HL Children’s Stocks Shares ISA

Phil_OAFC

Hi there,

Looking for people’s experiences or expertise, or advice where I can get this advice please.

I have two children with a Hargreaves Lansdowne child stocks and shares ISA. Not mega bucks in but a few grand.

Would it be a financial advisor to speak to for something so small?

Basically I want to invest it for the longer term until they are 16 or 18, and keep adding to it, like a medium risk pension pot. (Another 10-12 years).

The problem is, despite reading up on it, playing around myself it completely scrambles my brain (a bit like pensions do to be honest, I can’t be the only one!)

Any advice or comments welcome as long as constructive. Not looking to high risk it or move the money out, just give it an opportunity to not sit there doing nothing, in the hope over a considerable time it will return an ok amount in the long run.

Many thanks!

Albermarle

Would it be a financial advisor to speak to for something so small?

They would not be interested, and even if they were the cost relative to the funds would be prohibitive.

Regarding the investments. The higher the quoted risk, the higher the potential growth ( in theory anyway).

A simple investment is a global index fund, that simply just replicates what is happening in global stock markets. However being 100% equities ( shares) it will be quite volatile.

For a smoother ride ( but giving up some potential growth) a low cost multi asset fund could be suitable. These dilute the equity % with bonds, which normally are more stable. You do not want to overdo this though as the funds will not have the same potential to grow. Some popular ones are 

Vanguard Life Strategy

HSBC Global Strategy

Both have five different levels of risk/growth to choose from, and all are available on the HL platform.

Sg28

Your best option would a low cost global tracker fund. 

You mention you dont want to move the money out, bear you cant move the money out even if you wanted to. Its effectively locked in the JISA until they are 18. 

jimjames

You say you already have a HL S&S Junior ISA with a few grand in it. The ISA is just a wrapper, what is the "few grand" invested in at the moment, any reason that's not suitable to leave there for the future? As above a global tracker is probably a good option long term

Phil_OAFC

Thank you for the advice above all. When I say the money is held in the account at the moment, it’s literally just held there from when set up - not invested at all, earning or doing nothing and I really need to get my house in order and invest it!