As 2018 draws to a close, a recap is in order to review the year’s progress in the war against pension scammers. Let us not forget – in the immortal words of the Pensions Regulator’s Lesley Titcombe: “scammers are criminals“. However, the sad truth is that most of them have not been prosecuted or jailed. […]
Scammers are criminals. So why aren’t they in jail? Read More »
Premier New Earth Recycling and Renewables PLC (in liquidation) is being wound up by Deloittes. Joint liquidators Alexander Cameron Adam and David Peter Craine have written to shareholders to say the directors of NERR aren’t being terribly helpful. Apparently, they are refusing to cooperate with the investigation into why the company failed and are insisting
Premier New Earth Recycling (NERR) Investment Scam Read More »
Berkeley Burke SIPPS – A SLIP OF THE TICK WITH THE SIPPS We talk about the so-called “independent advisers” who sell scams to unwitting victims; we talk about the firms, introducers, cold-callers, lead generators, closers, couriers and transfer administrators. Many of the Pension Life blogs mention good old Stephen Ward – one of the leading
Berkeley Burke SLIP with their SIPPS Read More »
This could possibly be described as wonderful news for the victims of Viceroy Jones New Tech Ltd, Viceroy Jones Overseas PCC Limited, Westcountrytruffles Limited, Truffle Sales Ltd and Credit Free Limited. Or maybe not. The whereabouts of the funds is unknown. This pension liberation and investment scam saw 100 investors conned out of £9m of
High Court finally winds up the truffle saga pension scam Read More »
DWF’s clever PR chaps have come up with some impressive words to sell this law firm’s services: “We connect expert services with innovative thinkers across diverse sectors wherever our clients do business.” They even reach as far as the Spanish village of Moraira where Stephen Ward plies his evil trade. DWF is clearly a big firm
DWF Solicitors and their client Stephen Ward Read More »
TPR launches first fraud prosecution I am not often left speechless, but in this case all I can say is: WOW! The Pensions Regulator announced on 11th December 2018 that it is to launch its first fraud case – against Roger Bessent of Gleeson Bessent Trustees in the matter of the Focusplay Retirement Benefit Scheme.
Pensions Regulator – Light Speed with Gleeson Bessent Trustees Read More »
A victim of the Capita Oak pension scam has had his Pensions Ombudsman’s complaint upheld in part ONLY. His ceding trustee, JLT Benefits Solutions Limited (JLT), has been ordered to pay compensation but has not been held responsible for his loss. When my children were young, I always tried to treat them all equally. They
Ombudsman upholds Capita Oak transfer complaint – sort of Read More »
Gerard Associates – an FCA-regulated firm – makes the case for regulating the “profession” of scamming. One of Gerard Associates’ victims, a Police officer, complained to the Financial Ombudsman. He had been scammed out of his Police pension and into the London Quantum pension scam by Gary Barlow of Gerard Associates and Stephen Ward of
GERARD ASSOCIATES – FCA-REGULATED SCAMMING 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 »
This blog was writtern almost nine years ago by: Carl Melvin BA (Hons), MSc, CFP, FPFS, Chartered FCSI Certified & Chartered Financial Planner, Affiliate of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners, Chartered Wealth Manager. Somethings don’t change! A new model challenge to the offshore sharks The arrival of wraps allows fee-based financial planners in
Guest Blog: A new model challenge to the offshore sharks 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 »
Long-term savings plans by Friends Provident, Generali, Zurich, Hansard and RL360. These have been around for years and are typically mis-sold by seedy, unregulated advisory firms. Why don’t we come up with an alternative? THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS PIG! Roughly speaking, the con artists at Friends Provident, Generali, Zurich, Hansard and RL360 structure these products so that
Long-Term Savings Pig Read More »
