The ISA deadline is 5 April 2021: use it or lose it! 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 the ISA deadline on 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.

More information on ISAs can be found at gov.uk.

For further information on tax planning and the ISA deadline please contact us to discuss. Tax planning can take place at any point during the year, not just before the April deadline.

Personal circumstances differ and not all of this information is applicable to every client and/or their business, this information is general in nature and should not be relied upon without seeking specific professional financial advice.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate tax advice, estate planning, trusts or will writing.

The content in this article is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. Articles should not be relied upon in their 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 any articles.

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. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Pareto Financial Planning Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).