Stock market crash: I’d invest £20,000 in a Stocks and Shares ISA today to make a million

Buying undervalued FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares in a Stocks and Shares ISA could help you to make a million after the recent market crash.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

The stock market crash has presented a relatively infrequent opportunity for investors to buy undervalued FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares in a Stocks and Shares ISA. Over time, they have the potential to not only recover from the stock market’s recent decline, but to produce high returns that could even lead to a seven-figure portfolio.

As such, now could be the right time to invest £20k, or any other amount, in high-quality businesses that have the potential to produce high returns as the stock market recovers.

Making a million from a stock market crash

The 2020 stock market crash is likely to have left many investors feeling disappointed with the performance of their portfolio. They are likely to be experiencing paper losses in some cases, which may cause them to doubt whether the stock market offers the potential to deliver a portfolio valued at over £1m.

However, the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 declines of recent months present an opportunity to increase your chances of generating strong returns in the long run. They have caused many shares to trade on low valuations. In some cases, they are warranted due to the ongoing challenges faced by numerous industries that could negatively impact on financial performances for a sustained period of time. But in other cases, there are high-quality businesses currently trading at low prices simply because investor sentiment towards risky assets is weak.

Therefore, investors who can look beyond the recent disappointment of a stock market crash and instead focus on its recovery prospects may be able to generate high returns from buying undervalued shares in the coming years.

Investing in a Stocks and Shares ISA

Opening a Stocks and Shares ISA soon after a market crash may not seem to be a logical approach for many investors. They may instead focus their capital on other assets, such as cash and bonds, that offer lower risks.

However, investing through a Stocks and Shares ISA could improve your chances of making a million. All investments held within it are not subject to tax. For a long-term investor, this could save a significant amount of money in tax payments – especially since tax rises may be on the horizon as the UK’s deficit has increased following coronavirus.

A Stocks and Shares ISA also offers flexibility, in terms of withdrawals being allowed at any time without penalty. This may make budgeting easier for a range of investors in different situations. And, with an annual ISA allowance of £20k, it is likely to be sufficiently large for most investors who are seeking to capitalise on low valuations after the market crash. Doing so could boost your financial outlook, and help to increase your chances of making a million over the coming years.

Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Will the S&P 500 crash in 2026?

The S&P 500 delivered impressive gains in 2025, but valuations are now running high. Are US stocks stretched to breaking…

Read more »

Teenage boy is walking back from the shop with his grandparent. He is carrying the shopping bag and they are linking arms.
Investing Articles

How much do you need in a SIPP to generate a brilliant second income of £2,000 a month?

Harvey Jones crunches the numbers to show how investors can generate a high and rising passive income from a portfolio…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Will Lloyds shares rise 76% again in 2026?

What needs to go right for Lloyds shares to post another 76% rise? Our Foolish author dives into what might…

Read more »

Investing Articles

How much passive income will I get from investing £10,000 in an ISA for 10 years?

Harvey Jones shows how he plans to boost the amount of passive income he gets when he retires, from FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 34% in 2025 — but could this be one of the UK’s top growth stocks for 2026?

With clarity over research funding on the horizon, could Judges Scientific be one of the UK’s best growth stocks to…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Can the rampant Barclays share price beat Lloyds in 2026?

Harvey Jones says the Barclays share price was neck and neck with Lloyds over the last year, and checks out…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s how Rolls-Royce shares could hit £25 in 2026

If Rolls-Royce shares continue their recent performance, then £25 might be on the cards for 2026. Let's take a look…

Read more »

Departure & Arrival sign, representing selling and buying in a portfolio
Investing Articles

Prediction: in 2026 the red-hot Rolls-Royce share price could turn £10,000 into…

Harvey Jones can't believe how rapidlly the Rolls-Royce share price has climbed. Now he looks at the FTSE 100 growth…

Read more »