I am looking to open a child trust fund,has anyone opened one? Who is the best to invest in?

We have a stakeholder investment account with HSBC. The 'best' option depends on whether you think it is safe to put the money into the stock market. The choices you have to make are as follows;

1. Do you choose a cash or stock market account? We chose a stock market account because we think it will get grow much more over the approx 15 years before our son is 18. The money is invested in the HSBC UK Growth and Income unit trust, which is low risk and has grown approx 30% since we set it up.

2. Do you chose a stakeholder or normal account. Stakeholder accounts can't charge you more than 1.5% a year for investing in the stock market, normal accounts can charge whatever they want. We chose a staekholder account because there doeasn't seem to be a good reason for paying more than 1.5% if you don't have to.

You can open one with Abbey, there pretty good!

Actually any account you open for a child is technically a trust. the funds HAVE to be used for the child and will be the child's after they reach the age of majority for your particular state. if you want to set more restrictions, you can do so by having an attorney and stipulate things such as the child must go to University of State to have access to enough money to pay for college, or the child has to reach 35 to get another portion. What to invest in?
Well that is a broad question. I would simplify by stating that the trustee (whoever the adults name listed on the account or the named trustee) will now incur fiduciary responsibility for the account. Large firms go through great length to be a fiduciary for super trusts, endowments, and pensions. Since they have gone through the due diligence trouble, I would look at who invests the dollars for your charities or universities or pensions that you may be familiar with and see if there is a way to get in on their fiduciary coattails. For example, Goldman Sachs invests for a lot of large organizations, they also sell mutual funds with low minimums ($500-5000?) that follow the same or similar strategy they have with their larger accounts. With them accepting fiduciary role, you have more time to commit to the child's goals and development.

I opened one last year and decided on the simple option, of a bank account.

The problem with this trust is, that unless you contribute annually then the initial funds of 拢250 will be worth very little in 16 years time.

Should you decide to top up the fund, then this money is non-returnable until the maturity of the investment, or the child reaches 16 years of age, and who can guarantee that this will not go the same way as pension funds have recently.

Should you decide on the unit trust, or stocks and shares, then it could all be gone in a matter of days.

I have my child's with HSBC.