• THAILAND

  Bringing your UK pension to sunnier climes

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 01/02/2015

  » In our last article on UK private pension liberalisation, we looked at schemes in the UK and how they are affected by the latest government regulations. From April 6, 2015, any private pension scheme held in the UK may be liquidated and the entire pot withdrawn. While this is a very attractive option for many, the reality is that income tax will be levied on these proceeds at the individual’s marginal tax rate for that year. As a consequence, taking the pot in one go will not be as tax-efficient as taking staged drawdowns each year, or as required.

• THAILAND

  Do you have adequate retirement reserves?

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 10/08/2014

  » Following the last Net Worth column, "Boom or bubble?", a number of readers asked questions about their personal situations and whether they had adequate retirement reserves. "Is there a bubble that is about to burst?" was the question that left many believing that they would be personally affected if that were to happen. In that light, if you are currently reliant on income from investments, are your reserves sufficient and should you be moving them to areas where they will be better protected?

• THAILAND

  Year the snake bit, but not fatally

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 29/12/2013

  » The Year of the Snake, 2013, has been mixed in many ways. We have witnessed some unexpected surprises while certain expectations have not come to fruition. Will this uneven trend continue into next year and beyond? Here is a recap of current trends and a look ahead.

• THAILAND

  A different view of property investments

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 09/02/2014

  » Property is a very popular long-term investment. This is because most expats own their home in their country of origin. It is thus second nature to be accustomed to property ownership. When living abroad one can find a multitude of different profitable investment opportunities, but property seems familiar; because of previous experience it gives investors a degree of comfort, helped further by its visible and physical presence.

• THAILAND

  Offshore private pension transfers: growing clarity for QROPS

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 26/05/2013

  » If you have ever worked in the UK, no matter what your nationality, you probably were enrolled in a private pension scheme to which your employer and maybe you made contributions. The UK government continues to tweak legislative changes affecting the expat's ability to move this pension offshore. On the surface, these changes appear to limit transfer options, but in reality they have strengthened the legal framework, offering expats continuing advantages.

• THAILAND

  Good reasons to transfer your UK pension to QROPS

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 09/06/2013

  » Despite the dull name, Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) are a hot topic. For any expat who once worked in the UK and has a frozen or deferred pension, there are persuasive reasons to export it, especially if it is a defined-contribution scheme in which an investment pot belongs to you. Defined-benefit schemes, where a calculated pension will be paid, are often difficult to evaluate and many expats make the mistake of not scrutinising them properly.

• THAILAND

  Can gold give you shelter from the perfect storm?

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 31/03/2013

  » Equities and gold traditionally fare best during inflationary cycles, and the question is when, not if, inflation will emerge again. Current economic wisdom is that fuelling inflation is acceptable to kick-start economies again. So far expats have mainly seen the downsides of monetary policy implementation, ranging from negligible saving rates to home currency devaluations and pension income dilution.

• THAILAND

  Energy investing - the next frontier?

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 14/04/2013

  » Black or transparent gold for you _ and a silver lining? Fossil fuel commodities such as oil and natural gas may be just the ticket for investors looking for a high return in a low-yield environment. But beware of the inherent volatility in these risky assets.

• THAILAND

  Double tax agreements: Look before you leap

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 10/02/2013

  » Relying on double tax agreements (DTA) as the basis for dealing with your tax problems is a tricky business. Although they have a place as one of a few effective tax management tools, they need to be used carefully, and as usual, the devil is in the details.

• THAILAND

  How long will your pension last when you retire?

  Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 10/03/2013

  » We tend to assume that current realities will remain unchanged, yet the only constant is change. Are you comfortable today with what you have, based on current cost of living, exchange rates, inflation and investments? Will your pension last in retirement?

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