The Individual Savings Account (ISA) has come a long way since Gordon Brown introduced it in 1999. It was a successor to Personal Equity Plans (PEPs)—which had been created in the 80s to promote equity ownership amongst the public—and was designed to make tax-free saving simple.
An ISA itself isn’t an investment, but instead is a wrapper which sits around your cash and ensures any returns you make are tax-free. We’ve seen ISA limits grow significantly over the years, from £7,000 to £20,000 per annum today, and it has become a key part of most personal investment strategies. It’s probably the best financial handout you’ll receive from the government.
The ISA landscape remained relatively unchanged for many years. There has always been the option of simple Cash ISAs—offered predominantly by banks and building societies—and Stocks and Shares ISAs, for the savvier investor that is familiar with the stock market. Other variations have been added too, like the more recent Lifetime ISA and Help To Buy ISA.