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What have you done with your pension money?

Aegon regulatory strategy director Steven Cameron says providers need to do a better job of explaining what can be done within pension products or with pension funds.

“People think if it’s in their bank account they have ready access to it when they need it, where as they probably don’t think that’s the case within their pension.

“Investing in a bank account is hardly an investment strategy apart from that your money can’t go down in value in nominal terms.”

If you have very small pensions and require a cash amount then cashing in your pot, taking the money and putting the rest in a bank account isn’t too much of a problem. But for bigger pots above £30,000 the tax consequence, impact of inflation on cash, and the lowering of bank deposit guarantees need to be made absolutely crystal clear.

That´s where Blacktower can help you –  we work hard with all our clients to find the best and most tax efficient investment plan to suit your individual needs. We are completely independent so can offer you products from various providers from across the financial market place.

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

HMRC Pension Transfer Guidance May Change

CogsThe rules relating to pension transfers and inheritance tax could be set to change after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced that it is to review its guidance on the matter following a number of concerns raised by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) in a review published on July 5 2019.

One area that the OTS has earmarked for examination involves the rules relating to pension transfers made within two years of a person’s death. Such transfers can result in the deceased person’s remaining defined contribution pot being subject to 40 per cent inheritance tax unless the estate can prove to HMRC that the pension transfer was made without the intention to deliver gratuitous benefit.

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Keeping the NHR Tax Regime Could Be Good for Portugal in 2018

Cave on beach in PortugalIn September 2017, it was announced that the Portuguese Government, following pressure from Sweden and a number of other European countries, was looking to water down the country’s non-habitual residency (NHR) tax regime, potentially bringing to an end a programme that has worked in the interests of expats since 2009. The uncertainty this proposed move provoked certainly threatened to put a dampener on the financial plans of quite a number of expats and would-be expats as they moved into 2018.

However, the budget proposal presented by the Portuguese government in November seemed to allay these fears. There was not a single mention of the scheme, which would have seen the introduction of a flat rate of tax of either 5% or 10% on income drawn from the pensions of NHRs.

In all probability any such move would have seen the pensions of existing expat NHRs unaffected; however, it would have presented a significant stumbling block to the retirement plans of many looking to move both their wealth and their residence status to the country.

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