We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become The Twelfth Magpie -- an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. This site is our new home, and there will be extra tweaks made across the coming few days as we settle in. So if anything looks a little off, please bear with us!

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.

I’d buy cheap FTSE 100 shares in a Stocks and Shares ISA to make a million from the market crash

In my view, investing in cheap FTSE 100 shares inside an investment ISA offers the prospects of building wealth over the long term.

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.

After crashing by 32% in the depths of the sell-off, The FTSE 100 index has recovered around 25% of its value. But an impressive rise in global stocks has now left many investors in fear of a second major sell-off. Regardless of whether another crash is around the corner, I’d continue to buy cheap FTSE 100 shares in an ISA and hold them for the long term. Why? Because I believe it’s the best way to build capital in the long run.

Cheap FTSE 100 shares are everywhere

Glancing at the FTSE 100 index, one can’t help but think there’s still significant value on offer. Many well-established and reputable companies are trading far below their average historic valuations, further indicating a wide margin of safety. Think of companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Aviva and Barclays, whose share prices have all fallen by over 26%.

XXX

As always, I don’t advocate buying stocks simply because their share prices have fallen. But rather, because they’ve fallen too much. As such, these companies and many others could presently be considerably undervalued.

Moreover, some of the FTSE 100’s top dividend shares are also trading on cheap valuations thanks to the sell-off. The advantage with these stocks is that they enable you to plough dividends back into your investments, fuelling the process of compounding. I’m thinking of companies such as British American Tobacco and GlaxoSmithKline that boast respective yields of 6.75% and 4.9%, and P/E ratios of 9.2 and 12.9.

Investing inside a Stocks and Shares ISA

The benefits of investing inside a Stocks and Shares ISA cannot be understated in my view. Once opened, you’ll receive three tax benefits, including no tax on profits, no tax on interest earned on bonds and no tax on dividend income. These taxes can have a serious impact on your portfolio once it reaches a certain amount.

You can open a Stocks and Shares ISA with numerous brokers online. It’s a simple process and can be done in a matter of minutes. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did it once you have a sizeable investment pot to your name!

How to make a million from the market crash

Finally, let me illustrate just how simple it actually is to make a million in the stock market. Thanks to the unmatched power of time combined with interest, you can turn a relatively small investment into a massive one.

For example, let’s say you invest £375 a month in a mixture of shares in your ISA. Additionally, you manage to achieve an annual return of 9%. After exactly 35 years, your S&S ISA would have a value of £1,017,357!

With that in mind, don’t miss out on the opportunity to buy cheap FTSE 100 shares in an ISA today. Hold them for the long term, and you can expect to realise some serious returns that should immensely boost your prospects of making a million.

Matthew Dumigan has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended GlaxoSmithKline. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays. 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

Friends and sisters exploring the outdoors together in Cornwall. They are standing with their arms around each other at the coast.
Investing Articles

£503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years

This FTSE 250 stock has averaged a huge return for 15 years. At today's price, £503 buys 14 shares. But…

Read more »

Black woman using loudspeaker to be heard
Investing Articles

£1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years

This FTSE 100 mining stock has returned close to 30% a year for a decade. At 3,995p, £1,000 buys 25…

Read more »

Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?

With a £288m order book and a hidden pipeline of defence and nuclear contracts, is this growth stock now too…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026

A REIT backed by the NHS and another backed by Tesco and Sainsbury's with both yielding 7%+. Here's why I'm…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

A 5.7% yield, £238 in passive income from just 97 shares, and one of the most divisive dividend stocks on…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

£10,000 in an ISA generates a second income of…

The London Stock Exchange is home to some of the world's most generous dividends. But how big a second income…

Read more »

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Expert recommendations: 2 top income stocks yielding 7%+!

With yields of 7.2% and 7.8% respectively, these two income stocks are catching the eyes of institutional analysts. Should investors…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

3 top income-focused stocks to buy in May 2026, according to experts

Looking for a stock to buy for income in May 2026? Experts have flagged these three UK dividend shares as…

Read more »