Analysis suggests that early birds really do catch the worm
People are being urged to make a key decision this week as the new tax year gets going. “Early bird” savers who maximise their ISA allowance – protecting their savings from being taxed by HMRC – at the beginning of the tax year – April 6 – instead of waiting until the end could potentially be nearly £83,000 wealthier, new research suggests.
InvestEngine’s analysis found that an investor who deposited the maximum permitted amount into their stocks and shares ISA at the start of each tax year since 1999, investing in funds tracking global equities, could now have a portfolio worth approximately £1,277,963.
By contrast, someone who made their contributions at the close of every year could have £1,195,127 – a gap of £82,836 or 6.93% – according to InvestEngine’s calculations.
Investment performance fluctuates and the actual returns an investor might achieve would depend on various factors, including personal circumstances, chosen funds and prevailing market conditions.
The value of investments can fall as well as rise. Some savers may wish to seek professional financial guidance when considering appropriate options for their situation.
Annual ISA limits have evolved over time, with the current threshold set at £20,000.
InvestEngine explained that by contributing at the start of the tax year, investors can capitalise on their tax-free allowance sooner, giving their money additional time in the market to potentially increase and benefit from compound growth.
Even for those unable to set aside large lump sums in one transaction, there can still be benefits to investing earlier in the tax year. Research by InvestEngine revealed that those who invested £1,000 at the beginning of each tax year since 1999 could potentially have accumulated £129,135, compared to £122,536 for those who invested at the end of the tax year – a notable difference of £6,599.
Andrew Prosser, head of investments at InvestEngine, which is currently offering bonuses for ISA and SIPP (self-invested personal pension) transfers subject to terms and conditions, said: “In both the short and long-term, investing early in the tax year can make a significant difference to a savers’ investments.”
He went on to say: “Our own data from the end of the tax year shows 10% of customers waited until the last week to invest a combined £33 million.
“But the first day of the new tax year (April 6) has already seen customers invest £9 million at a higher average amount than last year – and on a bank holiday – showing resilience in the face of volatility and ensuring their investments have as much time to grow.”
