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...
24 February 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 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...
26 December 2025
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 December 2025
£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...
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...
3 December 2025
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...
7 November 2025
How investing in a Lifetime ISA can supercharge your savingsA Lifetime ISA account gives you a double whammy of returns, as you can claim the Government bonus and get investment returns on that bonus – which can supercharge your deposit savings.
The big perk of the Lifetime ISA is the ability to claim up to £1,000 a year from the Government for free, which you can put towards your deposit savings for your...
23 October 2025
How to build a passive portfolio for a Lifetime ISAA Lifetime ISA is designed to help you save for your first property, but it can also be used to help boost your retirement savings, too.
Whatever the reason for using a Lifetime ISA, you’re more likely to be looking to grow your money rather than investing for income, and passive funds are one option for your portfolio.
These types of funds track a...
8 October 2025
How does your Lifetime ISA match up to the average UK house deposit?The Lifetime ISA has transformed the way many people take their first step on the housing ladder. According to HMRC, 56,900 account holders withdrew cash from their Lifetime ISA to purchase their first home in the 2023/24 tax year, with the average value of withdrawals up 8% year-on-year to just short of £15,000.
Lifetime ISA recapThe Lifetime ISA...
21 August 2025
Is your savings rate still beating inflation?Inflation increased above expectations for July, at 3.8% year on year. This was up from June’s reading of 3.6%, and while the readings are far above the Bank of England’s 2% target, they expect things to get worse before they get better.
The rise means dwindling spending power today, but it also has ramifications for the future, as money saved in...
20 August 2025
Why it could be time to ditch Premium Bonds and start investing for children insteadPremium Bonds have long been perceived by parents and grandparents as a safe store of a few quid, often gifted when a child is born or for birthdays in the hope that they could be one of the lucky winners of a top prize. Unfortunately, unless they are saving large amounts, they’re unlikely ever to see that dream become a reality and may not earn...
6 August 2025
Six ways to start saving for your child’s futureSaving for your child is one of those well-meaning resolutions that often gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. But setting up an investment account and making regular contributions doesn’t take much effort, and by the time they turn 18, your child could have a sizeable financial head start.
A lot of parents default to cash when saving...
6 August 2025
How grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends can give money to a child via a Junior ISAInvesting in a child’s future can be a rewarding gift for them and for you. Using a Junior ISA is a tax-efficient way of letting that money grow, and knowing your money could help them get ahead is deeply satisfying on a personal level.
Relatives or friends often give a child a toy or clothes for their birthday or at Christmas, or they donate cash...
10 July 2025
What could Mansion House speech mean for the future of pensions and ISAs?After a bruising few weeks, the chancellor will be hoping to reset the agenda at next week’s Mansion House speech, likely turning her attention to pensions again and trying to persuade voters this government can plot a path toward a more prosperous retirement for millions of Brits.
Phase two of the government’s Pensions Review will look at adequacy...
16 June 2025
How much tax can you save in an ISA versus a Dealing account?When you start investing, the first choice you have to make is which account to open. If you want easy access without locking your money up, then typically you’ll be deciding between an ISA or a Dealing account (also known as a general investment account).
Lots of people might default into a Dealing account as it seems the simplest option – but...
2 April 2025
How to set your Lifetime ISA investment goalsThe Lifetime ISA is a clever way of saving, as the government gives you free money when you pay into the account.
How to invest the money inside the Lifetime ISA depends on how you intend to use proceeds later – namely do you want to buy a house, fund retirement or something else? The goals can require different saving and investment strategies, so...
24 March 2025
Four ways to freshen up your ISAThe start of a new tax year is the perfect excuse to check your ISA and see if your investments are going to plan.
It may be time to reassess how your investments can work best for you. Circumstances and priorities can change, so it’s important to revisit your goals and adjust your plan if necessary.
Here are four steps to consider. They shouldn’t...
24 March 2025
How investors use their ISAISAs are a popular savings and investment product, with millions of people across the UK taking advantage of the tax perks of an ISA to set aside money for the future.
There is now well in excess of £700 billion held by Brits in ISAs, with most of this invested for the long-term in stocks and shares ISAs. Despite complexity creeping into the ISA...
25 September 2024
Families urged to track down £1.4 billion in forgotten child accountsThe Government has urged people aged 18-22 to come forward and claim their share of £1.4 billion stashed in matured Child Trust Funds. Government data released last week showed that around £10 billion is sat in Child Trust Fund accounts, with £1.4 billion in unclaimed accounts and £7.5 billion in accounts still held by under 18s.
When someone...
19 September 2024
Two million to pay tax on cash savings interestThe number of people having to pay tax on their savings will almost double over two years to the end of the current tax year, a Freedom of Information request from AJ Bell can reveal. More people will be pushed into paying tax on their savings as interest rates have risen and people hit their tax-free limit.
The Personal Savings Allowances...
12 September 2024
Three priorities for Labour’s first BudgetThe first Budget for new Chancellor Rachel Reeves is coming at the end of October. The rumour mill has already geared up with speculation on what could be included, but we’ve laid out three key areas the Government could focus on when it comes to people’s investments and savings.
ISA simplificationAt a time when government is facing significant...
28 August 2024
How to pay for your child to go to private schoolThere are over 2,500 independent schools in the UK, educating over 620,000 pupils. With inflation-busting increases to costs in the last few years, and the VAT exemption for private schools ending from January 2025, parents who are thinking about private school need to get started on their plans to fund it.
Average fees for a non-boarder are £18...
