Isle of Man or Isle of Scam? After publishing the recent Pension Life blog about fraud operated and facilitated in Malta – it became clear there was an urgent need to shut down the rogue Maltese QROPS trustees. These firms act as the intermediary between the fraudulent secret commissions paid by the Isle of Man […]
ISLE OF MAN – OR ISLE OF SCAM? Read More »
MALTA – THE ALTAR OF FRAUD Malta has a long history of facilitating not just massive-scale pension fraud, but all types of financial fraud as well. Recent reports indicate a sharp increase in fraud cases and financial losses in the grubby little island of Malta. A corrupt jurisdiction where neither the financial regulator nor the
MALTA – THE ALTAR OF FRAUD Read More »
At the end of January 2022, Boris Johnson claimed he had reduced crime by 14%. Boris shocked a lot of people with this figure. But, apparently, he wasn’t talking about fraud. He’d forgotten that even some of his own constituents had been defrauded into the Ark pension scam (and that he had promised to “sort
Boris on Crime (I see no fraud!) Read More »
The Spanish criminal trial of so-called “financial advisers” in Denia has exposed the widespread fraud routinely committed in offshore financial services for over a decade. This particular stage of this particular trial may be directed at just eight members of Continental Wealth Management and Premier Pension Solutions. For now. But the case – brought by
Fraud Trial Against Pension Scammers in Spain Read More »
Recent data obtained by Quilter (formerly Old Mutual International and Royal Skandia) under a freedom of information request has further highlighted the issue of financial education, or rather the lack of it, with many casualties of fraud ‘unaware they may have fallen victim‘ to such a scheme. Quilter plc (the well-known asset/wealth management company, “life
Quilter: Critical or Hypocritical? Read More »
Britain has had a series of no-hoper pensions ministers. “Pensions minister” seems to be a position where peculiar people are stuck in – as square pegs in round holes – so they are out of the way and can’t do too much damage (as in challenging the government over its shameful failure to tackle pension scams).
Pension Fraud Tax Epidemic Read More »
Will new chancellor Richi Sunak have the balls to dump Andrew Bailey? Will he understand what needs to be done to reform the FCA? Will he make a name for himself as a hero or just hopeless?
Chancellor must dump Andrew Bailey Read More »
While Dalriada Trustees and Pinsent Masons count their handsome earnings, HMRC prepare to ruin the victims with unauthorised tax charges from the Ark pension liberation scam. Dalriada Trustees were appointed by the Pensions Regulator on 31st May 2011 to take over the six Ark schemes: Cranbourne; Grosvenor, Tallton Place, Lancaster, Portman and Woodcroft. Designed, set
Dalriada Trustees – Ark Pension Liberation Scam Read More »
Fighting pension scams: Regulation If it was easy to stop pension scams, everyone would be doing it. Clearing up the mess left behind a pension scam is a huge challenge. This is why clear international standards need to be recognised and adopted. The scammers are like flocks of vultures. If people only used regulated firms,
Fighting pension scams: Regulation Read More »
HOW DO PENSION SCAMS WORK? Every pension scam starts with a negligent transfer. Ceding providers hand over millions of pounds to pension scammers every year. Firms – from Aviva to Zurich – ignore warnings by regulators and HMRC. The providers tick their boxes; the scammers make their millions; the victims are ruined. The ceding providers
Transferring pensions to scammers – the ABC of shame Read More »
I read an interesting article recently which has prompted this blog, written by Blair duQuesnay, CFA®, CFP® – an investment adviser at Ritholtz Wealth Management, LLC. Blair suggests that the most important change needed in the financial industry is qualifications. Poorly qualified advisers give poor investment advice. Bad investments advice leads to loss of funds. Blair has
Raising standards – financial advisers and qualifications Read More »
The mis-selling of life assurance policies and long-term savings plans has been a regular topic in our blogs. Many victims of pension scams see their funds mis-invested into life assurance policies. These life assurance policies do little more than drain the fund value with their expensive fees and costs. Generali has for years been aggressively
Generali – jumping ship to avoid new regulations? Read More »
When we buy certain products, they have a warning on them. Cigarette packets, for instance, state that smoking is bad for your health. The wrappers show hideous images of what might happen to you if you use tobacco. However, when it comes to investments, the ‘advisers’ selling dangerous investments are able to disguise the risks
Hidden charges that destroy your pension funds Read More »
Another victim of Berkeley Burke SIPPS investments into Store First storage pods has come forward. 55-year-old factory worker Robert McCarthy, of Ebbw Vale, said he has lost more than £30,000 through a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). He was duped into the transfer and investment by unregulated firm Jackson Francis which was liquidated in 2014. His investment
More negligence from trustees Berkeley Burke – Store First Read More »
Scammers who act as financial advisers and operate pension scams, don’t wear a badge to identify themselves – nor do they pay any redress for the devastation they cause. Oh no, of course they don’t! The scammers dress in snazzy suits, drive go-faster cars, sport posh briefcases and speak with a silky sales tune floating
POOF! – there goes your whole life savings Read More »
In January 2019, we saw legal challenges going forward against not one but two SIPPS providers for their roles in using and promoting unregulated investments. Berkeley Burke SIPPS Administration and Carey Pensions (the latter now owned by rogue QROPS trustee firm STM Group). Money Marketing has published an interesting article: ´SIPPS providers gear up for landmark court action´. They
Shaping the future of mis-sold SIPPS Read More »
In the Pension Life office, we have been wondering how to get the information about pension scams more widely seen, heard and taken on board. We’d like to ensure the masses are educated and aware that pension scammers can strike from many angles, and with a variety of “deals”. Pension scammers must be stopped and
Pension scammers must be stopped Read More »
In many pension scam cases, we find victims telling us that they were not informed about the hidden charges that were applied to their fund. This is why it is essential to warn the public about the hidden dangers of charges that ruin your pension investments. These charges often take a huge chunk out of
Hidden dangers of charges that ruin your pension investments Read More »
BREXIT is the question on everybody’s lips at the moment. BREXIT: will we? won´t we? deal? no deal? So many unanswered questions and so much scaremongering. We would like to offer some helpful words and hopefully protect you from making rash decisions. This could help you to safeguard your pension. Many scammers are trying to cash
Expats and Brexit – Safeguard your pension Read More »
SCAMMER JAILED! Hip hip hooray! we say. What a great start to the new year. Neil Bartlett, 53, of Delamere Road, Ainsdale, used £4.5m of his victims’ money to fund an extravagant lifestyle of foreign travel, top hotels and gambling. Bartlett was handed an eight year sentence for his involvement in the multi-million pound investment fraud
Scammer jailed – hip hip hooray! – scammer jailed Read More »
In follow up to our blog ´Cold calling ban not approved´, we can confirm that as of the 9th January 2019, that companies who cold call with advice on pensions schemes could face fines of up to £500,000. Notice I highlight the word ´could´. If you have read our other blog you will already know that
Fines to be imposed on cold callers, but will it really put a stop the scammers? Read More »
Henry Tapper has published an interesting article about the problem of the number of lost pensions. We live in an age where careers are much more fluid and many people move companies or retrain and change professions. This mean many people may have had five or six different jobs (if not more) throughout their working career.
Where’s my pension? Read More »
I have enormous respect for FT Adviser. Their articles are written by proper journalists and they generally write competently and professionally. FT Adviser puts International Adviser to shame with their thinly-disguised promotional shows and Micky Mouse “articles” which only ever promote their own sponsors – Old Mutual International and their ilk. It was really interesting
FT Adviser Top 100 Financial Advisers 2018 Read More »
Tackling Caravan Crime – Chancellor Philip Hammond. Victims of pension fraud in scams such as Ark, Capita Oak, Westminster, London Quantum, Friendly Pensions and Salmon Enterprises – will not be surprised to hear that even the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges that the fraudsters have defeated the system. Alison Saunders, head of the CPS, has stated publicly
Tackling Caravan Crime – Chancellor Philip Hammond Read More »
Back due to popular demand, qualified and registered company blogs. Today, I am looking into Belgravia Wealth, a Swiss based company. Belgravia Wealth – qualified and registered? Lets see if you are. Belgravia Wealth has an impressive list of services offered. However, those who follow our blogs will know that the terms “structured products” and pensions
Belgravia Wealth – qualified and registered? Read More »
The financial services industry has failed with flying colours to achieve transparency – both offshore and in the UK. The single most important thing about any product or service is transparency – aka honesty. This is where the profession has tolerated – and even encouraged – bare-faced lying for years and continues to do so
Transparency Failure With Flying Colours Read More »
Unqualified Pension Scammers Banned Articles like New Model Adviser’s report on some of the scammers behind the Capita Oak/Henley/Store First scam getting banned always makes me smile. Knowing that a few pension scammers (four in this case), are being named and shamed – as well as banned from being directors – motivates me to share information
Unqualified pension scammers banned Read More »
Written by Kim All pension and investment scams have one thing in common: if the pension scam victims had asked the offshore advisers some or all of these 10 essential questions, they might not have lost their life savings to the scammers. Here at Pension Life, we are working hard to help educate the masses
Cartoon blog – Don’t be the next pension scam victim Read More »
Pension scammers have a “code”. Rather like pirates, they are not to be trusted. They pick their words carefully, revealing little; they are sneaky and lack any morals. They are good at disguises and if they fear they may be rumbled, they will disappear over the horizon, never to be seen again. They certainly won’t
Trolley’s Pension Scam Guide Read More »
2,000 victims of fraudulent pension firms may be in with a chance of getting their funds back. In November, the FCA pushed for legal proceedings to go ahead against collapsed firm Avacade Limited, trading as Avacade Investment Options; and Alexandra Associates (UK) Limited, trading as Avacade Future Solutions. Past prosecutions made by the FCA: In 2016,
Pay back due from fraudulent pension firms Read More »
Here at Pension Life, we are constantly trying to raise awareness about pension scams. The Financial Conduct Authority – FCA – has also been busy. Pairing up with the Pensions Regulator – tPR – they have published the ScamSmart campaign with the slogan – Be ScamSmart with your pension. With the ScamSmart campaign, they have also
FCA launches new ScamSmart campaign Read More »
Katar Investments say they give UK and overseas investment advice in a simple way. However, the types of investment opportunities they are offering are, unfortunately, once again, making my red beacon flash. So, with Déjà vu, let me tell you why. Please make sure you are comfy, this might take a while! Firstly, I had
Katar Investment Weapons Read More »
This week, in my mission to disclose advisory firms´ claims to qualifications (or in fact the lack of them), I am looking into Square Mile International Financial Services – qualified and registered? What the Square Mile website page says: Despite referring to their Prague headquarters in a lovely paragraph: “Square Mile has a dedicated customer
Square Mile International Financial Services – qualified and registered? Read More »
In my weekly hunt for the next firm to feature in my ´qualified and registered?´ blog series, I came across an advisory company that caught my attention: The Imperius Group, run by a fella named Tim Blogg, who claims to have retrained 25 years ago to offer pension and investment advice to expats. Regular followers
Don´t put your trust in The Imperius Group Read More »
Victims of the unregulated property scheme Harlequin, may be disheartened to know that Alistair Burns has escaped with a reduced fine for his role as chief executive of TailorMade International. The FCA originally proposed Burns should face a fine of £233,600, along with a ban back in December 2016. However, the Upper Tribunal, whilst upholding the ban, has
TailorMade International – gets a tailor-made fine reduction Read More »
If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs, you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today I am investigating Robusto Asset Management – qualified and registered? IFAs and their clients are invited to add to it, correct it, improve it. Here’s a link to
Robusto Asset Management – qualified and registered? Read More »
STM Group has announced the following trading updates for the first half of this year. STM state that the first half of the year has progressed in line with management´s expectations. They refer to this with particular emphasis on their SIPPS program. For those readers who are unfamiliar with STM’s past investment scams, here is a
STM Group Plc – announces trading update Read More »
49-year-old Freddy David of Elstree, Borehamwood, of North London, faces six years in jail for conning millions of pounds out of people in his community through an investment scam. David, once a well-respected member of his community and former financial adviser, obtained money by deception to fund his gambling habit. Figures of his scam are
Jailed – adviser who gambled his investors´ money away Read More »
Utmost Wealth and Generali PanEurope are set to merge with the help of Life Company Consolidation Group (LCCG). The plan is to re-brand as Utmost PanEurope. I wonder if this merger will do its utmost to ensure they manage and mitigate their future victims´ – sorry clients´ – risks, and protect their investments – as they
Generali, an utter disgrace, merging with Utmost Wealth Read More »
Independent News has written an article entitled – No-deal Brexit will make it ‘illegal’ to pay pensions to retired British expats living in EU, MPs told. In my opinion its just a move to scaremonger expats – paving the way for more scammers. There are expats all over the world claiming their pensions. Why should
Scaremongering expats – paving the way for more scams Read More »
Pension Life campaigns for awareness of corrupt financial advisers and advisory firms operating without the correct licences. Outing theses advisers and firms, in the hope that the authorities will do something about the state of it all, is one way of bringing these scammers to justice and warning the public. A recent article in
TV licence enforcement versus unlicensed advisers Read More »
If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs, you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today, I am investigating Seagate Wealth Management Spain – qualified and registered? IFAs and their clients are invited to add to, correct and improve this blog. Here’s a
Seagate Wealth Management Spain – qualified and regulated? Read More »
Pension Life is working towards making offshore financial advisers more transparent. We have created a list of 10 essential questions for offshore advisers and their preferred answers. For too long precious pension funds been left in the hands of unqualified, unregistered advisers and unregulated financial advisory firms. Offshore advisers need to follow a strict set of
10 essential questions for offshore advisers Read More »
OMI IPO Profit Warning – urgent please read carefully. Old Mutual International (OMI) have entered into an IPO – initial public offering. This means they have become a public company rather than a private one. Frequent readers of Pension Life blogs will know that OMI have featured heavily in our recent blogs with regards to issues
OMI IPO Profit Warning Read More »
One of the hundreds of Continental Wealth Management victims stuck in a useless and expensive SEB Life International bond, and ruined by crippling investment losses, has made a detailed complaint to SEB. Some idiot from SEB called Orla Golden has replied – and the response is astonishing. Below are my answers to this ridiculous rebuttal.
SEB LIFE (OR DEATH) – WILL THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND BRING THEM TO JUSTICE? Read More »
If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today is Spectrum IFA Group – qualified and registered? IFAs and their clients are invited to add to it, correct it, improve it. Here’s a link
Spectrum IFA Group – qualified and registered? Read More »
Can Blacktower Spain fare any better than other companies we have looked into? How many of their advisers will come out qualified and registered? If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today is
Blacktower Spain – Qualified and Registered? Read More »
Most victims of pension and investment scams bitterly regret not having asked more questions with regards to their financial planning. The problem is that they wouldn’t have known what questions to ask, and they probably wouldn’t have understood the answers even if they had. Pension Life offer you 10 essential questions to ask an IFA so
10 essential questions to ask an IFA Read More »
John Rodges had a pension pot of £202,000. He was cold called by a salesman called Dean Stogsdill and persuaded to transfer his pension fund to a QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) with Continental Wealth Management (CWM pension scam using high-risk, professional-investor-only structured notes which Stogsdill referred to as “Blue Chip Notes”). With false
CWM Pension scam – A victim’s reconstruction Read More »
I have been working for Pension Life for five months. I help Angie Brooks with blogging, images and social media networking. When editing a blog the other day, a question struck me: how do we know if anyone who offers a service is qualified to do so? For example, be it the dentist, doctor or financial adviser. When we
Qualified or not qualified? That is the question. Read More »
