Resolving issues relating to QROPS pensions and divorce requires a specific understanding of what can and can’t be done in accordance with the law. It’s an unfortunate fact of modern life that many marriages end in separation. Even in the most amicable of cases, financial problems tend to focus the mind. Negotiations can become fraught […]
British in France Seek Expat Pension Advice on Brexit
Understanding the full ramifications of Brexit is likely to be impossible for some time to come. Many people need guidance on their tax situation and also expat pension advice. The British in France can attend meetings and receive valuable guidance from the Embassy regarding a whole host of post-Brexit concerns. A series of meetings have […]
Investment regulation changes post-Brexit for expats
There will inevitably be investment regulation changes post-Brexit. The rules on how expats purchase investment funds and who they can be advised by are set to alter. UK pension providers are already preparing for the post-Brexit world by making it difficult (or even impossible) for their expat clients to continue to receive benefits or contribute […]
Financial planning and Brexit
There are many issues surrounding financial planning and Brexit that expats should be aware of. I’m going to make a bold prediction though. Life will go on even if the UK decides to leave Europe! I don’t say this glibly. History shows that every time major political and economic events rock our world, we can […]
The French will
It is vitally important to write a French will if you live in France. French inheritance rules are relatively complex. Understanding how they work and what can be done to mitigate tax requires the input of various professional parties. When someone dies without a will, the estate of the deceased is distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy […]
Sustaining pension income in retirement
Sustaining pension income in retirement is a common concern for most of us. We work hard to build up our pension pots, hoping that we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labour come the glorious day of retirement. However, for those in Defined Contribution (DC) plans, it’s still important to monitor and […]
Pension transfer cost
As QROPS advisers, we are often asked how much a pension transfer costs and how long a pension transfer takes. It may come as a surprise for some, but the daily life of a financial adviser isn’t all fast cars, glamourous locations, and champagne lifestyles (Ho ho!). Pension transfers are a relatively complex administrative procedure, […]
Low cost QROPS
As we near the date of Brexit, there is a rising interest in UK pension transfers and also a demand for low cost QROPS solutions. The market for Qualifying Recognised Offshore Pension Schemes (QROPS) as a vehicle for UK pension transfers has developed significantly in the last few years. Changes in UK Government pensions legislation, […]
Budget raid on QROPS
It’s Spring again, and time, therefore, for another budget raid on QROPS. How to balance the books? It looks like pensions, and in particular, QROPS, were the ‘fall guys’. Some of us may remember the radical reforms to pensions in the mid-80s. Back then, the demographic time bomb that was predicted to start exploding in […]
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 […]
QROPS Case Example
This article looks at a QROPS case example and examines the technical aspects involved in the legislation. A QROPS or Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme is quite a mouthful, but it simply facilitates a transfer of an individual pension fund from one country to another. EU regulations enable these transfers, although individual countries can decide whether to […]
UK pension transfers to France
With UK pension transfers to France becoming ever more popular, expats need to stay abreast of developments in the marketplace. With over 3000 providers on the official QROPS list, there are many different jurisdictions to choose from. It is necessary to be sure, however, that your UK pension transfer is being handled by a provider/jurisdiction […]
Retire in France
If you have opted to retire in France, you should note that as a French resident, all of your worldwide income and gains should be declared on your French tax return. To avoid confusion it is best to refer to the UK / France Double taxation Treaty on this matter. The Double Tax Treaty is […]
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) are increasingly becoming the pension planning vehicle of choice for British expats living in France. It’s that time of the year again, la rentrée. The summer vacation is over; we are back to work and returning to some normality. Along with la rentrée comes a desire to address matters that we have […]
France is a favoured place for UK retirees
France is a favoured place for UK retirees. QROPS have become popular in recent years as British nationals look beyond the UK for a place to retire. Several million UK nationals now live overseas. Research by the Institute of Public Policy revealed that one in twelve Britons of UK pensionable age currently live abroad; they […]