Is paying into a child pension still worthwhile?
Is paying into a child pension still worthwhile?
Author
Discussion

CoolHands

Original Poster:

23,421 posts

224 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I started a junior sipp for my daughter In 2017 when she was 8 and pay in each month. Not a huge amount only £100 a month (+ a lump sum at the beginning) but I wanted to take advantage of the sum that gets added by the government and also give her a head start so when she’s 60+ she’s got a fighting chance of a reasonable retirement.

I have some spare money I could add into this years pot to take to max £2880 and still get 20% added. But with this whole covid thing I’m running a bit scared / gloomy about the future. Feeling a bit apocalyptic about the markets / economies. I’m really thinking is it safe? Could all these companies end up going to the wall, economies down the stter, and I’m just throwing my money away? Sounds silly now I write it down, just wondering what you think?

Also government screwing with pension ages and no doubt tax stuff in the futures to pay back the st-tonne of money they’re throwing at everything.

covmutley

3,356 posts

219 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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Don't worry, its a great thing you are doing.

Of course there will be boom and bust times, but the idea is to just ride it out over time.

Investing £100 per month from aged 8 to 60 at a reasonable long term ftse 100 average of 8% will see her with a pension pot of nearly £900k.

Time in the market beats timing the market.

Mr Pointy

13,359 posts

188 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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Pensions are great but consider an ISA as well. Income for an ISA is tax free, income from a pension is not. 30-40 years growth could lead to a very substantial ISA pot.

Simpo Two

92,708 posts

294 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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CoolHands said:
Also government screwing with pension ages and no doubt tax stuff in the futures to pay back the st-tonne of money they’re throwing at everything.
That would be my concern - pensions are political footballs with lots of strings, if that's not mixing metaphors. But as for investing in general, you could also take the view that the only way is up...

Cheib

25,372 posts

204 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I think best advice advice when planning for the future is diversity of vehicle so do a bit of both. I think it’s when not if the higher rate tax relief on pensions disappears but don’t think it will disappear totally....the Govt needs to encourage people to save so they aren’t reliant on the state.

I do both for my kids. My hope is with the pension that when it comes to that time in life when they have a mortgage and a young family they can take a few years out of contributing to their pension because they will be ahead of the game.

Aiminghigh123

2,894 posts

98 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I have started an ISA for my son I looked into a few things and this came up the best option. Can add £9k a year and completely tax free.

bristolbaron

5,375 posts

241 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I think the chances are by the time my kids reach retirement age I’ll be long gone and they’ll inherit anything I’d have paid in anyway. I’d rather invest for them during their working years, I think they’ll be fine by the time they’re old.

CrgT16

2,524 posts

137 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I have both, I see it as a good starter for him. Will pay until he is 18 then it’s up to him to organise his future but it’s not a bad start.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

160 months

Saturday 12th September 2020
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I think it will get harder for people to start their own pensions, by the time they come out of university they have student loans to pay back, so probably won’t be able to afford to pay into a pension for quite a while. Any pension help they can get as a child could help to compensate for that.

red_slr

20,700 posts

218 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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If you are wealthy then child SIPPs are a great idea if you are able / willing to distribute other wealth at stages before sipp age. If its your only shot then an ISA would be better I think as it allows access earlier.

IMHO (as a non parent but as someone who grew up with zero financial support and had to find my own way) those who seem to do better in my age group get financial help in their late 20s and early 30s. It gives them that boost at the time when money is tightest.

If I had a child then I would be looking to do something at those kind of ages rather than when they are 60.

I also think financial education its worth its weight in gold at say late teens. Proper understanding of investments and compounding etc. Also borrowing etc. Tax breaks. ISAs/SIPPs etc etc. It took me till me late 20s to get any kind of knowledge on the subject and it was 10-12 years wasted IME.

JulianPH

10,084 posts

143 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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red_slr said:
I also think financial education its worth its weight in gold at say late teens. Proper understanding of investments and compounding etc. Also borrowing etc. Tax breaks. ISAs/SIPPs etc etc. It took me till me late 20s to get any kind of knowledge on the subject and it was 10-12 years wasted IME.
10 years ago I offered to go back to my old school and do exactly this. They were not remotely interested.


red_slr

20,700 posts

218 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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Bonkers isn't it.

Even basic advice will get you a head start thats worth quite a bit 20 years down the line.

You cant make up for that time once you are behind the curve by that far.

JapanRed

1,591 posts

140 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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JulianPH said:
red_slr said:
I also think financial education its worth its weight in gold at say late teens. Proper understanding of investments and compounding etc. Also borrowing etc. Tax breaks. ISAs/SIPPs etc etc. It took me till me late 20s to get any kind of knowledge on the subject and it was 10-12 years wasted IME.
It’s crackers that that there is no mandatory schooling on how to manage financial affairs. Every 14-16 year old should learn something about it IMO.

10 years ago I offered to go back to my old school and do exactly this. They were not remotely interested.

chip*

1,826 posts

257 months

Sunday 13th September 2020
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Per below MSE link, finance education is available in the schools following the national curriculum, but even so, I still feel the parents should also take lead responsibility to educate their kids on personal finance and budgeting etc..I can't watch Martin Lewis for more than 2 min on TV, but he has my total respect as he's been championing financial education to the general public for many years.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2013/09/fin...

Back on topic. As part of my financial plan, I am in a fortunate position to contribute both JISA and SIPP annually for my 2 girls. I see the benefits to both, but I tend to contribute more into JISA as I feel their financial demands will be higher during their early stage of adulthood. I hope they will sensible with their wealth, if not, at least some will be locked / protected in their pension for their later years!