Setting up a JISA is easier than you might think. Many of the main fund platforms offer junior stocks and shares ISAs. These tend to levy an annual fee, and as with any other investment fund, management fees or share dealing fees will be due too.
For beginners with smaller sums to invest, Hargreaves Lansdown is worth a look. Admittedly, it is one of the more expensive firms its own charge is 0.45% a year, on top of the fees charged by the investment funds you choose – but its website is easy to use and provides practical information to help you get started. And it is well known for top-notch customer service.
Fidelity Personal Investing is also well suited to first-time investors as it offers comprehensive guidance. It also has lower charges, typically 0.35% plus fund costs.
While Vanguard is a cheaper option with a low annual account fee of just 0.15%, which is capped at £375 per year. But you must put in a minimum of £100 per month, which might put some first-timers off.
Fund Picks from the Pros
Choosing which funds to choose can feel an overwhelming task for novice investors.
Philippa Gee, the founder of Philippa Gee Wealth Management, suggested: “I would always go for something diversified and not expensive such as Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity, L&G Multi Index 5 or Standard Life Myfolio Market III.”
The Vanguard offering earns a Gold Rating from Morningstar fund analysts. Analyst Randal Goldsmith says Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity is a strong offering for investors seeking a low cost moderate allocation fund.
“Vanguard’s approach to its LifeStrategy range is simple and transparent, offering five funds differentiated by their target equity-to-bond allocations,” he explains. “The LifeFund range invests only in Vanguard passive funds. Its straightforward approach, plus evidence that management continually and robustly examines its assumptions and research, helps the range earn a Positive rating for Process.”
Patrick Connolly, chartered financial planner at advisers Chase de Vere, recommended three funds worth a look – Investec Cautious Managed, HSBC FTSE All Share Index and Rathbone Global Opportunities.
The Investec fund is Silver Rated by Morningstar analysts. Goldsmith says it is suitable as a core holding for patient investors who are looking for long-term real return and willing to accept periods of extreme divergence from mainstream moderate-allocation multi-asset peers.
Manager Alastair Mundy is one of the United Kingdom's leading value investors with almost 30 years' investment experience. He looks for stocks that are deeply out of favour, starting with those that have fallen at least 50% from their five-year high.
Both the HSBC fund and the Rathbone Global Opportunities fund are also Silver Rated.
"My advice to parents, especially novice investors, would be to keep things cheap and simple," said Martin Bamford, a financial adviser at Informed Choice.
"I’m a fan of the HSBC FTSE All-Share fund, Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity or Fundsmith Equity," he said.
The HSBC fund is Silver Rated, while Vanguard and Fundsmith earn the very best Morningstar analyst rating of Gold.
“Fundsmith is one of the strongest options for investors seeking exposure to high quality global equities,” says Morningstar analyst Pete Brunt.
