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ETFs · Index funds · Workplace funds · Stocks · Mana Credit · Compare halal products ↗ · Terms · PrivacyWhat a JISA is, who can open one, the £9,000 allowance, and what £25/month compounds to by the time your child turns 18.
The Junior ISA (JISA) is one of the most powerful financial tools available to parents in the UK. You invest money on behalf of your child. It grows tax-free. They can't touch it until they're 18. Then it automatically converts into an adult ISA.
Most parents don't bother because they don't know about it, or think they need a lot of money to make it worthwhile. You don't. £25/month for 18 years is enough to give your child a genuinely significant financial start.
These use 8% average annual growth, a conservative estimate for a global equity fund like ISWD over 18 years.
| Monthly contribution | Total invested | Value at 18 (8% avg) |
|---|---|---|
| £10/month | £2,160 | £4,726 |
| £25/month | £5,400 | £11,814 |
| £50/month | £10,800 | £23,628 |
| £100/month | £21,600 | £47,257 |
£25/month for 18 years means you contribute £5,400. Your child receives roughly £11,800. The market more than doubles your contribution over that period.
As of this writing, Trading 212 and InvestEngine don't offer a Junior ISA. Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard both do. HL has higher fees (0.45%/year capped at £45 for ETFs) but the widest fund range and the most established JISA product. Vanguard charges less (0.15%, capped at £375/year) if you're comfortable sticking to its own fund range. Platform product lines change over time, so always confirm JISA availability directly with the provider before opening one.
With an 18-year horizon, you can afford to be invested mostly in equities and ride out the ups and downs. Three reasonable, genuinely diversified options, none of which is "the" right answer for every family:
Some parents split contributions across two of these for extra diversification rather than picking just one. See the full ETF list and{" "} index funds for the complete comparison.
Many Muslim parents feel it's meaningful to set up a JISA on a child's birthday, or to mark it as an act of sadaqah jariya, a continuous charity that keeps giving. The investment grows as the child grows. When they're 18, it's theirs.
Start with whatever you can. Even £10/month opened today is better than £100/month opened five years from now.
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