Not long ago, shareholders were limited to a narrow range of investment options. Employing a stockbroker was only open to the very wealthy; Unit Trusts were in their infancy and considered too risky for most, and With-Profit funds dominated the pension and endowment market. With-Profit funds were ok up to a point. However, they fell […]
The truth about pension fees and charges
New disclosure regulations for investments into financial products have obliged providers to make major changes to how pension fees and charges are presented to investors. These rules apply to all investment funds, pension plans, and QROPS trustee fees. Not only must pension fees and charges be disclosed before an adviser can complete an application, but […]
Retirement Decumulation
Retirement is an exciting time for many of us, but not for those who experience retirement decumulation. It can be a daunting challenge when the certainty of employment income ceases and we have to live off built-up resources until we draw our last breath. This problem is less evident for those lucky enough to have […]
When your financial advisers go bust
From time to time financial advisers go bust. Failure is a fact of life in business. Unfortunately, it can leave a trail of destruction in its wake. High-profile companies such as BHS caused stress and heartbreak for employees and retirees alike as their jobs, pension funds and benefits were suddenly at risk. Thankfully, as BHS […]
Investigation into investment funds
It seems that every time we open the financial press, there’s a new story about failed funds. My recent investigation into unsuccessful investment funds suggests that failure is often caused by managers rolling the dice once too often. Some are just bad ideas where the fund manager was trying to make a ‘silk purse from […]
Common Reporting Standards – threat or opportunity?
Common Reporting Standards are coming to a place near you. It is not just the wealthy that need to worry……! The International Consortium of Journalists (ICJ) unearthed a global can of worms with allegations of large-scale tax evasion following their investigation into what are now known as The Panama Papers. Slowly, governments around the world […]
Expat pensions and Brexit – How will it affect the pound in your pocket?
There is mounting concern for those living abroad over the impact of the devaluation of the pound and the link between expat pensions and Brexit. One of Harold Wilson’s most remembered pronouncements was that the devaluation of Sterling by 14% against the US Dollar in 1967 “would not affect the value of the pound in your […]
Expatriate pension funds and currency exposure
The geographical distribution of assets such as equities, bonds and property has taken a more global path in recent years as expatriate pension funds seek to spread their risk. As a result, the currency exposure of assets under management has become an increasingly important factor in the investment equation. Before you build your edifice, be […]
International pensions
I had a conversation on international pensions with a financial adviser last week; his name was Joe Cairo. He had some good ideas, however none that I could put a value on. You could say that I am in the risk business, but some things even scare me…… There is no ‘magic wand’ that […]