It is not true that those born between 1 Sep 2002 and 2 Jan 2011 are ineligible for JISAs. They are only ineligible if they have a CTF. The article seems to incorrectly assume that all born between those years qualified for a CTF and had one opened.
The article also makes it more complicated than it needs to be - there's a simple rule: "children who don't have a CTF".
Those ineligible for a CTF were most likely not UK residents at the time.
The top JISA I have found is 3.4% (fixed 1 year) at the Bank of Cyprus - PROVIDED you are an existing customer - it's a 'Loyalty' rate. Normal rate is 2.90%.
Can't see these being well used for the reasons noted in the article. Also, child trust funds were worth opening even if you didn't plan on paying anything in due to the £250 vouchers provided (I think there's even another £250 voucher when the the child reaches a certain age if they still honour this)
It is not true that those born between 1 Sep 2002 and 2 Jan 2011 are ineligible for JISAs. They are only ineligible if they have a CTF. The article seems to incorrectly assume that all born between those years qualified for a CTF and had one opened.
Is it possible NOT to have a CTF if you born between those dates? All children born between those dates were eligible for a CTF voucher. If the parent didn't invest the voucher, HRMC did on their behalf.
Did you really mean to put loose?
Lose: no longer possess, not to retain, unable to find
Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place
According to their website, Nationwide's Smart Junior ISA 3% can only be set up for under 16's. I've phoned Nationwide to check that this is so. They can't give me a good reason why it's not available to 16 and 17 year olds.
There are various incentives on offer, e.g. Jump (Witan) is offering a £25 John Lewis voucher for a £250 lump sum or £50 monthly/quarterly DD in a cash or investment ISA.
With an investment ISA, however, you have to take fees into account. Jump charges an annual management fee of £30 + vat p.a. which would tend to wipe out any gains on smaller investments.
By contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown offers no gifts but charges no fees either (on funds and cash, that is - 0.5% p.a. on other investments). Actually, it isn't quite that simple, but that's the gist of it.
The HL offer seems preferable, unless I'm missing something.
This is clearly a big subject that needs careful thought before buying, at least before buying a Junior investment ISA.
According to their website, Nationwide's Smart Junior ISA 3% can only be set up for under 16's. I've phoned Nationwide to check that this is so. They can't give me a good reason why it's not available to 16 and 17 year olds.
Replies
The article also makes it more complicated than it needs to be - there's a simple rule: "children who don't have a CTF".
Those ineligible for a CTF were most likely not UK residents at the time.
Lose: no longer possess, not to retain, unable to find
Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/savings/childrens/smartjuniorisa/introduction.htm?intcmp=Intcmp_0891
With an investment ISA, however, you have to take fees into account. Jump charges an annual management fee of £30 + vat p.a. which would tend to wipe out any gains on smaller investments.
By contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown offers no gifts but charges no fees either (on funds and cash, that is - 0.5% p.a. on other investments). Actually, it isn't quite that simple, but that's the gist of it.
The HL offer seems preferable, unless I'm missing something.
This is clearly a big subject that needs careful thought before buying, at least before buying a Junior investment ISA.
Nationwide seems far from alone in this policy.