Compare Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs

Find the best ethical junior ISA to make the most of this year’s tax free allowance.

Investment ISAs put your capital at risk & you may get back less than you originally invested.

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Nutmeg

  • Invest From: £100
  • Investment Options: Invest in one of a range of expertly designed portfolios depending on your investment style

Why we like it: Invest from £100. Simple, transparent – Invest in one of a range of four expertly designed portfolios depending on your investment style. All five Nutmeg investment styles are built by experts and use exchange traded funds to diversify across stocks, bonds, industries, even countries. Choose the one that works for you. Capital at risk. Approved by Nutmeg 24/02/2023

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Interactive Investor

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £25 pm
  • Investment Options: Choose from more than 40,000 UK and global investment options for your child's ISA

Why we like it: ii offer a flat fee service which over time could save you money compared to platform providers who charge on the value of investments held. ii offer ready made funds including their ethical funds which allows you to invest in line with your principles covering environmental, social and governance factors. Capital at Risk

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from AJ Bell

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £25 pm
  • Investment Options: AJ Bell offer a wide range of investments including shares, funds, investment trusts and ETFs (exchange traded funds)

Why we like it: Which? Recommended Investment Provider. Invest from £25 pm or invest a lump sum up to £9,000 in the current tax year. AJ Bell offer a wide range of investment options. For a “no hassle” option, you can choose from one of 8 funds and AJ Bell Investments will do the rest. AJ Bell offer a “Responsible Growth Fund” focused on companies taking their commitment to the environment and society seriously. . Capital at risk.

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Shepherds

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £10 pm
  • Investment Options: Is an insurance based Junior ISA which invests in stocks and shares via a With-Profits pooled fund

Why we like it: Your child’s money will be invested through a fund manager & will be invested primarily in stocks and shares, with the aim of achieving higher growth over the long-term than might be available through a cash-based Junior ISA. Open a Junior ISA for your child and get rewarded too. . Capital at risk. Please note: As with all investing, your capital is at risk you may get back less than you have put in. The value of the ISA will depend on the performance of the investments and any bonuses cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, if investment conditions are poor, we may apply a Market Value Reduction (MVR)

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Wealthify

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £1
  • Investment Options: Choose from one of five investment styles based on risk, and a team of experts build your child’s Junior ISA, choosing which investments to buy and managing them on your behalf

Why we like it: You can choose to invest for you child in an Ethical Plan or an Original Plan. Wealthify Junior ISAs contain a range of investments from across the globe matched to the level of risk you choose. Each Junior Stocks & Shares ISA will contain up to 20 investment funds from providers like Blackrock and Vanguard Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Your money is looked after by our team of experienced and qualified investment managers, and we’re backed by global financial services provider, Aviva. Invest up to £9,000 per year and/or transfer from existing Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund. Capital at risk.

Socially Responsible Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Nutmeg

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £100
  • Investment Options: Nutmeg offer a socially responsible junior investment ISA which places emphasis on environmental and social and governance factors

Why we like it: Open with a lump sum from £100. Simple, transparent – Socially responsible portfolios are tilted towards companies and bond issuers that have high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Nutmeg invest in exchange traded funds that avoid companies engaged in controversial activities while focusing on those that lead their peers on ESG. Capital at risk. Approved by Nutmeg 24/02/2023

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Best Invest

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: No Minimum
  • Investment Options: Choose your own investments, invest with help from an adviser or let the experts take care of it all for you

Good to know: Junior ISAs work in the same way as adult ISAs. They give children an allowance every year to save money or invest without paying any Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax. This year the annual Junior ISA allowance is £9,000. Capital at risk.

Junior Sustainable Stocks & Shares ISA

from Shepherds

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £10 pm
  • Investment Options: The fund aims to invest in innovative, sustainable companies that offer both the potential for long-term growth and a positive benefit to society

Why we like it: Invest in a brighter future for you and the world. A Sustainable Junior ISA lets you grow your child’s savings in a way that matches your values of acting responsibly and making a positive difference. The fund aims to invest in sustainable companies that offer long-term growth, while making a positive difference to the world your child grows up in.

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Hargreaves Lansdown

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £25 pm
  • Investment Options: Invest in over 3,000 funds, UK and overseas shares, investment trusts and ETFs

Good to know: With an HL Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, you can choose investments for your child including UK and overseas shares, Investment trusts, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). HL have over 1 million clients who trust them for their investments. Capital at risk

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Scottish Friendly

Regular Savings
  • Invest From: £10 pm
  • Investment Options: A selection of 9 funds so you can tailor your child's investment
See Deal When you take out a My Select (Junior ISA) Scottish Friendly will pay £50 into the Junior ISA for your child.

Why we like it: Offers a selection of 9 funds to choose from, including an “International Ethical Fund” so you can tailor your child’s investment. Winner of Best Junior ISA provider for the 2nd year running at the Investment Life and Pensions Moneyfacts Awards 2020. Capital at Risk

Junior Stocks & Shares ISA

from Beanstalk

  • Invest From: £10
  • Investment Options: Allocate your savings between a cash money market fund / shares fund from L&G and Fidelity

Why we like it: Rated the Best Junior ISA two years in a row at the Good Money Guide awards. Beanstalk app is free to download and use. The only charge is an annual fee of 0.5% on the value of any investments, one of the lowest around. Rated excellent on Trustpilot. Capital at Risk

What are Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs?

Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs are tax-free investment accounts for children opened and managed by a parent or legal guardian.

Stocks and Shares JISAs invest in the stock market through funds, shares or other investment products.

They have the potential for excellent long-term growth returns in comparison to Junior Cash ISAs due to their access to the stock market. This is great for a child’s savings account as your money is usually invested for a long time compared to other accounts.

As they are ISAs, they are also the most tax-efficient way of saving for your child’s future.

How do Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs work?

Here is a list of the key features and rules and restrictions for the accounts to explain how they work:

  • JISAs must be opened by a parent or legal guardian
  • Once open, grandparents, friends or anybody else can add money to a child’s JISA
  • Only the parent or legal guardian who created the account can control the investments
  • You can invest a maximum of £9,000 for each child in the 2022/23 tax year
  • Children can only have one Stocks and Shares JISA account open, but they can have both a Cash JISA and a Stocks and Shares JISA open at once
  • Your child never has to pay income tax, dividend tax or capital gains tax (CGT) on their JISA investments
  • No withdrawals are permitted until your child is 18
  • At age 18, the JISA account transfers automatically into a standard ISA account and withdrawals are permitted

What do Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs invest in?

The investment options in a children’s Stocks and Shares ISA are very broad. You can invest in shares of companies directly, or in managed funds operating in a particular sector.

You can even invest in ready-made JISA portfolios controlled by investment professionals if you are willing to pay higher ongoing charges.

Here is a breakdown of the most common types of Junior Shares ISA investments:

Unit Trusts and OEICs (Open Ended Investment Companies)

These are managed funds, and work by grouping investors’ money together and spreading it across multiple companies within a specific industry or sector.

For example, the Jupiter India Class X – Accumulation (GBP) Fund invests in around 65 Indian companies picked and monitored by a qualified fund manager at Jupiter Asset Management.

‘Accumulation’ means that dividends are automatically reinvested within the fund, whereas an ‘Income’ fund pays them out to investors.

Investment Trusts

Investment Trusts are also a form of managed fund but are structured as a company and listed on a live stock exchange. They pool your money together with other investors and purchase shares in companies they believe will perform well.

Shares

Shares represent a slice of a single company listed on a stock exchange. You can hold shares in multiple companies within a children’s Stocks and Shares ISA. These can range from large FTSE 100 companies like Coca-Cola, to smaller companies that you think have the potential to grow.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

ETFs are tracker funds that replicate the performance of a particular stock index, such as the FTSE 100.

ETFs do not require any expertise or investment strategy, so the charges are considerably lower. You pick a sector or market to track, and the ETF replicates the exact holdings of that market to mirror its performance.

Ready-made portfolios

If you are not comfortable picking shares or funds yourself you can buy a ready-made portfolio in your Junior Stocks and Shares ISA that’s monitored by a team of investment professionals.

Ready-made portfolios are graded by risk level, and they are monitored daily by the portfolio managers.

However, you pay higher charges for these portfolios due to their high running costs.

Is the performance of Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs worth it?

The performance of your Stocks and Shares Junior ISA depends on the investments you choose to hold within it.

In general, stock markets go up over the long term. However, they will always experience periods of volatility over the short term and could even crash in the wake of significant global events.

Here are some top tips on getting the most out of your Stocks and Shares JISA investments:

1. Diversify your portfolio

Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Investing in one single company is risky, no matter how confident you are in its potential. You never truly know what is going on behind the scenes or in the wider industry they operate in.

Investing in multiple funds, shares and ETFs covering different markets and sectors means your portfolio is less likely to lose significant value if one of your investments performs badly.

2. Invest for the long term

Investing for your child is a great way to get the most out of stock market returns as you will probably invest your money for a long time.

Five to ten plus years is a good amount of time for stock market investments to grow. They will go through periods of losing value – all investments do – but they have a good chance of steadily growing over many years.

3. Keep things simple

When you have decided on the makeup of your investment portfolio, try not to change it too much.

Chopping and changing your investments regularly could incur dealing fees from your JISA provider that outweigh the better performance you get from changing your investments.

That’s not to say you can’t make any changes at all, but have faith in the long-term performance of your investments and don’t panic if they go through short term losses.

It is almost impossible to predict very short-term price fluctuations – even professionals get it wrong – so focus on your long-term investment goals.

Which is the best Junior Stocks and Shares ISA provider?

Self-select JISAs

If you are picking your Stocks and Shares JISA investments yourself, then there are a range of JISA providers to choose from.

Most of these providers offer the same funds and shares on their platform as they are universal to the stock market, so choosing the best JISA provider comes down to other key factors:

  • Do they offer the investments you want to buy?
  • What is their Annual Management Charge?
  • What other ad hoc charges apply, e.g., dealing fees?
  • How good are their customer service ratings?
  • What investment research and insight do they provide?
  • Is their app and online platform easy to use and highly rated?

Some JISA platforms charge higher fees than others, but it’s important to consider why this might be.

Are they investing in their customer service teams? Are they investing in developing and updating their platforms and providing original investment research?

Perhaps you don’t care about the above factors and just want the cheapest Stocks and Shares JISA available. Try to consider what your investment goals and needs are, and pick the best Junior Stocks and Shares ISA provider for you.

Ready-made portfolio JISAs

If you want your money controlled by portfolio managers, then you probably aren’t too concerned with investment research and dealing fees.

If you’re choosing a ready-made portfolio JISA, consider the following instead:

  • Are the investment managers trusted and qualified?
  • What are the Annual Management Charges?
  • Do they offer a risk profile to suit you?
  • Is the portfolio rebalanced to keep its risk level accurate?

Are Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs a good idea?

Stocks and Shares JISAs make a lot of sense as a product as long as you are happy with the account restrictions:

  • You can’t withdraw money until your child is 18
  • Once they are 18, they control their ISA and can withdraw as much as they want without your permission
  • You could lose money on your investments, especially in the short term
  • You can’t open them for a grandchild – you must be the parent or legal guardian, although you can still make contributions to a JISA once it is open
  • You can only save up to £9,000 per tax year

Can a Grandparent open a Junior Stocks and Share ISA?

If you’re a grandparent, you may wish to consider some alternatives to Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs.

A Stocks and Shares JISA cannot be opened or controlled by a grandparent. However, you can contribute to your grandchild’s existing JISA if you know their account reference number.

This means that you can add money to their Junior ISA, but you can’t decide where it is invested unless you have a personal agreement with the parent who controls the account.

You also can’t control when your grandchild withdraws their money from a Stocks and Shares JISA once they are over 18.

What are some alternatives for Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs?

Bare Trusts

Another child savings option is to open a General Investment Account (GIA) for your child or grandchild and put it into a Bare Trust. Ensuring the child is the sole beneficiary of the Bare Trust means that they are entitled to the investments but only when you see fit.

They can be opened and controlled by any relative, including grandparents.

You can hold the funds back for a specific reason for your child, like a house purchase or paying for education fees.

There is also no limit on how much you invest compared to the £9,000 per year with a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.

However, there are no tax-benefits with a Bare Trust.

The trust is liable for tax so the beneficiary needs to declare income, dividends and capital gains on their tax return once they turn 18.

Junior SIPPs

Junior SIPPs also have to be opened by a parent or legal guardian. As with children’s ISAs, grandparents can contribute to a Junior SIPP but cannot open or control the account.

Key Features:

  • 20% government tax relief for contributions (up to £3,600 gross per year for children who do not earn an income)
  • Tax-free dividends and capital gains
  • Can invest in Stocks and Shares
  • No withdraws until legal retirement age (at least age 57 from 2028)
  • Withdrawals are taxable after the first 25% tax-free cash

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add money to a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA?

You can top up a Junior Shares ISA online, via your mobile app, over the phone, or by post with a cheque.

You can add money with a lump sum or regular direct debit.

What is the Junior Stocks and Shares ISA allowance for 2022/23?

£9,000. This is the maximum that can be added to a child’s JISA in the current tax year.

Can you lose money in a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA?

Yes, your investment can increase and decrease in value.

Can I withdraw from a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA?

No withdrawals are allowed until your child is 18. They can then make withdrawals at their own discretion.

What happens to a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA when my child turns 18?

Your child’s Stocks and Shares JISA will automatically transfer to a standard Stocks and Shares ISA account in their name.

Can I open a Junior Cash ISA and a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA?

A child can have one Junior Cash ISA and one Junior Stocks and Shares ISA. You cannot exceed the annual allowance of £9,000 between these two accounts combined. They can also only have one of each type of account.

Are Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs safe?

Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs are regulated by the Financial Condict Authority (FCA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

You are not protected from losses in the value of your investments, but you are covered if your Stocks and Shares JISA provider goes into liquidation.