Early-bird ISA

If you have the money available, why not invest early on this tax year? Early birds who invested their full ISA allowance in the average UK equity income fund on the first working day of the last tax year, rather than leaving it to the last minute, would have seen their £11,520 investment rise by more than 17%, to £13,493.98*.

Obviously, markets don't rise every year and sometimes early bird investors will lose out if markets fall, but the longer your money is invested, the more chance it has to grow.

And don't forget, if you invest a lump sum early, you can top up to the new maximum amount of £15,000 from 1st July 2014.

*Source: FE Analytics, 8th April 2013 to 5th April 2014.