Over the last 17 years of transferring pensions, we see some consistent myths. More often than not once we have explained the situation to people their situation becomes much clearer. Here are three of the biggest myths.
Myth 1: You need to convert your funds to NZ dollars
Lots of people hold off on even looking at a UK pension transfer because the exchange rate freaks them out. Depending on when you started tracking the New Zealand dollar to British pound you might have seen highs of three dollars fifty to the pound and lows of one dollar seventy, and this can play a part in the decision making process. But what most people don’t know is that when you transfer a UK pension to New Zealand you don’t have to convert it into New Zealand dollars.
In fact by holding off transferring their pensions because of the exchange rate you can often lose control. If you want complete exchange rate control transfer to a New Zealand superannuation schemes where you can invest in sterling denominated funds and dollar denominated funds. This ability to hold the funds in sterling also means that you can convert your pension from sterling to New Zealand dollars at a rate on any given day – as the transaction can be done on a day in New Zealand. If you leave your funds in the UK and wait for the rate to get to a value you like by the time you complete the pension transfer process (which generally takes three months) the rate can be completely different.
Furthermore, the current exchange rate may actually be working in many peoples favour when it comes to calculating the tax on a pension transfer to New Zealand (particularly if you can remember when it was three dollars to the pound). For an understanding of why this might be the case we recommend that you read the following…read more
Myth 2: Never touch a final salary scheme
The never touch a final salary scheme mantra is loudly banged drum in the UK, indeed it is even institutionalised in the regulator. The drum may be good and fine when you live in the UK and all the variables like interest rates and tax are constant. But when you live on the other side of the world how do you keep in touch with whether your former employer can afford to pay the pension anymore, or how you could save so much tax that your pension would be worth a third more.
There is an extremely complex interplay of variables that need to be assessed when looking at whether it is best to leave or transfer a UK defined benefit scheme pension. That includes weighing up, whether you might go back to the UK, whether the transfer value compensates for the benefits that are forever being given up, your tax situation and much much more. What we have learned over the years is everyone’s situation is different and complicated but you are best served getting a review of your pension and at a minimum knowing the consequences for you.
Myth 3: All QROPS are the same
It’s definitely not a case of one size fits all, some have more investment options, others are more tax efficient, some have higher or different fees. What that means is you should not settle for the first QROPS you come across. It also means watch out for tied advisers that only deal with one scheme, they are not independent and you might not be getting the best option in the market for you.
