James Poole Consulting

15/12/2015

Are you Australian and living in Switzerland? if so there are investments that have tax benefits when you return home, contact me for more details.

18/06/2015

How much has the value of your cash deposits declined over the last 12 months?

15/06/2015

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-2-trillion-pound-pension-085424889.html

British private sector defined benefit, or final salary, pension scheme liabilities of 2 trillion pounds ($3.11 trillion) have outstripped Britain's GDP for the first time due to ultra-low interest rates, pensions consultants Hymans Robertson said. Low interest rates have meant the pension funds are…

22/04/2015

Star did not leave valid provision for his £1.2m estate. A salutary lesson which should be learnt regardless of the value of your assets and estate.

12/03/2015

How times change??https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/45696678

11/03/2015

Independent advice is even more important these days!!http://www.ftadviser.com/2015/03/04/regulation/regulators/fca-estimates-up-to-m-irrational-db-transfer-demand-iwja8t7dD2O8e02f7gHXCL/article.html

New rules governing pension transfer advice to prevent up to £10m of consumer detriment.

01/03/2015

Creating my new website!! http://james-poole.branded.me

James Poole is Independent Financial Services Professional helping expatriates to maximise their financial benefits. View James's Resume, Biography and more. Get in touch with James today.

03/07/2014

Presenting the raffle prize from the Basel Expat Expo, to the winner at Novartis in Basel.

18/03/2014

Over the last decade, stock markets have delivered a higher return than house prices. A far higher return.

In February 2009, at the height of the financial crisis, the average UK property cost £160,164, according to its methodology.
Five years later, in February this year, it cost £179,872.
That is a little over 12% higher.
Over the same period, the benchmark FTSE 100 index has delivered a total return of a whopping 103%, including growth and dividends, according to figures from S&P Capital IQ.
The stock market wins over 10 years as well.
In February 2004, the average UK property cost £148,497, according to Halifax. Today's £179,872 figure is just 21% higher.
Over the same period, the FTSE 100 delivered a total return of 110%. That is despite losing half its value during the financial crisis.

So yes, stock markets do crash. But their recovery powers are enormous.
Better still, shares give you something your home never will.
Major FTSE 100 companies pay regular dividends to investors as a 'thank you' for holding their stock.
Right now, the FTSE 100 offers an average dividend yield of just over 3.5% a year.
If you re-invest that dividend for growth, year after year, your money will grow in value even if stock markets remain flat during that period.
Over the longer run, dividends account for roughly 40% of the profits you make from stocks and shares.
You don't get a dividend from owning a property. But you get plenty of expenses, such as the cost of doing it up, and repairs and maintenance.

In an ideal world, you would hold both property and shares.
But if you're one of the growing number of people who believe they can never build personal wealth, because they can't get on the property ladder, don't despair.
There is another way. And over the past 10 years, it has been far more rewarding.
Better still, you don't have to be rich to invest in stocks and shares.
The average first-time buyer property deposit is now £26,533. First-time investors can buy shares from as little as £500.

11/03/2014

The other side of the Swiss vote to limit the number of foreigners in Switzerland
Geneva did not vote against immigration! http://lnkd.in/dS6P75w

Suite à la votation sur l'immigration de masse du 9 Février 2014, nous avons demandé à des enfants d'aborder ceux qu'ils croient être des "étrangers" à Genèv...

04/02/2014

New regulations came into force in 2006 that made it much easier for clients to transfer their pension benefits abroad. UK expatriates or foreign nationals who have accumulated pensions in the UK are able to transfer their pension, whether personal or occupational, to an overseas scheme as long as written confirmation directly from the overseas scheme confirms that they have received approval from HMRC and that they meet the conditions to be classed as a QROPS.

In basic terms, QROPS are overseas pension schemes that are established outside of the UK. When you retire abroad, you can move them with you to any other country in the world; they will then be subject to the tax and pension rules that apply within that country. These could provide greater flexibility and benefits than pension plans in the UK.

To be considered as a QROPS, at least 70% of the fund must be used to give members a lifelong income in retirement. In addition, the 30% cannot be taken out before the age of 50 (55 after April 6th 2010). Pensions can usually be transferred if no annuity has already been purchased or, in the case of a Defined Benefits Scheme, the pension is not already in payment. QROPS must report any payments made from your pension to the HMRC over the first ten years. No reporting is required after that period.