Willis Owen urges concerned ISA investors to consider Cash Reserve

With the ISA deadline looming on 5 April discount broker Willis Owen has urged investors concerned by the current turmoil in Japan to consider using a Cash Reserve fund to secure their allowance.

Using Willis Owen, investors can place their money in the Cash Reserve before the deadline, and then decide when they want to invest in individual funds, either as lump sums or by drip feeding their money over the coming year.

Alan Easter, Director of Willis Owen, said: "With the situation in Japan changing by the hour investors will no doubt be concerned about the impact on their savings. While Japan and emerging markets continued to be popular in February retail investors may be put off by recent events.

"If you don't want to lose your allowance but are unsure where to invest right now you can take advantage of the Cash Reserve. You can invest up to the full ISA limit then decide when the time is right to invest in particular funds, either in a lump sum or by drip feeding your money into the market. The key for savers is not to lose your annual tax free allowance."

Alan added: "There are ways to limit the risk you take with your investment. At a minimum you should invest with a five year investment horizon, which should help you to ride out any possible short term market dips. Second, you can diversify your investment by buying funds within your ISA rather than individual shares. You could diversify further by choosing a multi-manager fund, whose manager will buy funds run by other managers. The aim of this is to access the expertise of the world's best investment talent. These help to spread your investment risk."

Key facts about Willis Owen services:

Access to over 1500 funds from more than 90 leading investment houses

Ability to invest within an ISA wrapper, a Unit Trust or an Open Ended Investment Company

Standard Initial charges generally between 0 and 0.5% - more than half of the funds have 0% initial charge

Free ISA transfer service

Free investment check-up service

Access to an ISA Cash Reserve fund to park your money before you invest

Annual ISA guide

Investor Support Desk where you can speak to a real person not a computer, for friendly, helpful guidance 24 hours a day, seven days a week

For more information, visit willisowen.com