Maximise your ISA before the 5 April deadline.
A salary pays you for your time. Assets can keep working when you’re not. With the ISA deadline approaching, now could be the moment to start building something that can grow far beyond your earnings.
Income supports today. Assets build tomorrow.
Earnings matter. They provide stability and independence. They fund daily life.
Assets serve a different purpose. An asset is something you own that has the potential to grow in value over time. If it does grow, those gains can generate further gains – returns building on returns.
Assets, given time, can build value on a scale that may be difficult to achieve through earnings alone.
You don’t need a large sum to begin
The biggest hesitation is often how much to invest. In reality, starting can matter more than starting big.
Putting money to work through investing – even modest amounts – and giving it time can make a meaningful difference. Doing so within an ISA adds another advantage: any growth is sheltered from UK income tax and capital gains tax.
Where you invest also shapes the outcome
Emerging markets – economies such as China, India, Brazil, and Taiwan – make up 40% of the global economy and generate two-thirds of its growth . They benefit from younger populations, rising consumption and access to critical resources. They are also home to world-class companies shaping industries such as semiconductors, electrification, and digital finance.
How this works in practice: Comparing assets and earnings
Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust (TEMIT) invests in companies across emerging markets, drawing on more than 35 years of experience and on-the-ground research. Its long-term record provides a practical illustration of how investing over time can build scale relative to earnings.
• Asset growth over time
A single £20,000 investment (the current annual ISA allowance) in TEMIT 18 years ago would now be worth more than £90,000. Over 25 years, that figure rises to £328,000. Since launch in 1989, the same initial investment would now be worth more than £1.2 million.
Outcomes like these are never certain, but they do show how holding assets over longer periods can significantly increase their scale.
• Earnings over time
For comparison, the median full-time salary in the UK is around £39,000 . At that level, earning £1 million in gross income would take more than 25 years – before any tax or living costs. If you were to save 15% of that salary each year, it would amount to approximately £5,850 annually, or around £146,250 over 25 years.
This highlights the difference between income accumulated gradually through saving and assets that have the potential to grow over time.
Why assets matter
Many of us imagine building wealth through earning a higher salary – and that may well be true. But assets, built steadily and held over time, can generate returns on a scale that may be difficult to achieve through earnings alone. Starting early – even with small amounts – allows more time for growth to build.
Investing in the stock market does involve risk of loss, and returns are never guaranteed. However, emerging markets continue to represent a significant share of global growth, offering long-term potential for investors prepared to take a patient approach.
Ahead of the 5 April ISA deadline
You do not need to invest the maximum to begin. What matters is starting. A salary pays you for your time. Assets can continue working long after. Use this year’s ISA allowance to start building for the future.
How to Invest with Us
Shares in TEMIT qualify as an investment which can be held through an ISA. TEMIT is available through a stocks and shares ISA from a number of different companies. As individuals’ financial circumstances will differ, we recommend you talk with a qualified financial adviser regarding the options available to you before making investment decisions.