Don't let your ISA allowance go unused

The CT Savings Plan gives you a straightforward way to manage your investments, with one flat fee and a focus on your long-term goals.

An Individual Savings Account (ISA) lets you invest tax-efficiently. Investments held in an ISA can grow tax-free, while dividends and capital gains are also free from tax.

Investments held outside an ISA can trigger capital gains tax (CGT) on profits above the annual allowance, while income from dividends may also be taxed. Much of this use-it-or-lose-it allowance goes unused each year. With the April 5th deadline approaching, investors should consider using it before the new tax year begins - or lose it.

Missing one year's ISA allowance means more than losing the chance to shelter 20,000 from tax that year. The money also misses out on any growth it might have generated over time.

Greater growth

Historically, stocks and shares have delivered stronger long-term growth potential than cash.

The CT Savings Plan lets you put an initial 2,000 into an adult ISA, then add to it by direct debit from just 25 a month.

Known as pound-cost averaging, this "drip-feeding" method can soften the effect of market fluctuations: your payments buy more shares when prices fall and fewer when prices rise.

If you're aged 18 to 39, you can put up to 4,000 of your allowance into a Lifetime ISA (LISA), with the government adding a 25% bonus worth up to 1,000. You can also invest up to 9,000 in your child's Junior ISA (JISA), starting with an initial contribution of 1,000. That gives people at any age a way to invest for the future.

As your wealth increases, many platforms take a larger share through percentage-based charges. A CT Savings Plan instead has one annual flat fee, no matter how much you invest. Markets will rise and fall, and you have no control over the Federal Reserve or the FTSE 100. You can control the cost of holding your assets, though. A fee that looks minor - 0.5% or 1% - can add up to a substantial amount over twenty or thirty years.

By contrast, a flat fee takes up a smaller share of your returns as the investment grows. That clear cost structure can leave more capital invested, giving compounding more time to support your long-term goals.

Broaden your reach

Columbia Threadneedle's seven investment trusts make it easier to spread investments across different markets. F&C Investment Trust brings a long history, while The Global Smaller Companies Trust focuses on smaller businesses around the world. For wider exposure, there is the CT Global Managed Portfolio Trust, alongside two UK-focused choices: the CT High Income Trust and CT UK Capital and Income Investment Trust.

Trusts such as TR Property Trust and CT Private Equity Trust give investors access to less-favored sectors, adding diversification while creating room for portfolio growth.

Whether you prefer UK smaller and mid-sized companies or a diversified global portfolio, you can find an investment trust that matches your tolerance for risk. Experienced fund managers and research teams examine each opportunity closely, weighing the chance of stronger returns against potential losses. That oversight gives investors a firmer basis for making decisions.

The CT Savings Plan keeps things simple. Visit ctinvest.co.uk to sign up, choose an investment trust, and arrange your contributions within minutes.

A dedicated mobile app also lets you check and manage your portfolio securely whenever it suits you.

Investment values and income can rise or fall, and you could receive less than you originally invested. Dividend increases are not guaranteed. Tax allowances and the advantages of tax-efficient accounts may change, while the tax treatment that applies depends on your personal circumstances. Risk varies between trusts, so refer to each trust's Key Information Document (KID) for more information.

Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, company no. 517895, is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand used by the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.