5 steps towards a better financial future starts today
Important information: Our website is not personal advice. If you’re not sure whether a course of action is right for you, please ask us for financial advice. Unlike the security offered by cash, investments, and any income, will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.
Read these 5 steps and make your money work harder in 2025
1. Make sure your investments are on track
Review your investments to check they still match your needs. With HL, you can invest in the best opportunities from around the globe. Our experts have handpicked investment ideas for 2025, if you’re looking for inspiration.
Take the hassle out of investing and choose our expertly managed, all-in-one investments. Learn more about HL Ready-Made Investments.
The HL Ready-Made Pension Plan is a simple investment solution designed exclusively for the HL Self-Invested Personal Pension. It's managed by experts, and reduces risk as you approach retirement.
2. Add money early and let it grow
Investing is about the long game. That’s at least 5 years – ideally longer.
A long-term approach will help cut through short-term noise of market movements and worries about when are the best times to invest. We’ve explored how much you could benefit from investing for the long term.
You could consider regularly investing small amounts of money each month for your investments to gradually build up over time.
It takes emotion out of your decisions, and you won’t be tempted to try timing the market. Though it is important to regularly review investments to ensure they remain right for you.
3. Make the most of your generous tax wrappers
The less tax you pay, the more your hard-earned money can grow and the more you get to keep.
Following an increase to capital gains tax (CGT) rates in the Autumn Budget, it’s as important as ever to shelter any investment gains from tax.
Investments held in an ISA or SIPP are free from income tax and capital gains tax.
Already got an ISA or SIPP? It’s easy to top up online or on the HL app.
ISA, pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on individual circumstances. Once held in a pension your money isn’t usually accessible until age 55 (57 from 2028).
Protect your existing shares from tax
If you hold existing shares in an HL Fund and Share Account but want to be more tax-efficient, you could transfer them to an HL Stocks and Shares ISA using our Share Exchange service. As investments are sold and repurchased you could end up with less shares than you hold now.
Stocks and Shares ISA
- Pay in up to £20,000 per year
- Tax-free growth
- Tax-free withdrawals
- No UK tax on income
Cash ISA
- Pay in up to £20,000 per year
- No UK tax on interest
- Tax-free withdrawals
SIPP
- Up to 45% tax relief on contributions if under age 75 (up to 47% for Scottish tax payers)
- Tax-free growth
- No UK tax on income within the SIPP
- Up to 25% can usually be withdrawn tax free from 55 (57 from 2028), the rest is taxed as income
4. Secure great rates while they last
Savings rates are likely to fall in 2025, so the sooner you act, the better. Fixing now will give you guaranteed returns, and ensure you’re earning high interest even when other rates fall.
Instead of hunting all over the place for great rates, find them easily with an HL Active Savings Account.
Easy access, fixed rate, and Cash ISA. All from multiple banks, all in one place.
Fixed rates allow access at maturity. Easy access rates are variable. Products can be withdrawn at any time.
Inflation reduces the future spending power of your money.
Easy access
4.52% | 4.43%
(AER
|
Gross)
1 year
4.77% | 4.77%
(AER
|
Gross)
6 months
4.62% | 4.57%
(AER
|
Gross)
2 years
4.52% | 4.52%
(AER
|
Gross)
AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) shows what the interest rate/expected profit rate would be if it was paid and compounded once each year. It helps you compare the rates on different savings products. Once you have opened a fixed term product the rate won't change, but rates on easy access products can vary.
Gross means the rate without any tax removed. Interest/profits are paid gross. You are responsible for paying any tax due on interest/profits that exceed your Personal Savings Allowance to HM Revenue & Customs. Tax treatment can change.
5. Bring all your savings, investments and pensions together in one place
Get more clarity, choice and control when you hold everything in one place.
If you’re thinking about transferring, check for loss of benefits or guarantees first.
Need help?
Expert advice when you need it
Our Chartered financial advice firm has over 40 years’ experience delivering peace of mind to clients. Our experts will listen to your goals and form a bespoke financial plan to help you achieve them.
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- Create watchlists to find and track new investments
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This website is issued by Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited (company number 1896481), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with firm reference 115248.
The Active Savings service is provided by Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited (company number 8355960). Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 915119). Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 with firm reference 901007 for the issuing of electronic money.
Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited and Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited are subsidiaries of Hargreaves Lansdown plc (company number 2122142).