Next tax year, you'd probably put another £20,000 (unless the limit is changed) into the same ISA account, but it'd also be possible to open another ISA somewhere else (but you can only contribute to one per year). If you decide you don't like the platform you're on, ISAs can be transferred between platforms by filling out transfer forms and in some cases paying fees... but the best platforms are confident enough people will stick with them to have T&Cs stating that transfers out are fee-free.

Good luck!

You seem to have gotten an idea that things are more complicated than they actually are.

Here's what to do:

1. Choose an online broker from the list at https://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/ . These are generally called "platforms". Which one is better/cheaper for you may depend a bit on whether you anticipate investing more in funds or ETFs/ITs/direct stocks and how often you anticipate trading.

2. Open an ISA account with your platform of choice. They may need some ID verification, and will almost certainly want your National Insurance number.

3. Put some cash (up to £20,000 per tax year, currently) into the account. The normal way to do this would be by debit card. You could either put in a lump sum, or set up regular payments, or a combination of both.

4. Invest that cash in your assets of choice. The platform provides all the tools you need to do this online (and usually access to some basic research tools like Morningstar)... you don't need to talk to some other stockbroker somewhere to buy/sell things. Vanguard's investment products (funds and ETFs) I'd expect to be available on all platforms these days (however, note that Vanguard's own platform only offers Vanguard investments).

5. Sit back and let the markets work their magic. Long-term buy-and-hold works if you invest wisely in the first place. Beware of thinking you need to be making frequent changes or chasing the latest fad or upcoming superstar fund-manager, and also ignore media hysteria implying you need to sell out of everything because of impending market doom. Be an investor, not a trader. Educate yourself; read Monevator, Bogle and Kroijer.

6. If you ever need to withdraw some money, use the platform to sell some investments to raise cash (or some investment dividends might have accumulated in the account) and the platform will have some mechanism for paying it to your bank account. But ideally you want to keep assets in the ISA and to reinvest dividends to benefit from the miracle of compound growth... your future self will thank you.

Next tax year, you'd probably put another £20,000 (unless the limit is changed) into the same ISA account, but it'd also be possible to open another ISA somewhere else (but you can only contribute to one per year). If you decide you don't like the platform you're on, ISAs can be transferred between platforms by filling out transfer forms and in some cases paying fees... but the best platforms are confident enough people will stick with them to have T&Cs stating that transfers out are fee-free.

Good luck!

You seem to have gotten an idea that things are more complicated than they actually are.

Here's what to do:

1. Choose an online broker from the list at https://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/ . These are generally called "platforms". Which one is better/cheaper for you may depend a bit on whether you anticipate investing more in funds or ETFs/ITs/direct stocks and how often you anticipate trading.

2. Open an ISA account with your platform of choice. They may need some ID verification, and will almost certainly want your National Insurance number.

3. Put some cash (up to £20,000 per tax year, currently) into the account. The normal way to do this would be by debit card. You could either put in a lump sum, or set up regular payments, or a combination of both.

4. Invest that cash in your assets of choice. The platform provides all the tools you need to do this online (and usually access to some research tools like Morningstar)... you don't need to talk to some other stockbroker somewhere to buy/sell things.

5. Sit back and let the markets work their magic.

6. If you ever need to withdraw some money, use the platform to sell some investments to raise cash (or some investment dividends might have accumulated in the account) and the platform will have some mechanism for paying it to your bank account. But ideally you want to keep assets in the ISA and to reinvest dividends to benefit from the miracle of compound growth... your future self will thank you.

Next tax year, you'd probably put another £20,000 (unless the limit is changed) into the same ISA account, but it'd also be possible to open another ISA somewhere else (but you can only contribute to one per year). If you decide you don't like the platform you're on, ISAs can be transferred between platforms by filling out transfer forms and in some cases paying fees... but the best platforms are confident enough people will stick with them to have T&Cs stating that transfers out are fee-free.

Good luck!

You seem to have gotten an idea that things are more complicated than they actually are.

Here's what to do:

1. Choose an online broker from the list at https://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/ . These are generally called "platforms". Which one is better/cheaper for you may depend a bit on whether you anticipate investing more in funds or ETFs/ITs/direct stocks and how often you anticipate trading.

2. Open an ISA account with your platform of choice. They may need some ID verification, and will almost certainly want your National Insurance number.

3. Put some cash (up to £20,000 per tax year, currently) into the account. The normal way to do this would be by debit card. You could either put in a lump sum, or set up regular payments, or a combination of both.

4. Invest that cash in your assets of choice. The platform provides all the tools you need to do this online (and usually access to some research tools like Morningstar)... you don't need to talk to some other stockbroker somewhere to buy/sell things. Vanguard's investment products (funds and ETFs) I'd expect to be available on all platforms these days (however, note that Vanguard's own platform only offers Vanguard investments).

5. Sit back and let the markets work their magic.

6. If you ever need to withdraw some money, use the platform to sell some investments to raise cash (or some investment dividends might have accumulated in the account) and the platform will have some mechanism for paying it to your bank account. But ideally you want to keep assets in the ISA and to reinvest dividends to benefit from the miracle of compound growth... your future self will thank you.

Next tax year, you'd probably put another £20,000 (unless the limit is changed) into the same ISA account, but it'd also be possible to open another ISA somewhere else (but you can only contribute to one per year). If you decide you don't like the platform you're on, ISAs can be transferred between platforms by filling out transfer forms and in some cases paying fees... but the best platforms are confident enough people will stick with them to have T&Cs stating that transfers out are fee-free.

Good luck!