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Blacktower Achieves Major Milestone with Full DFSA Licence in Dubai and Launch of Blacktower Insurance Services US

Blacktower is thrilled to announce a landmark achievement in its global expansion strategy securing a full licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for BlacktowerFinancial Management in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This pivotal development underlines the company’s commitment to being a frontrunner in the financialservices industry and significantly elevates its international presence.

The full DFSA licence marks a crucial step in Blacktower’s history, demonstrating the company’s capacity for comprehensive compliance and its capability to offer a wide range of financial services in the Middle East. This achievement distinctly sets Blacktower apart from competitors, showcasing its adaptability and dedication to excellence in global financial markets.

In tandem with its success in Dubai, Blacktower is also excited to announce the establishment of Blacktower Insurance Services, LLC in the United States. Situated in
Orlando, this licensed insurance agency is a vital addition to the company’s North American operations. Over the past year, Blacktower has made key hires and pursued proactive expansion strategies to cement its presence in the U.S. market.

John Westwood, Group Chairman at Blacktower FM, notes, “Securing the full licence in Dubai and expanding further in the US market reflects Blacktower’s unwavering commitment to global excellence. The company is at the forefront of providing tailored financial solutions, and its strengthened presence in the Middle East and its expansion in the U.S. are a testament to Blacktower’s strategy of delivering unparalleled financial advice and services across borders.”

The addition of these two new licenced entities within the Blacktower Group cements one of our core Global Objectives of becoming the leading International Wealth Management Company with the ability of delivering a fully licenced Global Reach. Gavin Pluck, Blacktower’s Group Managing Director and DIFC SEO adds, “Blacktower’s growth is driven by a deep understanding of its client’s needs worldwide. This is not just about business expansion; it’s about reinforcing the trust Blacktower has built with its clients and paving the way for future innovations in the financial sector. “Together with our extensive licensing footprint, the new DIFC entity will afford us the perfect opportunity to provide fully holistic and seamless cross-border solutions in highly regulated international markets, which can often be restrictive to many advisers. We therefore find ourselves in a relatively unique position with the ability to advise our UAE clients on their assets locally and in other regulated jurisdictions, including the UK, EU, USA, Switzerland and Australia.”

As Blacktower continues to grow, its commitment to excellence, innovation, and expanding its global footprint remains steadfast. The company is excited to build upon these recent successes and looks forward to a future of continued growth and leadership in the financial services industry.

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

Final salary pensions – why now is a good time to cash in

Juicy lottery-sized sums are being offered to savers to tempt them out of gold-plated workplace pension schemes and into personal plans. We’ve explored whether you should consider taking a final salary pension, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of withdrawing.

What is a final salary pension?

A final salary pension, sometimes referred to as a gold-plated pension, is a special style of retirement fund that is based on your final or average salary.

The main difference between this and a defined contribution pension is that a final salary scheme gives you a guaranteed sum annually for the rest of your life when you retire.

To work out the value of your final salary scheme, consider a few factors: 

  1. Your final or average salary at your place of employment (confirm this with your employer)
  2. Your length of service
  3. The final salary scheme’s accrual rate (this is often 1/80th)

Your final salary pension will take each factor into account, and the resulting figure will be the guaranteed annual sum you are entitled to.

For instance, if you worked somewhere for ten years, and leave on a salary of £100,000, with an accrual rate of 1/80th, you will have a guaranteed retired annual income of £12,500.

It is possible to undertake a final salary pension transfer. Depending upon how long you expect to enjoy retirement, this could be a favourable choice. However, it’s important to consult a financial advisor to make your final salary pension transfer values work harder.

What are the benefits of transferring a final salary pension?

Assessing your final salary pension transfer value, you might consider it worthwhile to withdraw. We’ve outlined the main benefits of taking your final salary pension:

Receive the cash value of your final salary pension

Withdrawing from a final salary scheme allows you to receive a cash lump sum in return for forfeiting your guaranteed income in retirement. This final salary pension transfer value is the main reason to withdraw from a scheme, as it offers you financial freedom.

Remove ties with your employer

This is an especially important point if you’re concerned that your employer may not exist throughout your full retirement. For most, the pension protection fund (PPF) will cover your pension, but, for especially high earners, there is a PPF ceiling of £41,461 (as of April 2020).

Enjoy a flexible income in your retirement

A final salary scheme entitles you to a guaranteed annual income when you retire, but if you go down the route of transferring your final salary pension you will be able to enjoy a little more flexibility in how you receive your income. Usefully, by withdrawing from your final salary scheme, you can choose to take more out in your younger years.

Choose how you want to invest your pension

A final salary scheme is controlled tightly to accommodate all employees and their interests. When withdrawing from the scheme, however, you can take complete control over how your pension fund is invested.

The considerations you should make before transferring your final salary pension

While there are certainly benefits of going down the route of transferring final salary pension funds into various other pots, it’s important to consider what you’ll be giving up:

  • Entitlement to a fixed annual income for the rest of your life
  • A safe income that doesn’t fluctuate with volatile markets and share prices
  • Spousal and family benefits that come with a final salary scheme

 Example: Should I cash in my final salary pension?

An example is Mrs Dee (not her real name), 4 years ago she asked for her final salary transfer values, which came in at £250,000 – a nice sum, you may think. After reviewing all the facts and figures available, however, I advised Mrs Dee to leave her final salary pension where it was, which she duly did.

Towards the end of last year, because of favourable market conditions, I applied again to see the value of transferring her final salary . This one came in at just under £600,000.

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Blacktower Moving To Establish A Full DIFC Presence

We’re excited to announce our intention to establish a full presence in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). We are currently in the final stages of obtaining regulatory approval, and our team of financial advisors is eagerly looking forward to embarking on a new chapter in Dubai with this significant addition to our Group. As […]

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