Ask your questions about savings and investments – chance to win a £150 voucher ANSWERS NOW BACK

[JustineBMumsnet]

The world of savings and investments can often be full of jargon and confusion, leaving you with a headache and feeling unsure what to do. So, whether you have questions about your pension or you’re confused about how and when you should invest money for your children, leave your questions for Lisa Caplan – the Head of Financial Advice at Nutmeg – below.

Here’s what Nutmeg have to say: “Nutmeg is the UK’s leading online investment manager, giving you all the best elements of a traditional wealth manager but delivered completely online and for a fraction of the cost. With Nutmeg, you choose how much risk you want to take, and we’ll build you a portfolio which is globally diversified and fully managed by our expert team. You can start with just £500, and make monthly contributions of just £100 to invest in your family’s future. Lisa leads financial advice at Nutmeg – she’s building the company’s automated advice service to help customers make the right decisions about their finances. Before she joined Nutmeg, Lisa worked at Towry for eight years, helping people make financial decisions and plan for the future. She is a chartered financial planner.”

Post your questions on savings and investments to Lisa below by the 17th October 2016 and we will send over 20 questions for her to respond to. We will then post a link to her responses on the thread ASAP.

If you’re interested in trying out Nutmeg, they have an offer where you can get 3 months without fees.

All those who leave a question below (regardless of whether it’s answered or not) will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 voucher from a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

And:
Is my new canvas tent (that I don't strictly need) really 'an investment' as people tell me, or is that just a camping enthusiasts myth?

My eldest children got the trust fund voucher. My youngest did not. I would like to make things equal by investing a similar amount for him, but don't know how/where to do it.

I already had an ISA set up, I opened a new one this year and the person at the bank who sorted it all for me asked if I had touched the other ISA at all in that financial year, he said it's no longer just if I had added extra money in to it but if I had moved it or taken any out

Was he right, and can you no longer (or am I mistaken and you never could) move existing ISAs without it counting as that years balance being paid in

What is your best investment tip?

How do the calculate how much 'risk' would be taken for each scenario?
Is there set criteria and is this criteria for Nutmeg or from a higher governing body?

In your view, what is the best investment vehicle to use to invest say, £25 to £50 a month for your child to have at age 18?

I think I have about 4 (!) different pension pots after having had a few different jobs - is there any way (or any point!) in transferring them all across into one / my current work pension scheme? The sums of money involved aren't huge by any stretch...
Thank you

My child has the Child Trust Fund, there is only around £500 in it. Should I leave it as a CTF or transfer it to a Junior ISA?

How much should I make sure we have available in instant access savings before thinking about fixed/ long term options?

I've been looking at investing £300 pcm for about ten years, so I'll be late 50s. Have a good occupational pension, this was a way of getting more than just by putting in a savings account.

Got the info on a collective investment account via a financial adviser. But fees are .9% for the fund manager and 2% for advisor. So over 10 years at mid growth rate I'd pay £6,170 in charges for a possible £3,100 over what I'd invested.

That seems a lot in charges...but is it reasonable?

Is it a risk, allowing a pension pot to grow large with just one provider?

Would it be safer to spread the pot/ investments across several companies and to keep its total value (allowing for growth) below whatever the investment guarantee threshold is - sorry don't know what its called or really understand but I seem to remember that there's some sort of up to £x'000's you'll get your money back if the company goes belly up government guarantee.

What is the best way of investing money for your child? My baby is 8 months old and relatives want to start giving money for his future.

I am also interested to know if its a good idea to switch DC's child trust fund accounts to ISAs

What alternatives are there to a pension? 30 years old and we have not started paying in yet - nor is there any spare money to do so.

Neither I nor my partner have a work place pension in our current roles. What is the best way we can save for the future?

What recommendations would you have for a novice investor, with a low risk appetite?

How do I track down my pension from a previous employers and consolidate it?

Also, my children's trust funds don't seem to be yielding much? What are the best alternatives?

What should I do about my stakeholder pension? I have been contributing £250 to it for 28 years. Should I increase it? Or is it not worth the money I've been putting in? I have no other pension arrangements because I have always been self-employed.

I would like to know what to do with my children's child trust funds which have remained where they are for 11 years...

Should I be over-paying on my mortgage, or putting that cash into savings? (current, savings and mortage are linked, and the former offset the interest on the latter)

What is the best way to invest money for young children when on a low income?

What other options are available for a family that just can't afford the start up of £500 and/or £100 a month? Is it that you just don't want people who gave smaller holdings?

Hi Lisa - My husband needs to increase his pension contributions. The query we have is whether to transfer both into a new scheme and increase contributions, or whether to just start a new pension in addition to the 2 existing schemes (both with different providers and contracted out)? Performance issues aside, in general terms should a transfer and collaborative apporach be bette than three distinct funds? He is almost 50 and has a modest pot at this stage, so we need to move quickly whatever we decide! Thanks

My eldest daughter has around £6000 in savings earning nothing...how would I be better off investing it?

With falling interest rates on Junior Cash ISAs I would be interested in trying a Stocks and Shares JISA instead. However wouldn't be wanting to actively manage the fund picking ourselves. How do we know which provider/product is best for portfolios and cost? It's difficult to tell them apart. And are Nutmeg planning to bring out Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs to be managed in house in the same way as your existing investments?