How much do you need for your retirement?
There is no magic trick to saving for your retirement. Instead, the process should be defined by detailed identification of your goals and careful planning to help you reach them.
The fact that there is no magical route to saving for retirement shouldn’t deceive anyone into thinking that all they need to do is to save, invest and contribute to their pensions. While it’s true that all three of these actions should be considered essential components of your overarching retirement plan, doing them blindly, without either an expertly devised strategy or the discipline of seasoned expat financial device can prove to be an inefficient method.
Start simple
Nobody ever became rich by first fixating on the details. Before you “go granular” by looking at your mix of assets and investments, you need to work out how long you are likely to live, how much you will need to spend and how much you will need to put aside each month in order to realise your goals.
Once you have done this, you can then consider your breakdown of assets and investments, how these interact and whether, collectively, they serve your interests within the unique context of your cross-border situation – by taking these steps to achieve a balanced and informed approach you are more likely to effectively spread risk and to serve your long-term interests.
If you live outside of the UK, your expat financial adviser is likely to recommend you evaluate your pension pot and whether it might be in your interests to proceed with some form of expat pension transfer, perhaps by converting your existing scheme into a QROPS or SIPP.
Review the current situation
When planning your retirement it’s all too easy to focus on the future, but it pays to think about the here and now. Political, environmental and economical factors are constantly shifting; take the current situation in the UK as a No Deal Brexit looms large in the mind of investors and the markets alike.
Problems may well lie ahead for British expats in the EU as news filters in that even the largest of companies are changing the way they provide services. Pension provider Canada Life has halted the sale of annuities to expats in the EU* and the Moneyfacts’ UK personal pension trends treasury report (published July 24)** shows that income from annuities has fallen significantly.
Income from enhanced annuities fell 4.5% through Q2 of 2019 and since the start of the year by between 4.9% and 6.1% (depending on the initial price)**.
Blacktower Financial Management, helping you find balance
Blacktower Financial Management’s expat financial advisers work to help clients find the right balance between spending, saving and product choices so they can enjoy the fruits of their investments both now and in the future.
Contact us today for more information about how we may can help you make the most of your cross-border financial situation.
* https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2019/08/02/canada-life-stops-selling-annuities-to-expats-in-eu Accessed 02-08-19
** https://www.moneyfactsgroup.co.uk/publications/treasury/pensions Accessed 02-08-19
*** https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2019/07/24/annuity-rates-on-route-to-lowest-level-in-3-years/ Accessed 02-08-19
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.
Since the UK government introduced pension reforms in 2015, there has been a huge increase in pension scams with unscrupulous firms targetting the over-55s with advice regarding what they can do with their retirement savings. Statistics issued by the Pensions Regulator in January, show that, on average, victims of scams lost £91,000 in 2017. 
For many retirement savers finding the best way to realise pension plan benefits will be the key to unlocking a financially secure retirement.