Stocks and Shares ISA

SJP Stocks and Shares ISA

A Stocks and Shares ISA, sometimes known as an Investment ISA, is an Individual Savings Account.

With a Stocks and Shares ISA, the money you pay in is invested in a range of investments, including the stock market, so it has the opportunity to grow at a faster rate than a Cash ISA. ISAs are popular ways to save because they are tax-efficient – you don’t pay either Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax on any ISA investments. If you’re looking for a tax-efficient way to save and potentially grow your money for your future, Stocks and Shares ISAs are a great choice.

Investing in Stocks and Shares ISAs

If you aren’t intending to access the money in the immediate future, Stocks and Shares ISAs are a sensible choice.

Although you can take money out easily, the longer you keep your money invested, the more you are able to ride out the natural rises and falls of the stock market. So you should think of Stocks and Shares ISAs as mid- to long-term investments in your personal financial plan.

If you want the peace of mind that you can access your money fast if you suddenly need to, you may want to think about a Cash ISA instead. It’s still free of Income tax.

The value of an ISA with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.  You may get back less than you invested. An investment in a Stocks and Shares ISA will not provide the same security of capital associated with a Cash ISA. 

The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may not be maintained in the future and is subject to changes in legislation.

St. James's Place do not offer a Cash ISA however, they are widely available through various banks and building societies.

Opening a Stocks and Shares ISA

You can invest up to £20,000 in your ISAs in any single tax year (6 April – 5 April) and this is known as your ISA Allowance.

Your ISA portfolio can include a range of funds, from company shares to government or corporate bonds, property, or other assets. If you’re already a confident investor, you may want to build your own Portfolio, but most of us like to have some expert advice when we’re planning something as important as our financial future and that of our families. At SJP, we’re always here to guide and support you in making confident financial choices.

Opening a Stocks and Shares ISA

Is there an age limit on ISAs?

You can open an ISA from age 18, with Cash ISAs brought in line with the other types from April 2024. individuals who are 16 or 17 years old on 5 April 2024 (and who have not subsequently reached the age of 18) can continue to have, apply for or transfer a single cash ISA account.

You can’t open a joint ISA or one on behalf of another person, except in special circumstances. Your SJP Partner can tell you a bit more about these.

If you have children or grandchildren, you may already be thinking about their future financial wellbeing too. You can start them off on a good path by contributing to a Junior ISA for them. Anybody can pay into a Junior ISA on the child’s behalf, but only a parent or legal guardian can set one up and the allowance for these Junior ISAs is currently £9,000 for 2024/25.

Can I transfer an ISA?

The simple answer is – absolutely.

One of the reasons ISAs are so popular – apart from that tax-efficient benefit – is that they’re easily transferrable. You can change providers, or transfer from one type of ISA to another, and your SJP Partner is always happy to help arrange this. We understand that people often want to transfer their ISAs as their life goals change or if they’re making new plans for the future. We’ll help you do so easily and safely.

Be aware.

There are a couple of important things you need to know if you’re thinking about transferring any of your ISAs.

If you transfer a fixed rate Cash ISA before the end of its term, you may have to pay a fee.
If you’re transferring from another provider, you may need to pay an exit fee.

Please note you will be out of the market until the transfer is complete. You won't lose out if the market falls, but you will be unable to switch or sell these funds while the stock market falls or rises during this time.

Can I transfer an ISA?

What to do next

If you’d like some guidance in opening a Stocks and Shares ISA, do get in touch with your Partner or with us at SJP. We can put you in touch with one of our Partners who is best suited to you.

The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may not be maintained in the future and is subject to changes in legislation.

A little bit more about us

We believe in the value of financial advice

We believe that financial advice matters. Our goal is to give you access to financial guidance which will mean you’re better off long-term, and ensures your financial choices support your personal goals and beliefs.

But your financial wellbeing matters to us just as much as the returns you make. The value of financial advice isn’t simply measured in pounds and pence.

Putting you in control of your personal finances; how much money you have, how much you spend, or how much you’ll need to retire on is central to financial wellbeing. Explaining and answering those questions and creating a personal plan to match is what SJP’s advice is all about.

So you can plan your financial future with peace of mind.

Our distinctive investment approach

Maybe you’re new to investments, or maybe you’re a bit of an expert. Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle.

Whichever you are, you may find the way we work at SJP a little different. St. James’s Place is a community of Partners who we believe are the best financial advisers in the industry. We prefer to meet up face-to-face, and build our professional relationship over time, getting to know you and your family.

We choose and train our Partners very carefully, because they’re the ones who will guide and support you in helping you achieve your financial goals throughout your life.

Tapping into global talent

We believe that no single investment house has a monopoly on the best fund managers in the world.

So we don’t employ in-house managers. Instead, we seek out and select from the best fund managers in the world to manage your funds. Only a handful make it onto our hand-picked team.

If you’re interested in learning more about the SJP approach, you can find more information here.

The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.