NEW 5 year term – ISA fixed income best seller just got better
With just over 5 weeks until the end of the tax year, now is the time to make sure you maximise your ISA allowance for the current 2016/17 tax year, before it is lost forever. So what better timing than for our best selling income plan to not only offer an enhancement to its product terms by reducing the fixed plan term from six years to five, but also to offer a Double ISA option whereby you can arrange the next tax year’s (2017/18) £20,000 ISA allowance as well. The appeal of a fixed income remains as strong as ever, whilst the ability to generate a high fixed income from capital remains limited. So here we take a quick look at the main features of the Investec FTSE 100 Enhanced Income Plan and what we expect will be a very popular plan this ISA season.
Income best seller
Whether you are working full-time or part-time and need to supplement your earnings, or retired and looking at ways to supplement your pension or savings income, the need for income is one of the most common demands put on our capital. Rather uniquely in the income investment space, this plan combines a high fixed income, with a fixed term and some degree of capital protection. These features have made it our best-selling income investment plan and a popular choice for our ISA investors.
High fixed income
Traditional investment funds normally pay a variable income dependent on the performance of the underlying asset, whereas this plan pays a fixed income regardless of the performance of the stock market. The current issue of the plan is paying 5.04% per year fixed, which means that the investor has the certainty of knowing from day one exactly how much they will receive. With longer term savings rates still at very low levels, the prospect of a high fixed income is likely to be attractive to a wide range of income seekers.
Monthly payments
Another popular feature is the monthly payment frequency since this is the most useful in terms of budgeting, especially when many UK equity income funds only offer quarterly payments. Therefore, not only does the investment provide a high level of fixed income, but it also pays this on a monthly basis, which could be an important feature when looking to supplement existing income. At 5.04% per year on offer from the latest issue, this equates to 0.42% paid each and every month for the entire term of the plan.
NEW 5 Year fixed term
The Enhanced Income Plan was first introduced in January 2013 and since its launch, the plan has always had a six year term. For this latest issue, Investec has been able to reduce the term to five years. This makes it the only income investment plan currently on offer with a five year term and although you do have the option to withdraw your money early, the plan is designed to be held for the full term and early withdrawal could result in you getting back less (or more) than you invested.
Some capital protection from a falling market
Unlike a traditional investment fund, the plan includes some capital protection from a falling stock market. This ‘conditional capital protection’ means that the return of your initial investment is conditional on the FTSE 100 Index not falling by more than 50% below its value at the start of the plan. If the FTSE stays above this 50% barrier throughout the plan term, you will receive a full return of your original investment when the plan ends.
Capital at risk
However, if the FSTE 100 Index does fall by more than 50% at any time during the plan term, and is also below its starting value at the end of the five year term, your initial investment is reduced by 1% for every 1% fall. Therefore this plan puts your capital at risk and you could lose some or all of your initial investment.
The use of averaging
When calculating the final level of the FTSE for the purposes of comparing it with its value at the start of the plan, the plan takes the average of the closing levels of the Index on each business day during the last 6 months of the plan term. The use of averaging can reduce the adverse effects of a falling market or sudden market falls, whilst it can also reduce the benefits of an increasing market or sudden increases in the market during the last six months of the plan.
Investment plans
This plan is a structured investment and so unlike investing in a fund where you would buy units at the prevailing price on the date of purchase, your initial capital is used to purchase securities issued by Investec Bank plc. These securities are structured in a way so that they aim to provide the fixed income and the return of capital as described above, and means that Investec Bank plc’s ability to meet their financial obligations becomes an important investment consideration. If the bank fails or becomes insolvent, this could affect both the payment of any future income, as well as the return of your original investment and you would not be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for default alone.
Investec credit rating
Fitch is one of the main global credit rating agencies and has awarded Investec Bank plc a credit rating of BBB with a stable outlook (awarded 3rd October 2016). The ‘BBB’ rating denotes a good credit quality and indicates that expectations of default risk are currently low and that Investec Bank plc’s capacity for payment of its financial commitments is considered to be adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. The stable outlook indicates that the rating is not expected to change in the short to medium term, i.e. in the next 6 months to 2 years.
Investec Bank plc profile
Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager with its main operations in the UK and South Africa. Established in 1974, they currently employ around 9,000 people and as at 31st March 2016, look after £121.7 billion of customer assets. They provide a range of financial products and services and specialise in a number of areas, particularly within the banking sector. Their banking operation looks after £24.0 billion of customer deposits and they are also a market leading provider of investment plans and structured deposits in the UK.
Double ISA option
The current issue of the plan includes Double ISA functionality which means you can invest your ISA allowance for both the current tax year (2016/17) and the next tax year (2017/18) at the same time, using a single application form. The ISA allowance for the current tax year is £15,240, and for the 2017/18 tax year (starting 6th April 2017) it increases to £20,000. This means you could invest up to £35,240 into the Enhanced Income Plan, achieving a tax free income of £1,766 per year (£148 per month). Please note that application deadlines apply.
Fair Investment view
Commenting on the plan, head of savings and investments at Fair Investment Company Oliver Roylance-Smith said: “Whilst longer term fixed rates on cash remain where they are, the pressure is clearly on to in terms of how we generate income from our capital, but also to think carefully before moving up the risk spectrum in the hunt for higher returns. Needless to say that the high level of fixed income and monthly payment frequency on offer from this plan are attractive features, whilst many fixed rate savers will be used to a fixed term which should also appeal to those investors who wish to plan around this.”
He continued: “By combining a fixed income with the criteria which need to be met before your capital is at risk, this plan allows potential investors to weigh up the risk versus reward prior to investing. In addition to paying a high fixed income rather than a variable income based on the performance of the stock market, and this plans sits very much on its own as an option for tax free income seekers.”
The plan is open for new ISA investments for the 2016/17 tax year (£15,240 allowance) and the 2017/18 tax year (£20,000 allowance), Cash ISA and Stocks & Shares ISA transfers, as well as non-ISA investments. The minimum investment is £3,000.
Click here for more information about the Investec FTSE 100 Enhanced Income Plan »
No news, feature article or comment should be seen as a personal recommendation to invest. Prior to making any decision to invest, you should ensure that you are familiar with the risks associated with a particular investment. If you are at all unsure of the suitability of a particular investment, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.
This investment does not include the same security of capital that is afforded to a deposit account. Your capital is at risk.
Tax treatment of ISAs depends on your individual circumstances and is based on current law which may be subject to change in the future. Always remember to check whether any charges apply before transferring an ISA.
This is a structured investment plan that is not capital protected and is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. There is a risk of losing some or all of your initial investment. There is a risk that the company backing the plan or any company associated with the plan may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated. In addition, you may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index is not a guide to its future performance.
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