Tag Archives: stakeholder-Child-Trust-Fund

The Children’s Mutual Reports Saving For Children Is Still Crucial

The Children’s Mutual, a leading Child Trust Fund provider, reports that saving for children is crucial and urges the 5 million families whose children hold Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts to continue saving for their children into CTFs.

The Children's Mutual Reports Saving For Children Is Still Crucial

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “The CTF has changed the nation’s savings habits and we congratulate families across the UK for recognising the critical importance of saving for their children’s futures.”

According to The Children’s Mutual, today’s parents are paying out an average of£30,000 to fund their children between the ages of 18 to 30 and these costs are only expected to rise for families of tomorrow.

The Children’s Mutual urges families to not be disheartened by the Government’s announcement to stop all payments to Child Trust Funds by January 2011, but to continue to help their children fulfil their future potential by saving regularly over the long term. CTF holding children now have a unique asset that others will not.

The Children’s Mutual also revealed that the Child Trust Fund is the single most successful savings policy to date and that this sort of short term cut does not address the pressing need for families to save or recognise the significant benefit to society that the CTF will bring from 2020 as maturing funds return an anticipated £2.96bn each year to the economy.

David White continued: “We also reassure our current and existing customers that having been in existence for the last 129 years, we have been providing long-term savings accounts for children and helping support families throughout our history. We are committed to continuing to do so in the future.”

Launched in 2005, Child Trust Funds were designed to provide a tax efficient, long term savings vehicle for all eligible children. Newborn children (born on or after 1 September 2002) received a £250 Child Trust Fund voucher (£500 for low income families) from the government when their parents registered for Child Benefit. The government then makes a second contribution of £250 (£500 for low income families) when the child reaches seven. Parents, family and friends can all then add to this account up to a maximum value of £1,200 each year. The proposed changes to the CTF will mean that for existing customers the accounts remain as before, with an annual tax-efficient top up allowance of £1,200, albeit without government’s additional contributions from 1 August 2010.

Via EPR Network
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One In Five Parents Has A Will

According to new research by leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider The Children’s Mutual, just 18% of parents have written a will, yet many are unaware that should the worst happen and the parents die without having appointed a guardian, the child may not be looked after by their chosen carer and it will be up to the courts to decide where they live. The Children’s Mutual is therefore urging parents to make and keep just one New Year’s Resolution this year – to write a will.

According to research by The Children’s Mutual, the majority of parents who hadn’t written a will said it was because the task was ‘sitting on the to do list’ but wasn’t a priority (35%), 32% said they hadn’t found the time and 27% said they couldn’t afford to write a will. To help address these concerns, The Children’s Mutual has put together a simple Will Writing Checklist which is available on request to assist parents ahead of writing a will and is offering a discounted rate for a standard will of £50 plus VAT through its Will Writing Service in partnership with Flint Bishop Solicitors.

The Children’s Mutual is calling on parents to act to protect their children and is urging the one in three (27%) parents it surveyed who said they planned to write a will, to do just that this year.

Tony Anderson, Marketing Director at The Children’s Mutual, said: “The majority of parents have writing a will on their to do list but we’re urging them to put their New Year’s Resolutions to good use in 2010 and make it happen. While it’s something no parent wants to think about, getting a will written and their paperwork in order so they know their child will be cared and provided for will be a huge weight off their mind.”

Of the parents questioned who have a will, their top reasons for writing one were to ensure their partner inherited their estate and because they wanted to decide who would look after their children should the worst happen.

Via EPR Network
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