An investment is a present that keeps on giving
Buying into a fund might not be seen as the most exciting Christmas gift but it's a great way to set a child up for investing
Eighteen years ago this January, I became an aunt for the first time and, when I saw the mass of toys and clothes my niece received (and of which she was blissfully unaware) I decided to start investing on her behalf. Each year I have made an additional investment, rather than buy a gift, and have set up a similar arrangement for subsequent nieces and nephews as they appeared over the years.
It can be hard to find funds that best suit this type of investing as the charges can be a big deterrent. One thing to look for is a fund that offers small minimum investment levels. I chose the Invesco Perpetual Childrens Fund as it allows top-up investments of just £25. Although it carries a 5% initial charge, this can be reduced by dealing through a platform. Martin Walker took over in March 2003 and uses the same approach as the one he applies at the Invesco Perpetual UK Growth Fund (rated Superior by Morningstar). To December 15, 2009, he’s producing annualised returns of 11.7%.
When I started this investment, ETFs were an unknown entity in the UK but now they’d also be an excellent candidate--Vanguard UK Equity Inc Index has an initial charge of just 0.5% and an annual management charge of 0.25%.
In more recent years, as her awareness of the world has increased, I’ve been explaining these investments to my neice and what they represent. Names such as Vodafone, Next and Marks & Spencer now mean more to her than just mobile phones, party frocks and tights--she understands she owns a part of those businesses. On her 18th birthday I’ll be passing the funds into her control. She may choose to sell up and fritter it away on shoes and clothes but I think she’ll hold on for now as it’s sparked an interest in long-term investing and she’s seen the power of compounding.