News & Insights

Last weekend The France Show brought its exhibitors and visitors the best of France - food, wine, property, holiday ideas, travel offers and entertainment - all under one roof. Visitors experienced a great French market, cookery demonstrations, tutored wine tastings, language and travel theatre, and even a chance to play pétanque!

The France Show also hosted the largest French Property Exhibition in the UK.

The Blacktower France Team would like to thank all the visitors who came to the 2016 show and visited the Blacktower stand.

It all began when some friends and I decided to set up an independent IFA firm back in the mid 80s and consequently Blacktower was born. I honestly didn't think that 30 years later I would still be here managing the Pan European and International Wealth Management company that Blacktower has evolved into today.

Starting our careers in London with Schroder Financial Management gave all four of the founding directors of Blacktower a great background and insight into the industry as it was back in the early 80s, and we had all enjoyed the success of representing such a great brand as Schroders.

Many people have pension pots just sitting, not really doing anything, but at every stage in life it is very important that you should keep track of your retirement provision.

If you are in your 30s or 40s look closely to what provision you have and what you might need in the future. State Benefits are not going to kick in for you until you are 67.

If you are in your 50s then this is a very critical period. One bad investment year can affect the income you receive for the rest of your life, so make sure you are looking at setting your investments up in a balanced way so that no unforeseen disasters can hurt you – this is called ‘Life Styling your Pension Pot’.

A famous Spanish song is entitled ‘Seville has a special colour’ and Seville is indeed warm, vibrant, full of history and has a great atmosphere - whether you are into all of that or merely enjoy a glass of red wine and a plate of 5J Spanish Ham.

Seville was the chosen City for Blacktower Financial Management Group's Annual Conference held on 15th January 2016.

Not just any conference…no! On the strike of midnight that night BFM Group turned 30 years young. So, this was not just a celebration of our achievements throughout the year – but one of history and recognition.

I am compelled to discuss some sales tactics that are becoming increasingly frustrating by companies that are forcing their customers to take out products that they do not necessarily need or want.

I myself became a victim of this practice this week when hiring a car which was booked online and with full super cover taken and then only been forced to take out the hire companies insurance when I went to pick the car up – this is an ongoing situation for me which I am not letting lie and may update in a future article.

Your cash is earning nothing in the bank, in fact it’s actually losing its worth in all probability because of the corrosive effect of inflation.  Even ostriches have to raise their heads at some point, if only to breathe.

Quite frankly it’s time for people to start taking control of their money instead of letting the banks bleed them.  In the days we are in now with increased life expectancy, a longer wait for retirement and the pension freedoms that there are around, there could not be a better time for savers to act and improve their lot.  So you go to see a financial adviser, what is he going to say?