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Spotlight On … Karen Ogilvie – Head of Compliance

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

Compliance and Risk is my main focus, keeping at the forefront of industry developments and legislation.

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?

Maintaining high professional standards and best practices, ensuring we keep the best interests of the client at the heart of what we do.

What’s special about working at Blacktower?

The amazing team and what the Blacktower brand represents.   There is a shared ethos of integrity, professionalism and passion for what we do.

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

It’s never too early or too late to seek advice.  Research any firms prior to dealing with them to look at their regulatory status and reputation.

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?

Keeping our finger on the pulse and being at the forefront of industry development, best practices and innovative solutions.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

I love rock n roll.  I was a drummer in a heavy metal band and hosted the late night rock show for a local radio station.

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.

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Expats in Spain not happy with Brexit deal

EU FlagRecent Brexit negotiations have not gone down well with many expats living in Europe. And this latest move may mean that receiving financial guidance, such as pension transfer advice for expats, is more crucial than ever to ensure a smooth transition into life as an expat in a post-Brexit world.

Theresa May has reached a phase one Brexit agreement with the EU that covers citizen’s rights (as well as the divorce settlement and the UK’s EU borders), which now means talks between Britain and Brussels can progress on to trade. But instead of giving Britons living in Europe the freedom they were hoping for, the agreement has instead caused anger across several different expat communities, including a very prominent group in Spain, the country with the largest number of British expats: 296,000 in 2016, according to the Institute of National Statistics.

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The value of local advice for South African expats

Manuela RobinsonOver the years, the trend for South African nationals to seek out new lives and experiences in Portugal has continued to grow and grow; I myself made the move back in 1988 as a fresh-faced economics graduate from Witswatersrand University in Johannesburg, and I’ve never looked back. It’s easy to see the appeal for South Africans – the year-round sunshine and vast expanses of Atlantic coastline are a familiar part of daily life, just as they are back home – but the secure location and easy access to the rest of Europe is something really special. Being as there’s over 11,000 KM of distance between the two countries, a mere 12 hrs by plane give or take, there are going to be some big differences in the way of life, even if there are those obvious similarities. It’s probably advisable for any emigrant to arrive armed with a willingness to accept how things are done in their new home country rather than try to carry on as before and hope for the best. This is never more true than when dealing with your finances.

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