4 fund picks for a Junior ISA

The annual review of my daughter’s Junior ISA has become a bit of a ritual. This year, however, is a little different. She turns 15 in the Spring, which means - if she wants - she can choose what she wants to invest in within her Junior ISA.

And while she still won’t be able to take any money out until she’s 18, she can choose to be the registered contact - if she wants - when she turns 16. So, it feels like a good time to start talking more openly about what she owns and what long-term investing is about.

• Be invested in giving a child a head start, open a Junior ISA

So, this time around I’m being particularly mindful about picking investments that reflect the world she’s growing into… a world that’s shaped by fast-moving technology, geopolitical shifts, climate concerns and the ongoing importance of real, physical resources.

I also want it to feel manageable, simple enough to follow, strong enough to last, and interesting enough that she wants to engage with it.

It’s worth saying upfront that her portfolio is heavily weighted towards equities. That’s very deliberate, as time is firmly on her side. She has decades ahead of her, which means she can ride out the ups and downs that come with investing in shares - and benefit from the growth that equities have historically delivered over the long term.

• Get updates on markets, ISA funds, pension saving and much more

There’s a simple rule of thumb some investors use called the ‘Rule of 100’. It might sound complicated, but all you do is subtract the investor’s age from 100 and that gives you a rough guide to how much of their portfolio could be in equities. For my daughter, that points to something like an 85/15 split - mostly growth assets, with a smaller stabilising element. That feels about right to me.

And while I won’t be able to stop her doing what she wants when her Junior ISA matures at 18, I’ll certainly be encouraging her to keep hold of it - to let it become the foundation of her adult investing life, rather than something that’s quickly spent.

So that’s the basis on which I’m choosing these funds. But these picks don’t just apply to older teens. No matter how old your child is, I find that investing for children is about keeping things simple, spreading your risk and leaning into long-term investing principles that really do stand the test of time.

With that in mind, here are the four funds I’m choosing. I’ve picked them from Select 50 - our favourite funds chosen by experts which I find a useful starting point when narrowing down my choices. This is not a personal recommendation. You need to do what works for you. But I hope it gives you some inspiration.

1. Rathbone Global Opportunities - growth with quality at its heart

This fund picks companies from developed markets around the world that the managers believe have room to grow… businesses creating new ideas, new products or better ways of doing things. Rather than hold hundreds of companies, it focuses on a smaller group the team sees real potential in.

For a young investor, it’s a great way to learn that buying a fund means buying pieces of real businesses, and sticking with good companies can pay off over the long run.

What it teaches her: you don’t need to own everything - just good companies you believe in.

• See the Rathbone Global Opportunities Fund factsheet

2. Fidelity Special Situations – a nod to the UK

This fund focuses mainly on companies listed in the UK - the businesses we see in everyday life, from household names to firms that play a big role in the UK economy. The team doesn’t try to follow an index but chooses stocks they think have good long-term prospects in Britain’s markets.

Including a UK-oriented fund like this adds another layer of diversification to the portfolio. It helps your child understand that investing isn’t only about big global trends - it can also involve owning pieces of the economy right here at home.

What it teaches her: how the UK economy works and a greater understanding of companies closer to home.

• See the Fidelity Special Situations Fund factsheet

3. Lazard Emerging Markets – it’s a big world

This fund invests in companies from fast-growing parts of the world such as India, China, Brazil and South Africa. These countries often have younger populations and expanding middle classes, which can create long-term opportunities that look very different from the UK or US.

My thoughts are that adding a fund like this helps my daughter see that investing isn’t just about the biggest or most familiar markets. It spreads risk across more of the world and gives her a stake in places that may play a bigger role in the global economy as she grows up.

What it teaches her: the world is much bigger than she might think - and different regions grow at different speeds.

• See Lazard Emerging Markets Fund factsheet

4. Gold - a classic ‘safety net’

I’m adding a small slice of gold to her portfolio because some things that are genuinely scarce have often held their value over long periods of time (although past performance is no guarantee of future returns). Gold often moves differently from stock markets, so even a small amount can help balance out a portfolio in uncertain times. This choice forms the ‘15’ part of the portfolio, alongside the 85% invested in equities using the Rule of 100 as a guide that I wrote about earlier.

I’m ‘cheating’ a little by splitting this part between iShares Physical Gold, which holds actual gold and silver and Ninety One Global Gold Fund, which invests in the companies that mine it.

Together, they give her both the metal itself and the businesses behind it. It’s a simple way to show her that investing isn’t only about exciting companies - sometimes it’s also about owning real, tangible assets the world has valued for generations.

What it teaches her: scarce resources can act as a safety net and add balance to a long-term portfolio.

• See iShares Physical Gold factsheet
• See Ninety One Global Gold Fund

Got a burning question you want to ask? Why not drop us a line.  Click here to ask your question.

• Read: My fund picks for 2026
• Read: What next for the US? Three fund ideas
• Read: Can I invest in cryptocurrency through my daughter's Junior ISA?

Important information - investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. Overseas investments will be affected by movements in currency exchange rates. Investments in emerging markets can be more volatile than other more developed markets. There is no guarantee that the investment objective of any Index Tracking Sub-Fund will be achieved. The performance of the sub-fund may not match the performance of the index it tracks due to factors including, but not limited to, the investment strategy used, fees and expenses and taxes. Select 50 is not a personal recommendation to buy or sell a fund. This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.