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Spotlight On … Mark Hollingsworth – IFA

What is your special interest or particular field of expertise in the financial services sector right now?

My roots from my Standard Life days in the 80s and 90s were in group pensions. Over the last 3-5 years I have been helping clients transfer their occupational pensions to both SIPPs and QROPS. I seem to have come full circle in some respects over the last 35 years, as I am spending a lot of my time in this area now. It is a very technical area, but I thrive on finding solutions to often complex pension scenarios, it is very rewarding.

What is the most important aspect of your work, in relation to clients, or the part of your day-to-day role which gives you the most satisfaction?

A lot of my clients have been with me for 10-15 years, and over that time have gone through many life changing situations. I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing my clients will confide in me and trust my opinion with regards making the right decisions for them and their family.

What’s special/unique/most interesting about the region you work in?

Having lived in Malta for 21 years I have seen some tremendous changes from a working perspective but also changes to the economy and infrastructure. What was initially to me a small, quiet, Mediterranean island is now a thriving economy based mainly around financial services and iGaming. This brings a huge diversity of nationalities and cultures to the island which has had a very positive impact on me. I have spent the last 12 years working between Malta and Cyprus which has been a wonderful experience – enjoying two similar, yet different, Mediterranean lifestyles.

Right now, what is your one piece of invaluable information for expats or anyone seeking retirement planning and wealth management advice?

Opportunities are forever changing and advice is more important than ever before. I have seen a huge shift in investors looking to invest in trackers or passive structures as they appear to be a cheaper solution. In reality, unless you are a professional investor, then paying that bit extra for seeking active management is crucial. This is where Blacktower can give you that added value for money – be active, not passive!

Blacktower already has a long and successful history in the sector, how will you and your colleagues continue to offer value to clients in the next 20 years and beyond?

We are one of the few companies that were very proactive in ensuring that we were covered for all possible Brexit scenarios, meaning that we could continue to look after our clients across Europe. This shows that we are at the front of the queue in taking care of our valued clients. We have also invested heavily in new technology and back office systems during the Covid pandemic, meaning we can provide an efficient and personal service to our clients. I think this shows that we are a company that puts our clients first.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself

I had a short ‘career’ as a film extra, and my claim to fame was appearing in a movie with Madonna filmed in Malta. Despite several blockbuster offers, I thought I was better placed pursuing a career in financial services.

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.

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Final salary pensions – why now is a good time to cash in

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: 

  1. Your final or average salary at your place of employment (confirm this with your employer)
  2. Your length of service
  3. 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.

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