Cash lifetime ISAs vs stocks and shares lifetime ISAs
If you're thinking about using a lifetime ISA to save for your first home, have you thought about whether to open one that saves in cash, or one that invests in stocks and shares?
What is a lifetime ISA?
A lifetime ISA is an ISA with a difference - it's to help you buy your first home or save for retirement with a government bonus of 25% of everything you put away.
You can save or invest up to £4,000 of your £20,000 ISA allowance each year in a lifetime ISA. You'll receive a 25% government bonus on top of everything you save in a lifetime ISA up to that limit, as long as you use it to get on the property ladder or leave it there until you turn 60.
One of the important decisions you need to make when opening a lifetime ISA is whether to choose one that saves in cash or one that invests in stocks and shares.
Cash ISA or stocks and shares ISA – what’s the difference?
Just like other types of ISAs, lifetime ISAs can be saved in cash or invested in stocks and shares.
It's important to understand the risks and potential rewards of saving in cash compared to investing in stocks and shares before you make a decision.
What's a cash lifetime ISA?
Money paid into a cash ISA earns interest and is protected. Cash savings are regarded as being safer than investing in stocks and shares but the returns over the longer term can be modest.
While the account is protected and will not fall in value you should consider the effect that inflation could have on the spending power particularly over the longer term.
If the interest rate of the account doesn't rise at least at the same rate as inflation, the money in the account will not be able to buy as much in the future as it can today.
What's a stocks and shares lifetime ISA?
A stocks and shares ISA, on the other hand, invests in the stock market, so it has the potential for greater growth than cash accounts over the long term.
Stocks and shares are usually considered a good option if investing over the longer term as it helps even out fluctuations in the stock market and provides good growth potential.
With our Lifetime ISA you have two funds to choose from, one which invests 35% in company shares and 65% in fixed interest investments, and another which invests 100% in company shares. Fixed interest investments offer lower potential returns than company shares over the long term, but also come with lower risk.
Important information
Please consider that with a stocks and shares investment product your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up. This means you may get back less than you put in.
How does each option perform?
Cash accounts typically offer less potential for growth over the long-term than a stocks and shares account. That said, investing comes with greater risk - as the value of your investments can go down.
Things to consider
There are several other considerations you should take into account before deciding whether a stocks and shares lifetime ISA is suitable for you, including:
- To benefit from the 25% government bonus you must use the lifetime ISA to buy your first home or for your retirement
- If you choose to withdraw your money before the age of 60 and not to buy your first home, a 25% government withdrawal charge will apply on the amount withdrawn. This can mean that you will get back less than the amount paid in.
- Your lifetime ISA could affect your entitlement to means-tested benefits.
- If using for retirement, in place of a pension, you could lose out on valuable employer contributions.
- If you are a first-time buyer looking to purchase your first home in the short-term, a cash lifetime ISA might be more appropriate.
- Your lifetime ISA can only be used to buy your first home after it has been open for 12 months.
Our lifetime ISA calculator can help you understand how much a OneFamily stocks and shares Lifetime ISA could grow over time.
If you're not sure whether a product is right for your needs, you should seek help from an independent financial adviser.
Can I have a stocks and shares lifetime ISA and a cash lifetime ISA?
You can have a cash lifetime ISA at the same time as a stocks and shares lifetime ISA, although you can only open one lifetime ISA in each tax year, and you can only pay into one each tax year.
Find out more about lifetime ISAs
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