The current generation of children face exceptional financial challenges. High university fees, rising house prices and stagnant wages mean that preparing a child for her or his financial future requires ever more thought and planning. Yet equipping a child for their financial future need not be daunting. Much of it comes down to the lessons a child learns, and the small steps parents take to put some money aside while their children are young.

Irrespective of whether a child is taught about money, they will always develop financial habits – and some are more helpful than others. But, if parents and schools step in early to give children confidence in handling money well, that child can go into adult life prepared to make sound financial decisions.

Parents and grandparents can help children by putting money aside – even the smallest amounts can make a big difference, especially if they start investing when children are young. Finding the right tax-efficient vehicles is, of course, only going to help maximise what you save for your children. Recent data shows now 30,000 children under 15 years already have pension plans in place according to HMRC.

Anyone feeling daunted by the prospect of preparing their children financially for adult life should remember that investing always works best over a long period.

Recent Bank of England data revealed that the public’s expectation for inflation in five years’ time has jumped to its highest level in a decade, reaching 3.8% in May.¹ At that rate, the spending power of money would be halved in 19 years. It’s a stark reminder of the erosive effect of inflation, even at relatively low levels. It also highlights the risks of holding funds in cash for your long-term plans.

The chart shows for most of the last decade the average Cash ISA saver has been losing money in real terms each year. Given expectations for inflation and interest rates, it’s a situation that appears unlikely to change anytime soon.ISAs can be a core part of a bespoke financial plan to build tax-efficient funds for the future. But to make the most of the opportunities your allowance provides each year, it’s important to think beyond the short term. As ever, the message is it’s vital to start early. Rob Gardner, co-founder of Investment Consultancy Redington and financial education charity RedStart says, “By the age of seven most people’s attitudes towards money are fixed for life.” ²

With a myriad of options available, doing your homework and seeking out trusted, expert advice is, as always, the key to long term success.

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If you would like to know more, please contact:

Louise Davies (Associate Partner) Tel: 07788 916193 or Email: louise.davies@sjpp.co.uk 

The Partner is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances. Please note that St. James’s Place do not offer a Cash ISA.

¹Bank of England, July 2019.

²Money Advice Service, Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children, 2013.