After the financial crisis, banks are identifying ways to improve their performance. The new strategies involve digital strategies, strategies to adjust to the rapidly changing financial environment and strategies for the ecosystem. The global banking outlook 2018 released by the Ey (that surveyed more than 200 financial institutions across twenty-nine markets) found the performance of 2018 and future banking will be highly dependent on digital transformation. The new banking systems need to analyse risks and cyber security functions, moreover, these banks should be ready for completely technology based, scalable and reliable monetary handling.
Vanguard research finds risks is persistent in the current year, and one of the leading risk comes from the US where high employment, inflation and increasing rates along with volatile politico-economic factors are raising unpredictability. A study on young wagers in UK found one -fifth of parents were not investing in scheme to save for future. The commonest reasons for not saving were low income and increasing inflation.
Tax benefits funds are attracting new investors. Financial companies are offering various schemes such as Junior Cash I.S.A (the individual saving accounts) and there are other funds such as High Interest Savings Accounts, Fixed Term Deposits and government bonds but most young earners in the UK are not saving in these funds.
The government fixed rate bonds allows to save for a specified time period, but these are not suitable for smaller amount regular saving. One the other hand, some funds offers simple tax-free ways.
Cash ISA offer flexible methods to earn tax free interest, and benefit from ISA allowance. ISA standard saving account is used to keep money for future, the interest rates of these accounts vary from 3 to 6 per cent – depending on the balance saved. There are some easy access methods where one can get access to cash, as and when, required.
The Junior ISA is the scheme where children below 18 can save money and they can access the money unless they are 16. This is a tax saving scheme and the fund – Junior ISA holds a number of assets, bonds, cash, shares and stocks in the market. The scheme provides long term growth in savings, and the risk is that the holder may get back less as compared to what is invested. The other risks include - The tax benefits on the fund can be changed by the government, anytime, or withdrawn completely. Also the money contributed could not be accessed, unless the child is 18. There are other funds provided under ISA, where tax free saving is offered for people below 40, and such future investment can be used for many purposes such as buying the first home.
Notice account is the fund where one gets notice to withdraw money within specified days, but these funds do not give high interest rates. In case, you need early money, there is risk of losing money in such account. Other than these, banks offer fixed rate accounts, which are locked for a fixed period.
To find out more about some of the other funds, check 99 Alternative (http://www.99alternatives.com).