Stocks and Shares ISA

Stocks and Shares ISAs are a way of putting money into a wide range of investments without having to pay tax on the profits you make.

You can put your money into a range of investments including unit trusts, open ended investment companies (OEICs), investment trusts, exchange traded funds and individual shares and bonds. With a Stocks and Shares ISA your capital is at risk.

The value of your investment and the income derived from it can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested. However, there is also the chance that the money will go up.

• An advantage of investing in a stocks and shares ISA is that you can shelter more money from the taxman than if you just put your money in a cash ISA.
• The government wants to encourage more people to invest in equities because, over time, they tend to produce higher returns than cash.
• There is more risk attached to a stocks and shares ISA because stock markets can go down as well as up, so you could lose money.
• Only use a stocks and shares ISA if you have money you are looking to invest for at least five years. That way you should be able to ride out dips in the stock market.
• There is no guarantee, so if you are totally risk averse, a stocks and shares ISA probably isn't for you.

It is also important to understand that there is a huge variation in the types of investment you can hold within a stocks and shares ISA - some are more risky than others and returns will vary significantly.

• Stocks & Shares ISAs
• Cofunds Online Trading Platform
• Selecting Your Funds
• Investment Portfolios
• Bundled or Unbundled
• Purchase Process
• Old Mutual Spectrum Funds
• Axa Architas
• Safety & Security