28 September 2026
ISA holders fill their portfolios up with funds instead of choosing their own sharesMarkets are known for changing quickly, and many of us are tempted to keep up with each move. But looking at longer investment trends can help investors identify more significant patterns than the daily movements. The latest data from HMRC on ISA holders revealed that investors have spent a decade shrinking the portion of their ISA dedicated to...
25 September 2026
The big trends as ISA market approaches £1 trillion markThe most recent data shows rampant enthusiasm for ISAs. The figures for the 2024/25 tax year show money paid into Cash ISAs had soared by an impressive 37.5%, particularly notable given the previous year had seen such a bumper season for tax-free savings. Meanwhile, the amount poured into stocks and shares was also up an eyewatering 19.6%. The ISA...
21 September 2026
Women hold less than men in ISAs despite more women paying inWomen held nearly £3,000 less than men in their ISA on average according to HMRC’s latest data.
The average man’s ISA was worth £39,370 in 2023/24, compared to £36,371 for women, leaving a gap of £2,999. This isn’t a lack of effort on women’s part, rather they’re hampered by their reliance on Cash ISAs.
Women are pulling out all the stops to build...
16 September 2026
New rules for holding cash in ISAs: Three things investors need to knowThe government will cut the Cash ISA allowance in April 2027 to £12,000 from its current £20,000 for investors under age 65. While this was revealed during the 2025 Budget, the nuances of what this will look like in practice for investors have now come to light.
When the new Cash ISA rules come into practice, Brits will need to invest the other £8...
4 September 2026
Is your ISA keeping pace with your peers?Investing is one of the most useful tools for building your wealth, but it takes a bit of patience to start seeing the rewards. For the average AJ Bell customer, those who are 45 to 54 have a median ISA value more than double those at 25 to 34.
The level of wealth among customers tends to grow with age, aided by more time in the market as well as...
14 August 2026
The £0 to £100,000 investment journeyGetting to your first £100,000 is no measly investment goal, but it’s absolutely achievable. Here, we’ll look at the steps you need to take and the traps to watch out for when building up your £100,000, and how long it might take.
The first £100,000 is the hardestEver heard the business saying that making the first million is always the hardest...
4 August 2026
How using ISAs saved Brits billions last yearIn Cash ISAs, savers are protected from income tax on savings interest. Across the UK, this wrapper saved people £2.79 billion in the 2024/25 tax year, which is more than double the amount saved a year earlier (£1.31 billion) and an impressive 13 times as much as was saved six years prior.
The bumper rates on Cash ISAs during the 2024/25 tax year...
22 July 2026
Are you on track with investing for your age?If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to do anything in life, there’s a risk you’ll never get around to it. And when it comes to saving and investing, you’ll pay a real price for the delay. So, it can help to know when other people have taken the plunge, and just how they’re doing, to see whether we’re on track, or if we need to get cracking...
3 July 2026
Are you taking advantage of these tax-efficient investing methods?Tax-free wrappers are a big advantage for UK investors, with both ISAs and pensions providing ways for Brits to invest their money without needing to deal with the complications of UK capital gains and dividend tax. These wrappers are well known. But understanding how to use them, where to put your money, and what to do when you’ve used your tax...
25 June 2026
What we know about the ‘first time buyer ISA’The treasury has published a consultation that gives us the broad shape of the new ‘first time buyer ISA' but leaves us guessing on some of the most important aspects. There is still no detail on the level of government bonus, subscription limits or property price cap, making it difficult to judge whether this new product will be a meaningful...
22 April 2026
Where to find inspiration for your first ISA investmentsFunding your ISA is an important first step in tapping the wealth-generating potential of financial markets without the worries of tax.
However, taking the plunge and selecting the investments you want to put your money into can be hard. For lots of people funds are an obvious starting point as, unlike individual stocks, you can achieve a level of...
21 April 2026
Will you earn more investing all at once or monthly?Taking your money out of a savings account to put into the market might feel like standing on the edge of a high dive.
So, it makes sense that many investors choose to wade in, by investing just a bit each month, before building up the courage for a full plunge.
The idea of ‘a little bit often’ feels intuitive because it’s the way we approach many...
17 April 2026
£50 or £500, here’s how to reach your money goalsInvesting looks different for everyone . We all have separate goals, amounts we can invest, and strategies we prefer to use. But there’s quite a few investing principles that apply across all kinds of circumstances and some basic steps you can use to get going.
For many people, the most comfortable way to start investing is to put a little bit of...
17 April 2026
Building a rounded portfolioWhen an investor is first setting up their portfolio, they are usually asking themselves some basic questions, like how much risk they are comfortable taking and what goal they are trying to achieve.
For example, if you are uncomfortable seeing the value of your investments move up and down a lot, then you are probably on the risk averse part of...
9 April 2026
Why investing in an ISA early could have made you £25,000 richerWith April comes the start of a new ISA season and research by AJ Bell found that those who get started using their renewed £20,000 allowance tend to benefit more than those who delay putting their money to work.
It's not just about being organised with your life admin, it’s also about giving your ISA more time to work its magic.
The research by AJ...
20 March 2026
Not ready to invest yet? You can still make use of your ISAIt’s perfectly normal to be nervous about putting money into the markets during uncertain times, such as the conflict in the Middle East, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking advantage of the generous ISA allowance.
Investors have the option to put money in their Stocks and shares ISA or Lifetime ISA now and invest another day. By topping up...
11 March 2026
Three investment goals to unlock with your ISAWorking towards a specific goal can be a great incentive to put money away. Rather than a random ‘something for a rainy day’ motive to set aside money, having a clear purpose and a target amount keeps you focused.
It’s like putting a postcard of a dream holiday destination on the fridge – every time you walk past, you see the picture and feel even...
11 March 2026
The three steps to investing for your kid’s futuresDoing the best for your kids is the goal of any parent, including setting them up for a successful financial future.
Many parents are on the ball to create a nest egg for their kids, but there is a window to get them started on the journey even sooner than we tend to at the moment.
Data obtained under an FOI request by AJ Bell shows that 70% of the...
5 March 2026
What have investors been buying in their ISAs so far in 2026?The two big themes for AJ Bell’s ISA investors in January and February were looking beyond the US for opportunities and buying on the dip.
With only a month left to use up any remaining ISA allowance, it’s possible that individuals are thinking more seriously about making the most of the tax benefit. The idea of putting money into the wrapper and...
5 March 2026
Unlock more income: Four tips to make your ISA work harderISAs can be a powerful part of your toolkit if you are looking to generate an income from your investments. You can use these accounts on their own, or in tandem with a pension or other assets.
Here are four ways for income investors to get the most from an ISA.
1. Maximise your tax breaksWhether you are new to investing or you have been doing it...
25 February 2026
How many teens keep their Junior ISA at 18?Parents considering investing for their children may be encouraged by new data from AJ Bell, which found that kids aren’t plundering their ISA savings as soon as they get their hands on the money.
One of parents’ biggest worries when opening a Junior ISA for their child is that when their child turns 18, they get control of the account and can do...
17 February 2026
Making the most of your allowancesTax allowances and reliefs can help you shelter wealth from tax and keep more of your returns. The end of the tax year is a good time to round up what’s available and make sure you’re not missing out.
What allowances do investors get?As well as the main personal allowance for income tax, which is £12,570 for most people, there are specific tax...
2 February 2026
The most popular investments in AJ Bell ISAs and pensions in 2026It is natural for someone who shares an interest with their friends or family to want to know what relevant choices they make – whether that is the outfits they bought, the paperbacks on their bookshelf, or even the records in their music collection. The same applies to investments and where people have put their money.
We all have different tastes...
29 January 2026
Cash savings could leave your kids £100,000 poorerPutting money away for your children is a great way to set them up for life, but lots of parents default to cash – costing their kids’ future wealth. Saving money when your child is young means there is a long time until they will access the money, which is ideal for investing. However, still lots of parents stick to the safety of cash for their...
4 December 2025
How much the Cash ISA allowance cut could cost youThe decision to cut the Cash ISA allowance for those under the age of 65 is going to lead to bigger tax bills for the nation.
The Budget also saw the personal savings allowance frozen for another year and the tax rates for savings interest increased – leading to a triple blow for cash savers. Quite simply, they will see more of their money taxed at...
