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Pension Freedoms. Are they for you?

But what is the reality? It appears that blocks are being put in the way by large pension providers to people trying to access their money. Companies are concerned that the amount of money that could be potentially drained from their holdings would make them vulnerable to collapse.  

In response the providers are putting in place restrictions that prevent savers from having bank account like access to their money. These restrictions include long delays, high charges, misinformation or just saying to no to that type of service

Mr. Osborne’s proposals are now in danger of being sunk by the pension industry’s commercial interests. While some companies are clearly keen to capture business and compete in the new world of accessible, flexible pensions, other providers, mainly the large insurers that for decades profited under the old regime, are dragging their feet.  If you are feeling trapped by what is happening with your pension, Blacktower can help you. We have enormous experience in dealing with providers and can offer ways of transferring your money, in lots of cases to other providers which are tax efficient and with the freedoms you would hope for. We can plan for you an individual response that suits your needs.

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

What is ‘non-dom status’ and ‘residency status’?

Your des-res might be a gorgeous sea-front apartment overlooking the med, or a rural stone cottage nestled amongst the vineyards of Burgundy, but wherever you live, once you are settled, understanding whether you are domiciled, non-domiciled or resident can be a bit confusing. However, clarity is essential: the amount of tax you pay hinges on knowing the difference and the relevance of each non-dom status versus residency status.

Firstly, don’t just guess your residency or non-dom status, because if you get it wrong, you could pay too much tax or pay it in the wrong place, and failure to pay can lead to large fines and penalties. Sadly, mis-payments are not tolerated; your tax planning may be well-intentioned, but if you don’t pay the correct amount of tax in the appropriate jurisdiction, you could be in hot water, so it is vital to get it right.

Generally, we recommend that you speak to a financial adviser working in your local region who will understand the jurisdictional rules applicable to your location and personal situation, but as a brief guide, read on and we will explain the fundamentals.

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Are you willing to turn to ‘robo-advice’?

robo adviceSo, you’re wondering – what is ‘robo-advice’?  There is a growing market in the UK of online offerings where, instead of going for a consultation with a financial adviser, you use a questionnaire devised by the provider which, depending on your responses, advises you where best to put your cash.  Investors are placed in a broad investment strategy that, in theory, suits their objectives and attitude to risk. These strategies largely consist of passive investments which ‘track’ an index.

The move has come about in response to the retail distribution review which ruled on how advisers were paid and, in essence, meant they had to charge an up-front fee.  This led to many advisers devising a minimum sum they would accept for a consultation.  Clearly someone with a modest pot of money might feel that the charge was too great and therefore miss out on the opportunity to receive professional advice.

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