Rip-off advice fees for retirement savers with small pot pensions have been scrapped under a new law. The new rules mean retirement savers with pensions that have safeguarded benefits must no longer look for expensive financial advice if they want to cash-in their pots. Safeguarded benefits include benefits such as guaranteed annuity rates. Under the […]
Retirement Articles
It’s A Great Time To Cash In Your Pension For A QROPS
October 17, 2017
Beleaguered companies are offering huge financial incentives to buy retirement savers out of their final salary pensions. Expats in Australia can take the chance of doing a deal and cashing in their pensions – and here are the risks and advantages explained. What’s the offer? Some FTSE350 employers are dangling huge wads of cash in […]
How Saving Instead Of Borrowing Boosts A Pension
July 3, 2017
Retirement savers are more concerned with repaying debt or covering day to day living costs than increasing their pension contributions. Almost two-thirds say they would ease their financial stress if they had some extra cash rather than put the money into a pension. Less than a fifth facing a struggle to keep on top of […]
Will In Specie Tax Grab Affect QROPS Pensions?
June 29, 2017
The UK tax authority has slammed another nail into self-managed pensions by barring tax relief on in specie investments to schemes with 26 providers. Thousands of retirement savers are now concerned that the ban will spread to other pension providers. An in specie contribution allows retirement savers to move property or other assets into a […]
Oil Exploration Drops To Lowest Level For 64 Years
June 3, 2017
Oil and gas contractors kicking their heels waiting for the market to pick up may have more time on their hands. Spending on new oil and gas projects has slumped to $450 billion – down from $780 billion just two years ago and the lowest investment level in 64 years. International industry watchdog the International […]
Cut-Price Set Up Costs For New Range Of QROPS
May 27, 2017
A leading Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) provider is offering a cut price deal for expats transferring their retirement savings. As part of a focus on QROPS for British expats, STM Group has set the establishment fee for the offshore pensions at zero until March 31, 2017. The incentive covers all STM QROPS – […]
Royal Mail Posts Pension Warning For 94,000 Staff
May 1, 2017
The Royal Mail has posted a warning to 94,000 workers that the company’s final salary pension scheme is too expensive to run. The company pays £400 million a year into the scheme, but has calculated by 2018, the cost of running the pension and paying benefits will be more than double that – at close […]
Will QROPS Become A Brexit Casualty?
October 20, 2016
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) may become one of the Brexit casualties if negotiators axe Britain’s adherence to Europe’s freedom of movement and capital rules. The rules are two pillars of the European Union and are at risk in the forthcoming Brexit talks. The British government has made clear that securing national borders and […]
Five Top Hints And Tips For Newbie Expats
October 16, 2016
If you are a new expat looking for in-the-know information from other expats who have already carved a new life overseas, here are some hints and tips: 1. Don’t make a decision based on a happy holiday Living overseas is a lot different for dipping into a tourist location for a couple of weeks. Permanent […]
Can You Transfer Your Pension To A QROPS?
August 15, 2016
QROPS are generally good news for many expats as they offer tax and investment benefits that are not available to retirement savers who leave their pensions in the UK. But QROPS transfers are not available to millions of retirement savers with money held in many workplace schemes that are under threat from underfunding by employers. […]