What are megatrends? Put simply, megatrends are large-scale changes that have a profound impact on business and society. Financial landscapes are constantly being redrawn by megatrends, which is why it’s so important to be aware of them.
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Delays in the pension transfer process are leaving financial advisers with frustrated clients. While the Pension Transfer Protocol was introduced to improve customer experience and ensure that all transfers are carried out in a timely manner, some advisers are still experiencing long wait times. Here, we explore some of the reasons behind these delays and discuss the process.
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Income from property and investments are to be exempt from wealth tax in the Andalucían region of southern Spain, following a recent announcement by the government.
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Foreign Pensioners and Non-Habitual Residents: Tax rules for your income. Are you retired and thinking of moving to Portugal? Or are you already living in Portugal and wondering how your retirement income is taxed? You’re in luck – we’re here to break it all down for you. Keep reading to learn more about the different…
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How Financial Termination and Exit Fees Lock You in It’s no secret that many businesses use termination and exit fees to lock in their customers. While these fees may seem nominal, they can add up over time and make it very difficult for customers to break free from a contract—even if they’re unhappy with the…
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Taxation of Pensions in France Made Simple Are you a UK or overseas pensioner living in France? Did you know that you may be liable to pay French tax on your pension income? In this blog post, we will explain how the French tax system works and look at some of the ways that you…
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The Bank of England’s Role in Averting a Pension Fund Crisis The Bank of England (BoE) announced that it had intervened to prevent a pension fund crisis. On Sept. 23, following the new government’s fiscal policy announcements, the Financial Policy Committee intervened after a massive sell-off of U.K. government bonds. As part of its unwinding…
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How To Pick An Ethical Adviser With the increasing awareness of social and environmental issues, more and more people are interested in investing their money in companies that align with their values. But how do you know if your financial adviser is considering your ethical concerns? Here are a few things to look for when…
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Record High for Annuity Rates Investors looking for a safe and reliable way to grow their money may want to consider investing in an annuity. Thanks to the economic conditions, rates have skyrocketed and Annuity popularity is on an upswing. Annuity rates have been rising steadily for the past nine months and have increased by…
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Consolidating Your Pensions If you’ve been contributing to a pension for a while, you may have accumulated several different pots with different providers. Many reach retirement age with multiple retirement pots due to starting a new pension every time they start a new job. This can be a good thing, as it allows them to…
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Ben Eccles began his career working in the energy sector, combining strong analytical skills with a passion for client engagement. Building on these foundations, Ben embarked on a career in financial services where he quickly progressed to the position of financial adviser through diligent analysis of the global markets and an aptitude for managing an international client bank.
In his current role, he specializes in providing bespoke financial advice to a wide range of clients on topics including UK pensions, lump-sum investments, and tax efficiency. Ben is qualified to provide financial advice via qualifications held through the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.
As one of the senior advisers, Ben is working closely with Piers, providing coaching and mentoring, and developing his skills on his pathway to becoming a fully trained IFA.
After concluding his Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance, Rob began his career for a large international advisory firm, working directly under the Area Manager for Europe as an adviser. Within this role, Rob was able to gain extensive knowledge of international financial markets and advice, specifically regarding UK pension transfers, and international retirement planning. During his time with this firm, Rob gained his Level 3 IAD (Investment Advice Diploma) which demonstrates his willingness to learn in-depth knowledge of financial planning.
Rob was then given the opportunity to move across to SJB where he was able to contact people on a global scale. This further diversified his knowledge of various jurisdictions and created increased attention to detail when it comes to financial advice.
Rob holds four international qualifications including two qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI), one qualification from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) as well as the NASAA Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law qualification allowing him to provide advice to US residents.
Sam Barber is the Principal Director of SJB Global. He began his career as an investment adviser in the heart of London where he quickly progressed to a senior manager, specializing in pension funds. This firm grounding in investments was the perfect platform for Sam to take up a role as an International financial planner. Throughout his career, he has expanded his investment expertise to incorporate retirement planning, tax efficiency, asset allocation, and compliance. Sam is responsible for providing well-structured investment propositions for clients as well as dealing with pension transfers for non-UK residents.
A keen academic, Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Econometrics while also being a level 6 qualified financial adviser in private client investment advice and management (PCIAM). Furthermore, through his directorship, Sam is an active and contributing member of the Federation of European Independent Financial Advisers.
Simona brings a wealth of experience from the hospitality sector where she was overlooking restaurant acquisitions across the West of Scotland.
Simona brings diverse skillsets from her prior experience and was excited to gain the opportunity of developing her knowledge of the financial advice industry. Her background has prepared her well for helping ensure the business runs smoothly and the pragmatic challenges of troubleshooting issues. In addition, her keen attention to detail aids in her client service responsibilities.
Simona administers many internal aspects of services provided to our existing clients, as well as being responsible for certain internal business processes, enabling our advisers to focus on providing advice.
Katrina is the newest member of the SJB family. Katrina brings a diverse skillset from her prior experience in the hospitality and tourism industry where she worked as a head receptionist and is enthusiastic to leverage her administrative skills and develop her knowledge in the financial advice sector.
With her keen attention to detail and first-hand experience in organization, she supports the day-to-day administrative functions, troubleshooting issues and facilitating internal and external communications as well as executing certain internal business processes.
Katrina ensures that the office runs at maximum productivity by providing the management and the advisers with consistent administrative support.
Terence graduated with an MSc in International Management from ESADE Business and Law School in 2018. Since then, he’s honed his passion for financial markets and investment strategy as a stock and currency trader while working in Business Development (B2B and B2C).
Having lived in the USA, UK and Spain, he joins the team as a Business Development Manager and brings an international mindset to the team. He works closely with Daniel Lattimer and Lewis Sell and plans to be a qualified IFA in the near future.
Piers Kemp is a motivated associate adviser with excellent people skills and a strong background in sales and customer service. Previously working for campaigns such as American Express, AIG, Disney as well as his most recent role within the British Consulate Malaga, Piers brings a wealth of skills and knowledge to the table and applies dedication and passion to every role he undertakes. He is a strong believer in a positive mindset and the power of positive thinking in the workplace.
His passion for finance has enabled him to progress rapidly and his thirst for knowledge has allowed him to gain a deep understanding of key areas such as UK pensions, investments and retirement planning. Working closely with Ben Eccles and Jake Barber he has built relationships globally and is keen to speak to new clients who can benefit from the services of SJB.
Vickey is a key member of the Administration team at SJB Global. Vickey brings a wealth of experience from a career in retail administration which saw her occupy roles as a Senior Administrator and a Stock Control Team Leader. Her ability to carry out flawless stock audits was recognised on more than one occasion: a result of her exceptional aptitude for numbers and her organisational skills.
Her decision to relocate to Spain was driven by a desire for both a fresh challenge and a change of lifestyle. Joining the team at SJB Global was exactly the new beginning she was seeking, so she has happily embraced the opportunity she has been given and is greatly enjoying her role. Vickey has since become an integral part of the team and is frequently recognised for both her keen attention to detail and excellent time management.
Alex Gover started his career working in a recruitment firm. He started in the accounts department and progressed into a team leader position for the manufacturing and logistics sectors. This gave him the skills to manage both market-leading clients and an internal team. Alex has a fundamental passion for finance and providing first-class client service, this fueled his relocation to Spain to begin his journey with SJB Global where he began as a Business Development Manager.
Working closely with Randal Stephens and Matthew Quinn, Alex is rapidly expanding his knowledge within the global finance sector, whilst building a global client base. Alex is open to conversations with new clients about helping them to achieve their own goals and objectives.
Larisa graduated from the University of Konrad Lorenz with a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management. She also holds a master’s from the prestigious EAE Business School in Barcelona, specializing in International Marketing. She started her career working as a relationship manager for Davivienda before doing an Internship in India doing market research for exports of Indian goods to Latin America. She furthered her professional status working as a Marketing Manager for Sanofi, one of France´s largest pharmaceutical firms and has been working for SJB Global since the summer of 2018 with a role as a Business Development Manager whilst also helping with admin support for the team.
Francesca spent her early career in the retail industry. She decided to obtain qualifications that were not compulsory in her role and this led to her being promoted very early to a management position. The years following were spent gaining experience in both managing staff and her own time. Francesca was interested in working abroad and looking for a role that would be both challenging and rewarding and SJB Global stood out. After joining SJB Global, she has very quickly become integral to the administration of the business.
Luke’s background in financial services stemmed from a successful period working in the City of London for a derivatives trading house. His aptitude for business development was quickly recognized and led to him relocating to Spain to take up a role with SJB Global.
Working closely alongside Jake Barber, Luke has driven the growth of the firm by carefully aligning the needs of clients with the expertise of the advisers. Whilst managing his clients across Europe and offering world-class advice, Luke is open to conversations with new clients about helping them achieve their own goals and objectives.
Lewis Sell began his career as an equity trader in the heart of London. Starting at ground level, he quickly established himself as a fast learner with a client-centric approach. Soon after, he found himself in a managerial capacity working with large pension funds but decided to transition into the offshore market and relocated to Geneva, Switzerland. This move facilitated a much greater understanding of the needs of international workers and in doing so, allowed him to develop his understanding of the global markets.
Now settled in Spain with SJB Global, Lewis is responsible for understanding clients’ needs and building solutions that meet their long-term retirement objectives. He is particularly adept at analyzing existing portfolios in order to reduce running costs and enhance investment performance.
Lewis is a UK-qualified adviser holding the level 4 qualification through the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.
Matthew Quinn has a vast array of experience in financial advice having worked on the ground in Switzerland and Austria. He decided to move to SJB to advise in a more global capacity and to deal with a more varied and diverse client base. His specialities include pension planning for non-UK residents, whether or not they intend to return to the UK or remain overseas. As a law graduate, he also enjoys charting people’s retirement journeys and assisting through tax and succession planning.
Matthew is qualified to provide advice under the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments.
After working in the financial services industry post-education, Randal went to university and obtained a degree from the University of Essex in Modern History. He applies the strong analytical and research skills he developed at this time into his role as an international financial adviser, reviewing the objectives of clients and working with them on a strategy for retirement that meets their long term goals. Randal moved overseas to work with non-UK residents and in 2015 and joined the team at SJB in early 2018 after their ethics, vision, and future goals aligned with his own and matched his determination to provide the best service for his clients.
Daniel started his career at Norwich Union in the Life Insurance department and very quickly became interested in one day becoming a Financial Adviser. He progressed through the ranks and became the youngest Relationship Manager at Aviva, which gave him the opportunity to do the examinations required to allow him to give financial advice. As Daniel’s role involved dealing directly with Financial Advisers, this gave him the final push he needed to become a Financial Adviser. After spending a while helping overseas clients with their financial advice needs and gaining experience in the overseas market, Daniel was asked to join SJB Global and he gladly accepted as he could see that due to the people he would be working with and the service that they offered, he could really make a difference.
Liam is Head of Operations at SJB Global. Liam arrived at SJB with a background in Client Service Delivery Management and Operations Process Solutions. This cross-functional experience enables him to deeply understand business needs and tailor process design to achieve improvements in productivity, all whilst maintaining a client-centric focus.
Bringing fresh ideas and a pragmatic approach to implementation, Liam helps the SJB team embrace new innovations in technology to streamline their workflow today and prepare it for the challenges of tomorrow. He believes that iterative implementation and self-reflection are key aspects of the successful application of theory.
As Head of Operations, Liam manages the company’s marketing strategy, both selects and manages contractual relationships with vendors, designs and executes agile projects to innovate operations, automates processes where appropriate to achieve operational excellence and helps formulate business strategies with the leadership team.
Jake Barber is the Director of SJB and a specialist international financial adviser. Jake has worked for large international financial service firms in London, Dubai, Riyadh, Hamburg, and Spain where he currently resides.
During his career in financial services, he has built extensive knowledge and expertise in pension planning, tax efficiency, and asset allocation. By gaining a deeper understanding of what clients need in today´s ever-changing world, Jake has built long-lasting relationships with a wide array of individuals. As a key figure in driving the growth of the firm, Jake’s modern approach to financial advice has ensured rapid expansion across the globe. He now holds both the level 4 qualification in financial advice in the UK, and also the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law qualification allowing him to cater to clients in the United States.
Many final salary pensions schemes have been closed to new members or even all members over recent years due to huge deficits that are causing financial issues and even bankruptcies for large firms. Final Salary Schemes offer a guaranteed income for life, based on a proportion of your final salary for the period worked, although other considerations are taken into account.
Defined contribution pensions can have many different names, types, investment options, retirement options, exit penalties and guarantees. Schemes can often be complex, with very little help from the scheme itself to help the member understand what options they have.
These are a type of pension where contributions are invested in a with-profits fund. Each year bonuses will be added to the investment which is guaranteed, but these levels have been trickling down since their popularity back in the 90s.
These were designed by small companies as a way of having a company pension scheme. One of the advantages of SASS is that the pension can be used to help the business get loans or buy a commercial property which the company could then leaseback. They also allow directors to contribute 70% of their salary towards the pension each year. Each member is usually the trustee of the pension plan.
The objective an ethical pension fund is to deliver positive returns while prioritising environmental, social and governance considerations. It will only invest in companies that meet a strict set of criteria, avoiding those whose products or business practices fail to meet the required standards, such as arms dealing, tobacco, disregard for human rights, and companies that harm the environment.
An annuity provides you with a guaranteed income for the rest of your life. You hand over your pension as a lump sum to an insurance company, and they calculate your annuity based on age, gender, the size of your pension, where you live, the state of your health and then provide you with an income for life accordingly.
These types of pensions have largely been left behind after personal pensions were introduced in 2006, yet there are a handful of people who still have these schemes. In short, this scheme is a contract between a member and a pension provider which was set up when they transferred an old pension into this scheme. They were developed to help people transfer built-up pensions into a new vehicle rather than leaving them frozen when they terminated employment.
Until relatively recently, pension funds invested primarily in stocks and bonds. Today, they frequently invest in a variety of funds, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and so on. We will look at the different investment types you may have in a pension.
The majority of Defined Contribution pensions will be unit-linked. This means the value of your pension will fluctuate with the value of the funds you are invested into. The question you should ask yourself is what are you invested into?
A personal pension is a type of defined contribution pension. You choose the provider and make arrangements for your contributions to be paid. If you haven’t got a workplace pension, getting a personal pension could be a good way of saving for retirement.
Elvira joins the SJB Academy from a dynamic career in healthcare and education. As a karate world cup finalist, she is more than familiar with handling highly pressurised situations. Elvira brings a multicultural, organised and strongly motivated mindset to her Academy role.
Through her previous experiences, she has realized that her drive comes from helping people and making a positive impact, as well as the importance of communicating effectively. As a result, these prior experiences prepared her well to help potential clients achieve their financial goals.
Elvira is working closely with Ben Eccles and Rob Hoey and she plans to be a qualified IFA in the near future.
