Helping adult(ish) children

[Rainsdropskeepfalling]

In a few months DS1 will turn 18 and he'll have access to his CTF. I'm keen for him to move it into an ISA or equivalent and not touch it, to start to build up a nest egg that's his.

But we are also in the fortunate position in being able to continue to save for him. This might take the form of supporting through uni if he does that, or something else.

Qu: can we pay into an ISA in his name? I can't see him being able to save, but the power of compound interest is compelling.

If he is co-operative and happy for you to do so, then yes, you could pay money into an ISA for him, but he would need to know about it, and you might have to pay it into his bank account first and then get him to transfer across.
We have this arrangement with our DCs and every so often we have a financial catch up - reviewing savings rates etc and moving/updating accounts etc.

Ultimately it becomes his money though, and if he decided to withdraw it all and blow it on an expensive care there would be nothing you could do to stop him!