CTF discussion area

SRD

Having just conducted a little research into this i thought i would post my views so that they may also help others.

I should start by saying that I am only looking at shares as i believe that they offer better returns over the longer term. I also focus on well managed investment trusts. Given the nature of this investment general/global investment trusts are a good candidate and i would suggest considering the following:
Independent Investment Trust
Caledonia
RIT Capital Partners
British Empire Securities
SVM Global Fund

Best Invest have a good site that can help with research and background information on investment trusts for those who are new to the area.
http://www.bestinvest.co.uk/investmenttrusts/fmpro?-db=webprices.fp5&-lay=it_info&-format=invtrustperflist.htm&-op=gt&starlen=2&calc_fundtype=it&-sortfield=invname&-max=200&-find

As for who to use as a provider; looking at the transaction and annual management costs the Squaregain seems to be the clear winner at £12.50 per transaction and no annual costs.

Investment trusts are often described as for the discerning investor, or the investor in the know. If you are new to them please do some research to know what you are getting into first. From my own experience i can say that the time invested is well rewarded.

makemone

Just be careful with bestinvest . Don't invest more than you can afford too loose

midge

can anyone help? i have only just been told that my youngest child is entitled to this money, but as it was a bit late for them to send the voucher out to me, the tax man has already put it into an account, from what i understand its an investment account and i have to transfer it into my name to change it to a savings account, but they tell me that i have to draw it out at the right time or the money she gets to put into her savings account could be less than they put in....how do i know when the time is right.HELP..

ReportInvestor

I think

It will have gone into a Stakeholder CTF in your child's name.

You can transfer it into a Cash account CTF in your child's name.

The transfer value will reflect the performance of the Stakeholder CTF from opening date (when was this?) to the date you transfer.

midge

ReportInvestor wrote:

I think

It will have gone into a Stakeholder CTF in your child's name.

You can transfer it into a Cash account CTF in your child's name.

The transfer value will reflect the performance of the Stakeholder CTF from opening date (when was this?) to the date you transfer.

the revenue opened a stakeholder account with the halifax on 9/3/06
i dont really understand why or how they can choose to gamble with what will eventually be my daughters money,
but i dont want to risk her losing it,
so how do i find out when to withdraw it, and who do i put it with, i dont have much spare money to add to it, as i have three other kids and want them all to have the same sort of cash HELP.

ReportInvestor

Well the good news is that the FTSE briefly went through the 6,100 barrier yesterday - so no serious damage done. On 9 March it was between 5813 and 5857, which means a possible 4% gain before charges.

The Treasury would say that it was your fault that it was invested in a stakeholder since you had a year to choose another option.

Yorkshire BS is the best Cash CTF option at the moment, paying 6%, including 0.7% annual bonus.

cathyx

grant1wish wrote:

Thanks for the article Martin,

Although I am keen on a stakeholder the wife does not want to 'gamble' with my daughters money, and would rather a savings account.


G1W

Hmmm... take into account inflation, it does seriously erode the value of money over time...! We've invested our son's voucher in a stakeholder account with The Children's Mutual (see: http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=469), and so far we've been most impressed; they've certainly managed to put our minds at ease with regard to the long-term benefits of stakeholder accounts... worth suggesting to your wife!

System

Can someone with a few brain cells more than me work out some maths concerning my grandsons Child Trust Fund.

My grandsons mother has just received a statement of investment for my grandsons trust fund as his birthday is at the beginning of May. It is with the Britannia and is paying out 5.75%.

Now I paid the voucher in rather late, firstly it was issued late, then they lost it and it had to be reissued.

I took it in around the 20th November 2005 and paid in £30 of my own money which cleared on the 28th November 2005. The CTF voucher (£250) was cleared on 22 December 2005.

On the 1st January 2006 interest was paid in of 61p. The balance it says, at 12th April is £280.61. I cant understand why no interest was listed on February and March. I can understand if its added yearly, but its clearly not if money was added in January as interest.

Now i aint disputing the amount of interest added in January cause my £30 was only in his account a month before the interest was added, and the trust fund voucher was only in for 10 days but i would be grateful if some kind soul could possibly enlighten me as to whether the amount sounds correct, and also if they can think of any reason why interest was added in January but none in February and March.

isasmurf

Judi,

It's because interest is paid annually on the 1st January, or the first working day thereafter.

System

isasmurf wrote:

Judi,

It's because interest is paid annually on the 1st January, or the first working day thereafter.

Ahh!!!! I knew there must have been something i had overlooked!

Thanks