What are the Benefits of Stocks and shares ISAs?

What are the Benefits of Stocks and shares ISAs?

We believe that investing today is arguably more important than ever before, and we understand that maximising your available funds- whether you're looking to grow a nest egg lump sum or boost your income- is key. One of our most popular products is the CT ISA, which gives your money the best chance to grow by investing in one or more of our investment trust portfolios within your tax-free ISA allowance. But how do stocks and shares ISAs like this work?

Let's talk about risk

The value of your investments and any income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the original amount invested. Tax allowances and the benefits of tax-efficient accounts are subject to change and tax treatment depends upon your individual circumstances.

What is a Lifetime ISA anyway?

The value of your investments and any income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the original amount invested. Tax allowances and the benefits of tax-efficient accounts are subject to change and tax treatment depends upon your individual circumstances.

We’ve answered some of the most common questions about our stocks and shares ISA below to help you understand if this is the right plan for you.

1) What are the main benefits of a stocks and shares ISA?

A stocks and shares ISA can be a great way to make tax efficient investments. Any returns you make on your original investment with a stocks and shares ISA are free of capital gains tax, even if the returns take your investment amount over your ISA allowance for the current tax year. There is also no further income tax to pay on returns made from your ISA. This means that you could invest up to the full ISA allowance amount each year and build a strong investment over time.

2) Do I need to already know how to invest in the stocks and shares market?

Not at all! Our range of 10 Investment Trusts are looked after by professional Fund Managers who invest in a wide range of assets and companies on your behalf, making the CT ISA a great option for investment beginners. Our Fund Managers will also regularly monitor the market and adjust the underlying investments with a view to maximising potential returns. However, you do need to understand the level of investment risk associated with your investment, which is why we suggest consulting a financial adviser if you’re unsure.

3) How much risk is involved in the CT ISA?

As with any type of investment, it’s important to bear in mind that the value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount invested. Tax allowances and the benefits of tax-efficient accounts are subject to change and tax treatment depends upon your individual circumstances. Before investing, you should decide what level of risk you’re comfortable with, seeking financial advice if necessary. Once you’ve decided that, our investment trusts range from lower to higher risk, so you can choose as many trusts as you like to build a portfolio tailored to your needs.

4) How much can I invest in an ISA?

Our ISA has three flexible payment options for you to choose from, depending on the amount you would like to invest. The current investment limit is £20,000 per adult per tax year. You can choose to invest:

a) Via a lump sum only. The minimum lump sum for the ISA is £500 per investment trust.

b) With an initial lump sum followed by monthly top-up payments which can start from £50 per trust per month.

c) With no lump sum, using monthly savings from £50 per trust per month.

5) What will it cost me?

  • Annual charge – £60 + VAT
  • Dealing charge – 0.2% on sales and purchases
  • Government stamp duty of 0.5% applies on purchases of UK shares only

Make sure you read the pre-sales costs disclosure before you invest

6) How do I get started?

Investing in a CT Stocks and Shares ISA is straightforward. Open an account using either our investors portal or by downloading an application form and sending it into us, choose the investment trust(s) that best suits your investment needs and finally, decide how much to invest.

Before investing, please make sure you read the Key Features and Terms & Conditions, the relevant Key Information Document and Pre-Sales Disclosure documents.

Got questions about the CT ISA?

Frequently asked questions

This section of the website is directed at persons who are located in the UK. Please read our full terms and conditions and the relevant Key Information Documents (“KID”) before proceeding with any investment product referred to on this website. Nothing on this website is, or is intended to be, advice to buy or sell any investments. If you are at all unsure whether an investment product will meet your individual needs, please seek advice.

Read time - 6 min
18 July 2018

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How to make your choice

Only once you turn 18 you are able to make a decision on your account. If you’re ready to make a decision you can do so by downloading our CTF Election form. Simply fill it in and send it back to us whatever you decide to do. Download the form using the button below.

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