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Spotlight On … Robert Mancera – Group Director

What is your special interest or particular field of expertise in the financial services sector right now?

Now I prefer to pass on my experience; I have been in this industry for over 30 years. I like to ‘coach’ and ‘support’ others and help them get the best from their roles. At the same time, I love being able to work at the forefront and help support the direction the business is going in.

What is the most important aspect of your work, in relation to clients, or the part of your day-to-day role which gives you the most satisfaction?

Adding value; however big or small.

What’s special about working at Blacktower?

What isn’t! It is a brand I have had the honour to support and help mould for the last 11 years. I am passionate about the Brand and our Reputation; and the principles we stand for.

Right now, what is your one piece of invaluable information for expats or anyone seeking retirement planning and wealth management advice?

Do your homework; check and double check on the firm and adviser you are dealing with. I have spent 11 years helping build and protect the brand and reputation of this business – prospective clients need to feel safe with the people that are giving them advice. We have a robust approach to business and advice.

Blacktower already has a long and successful history in the sector, how will you and your colleagues continue to offer value to clients in the next 20 years and beyond?

By being involved; by being an important part of this industry and at the forefront of change and development.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

I love to cook; and be creative in the kitchen!

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Why are our pensions in crisis?

Official figures have revealed that pension funds have plummeted a further £25 million into the red. The fall in bond yields – on which pension funds rely – has increased the pressure on the pots available to support final salary scheme pay-outs. At the end of May, the pension backstop PPF (Pension Protection Fund) revealed that the roughly five and a half thousand pension schemes it monitors have a combined deficit of nearly £295 billion. This is almost £25.5 billion worse than a month earlier.

Fears for the robustness of pension pots have been highlighted by the widely reported BHS deficit.  They come as a separate study reveals some of Britain’s biggest companies are paying shareholders a dividend bonanza despite huge deficits of their own. The Pensions Regulator have issued a similar warning in the past, saying: ‘It is important that employers treat their pension scheme fairly. We expect trustees to question employers’ dividend policies where debt recovery contributions are constrained.’ 

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Inflation – The Asset Eroding Thorn in your Low-risk Investment Strategy

Retired coupleBritish people are living longer than ever before – according to the Office of National Statistics, life expectancy is likely to rise to 85 by 2040. And this figure is an average; if you are physically healthy you can realistically expect to live one or more decades longer, particularly if you have a family history of longevity.

And what if you live abroad in a warm and agreeable climate? Well, chances are that your life expectancy could be even higher. This is good news of course, but it brings with it important expat wealth management and retirement planning implications.

Perhaps chief among these is the need to ensure that your retirement assets are sufficiently valuable to last you through a long and healthy old age, and this means making sure you factor in the likelihood of inflation eroding the purchasing power of your assets over time.

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