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QROPS transfers to get cheaper

The chancellor says he hopes that pension firms will make it easier for retirement savers to switch funds; however, one important side effect of this is that it will be easier to make QROPS transfers, whether they are in France or other countries inside the EU. Those looking to make the most of the situation though are likely to have to wait around two years before Osborne’s vision becomes law.

News of the developments follow announcement of Financial Conduct Authority investigation into pension exit charges.

Perhaps as a response to the investigation and associated government pressure, a number of providers, including Standard Life and Prudential have agreed to put a cap on exit fees of 5% of the fund value; LV and Royal London have also said that they will be capping fees.

“Only 3% of our customers paid exit fees between April and December 2015,” said a spokesman. “We constantly keep this under review and will only make a deduction to recoup underlying costs when the amount is fair and the company does not profit from the charges.”

The Financial Conduct Authority has said that by its calculations around 670,000 over 55s could be hit with exit charges of more than 5%.

Other News

Cost of education in Spain: how much should you save?

Students in SpainOne of the main concerns of parents when they are considering relocation to Spain, is of course the quality of the education available. Alongside questions around the type of employment opportunities available and the overall quality of life, education is one of the key factors in deciding where to eventually settle.

If, as is often the case, the family does not speak Spanish fluently, this often leads them to consider the option of an international school in Spain. There are no shortage of options in this regard. With a large, thriving community of expats already living there, those looking for a Spanish private school will find any number of options available.

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Lasting Power of Attorney for Expat Investors

Research by the Alzheimer’s Society suggests that two-thirds of people who have sought financial advice have a lasting power of attorney (LPA) in place, but this, potentially, means a significant proportion of Brits do not have the protection that LPA offers.

Unfortunately, there is a common misconception among many expats (highlighted in a survey of UK expats conducted by Old Mutual International in 2017) that a spouse, child or financial professional can automatically sign documents and manage the welfare and monetary matters of a person who loses mental capacity. This is not the case; your family members could be left vulnerable should you become unable to manage your affairs without having LPA in place.

Good expat financial advice would generally advocate local legal advice to help ascertain whether or not an existing LPA, i.e. one that was drawn up in the UK, is valid in your location of residence. Generally speaking, however, common law jurisdictions will recognise a British lasting power of attorney, but it is always worth checking.

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