Archives: FAQ

What Pension Trustees are Often Used Together With Offshore Bonds?

For British expats, popular  SIPPs and QROPS trustees are Momentum Pensions, STM Group, Forthplus pensions and the Sovereign Group. Others include Pantheon Pension Trustees Trireme Pension Services New Zealand Endeavour Hornbuckle Mitchell Group The Concept Group Brooklands Pensions/IVCM Heritage Pensions Limited Bourse Pension Trustees Baker Tilly Isle of Man/RSM In many cases, you can lower your fees and improve your performance by […]

What Funds and Discretionary Fund Managers are Typically Sold Within Bonds, Savings Plans and Platforms? 

In no particular order VAM funds, including US microchip growth a and VAM managed funds such as cautious A and B. Commerzbank structured notes Valartis Group Momentum Investment Management. Harmony portfolios, including sterling balanced, sterling growth, usd balanced fund and Euro diversified SAM Group funds Brooks Macdonald strategic growth dvam funds Sanlam funds Various AXA, iShares and BlackRock funds. Franklin […]

What other platforms are available to expats?

Interactive Brokers we would state as the best and most cost effective. DBS Vickers Securities E*trade Financial iFast International Novia Global Platform One International Praemium James Raymond James Saxo Capital Markets/Saxo Bank Ardan International Capital Platforms Isle of Man Momentum Wealth Personal Portfolio Moventum Platform/Moventum Capital Platform in Luxembourg.

Are There Limitations on What I Can or Can’t Buy Within My Pension?

Yes, if the trustee is efficient and fit for purpose. The trustees’ role is to safe guard your investments in line with regulatory framework. Not all trustees act in such a way and this has led to many issues for many investors. The stronger the trustee the safer you are. The fees are basically always the same so make sure […]

Should I Buy Stocks?

Stock generally should not be held within a pension. Inherently they are too risky. Yet some clients do still wish to invest in stocks. Mainly due to past experiences and long term horizon most people have of their pension. I would recommend no more than 20% to be held in stocks. It is however your money and your choice.  If […]

What is an ETF?

Exchange traded funds are in effect trackers. They track the market and perform in line with the markets. The cost is normally on average 0.25%. Vs a DFM this is normally a saving of 1.5% on average. An ETF needs to be sold when markets go down otherwise it will track the market down also. It is very hard to […]

What is a DFM?

Discretionary Investment Management is a form of professional investment management that invests on behalf of their clients through a variety of securities. The term “discretionary” refers to the fact that investment decisions are made at the investment manager’s judgement. The major aim of the services offered is to outperform benchmarks listed in the mandate; this is called providing alpha. The services provided are usually tailored […]

What Funds do you Recommend?

Depends on your risk profile. I favour DFM agreements and trackers.

Capital Guaranteed vs Capital Protected.

Completely different! Capital guaranteed is safe meaning your capital is protected and cannot be lost. Capital protected means your money is safe BUT…. The BUT is the important caveat. Normally your money is projected unless x y z happens. I.e. certain stocks or indices do not fall below a set level. If they do fall before said level your protection […]

Structured Notes

A complex investment not suitable for retail investors. I.e. 95% of people who transfer their pension. Investors normally have to sign a waiver or disclaimer stating they are in fact a sophisticated investor to invest in such products. Normally 95% of clients do not qualify for a sophisticated investor. The reason these are sold to offshore clients are mainly due […]