Child Trust Funds

Family Investments, the UK's leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider with more than half a million accounts, has welcomed the launch of HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) new CTF podcast.

Parents, guardians and mums and dads-to be, can find out everything they need to know about the Child Trust Fund (CTF) in a new HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) podcast launched today.

Last week, Princess Beatrice was seen out and about in Belgravia house hunting for a £4.5 million property, financed by a trust fund that matured on her 18th birthday.

From today Post Office Child Trust Fund customers will be able to have access to a new internet account management service, Online Wizard, which aims to make it easier for parents to manage their child's CTF account.

Women are almost one and half times more likely to be primarily responsible for financial decisions than men in UK households, according to research from Family Investments.

The latest TISA Quarterly Survey of Child Trust Funds (CTFs) shows that parents and relatives continue to increase savings for their children’s’ future, despite economic uncertainty.

Britain’s teenagers are far more responsible with money than parents think, according to The Children’s Mutual. While many parents say their offspring would blow a lump sum on turning 18, the youngsters are actually more likely to save than to spend, spend, spend.

Three years ago we saw the launch of the child trust fund. Each child born after 1 September 2002 receives a £250 voucher which their parents invest.

British parents consider talking to children about money facts to be more important than educating them on STDs, racism or religion - according to new research by Engage Mutual Assurance.

While much attention on Child Trust Funds has focused on the volume of government vouchers that have been issued and lost, F&C reports that the overwhelming majority of parents and grandparents in its CTF have been putting their hands in their own wallets and topping up their children's accounts.

New parents should start thinking like a rat to save money this Chinese New Year, says leading children’s savings provider The Children’s Mutual.

Following reports last week that Child Trust Funds, designed to give poor children a modest nest egg when they turn 18, are favouring the middle classes, Engage Mutual, a leading provider of CTFs, is urging other providers to drop the minimum top-up rate for CTFs.

Family Investments, UK Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider, has become the first provider to open 500,000 accounts, just three years after CTFs were first launched.

Parents and relatives continue to make extra contributions into Child Trust Funds (CTFs) in increasing amounts, according to the latest TISA quarterly survey.

Good intentions at the start of the year can give children’s savings a boost, especially if last year is anything to go by, according to new research from Engage Mutual Assurance.

The Children’s Mutual has welcomed the figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) which show 3.23 million children now have a Child Trust Fund (CTF) account.

Many children will have been given money for Christmas this year on top of the countless toys, gadgets and clothes listed in their letters to Santa.

Parents are being urged to reassess their Child Trust Funds (CTFs) as the gap between the best and worst accounts widens.

Tesco Personal Finance has launched a Child Trust Fund account so that people will find it easier to save for their children’s future.

As 2007 draws to a close, Nationwide Building Society calls on the Government to bring about tax reform on children’s savings in 2008. The Society reveals that parents who regularly pay money into their child’s savings account could be faced with a tax bill of more than £6,000 over 18 years.

The balances on cash CTFs rose £23 million in Q3 - up 32% on the same period last year, according to the Building Societies Association (BSA).

Twins are getting more paid in regularly to their Child Trust Funds (CTFs) by their parents than their single counterparts according to data from Engage Mutual.

The Child Trust Fund (CTF) scheme is creating a new generation of responsible savers and encouraging their parents to become the same, according to research from Family Investments.

Parents are increasingly finding themselves making life-changing decisions to give their children any chance of avoiding financial disaster in early adulthood.

Yesterday’s report by HM Revenue and Customs indicates that three-quarters of parents now open a Child Trust Fund for their child, and that a quarter of accounts are being topped-up by parents.

Robin Bailey, director at Nationwide, comments on Kitty Ussher, economic secretary's announcement about Child Trust Funds (CTF), made today:

The Economic Secretary’s announcement today of further, targeted measures to promote CTF is welcome news.

The Children’s Mutual has welcomed the Government’s annual update on the progress of the Child Trust Fund (CTF) and in particular confirmation that 24% of children’s accounts are being topped up.

John Reeve, Chief Executive of Family Investments, the leading CTF provider managing almost 500k accounts, said: “We welcome the re-introduction of reminder letters to parents – a move we have been campaigning for some time – which should make a material impact on the take-up of Child Trust Funds.

The Economic Secretary, Kitty Ussher, has published the second annual Child Trust Fund (CTF) statistical report, highlighting the continuing success of the CTF.

TISA is calling for key enhancements to the Child Trust Fund alongside wider actions to further incentivise savings as part of its Pre Budget Submission delivered to the Treasury this week.

With new research showing that parents will put their financial futures at risk to help fund their child’s education, The Children’s Mutual is urging parents of younger children to plan early and start saving.

Engage Mutual Assurance, a leading provider of Child Trust Funds (CTF), has launched a new product to encourage parents to save for older children who missed the CTF deadline.

As the National Wedding Show, the UK's largest exhibition for prospective brides and grooms, is set to open its doors in Earls Court this weekend, fund manager F&C warns of the spiralling cost of financing "the Big Day" and highlights the need to save as early as possible.

Princess Tiaamii, Bluebell Madonna, Brooklyn, Kal-El, Jermajesty or Apple: what’s in a name? Family Investments, the UK’s leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider, today announces the launch of its unique Baby Name Game (babynamegame.co.uk), designed to help parents to be choose a name for their bundle of joy.

The East Midlands is England’s pocket money capital – children in the region are those most likely to be enjoying parental handouts this summer, whereas kids in affluent London come rock bottom of England’s pocket money league, according to new research from Engage Mutual.

Parents will be wasting £125 million in tax breaks by not making full use of their children’s Child Trust Fund (CTF) allowance, according to figures from Unbiased.co.uk, the website promoting the benefits of independent financial advice.

September 1 marks the fifth birthday of the first Child Trust Fund (CTF) babies, and it isn’t just the youngsters who should be celebrating, says David White, chief executive of The Children’s Mutual.

The first children to qualify for the Child Trust Fund (CTF) are fast approaching their fifth birthday and will soon be starting a new adventure in life when the school term starts in September.

Parents celebrating their children’s exam success this week, and the start of their journey to become architects, doctors or solicitors, could be surprised by rocketing study costs according to figures from The Children’s Mutual.

Family Investments, the market leader in Child Trust Funds (CTFs), today reveals that 46% of the predicted due dates for expectant mums are inaccurate by at least ten days.

Child Trust Fund (CTF) top-ups by parents and relatives continue to grow, according to the latest TISA Child Trust Fund Survey.

Nectar, the UK’s leading loyalty card, and Family Investments, the UK’s leading Child Trust Fund provider, have joined forces to create the first Child Trust Fund (CTF) that can be topped up with Nectar points, by anyone who has a Nectar Card.

PIMA joins the Government in supporting credit unions in playing an active role as providers of Child Trust Fund (CTF).

The announcement from the DfES, that cared for children will receive an extra £100 each year into their Child Trust Fund account, has been welcomed by The Children’s Mutual.

Parents are being urged to switch cash Child Trust Funds as a price war breaks out, new research from MoneyExpert.com shows.

Britannia Building Society has increased the rate on its non-stakeholder Child Trust Fund (CTF) to a whopping 7.15% in a bid to win over parents looking for a wise investment.

The Child Trust Fund recently celebrated its second birthday yet the latest Government figures showed that nearly a quarter of all Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers issued were not invested by parents within the 12 month time frame.

Reports that increasing numbers of parents, and wider family, are topping up Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts have been heralded as ‘great news’ by leading provider, The Children’s Mutual.

Increasing numbers of parents are saving for their children’s future through a CTF, according to the latest PIMA Child Trust Fund Survey.

As the Child Trust Fund (CTF) celebrates its second birthday on April 6, new research from The Children’s Mutual shows just how important it will be for children to have a financial lump sum at age 18.

Cash Child Trust Funds (CTFs) continue to dominate Stakeholder accounts in popularity, according to research issued by Abbey Savings to coincide with the two year anniversary of the launch of the Child Trust Fund. Abbey is one of the top CTF providers in the UK.

With the second anniversary of the Child Trust Fund (CTF) just around the corner, Engage Mutual, one of the UK’s largest CTF providers, can reveal that Northern Irish parents are by far the most generous when it comes to topping up their child’s Engage CTF.

Britannia has extended its bonus on Child Trust Funds as they approach their second birthday on Friday and enter the "Terrible Twos."

The Children’s Mutual has welcomed the latest Child Trust Fund (CTF) figures, released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which show that more than 2.6 million CTF accounts are now open.

The Economic Secretary, Ed Balls, today announced that over 2.6 million Child Trust Fund accounts are now open.

Single parents are struggling to save for their children’s future – just one in six have made regular payments into a child’s savings account - according to research by Engage Mutual.

Ethical issues are a must and not a maybe in today’s society. But new figures from Family Investments find that being an ethical parent is not only heavy on the conscience, but also on the purse.

Co-operative Insurance has experienced a very positive response to the Child Trust Fund initiative.

As many as one in two parents do not give their children pocket money, preferring instead to save for their off springs’ future, according to new research by Engage Mutual Assurance.

Family Investments has attracted its 400,000th Child Trust Fund (CTF) customer, making it the most successful provider in the UK.

As new research reveals that four in 10 households could potentially be facing a 40 per cent Inheritance Tax bill, The Children’s Mutual is urging grandparents to consider investing on behalf of their grandchildren as a means of avoiding giving too much to the taxman.

As CTF Week draws to a close, PIMA and its member companies would like to remind parents to make every week ‘CTF Week’.

The Halifax has announced today that newborn baby Jennifer Chapman from Farnham in Surrey is the 250,000th Halifax Child Trust Fund (CTF) customer. She could have £34,820 when she turns 18.

Family Investments welcomes government plans to develop a national financial advice service announced this week by Ed Balls, Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Phil Wagstaff, Managing Director of all UK retail funds at New Star, says: “Every parent should have the opportunity to provide their child with the best financial start in adult life. Child Trust Funds offer parents an opportunity for their children to benefit from stock market performance tax-efficiently. Accessible both online and in the high street, parents can easily and conveniently access information on how to invest and what to invest in. With 2.5million accounts opened in just two years they’ve proven to be a strong success story.”

Commenting on Child Trust Fund (CTF) week Stuart Glendinning, managing director at moneysupermarket.com, said: “The Government’s latest Child Trust Fund initiative, CTF week, draws much-needed attention to the need to develop saving as a lifelong habit, and encourage people to manage their family’s finances carefully.

More parents and relatives are making additional top-up contributions to CTFs, according to statistics from the Quarterly PIMA CTF survey.

Sainsbury’s Bank stakeholder Child Trust Fund provides return of 8.92% over the past 12 months.

The Economic Secretary, Ed Balls, today launches Child Trust Fund (CTF) week in a visit with Pensions Minister James Purnell to the Ann Taylor Children's Centre in Hackney.

Legal & General will be supporting Child Trust Fund Week (15 to 20 January 2007) with over 440 advisers across the UK.

Child Trust Fund Week (CTF Week) is a great opportunity for parents to ask questions and get saving for their children, says the Building Societies Association (BSA).

As the government launches its inaugural Child Trust Fund Week, HSBC is urging parents not to miss out on the benefits to be made from tax-free savings for their children’s future after seeing positive growth on its own stakeholder child trust fund.

Next week (15-20 January), the Government will launch a campaign to raise awareness of Child Trust Funds - which Britannia offers at a market leading rate of 6.50 percent.

Lisa Taylor of Moneyfacts.co.uk comments: “Next week is national Child Trust Fund week, Ed Balls will attempt to raise awareness of the saving scheme, as take-up still remains disappointingly low, with a quarter of parents still not investing their voucher.

Child Trust Fund (CTF) Week is a chance to bring ‘money’ back to the dinner table, says The Children’s Mutual.

Mutual insurers now provide 47% of all the Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts opened in the UK, according to figures from the Association of Mutual Insurers (AMI).

As the Government prepares to launch the first ever national "Child Trust Fund Week" commencing 15 January:

The Children’s Mutual today welcomed the latest Child Trust Fund figures, released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which show that 2.5 million accounts have now been opened, with three quarters of all parents opening the accounts themselves.

Almost 2.5 million Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts have now been opened, the Economic Secretary, Ed Balls, announced today, with three-quarters of all parents opening their children's accounts themselves.

Two years after the Child Trust Fund was launched by the Government, Britannia Building Society still offers a leading rate and has seen more than 50,000 accounts opened.

Families are increasingly draining grandparents’ pensions to subsidise costs of childcare and debt repayment, according to new research by engage Mutual Assurance.