FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

Posted August 27th, 2012

Question :  Why is it that a pension share can be applied to a pension in the pension protection fund but not to one in the
financial assistance scheme.

Answer : Unfortunately despite lobbying by Resolution, the financial assistance scheme remains unable to deal with compensation pension sharing orders, unlike the pension protection fund.

Therefore, if you are affected by a scheme in this situation you will be unable to use it for the purposes of pension sharing.

It will be essential therefore to look at how to divide your pensions via a different method.

DIVORCE LIFELINE

Posted August 22nd, 2012

An interesting development with Divorce Lifeline – www.divorcelifeline.co.uk.

It is interesting to note some of the claims being made by the company in relation to pensions and also their credentials to be in this market in the first place.

However, there is a growing trend towards looking at the settlements that clients are getting and it is in the divorce solicitors best interests to look at how a pension settlement is arrived at.

As a Resolution Accredited Independent Financial Adviser, I do see many mistakes made and we are here to help.

http://www.cisionwire.com/sky-communications-international/r/divorce-solicitors-under-fire-,c9286689

Popping the Question

Posted April 19th, 2012

Few women can forget the moment they were asked THE question. It just came out of nowhere and perhaps wasn’t really what you were expecting. You’ll remember what you were wearing, what he was wearing, the music, the food (if he was nice enough to take you to a restaurant to ask). It’s just one of those moments that stay with you forever. He looks into your eyes and with heartfelt emotion proclaims “I want a divorce!” and the rug is pulled swiftly out from under your feet.

Or it may be that you want a divorce and of course, often it is a mutual decision. The question becomes how to do it?

The fact is, it doesn’t have to get nasty. It doesn’t have to be a mess. The courts don’t want that, your children (if you have any) don’t need that and frankly, neither do you. Wouldn’t it be nice to imagine that at the other end of the divorce road (a detour that many of us never expected) that something of a relationship can be salvaged?

Of course that would be great. There is rightly a growing trend of couples staying civil and even cultivating friendships with their ex partners post divorce, but that does not mean you should go quietly in to the night. Whether a divorce was yours or your (ex) partners idea, you still have the option of doing what is right for you and the rest of your life. Of course, remaining in contact and being civil for your children is a must.

But the days of the ex-wife being left with nothing and having to bitterly fight for every penny is long gone. After all, it was your marriage too. You spent time working, putting in to the house, raising children. You are entitled to a future as well.

Champagne Gatinois Rosé Grand Cru

If you spent years raising children at the expense of a career then you are quite right to expect that to be recognised. I’d go as far to say, in most cases, revered. Raising children, although immensely rewarding, can and often does go unappreciated. The skills required to rear young ones fit for the wider world, whilst maintaining a home at the same time are often understated and overlooked. Bottom line is, it’s not an easy job. In fact, it’s very difficult and very demanding.

You spent years doing just that, and are entitled to enjoy your reacquired independence now that the youngsters have flown the nest. A divorce need not put an end to the enjoyment, peace and security that life may have once offered you.

There are options to consider as far as pensions and assets are concerned. It was your marriage as well. You invested yourself and your life in to it. Therefore it is quite legitimate for you to expect to be compensated. Of course when you got married these are the sort of dilemmas you may not have imagined you’d face. When most couples marry nobody really likes to think of it in terms of a financial arrangement. It’s love, trust, respect. But if you are at a crossroads in your life when these things have fallen by the way side, and you’re asking yourself what you have to show for the last few decades, then it is a good time to find yourself a reputable Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) with a good knowledge of divorce and your entitlement to assist your legal counsel.

Why not call me in confidence for a chat?

Image credit – Flickr/e_calamar

Post Divorce tidy ups

Posted May 26th, 2011

Once a divorce is concluded there is often the temptation to tidy up your financial matters immediately as a fresh start.  But could this inadvertently cause potential issues later which could be avoided?

For example, it is common for people to consolidate pensions into one scheme (perhaps a SIPP) without too much thought to the consequences.  But if the existing scheme is subject to a pension sharing order then under the legislation it is not possible for another pension sharing order to be placed against it.

By transferring away to a new arrangement this “protection” is lost and should the client get divorced again there is a potential for this new scheme to have a pension sharing order placed against it.  There is also the same issue when clients’ purchase annuities at retirement.

So would it be an idea to consolidate before settlement so that the protection of the pension sharing order remains.

If you are considering your options post divorce and would like some advice, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01204 663904 or email phil@thedivorceifa.co.uk