In Focus News & Insights

On April 6, many new regulations for QROPS came into effect. These changes were made to make the taxation of foreign pensions more in line with UK pensions. Any QROPS not registered as being compliant with the new rules by April 5 could be delisted by HMRC.

One significant change means that, as long as they qualify under the other requirements, it's no longer compulsory for schemes to adhere to the "70 per cent" rule. This is a rule that ensures providers ring fence 70 per cent of the pension contributions transferred into the QROPS in order to provide the saver with income for life.

Italy has introduced a new 'non-dom' tax incentive which may see many wealthy British expats relocating to its shores, as well as convincing rich Italian expats to return. The new measure was approved by the Italian parliament in December as part of Italy's Finance Bill 2017.

It ensures that foreign residents will be exempt from Italian tax on all offshore income and gains for a flat-rate tax charge of €100,000 (about £84,000). For a further €25,000, the tax exemption can be extended to family members.

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: 

Your final or average salary at your place of employment (confirm this with your employer) Your length of service 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.

Since Theresa May's triggering of Article 50, one prominent hot-button issue arising in Brexit negotiations is the fate of Gibraltar.

Over the past week or two, Gibraltar has leapt back into the public eye as concerns have been raised over the impact Brexit could have on the territory. With Spain certainly appearing intent on reclaiming sovereignty since conceding it to Britain over 300 years ago, tensions are rising between the two countries.

The Spanish government has supported the idea of a reciprocal deal with Britain over expats during Brexit negotiations.

It has said that, in principle, it would support an agreement allowing British expats in Spain to retain all existing benefits, including access to healthcare and pensions (which has been a particular concern among the elderly expat population residing in the Costas).

Norway is well-known for its high living costs. The Nordic country is one of Europe's most expensive countries in which to live, with property and food prices much higher than the UK.

But exactly how much more expensive is everyday living? According to figures from Numbeo, the cost of living is 48.5% higher than the United Kingdom, with rent almost 15% higher and consumer prices almost a third higher. And if you're a fast food fan, The Economist's Big Mac Index 2017 revealed that Norwegian's pay the second highest price in the world for the burger.

It's not hard to see why Portugal is such a desirable destination for people wishing to move overseas in their retirement. The warm climate, reasonable living costs, and tax benefits for retirees mean it's regularly voted as a top global place in which to live out one's later years.

It is often said that retirement is the best time to pick up a hobby, and different destinations offer different opportunities for leisure. When it comes to sport, Portugal has a very specific reputation – it's a golfer's paradise!

Linking probate fees to the size of a person’s estate is effectively a tax on bereavement. Families with large estates in the UK will now have to start considering ways to reduce the size of their estate before they die.