Our promise
Your financial wellbeing matters to us. Our promise reflects how we aim to support everyone who chooses Scottish Friendly: in a way that's supportive, straightforward, and focused on doing what’s right for the people who put their trust in us.
What you can expect from us
As a mutual, we exist to support our members and aim to help them build towards a more confident future. Before you think about products, funds or potential returns, we want you to understand what we stand for.
We keep investing accessible
We aim to make investing more accessible, whether you're taking your first steps or building on what you've already started, with affordable contributions and a range of products designed to help you find an approach that fits your goals, experience, and risk comfort.
Helping you focus on real-life goals
We understand that people invest for moments that matter, from supporting a child’s future to feeling more prepared for retirement and everything in between. Our approach can help you shape a plan that fits your life and priorities, not the other way around.
We’re by your side for the long term
We’ve been helping families for over 160 years. You can expect us to support you over the long-term, always aiming to provide you with clear information, which can help you as your circumstances change. We’re here to serve you and have your best interests at heart.
What being part of a mutual means
When you choose Scottish Friendly, you're not just opening an account, you’re becoming a member of a mutual. That comes with benefits that reflect our focus on providing people with long-term value.
A money-back guarantee
As a mutual, we can offer the option of our With‑Profits fund, where your ISA is guaranteed to return at least the amount you’ve paid in on your 10‑year investment anniversary. For Junior ISAs, your child receives at least what’s been paid in on their 18th birthday.
A commitment to community
As part of our role as a mutual, we’re committed to lifting people up. Scottish Friendly is dedicated to improving financial confidence in the communities we serve, from supporting local initiatives to helping households feel ready to plan for the future.
A people-first approach
We don’t answer to shareholders because we don’t have any, so our decisions are shaped with our members in mind. We always aim for stability, fairness, and doing what’s right for our members over the long term.
Keep in mind that the value of stock market investments can go down as well as up, so you or your child could get back less than you’ve invested. This includes a Unitised With-Profits fund. For the ISA it comes with a guaranteed minimum payout on your 10-year investment anniversary, provided no switches or withdrawals are made. For the JISA, it comes with a guaranteed minimum payout on their 18th birthday, provided no withdrawals or switches are made. The funds in a Junior ISA belong to the child and can only be accessed by them when they turn 18.
Investing that’s built around your life
Your goals aren’t all the same, and your investments don’t have to be either. We can help you stay organised and in control through ‘pots’.
How pots work
You can hold different pots within your ISA or your child's Junior ISA depending on what you’re hoping to get from your investment or what you'd like your child to use theirs for in the future. There are a number of factors to consider.
Purpose
Timeframe
Comfort with risk level
Fund choice
Contribution
It’s a straightforward, intuitive way to plan for your medium-term goals while giving any longer-term goals the potential to grow.
Once a Junior ISA is set up, family members who contribute also have their own pot which they can label in their name. It means your child can see how each contribution has helped build their future.
Find your investor style
Everyone approaches investing differently. There’s no right or wrong way; just the way that feels right for you. To help you get started, we’ve created six investor types:
This information is for general guidance only and is not personal financial advice. It does not take into account your individual or financial needs. You should consider whether investing is right for you based on your own circumstances.
Things to consider around investing
When shaping your investment journey, it can help to think about:
✔︎ How long you want to invest for
✔︎ How you feel about risk
✔︎ How many goals you’re planning for
✔︎ Whether separate pots would help you stay organised
✔︎ How much flexibility you need as things change
These considerations might help you get a clearer sense of what feels right for you, and the kinds of options that may suit your needs. Although outcomes will depend on factors such as market performance and how long you invest.
