Premier FX collapse – What to do next for customers

There are few, if any, financial decisions as important as deciding what to do with your pension. Nowadays there are so many choices, but the factors that influence the path you choose are complex and should only ever be undertaken in full knowledge of the various options available as well as their many implications.

For example, significant numbers of UK citizens abroad are likely to benefit from an expat retirement transfer, but converting a defined benefit (DB) scheme into a QROPS or SIPP should never be undertaken without reliable and impartial advice that takes full account of the retirement saver’s circumstances.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find an expat financial adviser who understands all the regulatory and cross-border wealth planning issues at stake.

John Westwood, Blacktower Financial Management’s Managing Director, founded the firm in 1986 after previously forging a career with Schroder Financial Management that saw him develop a reputation as one of the leading financial advisers in London.

In 1999, John founded Blacktower’s first European office, in Portugal’s Algarve region, and since then he has been instrumental in ensuring that the Blacktower group moves from strength to strength. However, despite his ongoing commitment to innovation, he continues to operate at the “coal face”, providing advice to many high-net-worth clients within the European and international markets.

In this week’s Blacktower View article, John reflects on the thirty-plus years he has spent working as a wealth manager and financial adviser, while also offering some useful advice for investors and business people alike that he would now give his younger self.