TD Direct Investing saw a 22% increase in fund holdings, 28% increase in equity holdings and 41% increase in REIT holdings over the past year.

Unsurprisingly, blue chips have dominated TD clients’ ISA equity investments.

Stuart Welch, CEO of TD Direct Investing, said: “This indicates [clients] are continuing to place their faith in what they probably perceive as long term income stocks.

“They are also being smart by diversifying their portfolios across a variety of asset classes including the financial services, oil and gas, telecoms, pharma and retail sectors. In fact, the top ISA equity holdings have changed very little over the past three years with Lloyds Bank, BP and Vodafone remaining most popular among our ISA clients.

“Although all of these stocks are well known brand names, it is interesting to see they are a mix of small, mid and large caps, which can help investors gain a mixture of income and long term options. It also helps to spread risk and as the recent demise of HMV has shown us, even FTSE 100 blue-chips are not immune to going into administration.”

When it comes to fund holdings, investors appear to be turning to emerging markets – with Aberdeen Emerging Markets pipping old favourite BlackRock Gold & General as TD clients’ most popular ISA fund holding.

“Last year, our clients ISA fund holdings saw more UK and European representation, perhaps signalling investors’ hopes for the long term prospects of the UK and European markets,” Welch said.

“However, as eurozone debt concerns continue and the UK economy stalls, there appears to be faith in emerging markets.

“The increasing popularity of emerging market and income funds in recent years suggests that investors have been looking for both short and long term options for growth and maybe view this part of the globe as a valid long term investment.”