Investing for children

Brewin Portfolio Service

Give your child or grandchild a head start in life by investing in their future. We have two options available; Junior ISAs and Bare Trusts (not available online).

Junior ISA

With a Junior Investment ISA, there is no income tax or capital gains tax to pay on the investment returns. You can invest up to £9,000 on behalf of each child in each tax year, but they won’t be able to access the money until they are 18.

Tax efficient

Invest up to £9,000 per tax year per child with no capital gains or income tax due on returns.

Regular investing

Set up a direct debit from as little as £25 a month to help make regular savings into the child’s account.

Higher returns

Has the potential to deliver higher returns than savings – but the value of your investments could fall, and you may get back less than you invested.

Online portal

View your portfolios 24/7 with our easy-to-use online portal and BPS app.

Is a Junior ISA right for my child?

  • Only parents or guardians can open an account, but anyone can contribute.
  • Money can only be accessed when the child is 18 years old.
  • Up to £9,000 can be invested on behalf of each child this tax year.
  • All resulting dividends and capital gains are tax free.

Bare trust

With a Bare Trust Account you can invest for your child or grandchild’s future, and by appointing yourself as a trustee, you can retain some control over what they money is used for.

No investment limit

Invest as much as you’d like – any gains or income uses the child’s personal tax allowances for income and capital gains tax.*

Taxable returns

Although the child can’t access the money until they’re 18, it can be used in limited circumstances for their benefit e.g. education (but returns may be taxed).

Long-term investing

The account can remain open beyond the child’s 18th birthday.

Regular investing

Set up a direct debit from as little as £25 a month to help make regular savings into the child’s account.

* An exception is gifts for parents – if the income exceeds £100, the full income for the account will be taxed as if it belongs to the parent.

Is Bare Trust right for my child?

  • All children are eligible and there are no investment limits.
  • Money held can be used for the child’s benefit under limited circumstances, e.g. for education.
  • The child’s personal allowances will be used to offset any income and/or Capital Gains taxes.
  • The account can remain open beyond the child’s 18th birthday.

Child Trust Fund

Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were offered by the government to children born between 2002 and 2011. Children received cash vouchers of £250 (or £500 if you were on a low income) from the government to be added to their CTF.

New CTFs can no longer be opened. Your child may still have a CTF which they can add up to £9,000 a year into. You can transfer a CTF into a Junior ISA. To do this, simply open a Junior ISA and complete a transfer form.

Should I transfer my Child Trust Fund to a Junior ISA?

  • CTFs have limited investment options compared to Junior ISAs. Our Junior ISA currently offers 11 different portfolio options.
  • If you have utilised your full CTF allowance, you can still transfer into a Junior ISA.
  • Some CTF providers only allow accounts to managed via post or over the phone. Our Junior ISA can be managed online 24/7, as well as via the phone and post.

A human touch

We know how important the human touch is, so you’ll always speak directly to a member of the team. Our UK-based experts are on hand when you need them to answer any questions you may have.

Call us on 0333 207 9003
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Saturday 8am to 12pm

Email us at customer.services@brewin.co.uk

Write to us at:
Brewin Portfolio Service
Sixth Floor, Atria One
144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh, EH3 8BR

Frequently asked questions

BPS is an execution only, non-advice service.

We provide pre-determined portfolios which are designed by our in-house experts. We take on the hard work of picking what assets are in these portfolios, so you don’t have to. You just need to choose your investment style and risk category – we will do the rest.

The minimum investment amount is £500.

No. The investment is exposed to risk and the value of the underlying stock market investments can fall as well as rise.

As BPS is a non-advised service, you should be comfortable making your own investment decisions. Our friendly, UK-based BPS Customer Service team is here to help answer any questions you have about the service or portfolios we offer.

Investing designed for you

This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future.