Win Your ISA Winner

We launched our ‘Win Your ISA’ campaign in line with the end of the tax year. The competition offered one of our clients the chance to win a £15,240 investment, the sum of their total ISA allowance for the year. The competition was a success with many people opening an ISA and topping up their current ISA with us. We’re pleased to announce that one of these people was our lucky winner, Gillian Keith.

After informing Gillian that she’d won the competition, she happily answered a few questions for us about her saving habits and her big win.

We will be following Gillian’s progression with her ISA investment over the course of the year and updating you on our blog and social media channels.

Tell us a little about yourself…

I’m a self-employed musician working in the creative and performing Arts.

How long have you been investing for?

I made my first investment at the age of 22, but couldn’t save regularly until after I finished my education, at age 26.

What are you investing for and when do you hope to reach your goal?

My investment with True Potential Investor started out as an experiment. I was looking for an opportunity to learn about online, self-directed investing.  But now my account has a more specific purpose. I run a community music project, and I hope to buy a piano for our local concert series. My True Potential Investor account could help make that goal a reality sooner rather than later.

How would you describe your attitude to investment risk and return?

I am generally a very cautious investor. I’m intrigued by the potential of the stock market, but I’m not a gambler. I like to make sure that my capital is protected, even if it means I have to accept a lower return.

Describe your investment strategy…

I am a regular saver. ‘Little and often’ is my strategy, and I believe that even the smallest amount is useful in terms of establishing a savings routine.  It’s all about forming realistic but strict investing habits.

Why did you choose to open an ISA?

For me, an ISA is the most sensible savings vehicle because of its tax-free status.  Like most people, I feel that I pay enough tax already! The fact that an ISA allows me to hold on to every penny that I earn in interest makes me feel like I’m getting the most out of my investment.

How has True Potential Investor helped you invest?

True Potential Investor’s clear, logical account setup, as well as the straightforward goal-setting format allowed me to visualise my aims and set up a regular investment that met my exact needs. The way the simple graphs illustrate the path and trajectory of my investment gives me a clearer sense of how my money is performing, and what it will take for me to achieve my investment ambitions.

How will the prize investment help you reach your goal?

Self-employment is often unpredictable, and my earnings can fluctuate from year to year. This means there are times when I may have difficulty making the most of my ISA allowance.  This year was one of those years, and it was with regret that the ISA deadline passed without me having made my permitted contribution. Winning this prize puts my savings goals back on track, and will allow me to consider how I might make this investment grow further in the future.

Investing for your future is becoming a hot topic, even within politics. The Government is now launching schemes such as auto enrolment and the Lifetime ISA to entice people to begin taking control of their own finances. We believe that this is of utmost importance, which is why we launched our ‘Win Your ISA’ campaign. We’re pleased to say that it was a success, and although Gillian was the lucky winner of our investment prize, all of those who entered are in fact winners as they have taken their initial steps into the world of investing.