Query on utilising spouse's ISA allowance

MIZZ12

Hi, please could I ask you guys on what is probably a very basic query?  
So, I am a higher rate tax payer and my husband is a basic rate tax payer.  I was wondering what options I have for utilising my husband's ISA allowance apart from the obvious one of gifting the cash or investments to him.  I spoke very briefly to a financial advisor recently who stated "one of the other key benefits to taking some financial advice could be access to services that would automatically utilise ISA allowance for both yourself and your Husband on an ongoing basis whilst managing a portfolio of funds in line with your joint risk profile".  I didn't like to ask him to explain in case he thought it a bit cheeky as this was just supposed to be a brief chat, but on googling this I could not work out what vehicle or means to investing which would automatically utilise a spouse's allowance on a joint basis.  Please could anyone shed some light on what he could be referring to?  
PS.  I saw their charges and would rather not go down the financial advisor route if it is something I can easily do myself...once I know what he is referring to!
Thank you in advance !!

eskbanker

ISA stands for Individual Savings Account and so can only be held on a sole basis by an individual, without any joint possibilities, despite what the advisor may have hinted.  Therefore, it's only your husband who can use his allowance, so if he doesn't have the money to do so, and your finances are kept separate, then you'd need to gift him the money....

MIZZ12

Thank you eskbanker - I did think it was strange and yet he mentioned this automatic utilisation of both ISA allowances both in our telephone conversation and then followed up by an email.  He is a financial advisor in a bank, so was wondering whether there is perhaps something peculiar to the services that they offer which would allow them to do this...perhaps I will just bite the bullet and ask him what he means !!

Alexland

I doubt he means anything more than that if he was advisor to both of you then he could arrange for your ISA contributions to be collected and invested.

We make our matching ISA contributions from a joint account and although I earn more and put more into that account each month it wouldn't occur to me that I am gifting my wife money as she is doing more childcare and overall probably working harder.