Investing for children 

Self-directed investing
BPS

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.

Open or transfer a Junior ISA

Junior ISA

With a Junior ISA (JISA), you can invest up to £9,000 on behalf of each child in each tax year. There’s no income tax or capital gains tax due on your returns, and the money’s locked away until the child turns 18.

Benefits of investing in a Junior ISA

Regular investing made easy

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

Ready access to your investments

View your portfolios 24/7 with our easy-to-use online portal. You can also access your account through the BPS app.

Higher returns

As your money is invested in the stock market, it has the potential to deliver higher returns than savings accounts. But it’s important to remember that investments aren’t guaranteed. The value of your investments could fall, and you may get back less than you invested.

Is a Junior ISA right for your child?

  • Only parents or guardians can open an account. But anyone can contribute.
  • Money can only be accessed when the child turns 18 years old.
  • You can invest up to £9,000 on behalf of each child each tax year.
  • All resulting dividends and capital gains are tax free.
Open or transfer a Junior ISA

Bare Trust

A Bare Trust allows you to invest as much as you like for your child or grandchild’s future. By appointing yourself as a trustee, you can retain some control over what the money is used for.

Is a 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 before they turn 18 under limited circumstances, e.g. for education (but returns may be taxed).
  • Gains or income will typically use the child’s personal allowances for income and capital gains taxes.*
  • The account can remain open beyond the child’s 18th birthday.

* 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.

Download the Bare Trust application form

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), which were added to their CTF by the government.

New CTFs can no longer be opened, but your child may still have one. You can add up to £9,000 a year into it, or 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?

There are some potential benefits:

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

Why choose us?

We have over a century of experience in helping people grow their wealth, taking a long-term view of investment and client relationships.

BPS is an execution only, non-advised service. We provide pre-built 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.

Expert management, simple fees

You get access to our expert investment thinking through a range of pre-determined portfolios. Our simple fee structure ensures you know exactly what you’re paying, while you can track performance any time via our app or online.

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

Open or transfer a Junior ISA

Common questions about investing for children

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

No. BPS uses pre-determined portfolios. We take on all the hard work of buying and selling individual assets. All you need to decide is what level of risk and investment style (active or passive) you want. Our friendly, UK-based BPS Customer Service team is here to help answer any questions you have about the service or portfolios we offer.

Our insights and ideas 

A guide to investing for children

Family finances 3 minute read
– A guide to investing for children

Tips for passing on wealth to children

Wealth transfer 3 minute read
– Tips for passing on wealth to children

Investing for children – your options

Family finances 3 minute read
– Investing for children – your options

This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client. It may be subject to change in the future. You should always check the tax implications with an accountant or tax specialist. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.

The value of investments and any income from them can fall, and you may not get back what you invested.