What to do with 25 year old stocks and shares ISA

SheeranJ

Completely confused and out of my depth re action to take with what appears to be a particularly underwhelmingly pointless stocks and shares ISA which I've had for over 20 years with a value of very little more than the monthly contributions made over the period.  Initially attempted to make a simple transfer to a normal ISA with Nationwide but they've 'lost' my signature! so now rethinking if I should now put in another stocks and shares ISA?  ISA value £34,000

Voyager2002

Your ISA has failed to grow because of the particular stocks and shares in which it is invested. Most providers allow you to choose your own investments, so you should be able to switch into different investments within the same ISA.

When you say a "normal" ISA, do you mean a cash ISA? These offer security, but rarely grow at more than about the rate of inflation. If you want the value of your funds to increase, you need to invest them in the right shares.

ColdIron

An ISA is just a tax wrapper. What matters is the investments contained within it

What are you invested in?

tetrarch

20 years with no uptick begs the question as to what you are actually invested in

The FTSE has a 20-year annual cumulative return 0f ~6.85% (if my research is correct)

Regards

Tet

dunstonh

Something doesnt seem right with your figures unless you have really gone bonkers on the investment selection.

Here is 20 years of £50pm (total cost £12050):



The figures are sector average.    I woudln't normally include gilts in such an example but its one of the only things would be close to the return mentioned.    Although you wouldn't expect someone to invest monthly into gilts/bonds solely.  That would be bad investing.

(so £12050 invested as £50pm with the value shown in brackets in tey)

SheeranJ

Voyager2002 said:

Your ISA has failed to grow because of the particular stocks and shares in which it is invested. Most providers allow you to choose your own investments, so you should be able to switch into different investments within the same ISA.

When you say a "normal" ISA, do you mean a cash ISA? These offer security, but rarely grow at more than about the rate of inflation. If you want the value of your funds to increase, you need to invest them in the right shares.

So do you mean I should keep it as a stocks and shares ISA rather than swapping it?  the breakdown is 50/50 Fidelity Global Special situations fund with accumulation and Fidelity Special Situations fund with accumulation

SheeranJ

ColdIron said:

An ISA is just a tax wrapper. What matters is the investments contained within it

What are you invested in?

The breakdown is 50/50 Fidelity Global Special situations fund with accumulation and Fidelity Special Situations fund with accumulation

dunstonh

That is back to 2006.  So, 2006 to date  on £50pm into (£11,350 into each) would have grown to £31,558 and £25,948.  Much higher than a savings account.

jimjames

SheeranJ said:

ColdIron said:

An ISA is just a tax wrapper. What matters is the investments contained within it

What are you invested in?

The breakdown is 50/50 Fidelity Global Special situations fund with accumulation and Fidelity Special Situations fund with accumulation

Where did you get the info that it's not grown in 20 years? That's an investment I own and has done fairly well long term. Even the dividends are more than many bank accounts pay.