Nowadays more and more people are approaching the investment field, even if there are risks to take into account. As a matter of fact, investments are risky since the capital may grow as well as go down. However, there are plenty of financial instruments available not just for seasoned investors, but also for first-time ones.
Among these, there are Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) which are growing in popularity in the U.K., since they are accounts which allow investors to decide whether to save or to invest money in a tax-efficient way. In fact, the money collected in these specific types of accounts isn’t subject to Income tax nor to Capital Gains tax. However, you should have to know you must comply with some conditions.
First of all, you should be resident in the United Kingdom and have 18 years old. Moreover, ISAs come with a restriction on the total amount you can invest in a tax year – the annual allowance – which is fixed at £20,000 for 2022/2023. There are five types of ISAs, plus the Junior ISA, designed for people who want to save for their children. Let’s discover more about the features of these accounts and how to calculate how much your money could grow over time.
Calculate how much your ISA can grow
If you are doing some research in order to figure out which type of account may be suitable for your needs and risk profile, you’ll probably wondered about how much your money could grow over time by choosing a specific type of ISA.
Asking for a professional advice could be a valuable option to consider, since professionals may be able to guide you in the process and to answer to your questions. However, you should also know that thanks to some tools, such as the lifetime ISA calculator or stocks and shares calculator, you may be able to have an idea of the future value of your account. But keep in mind that it’s more a forecast than a guarantee on your earnings, since all investments are subject to the market’s swings and the outcome will solely depend on how the investments have performed.
Taxes, interests and risks of financial tools
As stated above, Individual Savings Accounts come in different forms and provide tax-free interest instalment. However, some types of ISAs can have withdrawal limits or require a penalty to pay if you want to access your funds that are locked away as written in a pre-agreed term. These conditions could be different depending on the provider.
There are several types of ISAs:
- Cash ISA
- Stocks and shares ISA
- Innovative finance ISA
- Lifetime ISA
Cash ISAs can have instant access, if you want to take out your money anytime you need, limited access when withdrawals are limited or a fixed rate if the interest do not change during time.
Stocks and shares ISAs are aimed at investing in long terms in shares or bonds: they can offer high returns, but they are risky because the rates depend on the performance of the market, and it is not a remote chance that you can get less than you have invested before.
Innovative finance ISAs are based on a direct relationship between the lender and the borrower, such as a peer-to-peer lending, and you will have any guarantee if the debtor does not fully repay the loan.
Lifetime ISA is a form of investment for residents in UK with age from 18 to 40 years old. This financial instrument is designed for saving money for future projects, and many people use this ISA to buy their first home or to have something set aside to afford a happy retirement.
