UK PENSIONS - Securing Your Future Retirement

Get to know our Guest Speakers…

1. Will Headly – Head of IFA Sales – Sovereign Management Services Singapore

Will started his career working for a major UK retailer in their Corporate Finance Team where he was part-qualified as a Management Accountant. He then moved to Sovereign where he has worked for Sovereign for 5 years. Sovereign’s Retirement Planning business provides retirement solutions that offer choice, transparency and portability across multiple jurisdictions. Will heads up distribution of Sovereign’s retirement products in the region; ranging from UK SIPPs, QROPS, QNUPS, International retirement plan and Corporate pensions.

Topic: UK Pensions: current and future challenges

The UK pension market has undergone relentless change over the last 5 years: from Pension Freedoms to Company schemes going bust. Pension transfer’s and consolidation’s have been popular in the UK as more options become available for people. Today we will discuss the general state of the UK pension environment and questions people should be asking about their retirement planning.

2. Eric Mellor – Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Management (Asia)

Eric began his career in financial services 16 years ago following ten years of service in the British Royal Navy and has worked in several different functions in insurance, banking and asset management. His international career has included positions in the UK, Jersey, Hong Kong and Singapore, where he has now lived for ten years. Eric first moved to Asia as an investment manager with HSBC International and later worked for HSBC Global Asset Management before joining a local Singapore brokerage as their Head of Investment. Eric holds a First Class Degree in Financial Services as well as numerous relevant industry qualification in Jersey, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Topic: ‘Avoiding the pitfalls of pension investment’

The global financial crisis of 2008 saw one of the worst wealth shocks since the Great Depression. In addition to wiping billions from the retirement plans of active investors, the crisis also led to reductions in future contributions and falling incomes form those already in retirement. How can you minimise the risks to ensure that your own retirement is not put at risk in the future?

This short presentation will focus on:

• The benefits of diversification and asset allocation on long term investment returns

• The use of active discretionary management to respond to changing market conditions

• The impact of charges on long term performance

• Managing downside risk during uncertain economic conditions