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Planning for a Long Retirement in Spain

How to live longer in Spain

If you really want to live a long and healthy life in Spain, you need to live like a Spaniard. This is according to the Washington-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which recently released details of a report on how the Spanish will soon sit top of the world longevity tables, outranking even long-time leaders Japan.

One reason for this is the much-lauded Mediterranean diet, including lots of olive oil and fresh fruit and vegetables. Other factors include the Spanish tendency to take long walks, as well as the fact that Spanish couples have a propensity for remaining physically active, even as they get older.

But, increased longevity brings with it some very serious challenges. Foremost among these is the following question: if you are going to live several years or even decades longer than your parents or grandparents, how can you make sure your pensions and savings will provide you with sufficient income to see you through your retirement?

Like most wealth management questions, there is no magic answer. Unless by ‘magic’ you mean ‘planning’.

Yes, planning for your retirement is almost certainly the way to give yourself the best chance of success. Starting as early as possible and investing in a diverse portfolio of retirement assets is likely to be the answer for most savers. However, retirement investing can be challenging and, especially for the lay investor, bewildering and frustrating.

The trick is to take financial advice at an early stage. This may be particularly true for UK expats who are enjoying the Spanish lifestyle – so if you are resident in Spain, you should contact your expat financial advisers in Spain for the help you need to intelligently plan for your retirement, including understanding how to structure your investments in Spain.

Blacktower, Expat Financial Advisers in Spain

Blacktower Financial Management has more than 30 years of wealth management experience, helping its clients with all aspects of investment, income, pensions, and retirement planning.

Our expat financial advisers in Spain can help you achieve your financial goals. Contact us today for more information.

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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Assurance Vie and Fonds En Euro/Sterling

Simon VerityMany clients have sensibly opted to invest in Assurance Vie (Investment Bonds) type arrangements in France for the huge income tax and inheritance advantages offered though these products for French residents. A large selection of clients have also taken the option of using the Fond en Euros or Sterling funds preferring the guaranteed rates of return offered and the invested capital’s security.

Indeed so used are the Fond en Euros funds within Assurance vie “wrappers” that often clients believe that they are one and the same. The Fond en Euros main principles are that your capital’s value is guaranteed and you are given an annual rate of interest. The assurance vie ensures your funds grow free of French taxation due to the code of law relating to Life Insurance products. This combination has been so used in France and so much money tied up in these arrangements that the Government want to bring in a statute to limit the percentage invested into Fond en Euros per investor portfolio as they see this type of fund as stagnating the French economy and restricting investment into industry via the purchase of “actions” or shares. 

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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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