Showing 1 - 10 of 24
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 From April 6, 2015, any private pension scheme held in the UK may be liquidated and the entire pot withdrawn.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.
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?
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.
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.
Key strategies for wealth accumulation
Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 10/11/2013
» Becoming financially secure is so simple that almost no one wants to believe it: Save regularly, reinvest your interest and dividend income, maintain your contributions even during down cycles, and you will accumulate wealth. It is that simple.
Balancing debt with investment and tax advantages
Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 18/08/2013
» It pays to consider your options carefully when you have the opportunity to repay debt. Depending on your tax and investment situation, a careful analysis may yield surprising results.
Pitfalls and curveballs: Common errors expats make
Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 21/07/2013
» Ignorance and inertia are often the biggest hurdles expats must overcome when living in Asia. Today we'll look at some of the more common and costly errors.
Personal finance: A regular banking review
Spectrum, Andrew Wood, Published on 05/05/2013
» One of the most important aspects of expat living is having access to meaningful bank accounts that afford us the greatest flexibility. As life moves on we tend to accumulate various accounts on our travels and neglect them as they become less important in our minds. A regular banking review is time well spent in streamlining your accounts and also stamping out unnecessary costs.
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.
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.