The offers apply to some 50 individual investment companies, with some available for only a limited period, while others are available on an ongoing basis.
JPMorgan, for example, is offering investors a zero per cent initial charge on more than 20 of its investment trusts when purchased on its wealth management service, JPMorgan WealthManager+, until April 30.
Alliance Trust is also offering a zero per cent initial charge, but with no deadline, as is the case at Invesco Perpetual.
Investors putting at least £100 per month into Baillie Gifford’s investment companies will be rewarded with no initial charge and no dealing commission. Any new Isa investment between March 1 and April 30 will also receive a £10 Amazon voucher.
Annabel Brodie-Smith, communications director at the AIC, says: “There’s no doubt that charges can eat into returns, and this can feel particularly pronounced when markets are volatile. So it’s important that even if investors take advantage of Isa offers they know exactly what Isa charges they are paying and which are excluded.
“Investment companies cover a variety of sectors and risk profiles. With independent boards of directors, a closed-end structure to help managers take a long-term view of the market, and the freedom to gear to enhance returns, they can be an ideal way to tap into the long-term potential of the stockmarket.”
With low interest rates and inflation an ongoing concern for investors, financial advisers are once again turning to the income potential of investment companies and the long-term growth story of Asia and emerging markets for their Isa recommendations.
For the second year running, advisers have singled out Templeton Emerging Markets as an adventurous pick, while Asian smaller companies and private equity are also tipped through Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies and HgCapital.
An income theme dominated the more cautious recommendations, with experts tipping John Laing Infrastructure, Schroder Income Growth and Edinburgh investment trust, while Personal Assets figured as a more defensive choice.
Neil McCarthy, investment analyst at Heron House Financial Management, says: “Personal Assets has an excellent track record of navigating its shareholders through difficult times. Its primary focus is to preserve capital and then achieve growth.
“The trust remains defensively positioned with a continued focus on global blue chips, index linked bonds and gold. Its success has not gone unnoticed and at times the shares do trade at a premium although a mechanism is in place to control the premium level. In fact, the company aims to trade close to NAV and has a zero discount policy.”
