QROPS interest remains strong

QROPS

Recent studies in the financial industry have shown that the majority of advisers forecast continued activity in the QROPS market as knowledge of the pension transfer also increases.

Around 330 advisers took part in the research, and most of them, 68 percent, thought that more QROPS contracts will be created over the next year, 28 percent believe they will create no more than before and just 4 percent believed there will be less QROPS.

Interest in QROPS pension transfers are growing in popularity as the UK government continues to maintain a difficult tax regime which limits the earning potential of its citizens.

Experts in the financial sector have stated that the amount of people opting to transfer their UK pensions into a QROPS (Qualified Overseas Pensions Schemes) is on track to increase for the second consecutive year.

One adviser who took part in the survey said: “As knowledge and awareness improves around the benefits and potential suitability of QROPS it does not surprise me that advisers are predicting a further surge in the use of the schemes in the coming year. QROPS have become an integral part of the international advisers' advice process and therefore the popularity among overseas clients with UK pensions schemes will, in my view, continue to grow not just now but beyond the next 12 months as well.”

QROPS pensions transfers offer an excellent opportunity for UK citizens to preserve wealth and make the most of their UK pensions, providing that they are leaving, or have left, the United Kingdom. A QROPS allows anyone who has a UK pension holders to transfer their existing pension into a recognised and approved offshore jurisdiction, and subsequently create new benefits including the potential to legitimately avoid UK taxes.