Ever had a pension in the UK?

  • Did you know that it doesn’t need to lie dormant and that you can actively manage it as an expat?
  • Did you know that a number of options are available to you, some of which may offer better benefits?
  • If your plans have not been reviewed for some time, you may have monies in underperforming funds and could benefit from making changes.

If you have UK pensions, whether personal or linked to an employer, these plans should be reviewed to ensure that that they are managed effectively.    Some of the options available to expats will be adversely affected by legislation that is due to come into effect early April 2012, so it could be in your interest to have your plans reviewed now.

The world of pensions is full of jargon – SIPPs, QROPS, SERPS and more – and I will explain your options in clear English, with all the details you need to make a clear, informed decision. No myths, no hyped-up sales pitch, no false promises – just simple facts.

Please contact me for more details or to arrange a free consultation  keren@holbornassets.com

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On Your Side columns from The National newspaper, December 2011

In case you missed any, here are links to all the On Your Side columns from the Personal Finance section of The National newspaper from December 2011.

03/12/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide031211

10/12/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide101211

17/12/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide171211

24/12/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide241211

31/12/11       http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide311211

If you have a question, a problem or want some professional advice regarding your personal finances, I can be contacted at keren@holbornassets.com

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Season’s Greetings

2011 has certainly been an interesting year in terms of the financial world. Political upheaval, natural disasters and banking issues has lead to a great deal of volatility in investment markets and I suspect there is more to come in 2012.

Whatever stock markets do, you still need to plan for your future and protect your family whilst making the most of your money. With this in mind I plan to run some seminars in 2012 to help people do just those things.

I am now taking a break until January and wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Keren

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Want to save money on currency transfers?

Who doesn’t want to save money?  As expats, we tend to make a number of transfers between currencies over the course of a year, but by doing it the right way, you could be saving yourself significant sums of money. Whether you are moving to or from UAE Dirhams, Saudi Riyals, Sterling, Euros, Dollars or just about any other currency you can make savings.

If you are planning on a currency transfer of a minimum of AED 15,000, or equivalent in any currency, you can take advantage of wholesale exchange rates that are more competitive than those offered by your own bank. And not only is the exchange rate better, there are no fees.

The system is very simple to use and all transfers are totally secure. The company is based in the UK, fully authorised by the UK Financial Services Authority and uses a major international bank for transfers. They have a number of offices outside of the UK including one in Dubai.

Transfers are available to and from any currency and real savings can be made. You agree the rate for your transfer so you know exactly what you will be getting. This method is suitable for both personal use and also companies.

To obtain further information about this valuable and useful service, please contact me by email and I will send you full details.

keren@holbornassets.com

 

 

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Make sure they miss you for the right reasons

In 1909 Winston Churchill said the following:

“If I had my way, I would write the word ‘insure’ upon the door of every cottage and upon the blotting book of every public man, because I am convinced, for sacrifices so small, families and estates can be protected against catastrophes which would otherwise smash them up forever.

It is the duty to arrest the ghastly waste, not merely of human happiness, but national health and strength, which follows when, through the death of the breadwinner, the frail boat in which the family are embarked, founders and the women and children and the estates are left to struggle in the dark waters of a friendless world.”

These words are as true today as they were then.  If your family is financially dependent on you then you need life cover.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, but surely you want to take care of your loved ones if something happens to you?

This video is from a recent campaign in the UK, but the message is relevant in the UAE too. If you die and leave you family, you can’t stop the heartache, but you can make sure that do not have financial worries, that they can stay in their home and your children can continue their education.

UK life assurance advert – youtube link

Be a loving spouse and/or parent and ask about arranging life cover to take care of your family today. They’ll miss you when you’re gone, but you can still look after them by making sure they’ll be financially secure.

keren@holbornassets.com

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Still not started saving for your future?

  • Still thinking about saving for the future?
  • Do you keep meaning to organise your finances, but never get around to it?
  • Looked into savings plans, but been concerned about the cost?
  • Can’t make your make your mind up what to do?

It’s easy to get distracted by more fun things when you should be thinking about planning for your future. Few of us find dealing with our finances very exciting, but it something that you must deal with or you are likely to face a retirement and old age with major financial worries. The earlier you start planning the better and professional advice makes it painless.

It is true to say that a number of charges apply when investing in offshore savings plans and some people have found this a little off-putting. Naturally charges will always apply for the management of any investment, but clearly the lower these are the better.

 And here is the good news!

 For a limited period only you can set up a 10 year regular savings plan without any initial charges. This represents a significant saving.  This plan is an exclusive offer, open to mid December and only available to clients of Holborn Assets. There’s even an additional bonus at maturity.

If you have been putting off saving for your future now is the time to act to take  advantage of this very special offer.

The Freedom 10 plan is managed by a leading international insurance company and provides access to over 1,200 funds from well-known and respected management groups. This allows me to construct an investment portfolio that is tailored to your needs and views on risk. No other company offers such choice. This plan is also ideal as a vehicle for saving for school or university fees.

 For details please contact me on keren@holbornassets.com

 

The value of your investment can go down as well as up. Returns are not  guaranteed. Minimum investment $750, 500 or €500  per month. Allocation rate offsets initial charge in full.

 

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Want to take advantage of the fall in the FTSE 100 Index whilst protecting your capital?

We all know that bank accounts are currently offering very low rates of interest, but also that investing in equity markets means taking a risk with your money, especially in these troubled times. Stock markets globally have fallen significantly in value over the past few months, so this could be a good time to invest. Understandably however, many people are nervous about further volatility and are reluctant to risk what they have worked hard to save.

For investors who want to avoid risk, options have always been limited, but there is now an alternative where you can invest without risk to your capital.

A UK authorised investment company has a limited offer single premium plan that offers a capital guarantee together with growth in the FTSE 100 Index over either a three or five year period. It provides a way of protecting your money, with an excellent opportunity for growth. This offer is only available in Sterling and the investment is held in the Channel Islands, a secure UK offshore financial haven. The minimum investment is just £5,000.

The plans have set terms, so you invest a lump sum with the intention to leave it untouched for a three or five year period. It is possible to encash sooner if you really need to, although penalties would apply, so it is not recommended for shorter periods.

At the fixed maturity date, you receive your capital (subject to chosen guarantee level) plus a percentage increase in the FTSE 100 Index. You choose the level of capital guarantee that suits you, from 85% to 100% and the amount of risk you take determines the level of the increase in the Index that is returned to you at maturity. Even in the worst case scenario, if the Index fell or failed to increase, you will get back your capital subject to your chosen guarantee level.

As an example, over a five year period, you could choose to protect 100% of the amount invested, you would benefit from 75% of the growth of the FTSE 100 Index, plus the return of your original investment. A guarantee of 95% would return 105% of the Index growth and a lower protection threshold of 85% would provide growth of 165% of the increase in the FTSE 100 Index. The higher the increase in the Index, the bigger the growth on your investment. You simply pick the level of protection that you require or are most comfortable with.

Your investment is not subject to any charges and interest of 2% pa is paid from the date of subscription until the plan goes live. The counterparty guarantee is provided by Brclays Bank and the investment is held in Guernsey, a highly regulated offshore jurisdiction.

This is a limited offer, only available until 20th November, so please contact me by return if you are interested in this low risk investment opportunity and would like further information.

keren@holbornassets.com

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Gold – does it still glitter?

A subject that is of interest to many, particularly in the Middle East.

Here’s an article that I wrote  for the October edition of Esquire Middle East  magazine –  Is Gold still worth buying? What is it all about and how do you do it?

If you have any questions about investing in gold, or anything else, please contact me.

 

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Saving for a future: plan for education

Statistics show that over their working life someone with a bachelor’s degree in the USA will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. Source: US Census Bureau

 As a parent you worry about your children. You have high hopes for their future and want them to do well.  One of the best things you can do for them is to provide them with a good education. This will give them freedom to succeed in life and greater opportunities for achievement and happiness.

We all know that school fees in the UAE are expensive, although many have employment packages that include the fees which lightens the burden. Education these days however, doesn’t stop at age 16 or 18 and these days the majority of young people go on to some kind of tertiary education. The cost of this is increasing and many young people finish their education with considerable debts. Not an ideal situation for anyone starting out in the world. So how do you avoid the headache of paying for their education without getting into debt?

The best solution is to plan for this well ahead of time. Parents can help their children to receive a good education, as well a reducing the future burden on themselves, by planning for these expenses. Not only are there likely to be tuition fees, but factor in rent and living expenses and the outlay could be very high indeed.

The younger the children are when you start the better as investments have time to grow and ride out the vagaries of investment markets. Ideally this should be for at least a 10 year period, but plans allow you to take withdrawals if monies are required sooner and have flexibility.

When I speak to people about savings plans one of the concerns related to the costs in running the plan – the charges from the insurance companies.  The good news is that Holborn has exclusive access to a new plan from a major offshore provider with much reduced and thus highly competitive charges.  The Freedom 10 plan is designed to run for a period of 10 years for a minimum monthly premium of $750 (or £500/€500) and for all plans taken out before the end of 2011, there will be no initial charges for the duration of the contract. This is a huge saving and makes this the best value for money plan on the market.

Why not take advantage of a great offer and start planning for your children’s futures now? Contact me to make a no-obligation appointment  keren@holbornassets.com

And if your child doesn’t go to university after all? Well, then you have a large pot of money to put towards a first home for them or to keep and spend on yourself! Whatever happens the monies saved and invested can be put to good use.

Even if you don’t have children , you can still take advantage of this great value plan for your own future.

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On Your Side columns from The National newspaper – August 2011

In case you missed any, here are links to all the On Your Side columns from the Personal Finance section of The National newspaper from August 2011.

06/08/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide060811

13/08/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide130811

20/08/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide200811

27/08/11      http://tinyurl.com/OnYourSide270811

If you have a question, a problem or want some ethical advice regarding your personal finances, I can be contacted at keren@holbornassets.com

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