Beat the rush and complete your ISA in plenty of time
Fidelity International is urging investors to treat this weekend as ‘ISA weekend' and ensure they get their ISA applications in on time and avoid the last minute ISA rush.
Analysis of sales from last year's ISA season has shown that Fidelity received over a quarter (27%) of its ISA applications in the last week of the tax year, with one in 10 people leaving it to the last few days (2nd April to Midnight on 5th April).
Fidelity is urging investors to make time on the weekend of the 26th and 27th March to think about where they are going to invest and complete their application well ahead of the April 5th deadline, in order to ensure they take advantage of this year's ISA allowance.
Even those that are undecided whether to invest or where to invest can ensure they do not miss out on their valuable ISA allowance by using the Fidelity Cash Park facility which allows investors to hold their stocks and shares ISA allowance in cash temporarily. With the end of tax year looming it provides investors with more time to decide which funds are suitable to invest in and when to return to the market.
Rob Fisher, Head of UK Personal Investments at Fidelity International said: "The new financial year is just around the corner. Whichever way you prefer to invest, don't leave buying your ISA to the very last minute - use this weekend to get your 2010/11 ISA application done and dusted ahead of deadline and beat the rush."
Further analysis of Fidelity's ISA sales during last year's ISA season, shows variations across the regions of the UK. Of all investors who submitted their ISA application within the last week of the tax year, those based in Northern Ireland were the most organised with just 1% leaving it until the last week. London based investors left it latest to invest, with 20% of investors waiting until the last minute.
In order to help investors, in the coming weeks Fidelity has extended its opening hours and is setting up stands in selected London stations; on Wed 30th March-Victoria, Thurs 31st March-Liverpool Street and Fri 1st April-London Bridge from 7am to 7pm as well as offering various collection points throughout the UK.
Regional Collection Point
Open on Tuesday 5 April 8.30am - 6pm. As well as four Fidelity offices: London 8.30am - 6pm. Manchester 8.30am - 6pm. Surrey 8.30am - Midnight and Kent 8.30am -Midnight
Belfast: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AP
Birmingham: National Motorcyle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, B92 0EJ
Bristol: Aztec Hotel, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TS
Cambridge: Holiday Inn, Lake View, Bridge Road, Imprington, Cambridge, CB4 9PH
Cardiff: Miskin Manor, Miskin, Cardiff, CF12 8ND
Edinburgh: Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB
Exeter: Mercure Southgate Hotel, Southernhay East, Exeter, Devon EX1 1QF
Glasgow: Marriot Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Anderston, Glasgow G3 8RR
Guildford: Holiday Inn, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XZ
Leeds: Hilton Leeds City, Neville Street, Leeds, West Yrokshire LS1 4BX
Manchester: Mere Golf and Country Club, Chester Rd, Mere, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6LJ
Newcastle: Copthorne Hotel, The Close, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3RT
Southampton: Botleigh Grange, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2GA
Edinburgh: Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB
More details on ISAs can be found on Fidelity's website by clicking here: fidelity.co.uk/investor/default.page where you can also order a copy of your free ISA guide. Investors who invest with Fidelity have a choice of over 1200 funds on Fidelity's fund supermarket, FundsNetworkTM. They can choose from the whole range of funds or from Fidelity's newly-launched Select List of 70 funds, expertly chosen by Fidelity's Fund Manager Selection Team.