SIPP/QROPS Pension Reviews

We have independently reviewed from the UK:

54 SIPP providers,
18 QROPS providers,
13 QNUP providers

We have based our recommendation on:
1. Cost
2. Service standards
3. Flexibility
4. Access to funds
5. Feedback

We have:

SIPP
QNUP
SIPP, QNUP & QROPS



SIPP

Transact SIPP
Provided by: Transact
Trustee: Based in UK
Regulated in: UK
Service Rating: Medium
Costs: Low, Typical 0.325%
Other: Pure WRAP which can hold any regulated investment. Largest WRAP in UK.
Comment: Ideal for expats in most places. Initial purchase in sterling, but then can hold other currencies. Well established.

Ascentric APP
Provided by: Royal London
Trustee: Based in UK
Regulated in: UK
Service Rating: High
Costs: Low, Typical 0.25%
Other: Cannot hold property and only holds sterling currently.
Comment: Excellent service and investment flexibility but restricted user availability. Well established low cost SIPP.

AJ Bell SIPP
Provided by: AJ Bell
Trustee: Based in UK
Regulated in: UK
Service Rating: High
Costs: Tiered, Typical 0.2% plus trading costs
Other: Multi-currency and trading in US / UK but cannot hold property.
Comment: Excellent service and investment flexibility but restricted user availability. Well established, but must hold a UK bank account.



QROPS – Malta

Melita QROPS
Provided by: TMF
Trustee: Based in Malta
Regulated in: Malta
Service Rating: High
Costs: High, €2,500 to £750,000 €3,000 from £750,000 to £1mil Larger, but negotiation
Other: Open architecture so very flexible. Only allows regulated funds.
Comment: Aimed at the discerning top end of the market, looking for a full service.

Sovereign QROPS
Provided by: Sovereign
Trustee: Based in Malta
Regulated in: Malta
Service Rating: Medium
Costs: High, Typical €800 but bond costs on top
Other: Sovereign founders based overseas and understand the expat market.
Comment: Mass market provider. Lite versions and free transfers between Malta and Gibraltar.



QROPS – Gibraltar, Isle of Man

Sovereign QROPS
Provided by: Sovereign
Trustee: Based in Gibraltar
Regulated in: Gibraltar
Service Rating: Medium
Costs: High, Typical €850 but bond costs on top
Other: Sovereign founders based overseas and understand the expat market.
Comment: Mass market provider. Lite versions and free transfers between Malta and Gibraltar.



Our review methodology

QROPS and Offshore SIPP reviews are conducted by G60/AF3 regulated pension advisers from the UK, and we review nearly all schemes that are available whether that be in the UK, the USA, Malta, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, New Zealand. We can also review schemes in other countries when requested although we make a charge for doing so. This review examines the various locations and does a SIPP QROPS comparison listing the best Trustees.

We examine QROP Schemes and SIPP pensions alongside the latest legislation (especially since the new pension freedoms available since April 2015) and likely forthcoming legislation and key legal matters. We do this in a transparent way and our experts here at pensions for expats, publish our findings regularly.

As international advisers who originate from the UK, we are experts in pensions and expatriate money matters. How can we claim this? We are qualified to the UK G60/AF3 level, we are currently regulated in the UK with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), we are able to provide pension transfer advice on defined benefit schemes post 28 July 2014, and we are multiple award winners. We have articles published about offshore pensions in multiple magazines, and we are open about who we are.

It’s difficult to find a website out there, that talks about QROPS, QROPSreviews (qrops reviews), QROPSchoices (qrops choices), QROPSexpert (Qrops expert), QROPSpensionexperts (qrops pension experts) that openly says who they are. There is a reason they all hide away, because they all advise on the same rubbish commission driven bond products, dressed up as good financial advice and “avoiding 55% tax”.

We will tell you the truth, be open about benefits, but also cautious about whether QROPS and SIPPs are the best option for you. Our QROPS ratings review page and SIPP ratings review page have been combined into one page recently (QROPS/SIPP ratings) but they are still backed up by our governance document in the UK which is reviewed at least annually, giving you real qrops choice.

So our list of SIPP reviews and qrops choices are a perfect starting point for expats, who want UK pension experts who deal in the offshore QROPS retirement market, and who put their clients first, and the QROPS provider second when making a decision about the best QROPS choice or SIPP rating. We are regulated to give advice in the UK/EEA by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), by the FSB in South Africa and to give advice in the USA by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) but this example is for outside both of those territories. Contact us for advice by one of our regulated and authorised advisers for those countries.


  • ESTABLISHED 1998
    Best Practice 2016 Award
    AWARD WINNING TEAM

    Our Chartered Financial Planning team have been nominated 15 times for awards. For more information contact us.

    2016 ii awards

    Clive Tutton receiving the International Investment Winner – Best Best-Practice in Offshore Award 2016.


    mm-awards-cutting

    Aegon head of sales development,
    Mark Hayhoe, James Pearcy-Caldwell and Charles Kennedy MP.

    ADVISERS WITH
    100 YEARS
    COMBINED EXPERIENCE