... and here’s where they will be putting their OWN hard-earned

Jason Hollands

WITH private school fees to pay, I’m at a time of life where I’m quite limited in being able to make new investments.

But I plan to scrape together whatever money I can afford over the coming weeks to put into my Isa because I do think the recent sell-off has put equities back into interesting territory.

While second guessing whether the recent slide has bottomed out or has further to go is a mug’s game, I believe that if you are able to invest with a reasonable time horizon – meaning years, not weeks – the current environment provides buying opportunities.

Equity yields provide a commanding lead over bonds and cash and with interest rates now tumbling again in the UK and across the globe, that isn’t going to go away.

The coronavirus outbreak is undoubtedly a shock to the global economy and financial markets, but ultimately I believe this will prove temporary, with a V-shaped recovery.

Whenever I add to my Isa, I top up existing holdings rather than adding new ones – focusing on those areas my longer-term exposure may have drifted below where I want it to be.

It will probably mean adding to my UK equity holdings. So, a couple of months ago I invested in fund Fidelity Special Situations, managed by Alex Wright. He’s a contrarian investor, buying UK companies that are out of favour – but where there are catalysts of change. It has had a tough run in recent weeks.

I also added to my longstanding holding in Liontrust Special Situations. It has been a real win-win fund, providing consistent returns from backing companies with resilient business models – typically because they have a ‘USP’ versus competitors.

Ryan Hughes, AJ Bell

I INVEST in my Isa every month which helps remove the worry of trying to time the market.

But recent market falls have given scope to top up long-term holdings and put a little extra money to work as the end of the tax year approaches. I’ll be looking to add to City of London investment trust given the attraction of a UK portfolio of high-quality blue chip stocks, a solid yield of 4.5 per cent plus and low fees.

In addition, Asian equities have been hit by coronavirus, so I’ll add to my holding in Jupiter Asian Income given its focus on high quality companies underpinned by a good yield.

While we will see more market volatility, I like investments to generate income that I can reinvest for the long term.

In the current Isa year, I have also invested in investment trusts Temple Bar and Montanaro UK Smaller Companies. Last September, I bought trust Worldwide

Healthcare while I’ve bought shares in JP Morgan Emerging Markets.

Patrick Connolly

MY long-term investment strategy consists of monthly payments into my workplace pension and Isa – and monthly overpayments of my mortgage.

My Isa payments go into cash and I then look to top up my existing funds. This year, I have invested predominantly in the UK, believing there is value in the UK stock market.

I’ve invested in fund Liontrust UK Micro Cap that has done very well and Schroder Recovery, which hasn’t done so well. I have also invested in Investec Cautious Managed that has been disappointing for some time because of its emphasis on investing in value companies that the wider stock market has steered away from. And in recent days, I have put some money into index-tracking fund HSBC FTSE All-Share.

Moira O’neill, Head of personal finance, Interactive Investor

IT’S the first year for ages that I’m not investing additional funds in an Isa in the run-up to April 5. This has nothing to do with markets, coronavirus or the plunging oil price. The reason is that I’m saving into a Cash Isa to pay for building works on my home.

For me this highlights the benefits of the Isa regime – the flexibility to provide for immediate as well as long-term goals. Once the building project is over, I’ll add to my stocks and shares Isa, investing on a regular monthly basis.