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ISA Financial Adviser

Grow, protect and enjoy your wealth

An ISA is often one of the simplest and most tax-efficient ways to start saving or investing for the future. With our professional financial advice, you can choose the most appropriate ISA for your circumstances and create an investment strategy aligned with your goals and risk tolerance.

Professional Advice on Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)

Saving is ingrained in many of us from a young age. From saving for your first car to a deposit on your first home, or a significant life event like a wedding. As you mature, your priorities may shift to your family, perhaps your children’s education. If you are approaching your later years, naturally, you will begin to prioritise your financial future and plan for a comfortable retirement.

Whatever life stage you are at, Redwood Financial can offer personalised advice. We can recommend the types of Savings accounts and investments most suitable for your circumstances and help you consider available interest rates, potential returns, risks, and tax benefits.

If you’re looking for a tax-efficient way to save or invest, an ISA could be an important part of your Financial Plan.

Contact us today to find out more about ISAs and discuss your options.

What Are Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)?

ISAs are tax-efficient accounts that allow you to hold cash or eligible Investments. You can contribute up to the applicable annual ISA allowance, while eligible interest, dividends and investment gains generated within the ISA are free from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. Withdrawals from Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs are also normally tax-free.

Depending on the ISA type, returns may come from tax-free interest, dividends or capital growth. This favourable tax treatment can make ISAs a valuable tool for building long-term financial security.

Types of Individual Savings Accounts

There are four main types of adult ISAs available in the UK:

Cash ISAs

Cash ISAs are similar to traditional Savings accounts, but with the benefit of tax-free interest. You must generally be aged 18 or over to open an adult Cash ISA. They can be useful for short- to medium-term Savings goals where you do not want your money exposed to investment markets.

A Junior ISA is available separately for eligible children under the age of 18. There are two types: Cash Junior ISAs and Stocks and Shares Junior ISAs. A parent or guardian with parental responsibility can open a Junior ISA for a child under 16, while children aged 16 and 17 can open one themselves. Anyone can contribute, subject to the overall Junior ISA limit of £9,000 in the 2026/27 tax year. The money belongs to the child and normally cannot be withdrawn until they turn 18.

A Cash ISA is generally lower risk than an investment ISA because the money is held as cash rather than being exposed to investment markets. Interest rates can rise or fall, and inflation may reduce the purchasing power of your Savings over time.

Innovative Finance ISAs

Innovative Finance ISAs allow you to invest through eligible peer-to-peer lending and certain other qualifying arrangements, with potential returns held within the ISA tax wrapper.

This type of ISA carries greater risk than a Cash ISA and may not be suitable for everyone. Borrowers may fail to repay loans, you could lose some or all of the money invested, and returns are not guaranteed. Suitability will depend on your individual circumstances and attitude to risk, which our Financial Advisers can discuss with you.

Stocks and Shares ISAs

Stocks and Shares ISAs allow your money to be invested in eligible Investments such as shares, funds, bonds, investment trusts and ETFs. Returns may come from capital growth, dividends or interest, depending on the Investments held.

The value of Investments can rise or fall depending on market conditions and wider economic factors, and you could get back less than you invest. Stocks and Shares ISAs offer greater long-term growth potential than cash, but that potential comes with investment risk. Past performance is not a guide to future returns.

For this reason, Stocks and Shares ISAs are generally better suited to longer-term investing, where you have more time to ride out periods of market volatility. For many people, they can play an important role in building wealth for future goals, including retirement.

Diversification can help spread investment risk, but it cannot eliminate it or guarantee against losses. A Financial Adviser can help you understand how much risk is appropriate for your circumstances, build a diversified portfolio aligned with your objectives, and review your Investments over time.

Lifetime ISAs

If you are aged between 18 and 39, you can usually open a Lifetime ISA, which helps you save for your first home or later life.

You can contribute up to £4,000 each tax year until you reach age 50, and the government adds a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 a year. The £4,000 Lifetime ISA limit forms part of your overall annual ISA allowance.

You can hold cash, Investments, or a combination of both within a Lifetime ISA. You can normally withdraw without the Lifetime ISA withdrawal charge when buying an eligible first home, from age 60, or in certain other qualifying circumstances. Other withdrawals will usually be subject to a 25% government withdrawal charge.

What is the ISA allowance?

The ISA allowance is the maximum amount you can contribute to your ISAs during a single tax year.

For the 2026/27 tax year, the overall annual ISA allowance is £20,000. This can be allocated across eligible ISA types, subject to the individual rules and limits that apply to products such as Lifetime ISAs.

From 6 April 2027, Cash ISA subscriptions will be capped at £12,000 for people under 65, while the overall annual ISA allowance will remain at £20,000. Those aged 65 and over will continue to have a £20,000 Cash ISA limit. The Junior ISA allowance remains £9,000.

The ISA allowance resets each tax year, so you can’t normally carry forward any unused allowance.

This information is correct as of October 2026. ISA rules and allowances can change.

ISA types at a glance

ISA Type

How it Works

Annual Allowance (2026/27)

Risk Level

Typical Use

Key Benefit

Cash ISA

Money is held as cash and earns interest, similar to a Savings account.

Up to £20,000, shared across your adult ISAs

Lower

Short- to medium-term Savings and money you do not want exposed to investment markets.

Interest is free from UK Income Tax.

Innovative Finance ISA

Money is invested through eligible peer-to-peer lending and other qualifying arrangements.

Up to £20,000, shared across your adult ISAs

Higher than cash

Investors are able to accept additional risk in return for potential returns.

Eligible returns benefit from the ISA tax wrapper.

Stocks and Shares ISA

Money is invested in eligible assets such as shares, funds, bonds or ETFs.

Up to £20,000, shared across your adult ISAs

Varies according to Investments

Longer-term investing and wealth building.

Eligible investment income and gains are sheltered from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

Lifetime ISA

Cash or Investments held to help buy an eligible first home or save for later life.

Up to £4,000, which counts towards the £20,000 ISA allowance

Varies

Eligible first-time buyers and longer-term Savings for later life.

25% government bonus, subject to Lifetime ISA rules.

Redwood’s Investment Planning Process

Rather than looking at an ISA in isolation, we consider your wider Financial Plan, including your goals, existing Savings and Investments, tax position, investment timeframe and attitude to risk. Professional financial advice can help you structure your Investments appropriately, understand the tax implications and maintain a disciplined long-term strategy.

Here is how it works:

Financial Advisers must clearly explain the charges that apply to investment advice and related services. Adviser charges may, for example, be structured as a fixed fee or as a percentage, depending on the service being provided.

1. Discovery Meeting

We will start with an in-depth conversation about your circumstances, financial situation, needs, future goals, and attitude to investment risk.

2. Creating Your Investment Strategy

Following our meeting, your personal Financial Adviser will create a clear, considered financial strategy and explain their recommendations so you can make informed decisions.

This may include creating an asset allocation framework that spreads Investments across different asset classes and areas of the market, helping to diversify risk and support your long-term objectives.

3. Investment Selection

Working closely with our trusted Investment Specialists and Fund Managers, we will identify Investments that are appropriate for the agreed strategy, objectives and level of risk.

4. Investment Management

Setting your Investment Strategy is just the first step. Your portfolio will require regular management and review to help ensure it remains consistent with your agreed objectives, risk profile and wider Financial Plan.

5. Investment Updates

We will keep you informed of market developments via our Quarterly Investment Bulletin and contact you directly when necessary. You will have access to our online portal so you can see an up-to-date view of your funds’ performance in one place.

Please remember that the value of Investments can fall as well as rise, and past performance should not be relied upon as a guide to future returns.

We will conduct an annual review meeting with you, and you will also be invited to attend our Annual Client Investment Conference.

Please note that our minimum investment threshold for new Clients is £250,000.

Combining ISAs With a Personal Pension

ISAs can work effectively alongside Pensions, whether that’s a workplace Pension, a defined benefit Pension or a personal Pension arrangement.

Pension contributions can help build long-term retirement income and may benefit from tax relief, subject to the relevant rules and allowances. ISAs can offer additional flexibility because you can normally withdraw money without Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax being due on the withdrawal.

We can help you understand how Pension contributions interact with the relevant Pension annual allowance and ISA allowances as part of your wider Financial Planning.

We can also explain how ISAs fit into Inheritance Tax Planning. ISA assets will normally form part of your Estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, although different rules and allowances can apply depending on individual circumstances, including where assets pass to a spouse or civil partner.

Is my ISA protected?

The protection available depends on the type of ISA, the provider and what is held within it.

Eligible deposits, including qualifying Cash ISA deposits held with a UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union, are currently protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per eligible person, per authorised firm if the provider fails.

For investment business, FSCS may provide compensation of up to £85,000 per eligible person, per firm in certain circumstances where an authorised firm has failed and cannot meet a valid claim.

FSCS protection does not cover ordinary investment losses or poor investment performance, and not every investment or provider will necessarily qualify for protection.

For deposits, protection generally applies per authorised firm or banking licence, not per individual account or brand. If you hold substantial cash balances across several brands, check whether those brands share the same banking licence.

The advice you receive from Redwood Financial is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our team includes qualified Financial Advisers holding recognised industry qualifications, including DipFA, CeRER and CeLTCI.

 

Speak to a trusted ISA Financial Adviser

Choosing the right Financial Adviser is about more than products and Investments. At Redwood Financial, our focus is on helping Clients make informed choices about ISAs and their wider Financial Planning, with the aim of helping them grow, protect and enjoy their wealth.

We are a family-run firm, and we pride ourselves on building trusted relationships that often span generations.

Appointments can take place in the comfort of your home or by video call when appropriate. Whether you are exploring ISAs for the first time or want your Savings and investments to work more effectively towards your goals, speak to Redwood Financial today and take the next step towards your financial future.

Frequently asked questions about ISAs

How much can I invest in an ISA?

The overall ISA allowance for the 2026/27 tax year is £20,000. You can allocate this across different adult ISA types, subject to the individual rules and limits that apply.

From 6 April 2027, people under 65 will be limited to contributing £12,000 of their overall £20,000 allowance to Cash ISAs.

(Correct as of October 2026.)


Are ISAs tax-free?

ISAs are tax-efficient accounts. Under current rules, eligible interest and dividends received within an ISA are free from UK Income Tax, while gains made on Investments held within an ISA are free from Capital Gains Tax.

Withdrawals from Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs are also normally tax-free. Lifetime ISAs have separate withdrawal rules and a charge can apply to non-qualifying withdrawals.


Are ISAs better than savings accounts?

Whether an ISA or an ordinary Savings account is more suitable will depend on your circumstances.

Interest earned outside an ISA may already fall within your available Personal Savings Allowance or other tax-free allowances, while an ISA provides an ongoing tax-efficient wrapper for eligible Savings or Investments.

For shorter-term goals or money you cannot afford to expose to investment risk, a Cash ISA or other suitable Savings account may be appropriate. For longer-term objectives, a Stocks and Shares ISA may be worth considering if you are comfortable accepting investment risk.


Should I choose a Cash ISA or a Stocks and Shares ISA?

The right option depends on factors including your financial goals, personal circumstances, investment timeframe, need for access to your money and attitude to risk.

Cash ISAs may be suitable for shorter-term goals or money you do not want exposed to investment markets. Stocks and Shares ISAs may be appropriate for longer-term goals where you are prepared to accept the possibility that Investments can fall in value as well as rise.

A qualified Financial Adviser can help you understand your options and determine which approach suits your circumstances. Under current rules, withdrawals from Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs are normally tax-free.

 

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Jasmine Lambert Chartered Financial Adviser in Southampton
Jasmine Lambert
Jasmine was awarded the British Young Practitioner of the Year in 2018. She is a qualified Chartered Financial Planner and full member of Society of Will Writers.
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Please Note Office Closed

Our office will be closed all day on Thursday, 26th June, due to essential power supply maintenance being carried out by Scottish Power in the area.

While we won’t be in the office, the Team will still be working from home and checking emails throughout the day. Our main phone line will be diverted to the Team.

We’ll be back in the office as usual on Friday, 27th June.

We apologise for any inconvenience this closure may cause. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. We truly appreciate it!

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