The latest event in the autumn leg of Le Tour De Finance, which was held on the 21st November at the magnificent Domaine du Seudre – 17240, was yet again a successful day with a broad range of subjects discussed by the international panel of financial experts.
Attendees, who were a mixture of existing clients of The Spectrum IFA Group and those wanting to hear more about the services and financial solutions available, had travelled both locally and from other regions nearby.
Brief introductory presentations were given by representatives from The Spectrum IFA Group, Prudential International, Tilney Asset Management and Currencies Direct. Discussion and an extensive Question and Answer segment then covered subjects including the recently introduced tax changes to Assurance Vie (the most tax efficient savings and investment vehicle available in France), the suitability of transferring UK pensions to HMRC recognised EU schemes, investment market performance and outlook, wills and estate planning and sterling to euro exchange rate direction (and the facilities available to help mitigate against exchange rate volatility).
Unsurprisingly, the ‘B’ word featured widely and although many answers are yet to be determined, attendees were left reassured that The Spectrum IFA Group and its partners were well informed on both the technical detail of Brexit and the practical implications for anyone living or working in France or indeed those thinking about making a permanent move to France.
Portability of financial products, such as Assurance Vie, for an expatriate returning to the UK, was another area of interest in the question and answer session and guests were provided with example scenarios regarding the flexibility that such investments offer.
The key message that came out of this event was the importance and benefit, even for the financially experienced, of seeking professional, independent advice. The audience was reminded, in these uncertain times, that it is critical to ensure that all aspects of our personal finances are properly structured, for both legitimacy within the French fiscal system and for maximum tax efficiency ahead of any potential changes in the months and years ahead.
Questions and discussions continued during an informal lunch, during which guests and speakers alike found no shortage of topical subjects for conversation. The day was wrapped up with our special guest speaker, Rusty Firmin, former SAS Special Forces training instructor and team leader at the 1980 Iranian embassy siege. Rusty spoke to our guests after lunch with a compelling first hand account of his experiences.
Feedback from the event has been very positive. One guest commented “I enjoyed the day thoroughly and found it both thought provoking and educational. The opportunity of being able to engage directly with the representative of those international companies was a valuable bonus.”
We are planning to hold further seminars in 2020 and will provide details on the Le Tour de Finance website. See www.ltdf.eu for further information.