Make your child a millionaire

Many of you have probably faced up to the harsh truth that you're never going to be a millionaire, but don't despair.

Even if you can't hit the magic million yourself, your children or grandchildren can. And you can help them do it, starting today.

Making your child a million isn't as expensive as you think, in fact you can do it for just £55 a week.

The only hitch is that you - and they - will have to be a little patient.

Make that million

Adults can save up to £3,600 a year in a pension on behalf of a child or grandchild, and claim tax relief on their contributions.

This cuts your actual contribution to just £2,880 a year, or £55 a week.

If you invested that sum every year from the child's birth to 18, they could end up with a fund totalling £1.14m by age 65, according to new figures from wealth advisers Towry.

These figures assume average annual growth rate of 5% a year, after all charges.

Of course, £1 million may not be quite such a magical figure in 65 years' time, but your children won't mind.

They'll just be grateful to have had such a far-sighted parent or grandparents.

Let's get physical

If you invest £3,600 a year for 18 years, you will have paid in a total of just £64,800 (or £51,840 after tax relief).

That relatively small sum can grow into a mighty million thanks to compound interest, which physics genius Einstein only half-jokingly called the most powerful force in the universe.

The longer your pension contributions roll up, the more valuable they will ultimately become, and 65 years is a pretty long time.

Start today

Leave it too late, and compounding quickly loses its power.

If you invested £3,600 a year from age 30 to 65, your pension pot would total just £362,261 at retirement, Towry says.

So you end up with roughly one-third of the sum despite investing for 35 years, almost twice as long.

When it comes to investing, getting a good start can give you the edge for the rest of your life.
Thanks A Million

This principle applies to all types of investing, whether pensions or buying individual company stocks, especially if you pop them inside your tax-efficient individual savings account (ISA).

Sadly, you probably won't be around to see your children celebrate their millionaire status. But rest assured, they'll be raising a glass to you.

With a little effort, you could still make that million for yourself.

A growing number of ordinary Britons have done just that, becoming millionaires by investing their money on the stock market.

To find out how investing in UK stocks can make you rich you need to read this Motley Fool report: 7 Simple Steps For Seeking Serious Wealth.

This report, which is currently free, sets out how investing in stocks and shares can make you rich (provided you're willing to take on the risk). It won't cost you a penny to download, so click here now.

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