Contact

News & Insights

Spotlight On … Mark Hollingsworth – IFA

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

My roots from my Standard Life days in the 80s and 90s were in group pensions. Over the last 3-5 years I have been helping clients transfer their occupational pensions to both SIPPs and QROPS. I seem to have come full circle in some respects over the last 35 years, as I am spending a lot of my time in this area now. It is a very technical area, but I thrive on finding solutions to often complex pension scenarios, it is very rewarding.

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?

A lot of my clients have been with me for 10-15 years, and over that time have gone through many life changing situations. I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing my clients will confide in me and trust my opinion with regards making the right decisions for them and their family.

What’s special/unique/most interesting about the region you work in?

Having lived in Malta for 21 years I have seen some tremendous changes from a working perspective but also changes to the economy and infrastructure. What was initially to me a small, quiet, Mediterranean island is now a thriving economy based mainly around financial services and iGaming. This brings a huge diversity of nationalities and cultures to the island which has had a very positive impact on me. I have spent the last 12 years working between Malta and Cyprus which has been a wonderful experience – enjoying two similar, yet different, Mediterranean lifestyles.

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

Opportunities are forever changing and advice is more important than ever before. I have seen a huge shift in investors looking to invest in trackers or passive structures as they appear to be a cheaper solution. In reality, unless you are a professional investor, then paying that bit extra for seeking active management is crucial. This is where Blacktower can give you that added value for money – be active, not passive!

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?

We are one of the few companies that were very proactive in ensuring that we were covered for all possible Brexit scenarios, meaning that we could continue to look after our clients across Europe. This shows that we are at the front of the queue in taking care of our valued clients. We have also invested heavily in new technology and back office systems during the Covid pandemic, meaning we can provide an efficient and personal service to our clients. I think this shows that we are a company that puts our clients first.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself

I had a short ‘career’ as a film extra, and my claim to fame was appearing in a movie with Madonna filmed in Malta. Despite several blockbuster offers, I thought I was better placed pursuing a career in financial services.

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

Expat Pensions Take Centre Stage

International ConferenceThe Conservative Party has used its annual conference in Birmingham as an opportunity to reassure British citizens living in the EU of the future of their expat pensions.

Speaking at the event Ester McVey, the Secretary of state for the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) said, “We will ensure that people with UK pensions that have moved to the EU will have their pensions protected.

“We will provide a triple lock on people with UK pensions living in the European Union. We are delivering a private pension revolution, with more people than ever contributing to their pensions.”

Read More

Dealing with scams

Blacktower Financial Management

You may have seen emails alerting you to a new fraud specific to the financial services advice industry. We are not aware of any of our clients having been targeted in the way described below, but it is our responsibility at Blacktower to do everything we can to educate our clients about these scams to avoid any harm coming to them.

The fraudsters claim to be from the Financial Conduct Authority or local law enforcement and are targeting clients of investment management firms. They are advising clients that the investment manager, adviser or firm is under investigation. The fraudster specifically asks the client not to speak to their investment manager, adviser or firm, or even close connections, claiming this would be considered tipping off. The client is then advised to encash their portfolio and move the cash to the client’s bank account. Once this is done, the fraudster then ‘recommends’ an investment which is actually a scam.

Read More

Select your country

Please select your country of residence so we can provide you with the most relevant information:

You are currently viewing the Blacktower Financial Management EU website.

You may be looking for the Blacktower United States website.

Blacktower United States > X Stay on this site

Or choose your country.