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Investment ISAs put your capital at risk & you may get back less than you originally invested. Tax treatments depend on your individual circumstances and may change
- Fund Choice: Access 40,000+ UK, US and international shares on 17 global exchanges. Choose from over 3,000 funds.
- Invest From: £25 pm
- Fund Choice: Invest in the Shepherds With Profits Fund which offers medium to low risk investing, with the aim of growing your money in a smooth manner over the long term. 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)
- Invest From: £30 pm
ISA Allowance
The ISA Allowance changes annually.
- The 2022-23 ISA allowance is £20,000 per person
- You have until 5th April 2022 to make use of it
- HMRC set the allowance annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of September.
- The savings limit for Junior ISAs is £9,000
- You can spread your ISA allowance between Cash, Stocks and Shares or Innovative Finance ISA or simply place all your savings into one of these accounts. You can only have one of each.
What kind of Cash ISAs are available?
Instant Access Cash ISA
This cash ISA allows you to withdraw your money quickly and easily whenever needed.
Easy Access Cash ISA
This type of cash ISA allows you to withdraw money within set boundaries - for example, you may only be permitted to make a certain number of withdrawals per year.
Fixed Rate Cash ISA
This type of cash ISA is intended to provide a better interest rate in return for locking your money away for a set period.
However, this is not necessarily the case, so it pays to research all your cash ISA options before committing to accessing your money quickly can be difficult
Structured Deposit ISA
This type of cash ISA allows you to earn higher returns than you'd usually receive from savings in a regular instant access cash ISA or fixed rate cash ISA without risking your capital.
Your capital is protected up to a value of £85,000 by the FSCS.
If your investment performs well, you'll receive your capital back at the end of the term, plus any income you made on the initial deposit.
If your investment doesn't perform well, you may receive no income or capital growth, but your initial capital will be repaid in full.
So, if you put £1,000 into a structured cash ISA and the market does well over the term of the ISA, you might get £1,000 capital + 15% income when your plan matures.
If the market does badly, you may not receive any returns, but you'll get your capital back.
Who are Cash ISAs Useful For?
An instant access cash ISA offers straightforward access to emergency savings, while a fixed rate cash ISA can sometimes provide a better rate of return for those prepared to lock their money away for a set period of time.
Structured deposit plans, which offer returns linked to the markets while also offering capital protection, are also becoming a popular way for people to use their cash ISA allowance.
As with all savings accounts, it's important that you shop around for the best deal.
For a selection of cash ISA options see our tables for latest products and options from leading market lenders.
Stocks and Shares ISA
A Stocks and Shares ISA is becoming a popular alternative to Cash ISAs now that the interest rates offered by banks are at the lowest they’ve ever been.
Generally, the returns on your investment are much higher in a Stocks and Shares ISA but there is an element of risk and there’s no guarantee that you won’t make losses or even withdraw less than you invested.
However, there are some way to minimise risk if you’re worried about investing:
- Many providers now offer ready-made risk assessed portfolios, you can choose the risk level that you’re comfortable with
- Many accounts mange your funds for you so you don’t have to
- Investing in government bonds and property are less risky than investing in the stock market
While there are no guarantees of returns with investment, these are some sure ways to minimise that risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
The annual ISA allowance is set by HMRC each year, and the current limit is £20,000 per person for the 2023/24 tax year.
£9,000 per child for the 2023/24 tax year.
£4,000 per person for the 2023/24 tax year.
The current annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per person for the 2023/24 tax year.
Yes, you can transfer from your Cash ISA to a Stocks and Shares ISA at any time. However, do check you won’t lose out by transferring, as some Fixed Rate Cash ISAs may charge a fee or void your interest if you surrender your policy before the fixed term has ended
Important Risk Information:
Capital at risk. Tax treatments depend on your individual circumstances and may change. The value of investments can go down in value as well as up, so you could get back less than you invest. It is therefore important that you understand the risks and commitments. This website aims to provide information to help you make your own informed decisions. It does not provide personal advice based on your circumstances. If you are unsure of how suitable an investment is for you, please seek personal advice.