How to transfer your pension pot to Spain Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd

Moving Pensions to Spain

Since the Pensions Freedom Act came into force in the UK April 2015 there has been a huge outflow of money from defined benefit pension schemes and personal pensions in the UK. Many people have taken advantage of the new flexibilities by having control of their own pension pots.  Transfer Values of some defined benefit schemes have equated to 40 times the income value of the pension income which for many people is a compelling reason to transfer their pension pot.  It is true, it is becoming increasing difficult to transfer from some schemes now, as hurdles have been put in place by some providers.  These hurdles also ensure that individuals are not transferring their pots to unauthorised schemes.  They also double check that the advice the are receiving about the pension transfer is from a qualified Independent Financial Adviser (IFA).

For you the pension holder it is quite an easy process.  If you contact a qualified Financial Adviser like myself then we can do all the hard work for you, here are the steps that you need to take:

• Contact the IFA

• Complete a letter of authority

• 4 – 8 weeks later the IFA should have all the information available for you to make your decisions.

The IFA should complete various forms with you including a Factfind and attitude to risk questionnaire and should be able to provide you with a detailed report on all the pros and cons of transferring your pension and give you all the options available to you now and when you intend to take the benefits.

You should not wait until you are ready to retire to find out what your options are.  There are many cases where pension pots built up in the UK years ago are now sat dormant and invested in old funds that are not managed as well as some other funds that are available now.  Reviewing your pension pot during the early years on a regular basis can make a huge difference to the size of fund you have when you come to retire.

There is no cost to you to find out about each of your pension pots, normally a provider will allow you to apply for a transfer value once each year free of charge. They often charge for a second or subsequent application within a 12-month period. 

I would strongly recommend you find out about your pension pot now, you have nothing to lose and you will be better placed to start planning your retirement.  I have been involved with pensions now for over 30 years and can categorically state, keeping on top of your own provision will pay you dividends in the long run.

In today’s financial climate it is essential you do everything you can to make sure your money is safe and secure and what you want to transpire in the future has the best chance of happening. 

The local Blacktower office address is:

120 Avenida Dr. Artero Guirao 2C.  San Pedro Del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain.

Our office suite is easy to find on the main N332 through road of San Pedro del Pinatar with easy parking.

To make an appointment call the local office on 968187331 or speak to me direct on 657684094 or email keith.littlewood@blacktowerfm.com  

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

Address

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd Murcia Office : 120 Avenida Dr. Artero Guirao 2C, San Pedro Del Pinatar, 30740 Murcia.

Tel: Murcia office : + 34 968187 331
Mobile: +34 657 684 094

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Financial Advice Issues for Expats in Spain

I have been a Qualified Financial Adviser for almost 30 years now.  25 Years in the UK for major institutions such as Natwest, RBS and Royal London.  I have been in Spain giving expats financial advice now for 5 years and it is quite remarkable the different approaches as well as advice that is required for an expat now living in Spain.  Blacktower is a company that has specialised in providing the best solutions for its clients living outside the UK for 30 years also.

The currency issue is always high on the agenda and a discussion for the long term future has to be taken onto account.  Questions like What will happen if one partner dies? Will the other remain in Spain? What about other family members? What Inheritance tax provisions do you have in place? The list goes on and on.

Existing portfolio’s and investments that were the mainstay of portfolios in the UK may now be obsolete.  An example of this is quite often tax efficient products in the UK like ISA’s and previously held TESSA’s PEP’s actually have low growth rates and provide no tax advantage to a Spanish fiscal resident.

Existing Pension holdings either paid by the state or private pensions built up through working lifetimes are topics that have to be covered.  Many expats have lots of small pensions from many ex employers and can be confused by the communications and administration in dealing with them.  At Blacktower we specialise in advising on how to consolidate and bring all these pensions together in one place.

Bank accounts and investments in Spain always bring up lots of questions too.  Quite often the small print associated with financial products in Spain is in Spanish this can make it very difficult even if you have a good grasp of the language.  Understanding Jargon in English is sometime difficult enough.  I provide clear easy to understand letters and documents in English so that you fully understand any terms and conditions before making a decision.

Advice on tax efficiency is just as important and offering good returns.  There are products available exclusively for Spanish expats that can provide invaluable benefits.  Having a good base knowledge of the tax implications both now and in the future is an essential ingredient to making a sound decision.

I will complete a thorough factfind, ask you the right questions, establish your individual needs, attitude to risk and capacity for loss and desired returns before providing you with a full written report of advice and my recommendations in plain English.  You will then have time to read and consider all the information before contacting me with how you wish to proceed.

Click for more information about Keith Littlewood.

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain