Pension Advice
Independent and personal advice that puts you in control.
If you are an expat or have worked in the UK for a number of years, understanding your international pension benefits can be complex.
It may be beneficial for you to transfer your UK pensions. Depending on the amount and type of schemes this can be an involved process. We can help you assess your investments and arrange pension transfers with the trustees of your current schemes.
Recent updates to UK pension regulations, changes to SIPP’s, QROPS and Double Tax Agreements have made it more important than ever to maximise your investments.
We’ll carry out a detailed review of your pension pots, wherever they are in the world, and help you analyse the opportunities and possible threats to your income.
Expert advice puts you in control. Understanding your options means you can make the right choices for you and your family. You may be able to minimise taxes, access pension pots or pass funds onto beneficiaries’ tax free.
Book an Initial Consultation
Tax efficiency
Get the full picture. SIPP, QROPs, maximising tax benefits and protecting your newly reduced £1m lifetime allowance. We’ll advise on the best options for you.
Keep track
We regularly review your pension to ensure it’s working hard for you. The financial scene constantly shifts – we’ll make sure you’re prepared and can capitalise.
Expert advice
Our knowledge and experience mean we’ve got the inside track to strategically advise you. We’re committed to safeguarding the financial futures of our clients.
Contact Blue Oak Partnership today
for an initial consultation.
Frequently asked questions
At Blue Oak we think financial advice should be personal. We’ll work with you to analyse your individual pension options. These FAQs give an overview of some of the initial questions you may have and some commonly used terms.
Will I be able to transfer my UK pension?
You can transfer most UK pension schemes, both defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. There are some exemptions such as public sector pensions which are classed as ‘unfunded’.
What happens when I transfer my pension?
One of our financial advisers will take you through the process and if it’s in your best interests to transfer your pension you will need to sign a letter of authority. This will allow us to access information from the trustees of your pension. The trustees will calculate your accumulated pension benefits into a CETV – a cash equivalent transfer value. We can then choose the right scheme to invest your funds into.
What is a SIPP?
SIPP stands for Self Invested Personal Pension. This is a UK-based pension that offers more flexibility and opportunities for investment than a traditional pension. It allows you to choose a range of investments for your pension including stocks and shares, OEICs, ETFs, bonds, gilts and commercial property. A SIPP puts you more in control of your funds but is still subject to the drawbacks (and benefits) of UK legislation.
You can choose your own investments or an investment manager can take care of this for you. Whichever option you choose we’re here to help you navigate the costs and complexities of setting up and managing your SIPP.
What is a QROPS?
QROPS stands for Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme. This is an international pension plan based in a financial jurisdiction that is recognised by HMRC. It is a popular choice for expats as it enables you to transfer a pension pot of up to £1 million into a tax-efficient scheme. For British expats these transfers are also protected by a double tax treaty so avoid a 25% charge.
You can transfer personal pensions, final salary pensions and money purchase into QROPS as long as they were part of a Registered Pension Scheme. As QROPS can be managed to adapt to your changing circumstances and benefit from local taxation, expert insight into establishing and managing your investments is key.
What Our Clients Say…
“I was introduced to the Blue Oak Partnership through a friend of mine and was immediately impressed with their setup and level of expertise. Their knowledge when it comes to pensions is second to none and I will definitely be recommending them to other expats.”
“I can’t recommend the services of Blue Oak highly enough. They helped consolidate my pensions and also my wife’s pension and are always on hand to offer us the best advice when called upon. They are a pleasure to work with.”
“I needed help to better understand my finances, ensuring I was maximising all benefits as life as an expat.
The team at Blue Oak have been the support I was looking for. Friendly and approachable and with excellent knowledge of the industry.”
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