How I’d invest £7.5k in a Stocks and Shares ISA today

Rupert Hargreaves explains why these are some of his favourite Stocks and Shares ISA investments to buy today before the deadline

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Entrepreneur on the phone.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

The Stocks and Shares ISA deadline is fast approaching. As such, I have been looking for attractive equities to add to my portfolio.

While investors do not have to invest their ISA allowance immediately, I like to get my money working as hard as possible, as soon as possible.

That is why I am always on the lookout for new additions for my Stocks and Shares ISA, even though I do not have to spend the money inside the wrapper as soon as it is deposited.

Should you invest £1,000 in Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Bluefield Solar Income Fund Limited made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Investing a lump sum

If I had to invest a lump sum of £7,500 today, I would spread the money across four different investments.

I do not like to have too much diversification in my portfolio, but at the same time, I realise that it is sensible to diversify my assets. That is why I would invest the £7,500 figure across four different assets. This would enable me to invest just under £1,900 in each opportunity.

I would split this money between high-yield stocks and growth investments.

The great thing about the Stocks and Shares ISA is the fact that any income or capital gains earned on assets held within one of these tax-efficient wrappers is not liable for additional tax.

As such, they are perfect instruments in which to own high growth investments and income stocks.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

Stocks and Shares ISA income stocks

The two income stocks I would buy for my portfolio are the insurance group Phoenix and another insurer Direct Line.

The former offers a dividend yield of around 7% at the time of writing, while the latter yields around 9%.

Both of these companies are leaders in their respective sectors.

Direct Line is a leader in the UK general insurance market and has a substantial market share in the car and home insurance. Meanwhile, Phoenix has a large share of the UK pension and life insurance management market.

This market is quite cash generative, which is why the business is able to offer investors such a healthy dividend yield.

The one risk both of these companies face is the risk of financial disruption. A sudden increase in interest rates or stock market crash could hit the value of their investment portfolios, forcing management to reduce investor payouts.

Growth stocks to buy 

Alongside these income investments, I would also buy some growth stocks. Right now, two of my favourite growth stocks are the IT group Softcat and homebuilder Berkeley.

These are two different companies in two different sectors, but they are both benefiting from significant growth tailwinds in their respective markets.

The UK housing market is structurally unsupplied, suggesting that the demand for homes should only continue to increase.

At the same time, the world is becoming more digitised, meaning the demand for IT services is likely to increase gradually over the next decade.

Even though these firms have tremendous potential, they are not the only businesses in their respective sectors.

Competition is the biggest challenge they are all likely to face in the years ahead. Even after taking this risk into account, I would buy both companies for my Stocks and Shares ISA today.

But there may be an even bigger investment opportunity that’s caught my eye:

Investing in AI: 3 Stocks with Huge Potential!

🤖 Are you fascinated by the potential of AI? 🤖

Imagine investing in cutting-edge technology just once, then watching as it evolves and grows, transforming industries and potentially even yielding substantial returns.

If the idea of being part of the AI revolution excites you, along with the prospect of significant potential gains on your initial investment…

Then you won't want to miss this special report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor – 'AI Front Runners: 3 Surprising Stocks Riding The AI Wave’!

And today, we're giving you exclusive access to ONE of these top AI stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free AI stock pick

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Rupert Hargreaves owns Direct Line Insurance. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Softcat. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Man smiling and working on laptop
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 250 shares with low P/E ratios and sky-high dividend yields!

Searching for the best bargains that London has to offer? Here's a handful from the FTSE 250 I think are…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Why is Apple stock lagging the S&P 500 in 2025?

Our writer is wondering whether now might be an opportune time to snap up shares of the largest company in…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how an ISA investor could build a £20k passive income with UK shares

Looking to make a five-figure passive income in retirement? Here's how a blend of UK shares and cash savings could…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 in savings? Here’s how an investor can target £3,560 in annual passive income

Paul Summers explains how an investor could target making thousands of pounds in passive income by holding great dividend stocks…

Read more »

Young Asian man drinking coffee at home and looking at his phone
Investing Articles

Up 490%, Lion Finance Group is a new name on the FTSE 250… but what is it?

Many investors won’t be familiar with Lion Finance Group, but the FTSE 250 stock has surged 490% over five years.…

Read more »

Growth Shares

I think this is the most punished FTSE stock in the market right now

Jon Smith talks through a FTSE company that has endured problems but is one he believes has a brighter future…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

Stock market correction! 1 growth share down 53% to consider buying now

This writer highlights a growth stock that has hit a rough patch in recent weeks. Here's why it might be…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s why the Tesco share price has dropped 18% in a month!

Tesco's share price has lost nearly a fifth of its value since mid-February. Is this FTSE 100 dividend stock now…

Read more »