ISA deadline use it or lose it

INVESTMENTS | 5 MIN READ

ISA deadline - use it or lose it

Written by Sally Dempsey
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If you hold a Cash Individual Savings Account (ISA) you may be dissatisfied with the low rates of interest you receive, which could make it difficult to grow your money even at a rate that keeps pace with inflation.

Stocks & Shares ISAs offer the possibility of higher returns than Cash ISAs, but only if you’re prepared to take some risks with your savings. These investment accounts offer tax-efficient benefits, and while a Cash ISA is simply a tax-efficient savings account which offers capital security, a Stocks & Shares ISA lets you put money into a range of different investments.

Make the most of your ISA allowance

All UK residents over the age of 18 receive an annual ISA allowance of £20,000 (2020/21 tax year). This is the amount you can pay into your ISA (or split between several ISAs of different types) to allow it to grow through interest, capital gains or dividend income, and you won’t pay tax on these proceeds.

Because you can’t carry over your ISA allowance into a new tax year, it’s important to use it by 5 April each year. You need to bear in mind, though, that tax rules can change in future and that their effects on you will depend on your individual circumstances.

Don’t obsess over timing

When getting started, a common concern is that the market will fall just after you’ve made a large investment. Some people make the mistake of trying to ‘time the market’ – buying in just before prices spike – which, while tempting, is very difficult given the unpredictable nature of investments.

If appropriate, a safer strategy can be to drip-feed money into your Stocks & Shares ISA throughout the year. Sometimes you might buy when the market is high, and sometimes when it is low, but over time the aim is for this to average out.

Time to make your decision

When you set up your Stocks & Shares ISA, you’ll make some decisions about how your money is invested. How involved you are in your investment decisions varies between different ISA providers; some allow you to choose individual investments, while others provide ready-made portfolios.

Either way, your professional financial adviser can explain how funds work. These funds may invest in shares in specific markets, regions or industries, or in bonds, in property, in a combination of these, or in entirely different assets.

Match your investment goals

Funds tend to advertise themselves based on their past performance, so it’s naturally tempting to choose those that have achieved the most growth in recent years. But past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance and outstanding performance last year could be the result of a trend that will self-correct this year. Don’t base your decisions on this factor alone.

Instead, select funds with a stated objective that matches your investment goals in terms of risk and return. Any investment involves an element of risk. But multiple factors can raise or lower the risk level of a fund, including the assets it invests in, the region, industries and companies it invests in, and the way it is managed. Consider all these factors.

Review your investments regularly

Once you have made your investment selections, you should review your Stocks & Shares ISA regularly to make sure it still meets your needs, which may change over time. For example, if you hope to buy a house in ten years, you might initially choose higher-risk investments, but after five years you might want to reduce your risk level to protect your existing capital.

While annual reviews of your investment strategy are wise, more frequent adjustments are not usually recommended. There are many reasons you might be tempted to adjust your investments. You might have heard of a well-performing stock that’s offering unbelievable returns. Or you might have suffered a sudden loss and decide your existing investments are underperforming.

Investments, by nature, fluctuate in value

It’s more helpful to recognise that investments, by nature, fluctuate in value. A sudden rise in one doesn’t mean you should buy and a sudden fall in another isn’t a sign you should sell – in fact, you may recoup that loss quicker by holding it.

Constantly moving funds can be stressful and ultimately unproductive. In most cases, you’re better off sticking with your investments through ups and downs. Diversification (which can be achieved by investing in several unrelated funds) can also help to manage your risk level.

Whatever your thoughts, to ensure you take account of the full range of available options, we would always recommend you consider obtaining professional financial advice.

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INFORMATION IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF TAXATION LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS. ANY LEVELS AND BASES OF, AND RELIEFS FROM, TAXATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

THE TAX BENEFITS RELATING TO ISA INVESTMENTS MAY NOT BE MAINTAINED. TAX RULES ARE COMPLICATED, SO YOU SHOULD ALWAYS OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

THE FUND VALUE MAY FLUCTUATE AND CAN GO DOWN, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.

PENSIONS ARE NOT NORMALLY ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AGE 55. YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS. THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF PENSION WITHDRAWALS WILL BE BASED ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, TAX LEGISLATION AND REGULATION, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

This content is for your general information and use only, and is not intended to address your particular requirements. The content should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of the content. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change and their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. All figures relate to the 2018/19 tax year, unless otherwise stated.

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