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Important Risk Information

Using your ISA allowance to invest in stocks and shares can offer the potential for higher returns, but this is accompanied by certain risks, which you need to be aware of before opening a stocks and shares ISA. Please read this page carefully before making a decision to invest in any product shown on ISA.co.uk.

 

James Caldwell, Director

General risks/information

• The investments shown are examples of some of the options available and do not constitute a personal recommendation in any way whatsoever.
• No advice has been given and you should be aware that any investment that takes place will be transacted on a non-advised basis. Arranging an investment on a non-advised basis could mean that you won't stand to benefit from some of the regulatory protection that is available in cases where advice has been provided.
• It is important that you read all the documentation associated with the investment, and fully understand the nature of the investment, before proceeding.
• Prior to making any decision to invest, you should ensure that you fully understand the risks associated with a particular investment. If you are at all unsure of the suitability of an investment, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.

Investment funds/collective investments

• The value of investments - and income from them - can fall as well as rise. You may not get back the full amount invested.
• Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
• Investments should generally be made for the long term (five years or more).
• Changes in exchange rates will affect the value of investments made overseas.
• Investments in newer markets, smaller companies or single sectors may also involve a higher degree of risk.
• Investors in emerging or frontier market funds should be prepared to accept a higher degree of risk than for a fund with a broader investment mandate, as difficulties in dealing, settlement and custody could arise.
• Investments in property funds may be difficult or impossible to realise in the event that the property is not readily saleable.
• Many investments have specific risks applicable to them. You should ensure that you read the Key Features document, Simplified Prospectus, or other documentation, prior to making any decision to invest.
• Yields are not guaranteed and may be subject to change. 

Structured products

General

• Structured products are fixed term investments and are designed so that your capital remains invested for the full term of the plan. Although it may be possible to cash in your investment before the end of the term, this could mean that you may not get back the full amount of your capital.
• There is a risk that the company backing the plan (or any company associated with the plan) may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated.
• Potential returns will not include returns from any dividend income or participation in corporate actions (as would be the case if you invested directly into the shares underlying the index that the plan is linked to). Accordingly, the return on the plan may, in some cases, be less than the return from a direct investment in these shares.
• Where a product has been designed to provide income payments, it is possible that these may be linked to the performance of an index and consequently may cease under certain circumstances. These types of plans will therefore not be suitable if you require a guaranteed regular income.
• The return on some structured products is capped, in which case the returns you receive may be less than you would have received from an investment linked directly to the positive performance of the index.
• Past performance of the FTSE 100 Index or other index is not necessarily an indication of its future performance, and there is no certainty that future performance will be positive.

Capital at risk structured products

• The returns from capital at risk structured products are dependent upon the performance of an index or other financial instrument.
• These investments do not include the same security of capital afforded by a deposit account.
• There is a risk of losing some or all of your initial investment.
• Capital at risk structured investment plans are not capital protected and are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone.

ISAs

• The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor.
• Stocks and shares ISAs are designed as medium to long term investments (five years or more).
• The capital and income values of investment ISAs can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the full amount invested. 

Important Information

Please note that this important risk information is intended to be a general summary of some of the key risks that are associated with the main classes of investments shown on the website. There may be additional risks associated with individual investment. In view of this, you should ensure that you fully review the literature associated with a particular investment and fully understand any specific risks prior to making any decision to invest.