Latest Seascape Nearly Filled – Plus P2P Risk-And-Reward Primer

The latest tranche of property-backed loan Seascape (10 in the series) is 92 per cent filled as we write. With new offers arriving soon, we thought we’d we offer a reminder of some of the key factors to consider in appraising a loan before investing.

Bear in mind that while there is no profit without risk, our lenders have achieved a return of over 8 per cent (7 per cent after our one per cent charge) with over £14 million in loans facilitated.

Some Factors To Consider Before Investing

  • Examine the borrowers’ proposals in detail. We use our best endeavours to ensure that every representation of the borrower is true – about the market, the prospects, the company’s track record, the reason for the loan, the veracity of the audited accounts, etc. But we cannot and do not warrant that this is so.
  • Don’t be seduced by yield. The returns can be attractive, but a high yield can mean high risk.
  • Spreading your loan offers is a good idea. All Money&Co.’s borrowing companies have been through a careful credit-analysis process, but there is always a risk that a borrower might default on debt. We protect lenders’ interests by taking a charge on the assets of the borrower, but please be aware that there is no profit without risk. Spreading money across several borrowers is seen by many commentators as a good way of spreading risk.
  • Access to your money when you become a P2P lender is typically not as instant as withdrawing cash from an ATM or a bank. Lenders can sell their loans to other lenders in the loan market. Sometimes it may take a while to liquidate a loan. Read the risk warnings on site. As we’ve stated above, there can be no profit without risk. If you’re at all unsure about any of this, consult a lawyer, accountant or professional investment adviser.

More facts and tips can be found on site here.

All loans on site are eligible to be held in a Money&Co. Innovative Finance Individual Savings Account (ISA), up to the annual ISA limit of £20,000. Such loans offer lenders tax-free income.

A Process Guide To Innovative Finance ISA Investment

Our offering is an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) that can hold the peer-to-peer (P2P) business loans that Money&Co. facilitates. For the purposes of this article, the terms ISA and IFISA are interchangeable.

So here’s our guide to the process:

  • Step 1: Register as a lender. Go to the login page, and go through the process that the law requires us to effect. This means we have to do basic checks on you to comply with money-laundering and other security requirements.
  • Step 2: Put money into your account. This is best done by electronic transfer. We can also process paper cheques drawn in favour of Denmark Square Limited, the parent company of Money&Co.
  • Step 3: Buy loans in the loan market. Once you’ve put cash in your account it will sit there – and it won’t earn interest until you’ve bought a piece of a loan. It’s this final step that requires lenders and IFISA investors to be pro-active. Just choose some loans – all loans on the Money&Co. site can be held in an IFISA – and your money will start earning tax-free interest.

The ISA allowance for 2018/19 is unchanged from last tax year at £20,000, allowing a married couple to put £40,000 into a tax-free environment. Over three years, an investment of this scale in two Money&Co. Innovative Finance ISAs would generate £8,400 of income completely free of tax. We’re assuming a 7 per cent return, net of charges and free of tax here.

Once you have made your initial commitment, you might then consider diversifying – buying a spread of loans. To do this, you can go into the “loans for sale” market. All loans bought in this market also qualify for IFISA tax benefits.

Risk: Security, Access, Yield

Do consider not just the return, but the security and the ease of access to your investment. We write regularly about these three key factors. Here’s one of several earlier articles on security, access and yield.



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Disclaimer: Money&Co.™ is the trading name of Denmark Square Limited, Company Number 08561817, registered in England & Wales, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company is identified on the Financial Services Register under Reference Number 727325. The registered office is 58 Glentham Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9JJ where the register of Directors may be inspected. Denmark Square Limited (ISA manager reference number Z1932) manages the Money&Co. Innovative Finance ISA.