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Learn about ETFs.

A quick and low-cost way to build a diverse portfolio.

ETF Quicklist

ETF investing with Scottish Widows

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) can provide hundreds of choices designed to help you build an investment portfolio that works for you.

We've worked with iShares by BlackRock, a leading ETF provider, to create guides to help you get started.

What is an ETF?

ETFs are pooled investment funds that trade on stock exchanges.

Just like stocks, they can be bought and sold throughout the day. ETFs are designed to track an index (such as the S&P 500 or FTSE 100) or a specific sector (health care, property or finance). An ETF’s value is determined by the underlying assets it holds.

ETFs hold portfolios that include many individual securities – such as stocks and bonds – allowing investors to own a diversified portfolio without buying each asset individually.

By combining multiple holdings in a single wrapper, ETFs offer investors one-click diversification benefits and wide market access.

A diversified portfolio may help to lower risk.

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Know your E-T-Fs

We've made learning about ETFs as simple as your ABCs.

It will only take 10 minutes to read.

Learn your ETFs

How do ETFs work?

The typical objective of an ETF is to closely match the performance of the underlying index or sector. We offer physical ETFs which invest directly in the holdings of the index or sector to replicate its performance.

What are the potential benefits of ETFs?

The simplicity and cost effectiveness of ETFs have made them a valuable tool for investors seeking to achieve both long-term and short-term investment goals.

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Diversification: ETFs spread exposure across multiple stocks or bonds, through a single investment

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Accessibility: ETFs can be traded throughout the day, allowing investors to quickly enter and exit markets

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Low cost: ETFs typically have lower fees than managed funds, providing more cost-effective access to markets

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Tax benefits: Compared to managed funds, ETFs offer a range of tax benefits including reduced capital gains tax

A broad range of exposures

Investing in ETFs can open the door to a whole world of investment options, covering a broad range of asset classes, sectors, currencies, commodities and geographies.

Equity ETFs

Equity ETFs invest primarily in stocks or equities, and are designed to track an individual index, such as the S&P 500. Equity ETFs span many categories, from an index in a specific region or country, to individual sectors like health care and technology.

Bond ETFs

Bond or fixed income ETFs invest primarily in bonds issued by governments or corporations with a view to track an index, such as the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index.

Bond ETFs typically hold a diverse collection of bonds, which means there is lower exposure to the investment risk of holding an individual bond.

Exchange-traded commodities (ETCs)

ETCs are similar to ETFs, but instead of holding a diversified portfolio of stocks or bonds, they hold a collection of commodities, such as precious metals or oil. ETCs enable investors to gain exposure to commodities without having to physically own or store the commodities themselves, and may provide additional diversification benefits, much like an ETF.

Frequently asked questions

How do ETF charges work?

ETFs will have an ongoing charge baked into the price of the fund – this is called the OCF. ETFs are usually much cheaper than managed funds as the fund simply tracks a benchmark, rather than needing analysts to decide what to buy and sell.

When you invest in an ETF with Scottish Widows, like other investments, you’ll pay a trading commission (of £5.00).

Do ETFs pay dividends?

Some ETFs do pay dividends. The ETF will collect the dividend and distribute them to ETF holders. Investors can then choose to take the cash or reinvest the dividend back into the same ETF.

Is your ETF Quicklist a recommendation?

No, our platform is execution-only meaning we don't give advice to customers. If you're not sure about investing then you should seek independent advice (which may be chargeable). The ETF Quicklist is intended to provide you with ETFs with exposure to different themes and markets to help you create the basic building blocks of an investment portfolio.

Why Scottish Widows Share Dealing?

We offer a low £5 dealing commission rate, no annual charges and no inactivity fees.

About iShares

iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1600+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and over $4.7 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

Important information

Scottish Widows Share Dealing have engaged with BlackRock, a recognised Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) provider, to produce an ETF Quicklist.

BlackRock was selected by Scottish Widows Share Dealing due to BlackRock being one of the largest ETFs providers that manufactures several ETFs. The engagement between Scottish Widows Share Dealing and BlackRock comprises of Scottish Widows Share Dealing making available ETFs managed by BlackRock to customers of Scottish Widows Share Dealing. The ETFs have been selected by BlackRock based on some objective criteria provided by Scottish Widows Share Dealing which may change from time to time. BlackRock will also provide educational material regarding ETFs for Scottish Widows Share Dealing to make available to its customers.

Not a recommendation or advice

The ETF Quicklist is aimed to provide customers of the Scottish Widows Share Dealing platform a selection of ETFs that offer exposures to different themes and markets. These ETFs have been selected by BlackRock using the following criteria which has been provided by Scottish Widows Share Dealing.

Each ETF must align with the Scottish Widows Share Dealing target market for UK Retail customers on a non-advised and on an execution only basis and Scottish Widows Share Dealing asset policy including the ETFs must be: (a) registered for marketing into the UK for retail investors, (b) be able to be traded on the London Stock Exchange and (c) have a physical replicating strategy only.

The ETF Quicklist may also contain Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs) which are subject to the same criteria.

ETF Quicklist

BlackRock will review the ETF Quicklist at least each calendar quarter to ensure the selected ETFs continue to meet the criteria that has been provided by Scottish Widows Share Dealing.

The availability of the ETFs, via the Scottish Widows Share Dealing platform, is not deemed to be the provision of investment advice for Scottish Widows customers. The Scottish Widows Share Dealing platform is an execution only platform and, therefore, Scottish Widows does not give advice to its customers. Customers who are not sure about investing must seek independent advice which may be chargeable.

Customers of the Scottish Widows Share Dealing platform are clients of Scottish Widows, not clients of BlackRock. BlackRock is not providing any investment advice for Scottish Widows and/or its customers.

Market events can be unpredictable which may impact fund performance and therefore performance of the ETFs selected for the platform cannot be guaranteed.

There is no fee arrangement between Scottish Widows Share Dealing and BlackRock.

© 2026 BlackRock, Inc. All Rights reserved. BLACKROCK, BLACKROCK SOLUTIONS and iSHARES are trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners. iShares® and BlackRock® are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates ( BlackRock ) and are used under license. BlackRock makes no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in any product or the use of any service offered BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. BlackRock has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of any product or service offered by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited.

Important legal information

The Scottish Widows Share Dealing Service is operated by Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3195646. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2RG. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.

Important share dealing information