Parents looking to invest are missing a trick

Parents are missing an opportunity by putting their money into cash and stakeholder accounts rather than equity-based ones, which can sometimes prove to be cheaper as well as better performing

Despite an increase in the number of Child Trust Fund providers to around forty, and an ever-widening range of funds on offer, including a Sharia compliant account, parents are only scratching the surface in terms of fully utilising the choices available. Every parent across the UK with a child born on or after the 1 September 2002 will have received a voucher of £250 to be invested with an approved list of providers on their child's behalf in either a stakeholder account, a stock market-based plan or a cash account. Children from families on low incomes - no greater than £14,155 for 2006/...