Pension Specialist Service

Pension Specialist Service

Aimed at the UK market

Here at Silvinvest, we have partnered with Experienced, Regulated Pension Specialists to offer our client's a Pension Review.

There is no obligation on your behalf to act on any recommendations, but in these times of fewer highly qualified Financial Advisers working in the the Pension market, it may be worth assessing where your retirement planning is at and where it is heading.  Access to a Pension Specialist is predominantly a web based service that allows us to refer you for pension advice. The pension specialist will gather all the information from your existing pension provider(s) before analysing and posting a Pension Information Report for you to consider. Similarly a Pensions Advice Report is issued by post to you. 

This is an offer for advice on all aspects of Pensions including: Investment Advice, Fund Suitability, Performance Backed Research, SIPP Suitability, SIPP Transfers, Personal Pension Advice, Pre Retirement Personal Pension Transfer Advice, Occupational Transfer Advice and S32 Transfers. At Retirement Advice (55 or Over), Accessing Tax-Free Cash, Drawdown, Annuity Purchase and Phased Retirement.

Can you choose the Product Provider?

Our pension specialists colleagues will advise on a product provider as part of their advice process, taking into account your circumstances and recommending the most suitable product(s) for you. All our partner firms are directly regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) and are authorised to advise on pension transfers. Their way of doing business is simple – they deliver on their promises.

Send us an enquiry email and lets start the process. If you would like further information or to check authorisation details we can offer you a link which will take you to the Financial Services Authority’s register.

At Silvinvest Ltd our mission is to make the Company a well regarded marketing and investment hub for direct retail forestry investing and selected other alternative investments. Focusing on clarity and information, we aim to engage our client's through our interactive web portal.

Silvinvest is not regulated by the Financial Services Authority and does not offer any suitability advice regarding any regulated or unregulated investments, either within this website or elsewhere. Please seek a professional opinion from your Independent Financial Adviser prior to making any decision to buy our products. Products marketed are not regulated investments for the purpose of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act (2000) and as such buyers have no access to statutory or regulatory protections such as the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

This is not in any way an offer to participate in a collective investment scheme (CIS) as defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (section 235). The value of any marketed products may rise or fall and no guarantees of future performance in respect of income or capital growth are given either expressly or by implication, and you may not get back the full amount you pay for them.

Creating Income from Australian Renewable Energy Sources

Thanks to the unique weather conditions in Queensland Australia, the country is seeing the development of an exciting new form of Green Oil derived from the Millettia trees that are native to the region.

These trees are providing clean, renewable energy solutions for the area and the opportunity for income development for investors from all over the world.

Green Oil

Green Oil is a form of sustainable energy that has actually been used throughout the world for centuries for a variety of purposes including home heating and power generation. It can be derived directly from the Millettia tree itself and, though alternative sources can include waste, biomass and other types of plant life, the Millettia tree provides a pure and concentrated product that is ideal for the creation of clean environmentally friendly energy.

The long, strong roots from this species mean that it can access water and nutrients that other plants simply cannot reach, making it thrive in the hot, humid climate of Queensland and creating a fantastic opportunity for investment in sustainable energy solutions for all.

The Growth in Sustainable Energy Sources

As the population expands, the world is using more energy than ever before and some forecast that most of our stock source of fossil fuels could be depleted within the space of the next 40-80 years. This has led to deep investigation into a wide range of possible fuel production techniques which are friendlier to the environment today; sustainable for the future and provide viable alternatives for the worlds energy requirements.

Developments in the Australian Market

In Australia alone they are finding new and innovative ways to produce the energy required to fulfil the growing demand. From wind and solar energy through to marine and bio-energy resources, the country is identifying new and innovative ways to meet this energy crisis. However, none of these solutions are anywhere near as advanced as the progression they have already made in Green Oil production.

With over 30 years experience, the plantations in Australia have the opportunity to tap into a wealth of, as yet, untouched resources in this vast region and start to meet the rising demands of alternative energy. The Australian government have set a target to make 20% of all energy consumption in the country originate from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. From a current platform of 5%, this is going to mean massive growth within the industry and the potential for significant returns for all those that choose to invest.

Rates of Return

Currently, investments in the Millettia plantations in Queensland are offering an annual fixed rate of return over either a five or eight year investment term at which point in time the initial amount invested is returned. The forecast Return on Investment (ROI) for the 5 yr Investment is a fantastic 80% with the 8 yr investment forecast to provide a 109% ROI. Investments can be made directly or via a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). The product provides the opportunity for consistent growth via a reliable source of income. Take advantage of the opportunity to get in at the growth stage within a product taking a new direction in the production of clean renewable energy in the future.

For further information please contact Silvinvest. You can book a telephone enquiry session using our appointment booking widget located top right.

The Benefits of Choosing Argentina for Farmland Investment

Using farmland as a form of investment is becoming increasingly popular. Not only does such a step move away from the traditional investments that can be so severely impacted by changes in the stock market, but with the global population rising, the demand for food is only set to grow.

Why Argentina?

Though many areas of the world already enjoy significant investment in their farming industry, Argentina still has the capacity for further exploitation of the potential that this type of financial opportunity can provide. In fact, of the 60,000 hectares that are owned by the International Food and Water Energy Group in Argentina, only 28,000 are currently productive whilst further funds are raised. This provides an outstanding opportunity for individuals who wish to place their funds in such an investment to participate in a financial prospect that is set to soar over coming years.

The Potential for Growth

As the climate in Argentina is so suitable for effective farming, the country actually enjoys two harvests per year, making the investment opportunity here far greater in a shorter space of time that in some other less ideal countries. In addition, the rising demand for the products that are gown means that a high proportion of the crops are actually pre-sold before they are even planted, offering an underlying confidence in return that other sectors simply cannot provide. And though the international farm development plan has yet to achieve its full potential within Argentina, the agricultural sector in this South American country is well established with areas of expertise that will ensure future investment in the land is maximised.

Return on Investment

Since such a vehicle was introduced in 2007 over $10m has been paid to investors. For a five year investment plan, this equates to yearly payments between 9% and 12% with a final payment of 15% on the return of the initial sum, creating an ROI in just 5 years of 66%. Furthermore, longer 10 year investors have enjoyed ROI of up to 160% on their capital from annual returns of up to 15% and a final 40% payment when the FWE buy the land back. As all investment is carried out in tangible assets, each investor also holds the title of the land into which they have placed their funds for the duration of the opportunity. This provides a more solid, physical assets and further confidence in the security of the investment as a whole.

Flexible Investment Opportunities

With a minimum investment threshold of just £12,000 farmland in Argentina is the ideal opportunity for both medium and long term investment portfolios. It can be used as part of a much wider balance sheet of investments to spread overall risk or could be the ideal single opportunity for someone wishing to grow their nest egg for their own or their family's future. Farmland Investment opportunities can also be included in both SIPP and SASS pension funds creating an effective and environmentally friendly way of maximising a pension portfolio in anticipation of retirement.

We Offer this exclusive Investment to our client's via www.silvinvest.co.uk

The True Value of Eucalyptus

The True Value of Eucalyptus

Traditionally used in the charcoal and pulp paper industry, the new developments in the use of Eucalyptus biomass to create a cleaner fuel source have led to the creation of a whole new interest in an outstanding species.

Focusing on high rain fall areas such as the Amazon and Brazil, the use of Eucalyptus to create a sustainable energy source has brought to light the benefit of Eucalyptus both for the environment and the economy as a whole.

Thanks to its rapid growing nature, Eucalyptus is the perfect material to create a biomass product that is more effective and more efficient than fossil alternatives.

Not only does it occur organically in many parts of the globe and act as a natural windbreak, but Eucalyptus also has the ability to grow on areas that have been previously deforested. This enables the reintroduction of green into areas that have been left baron and also protects vital areas of forest from further farming where Eucalyptus can be more efficiently and more effectively produced.

As a result, the Eucalyptus growing industry are now working closely with the indigenous people and local governments in certain landscapes to identify areas of land that the natives are willing to donate to Eucalyptus plantations in order to exploit the benefits that such production brings to the area and protect their remaining forests from further destruction.

As Eucalyptus is also able to absorb a higher level of carbon than many of its counterparts, development of new plantations also works as a natural limiter of Green House Gasses and can have a positive impact on the global footprint, meaning the entire process is kinder to the environment now and in the future.

This rapid growing species is already the most common form of pulp lumber developed in specified regions for the use in biomass energy production and its popularity is set to explode.

As well as having a strong crop density, Eucalyptus has also been found to excel using recently developed agro-forestry techniques and can produce up to 100m3 of Eucalyptus wood per hectare of land, maximising potential investment opportunities.

The ability to use the same area for regrowth again and again keeps the overall investment cost low and ensures that the rate of return is optimised for all those that are keen to invest.

In Brazil alone, growth of the Eucalyptus export industry has risen from $1 billion in the nineties to $3.5 billion in 2005 and continues to climb, attracting the attention of potential investors from across the world. The species has been identified as the hardwood tree with the most potential to create the level of biomass required to fulfil the demands of an every growing industry and interest in its possibilities continues to grow.

Current predictions suggest that the return on investment for Eucalyptus is now in excess of 20%, an excellent rate of return for private investment or pension fund growth over a medium term.

Such a high yielding crop provides environmentally and financially sound reasons for use within the bio fuel industry and creates a greater value to Eucalyptus than ever previously considered possible.

www.silvinvest.co.uk/investments

A Simple Guide to UK SIPP's

A Simple Guide to UK SIPP's

This is a brief summary of the main rules of Self Invested Personal Pension and therefore will not cover every nuance or seek to apply to each individual. The information contained does not constitute advice and any questions arising should be discussed with a suitably qualified Financial Adviser. The thresholds and allowances are based on information and rules presently in force (Sept 2012).

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP's) are, as stated, a form of Personal Pension available to UK residents. Generally, a SIPP is used by people who are comfortable making their own investment decisions. Unlike a conventional Personal Pension it allows you to invest in a wide range of different investments, including funds, shares, cash, alternatives and certain types of property.

Benefits can be accessed from age 55 and a tax free lump sum of 25% of the pensions value is available with the rest providing a taxable income. Benefits from a pension must be taken at age 75.

In most cases, annual contributions can match annual earned income. A £50,000 annual limit (2012/13) and a £1.5 million lifetime allowance also apply. On occasion, these limits can be affected by other factors. Carry forward (unused annual allowance from previous years) can ibe used to contribute more than the £50,000 annual allowance. Each new contribution made will apply   to the annual allowance within the tax year it is made (6th Apr - 5th Apr).

Tax relief is available to every eligible person. 20% of contributions are paid by the Government as basic tax relief. Higher rate taxpayers can claim a further 20%back directly via their local tax office and additional rate taxpayers can claim up to 30% (based on 2012-13 guidelines).

Non-earners or those earning less than £3,600 a year can contribute up to £3,600 gross per year (£2,880 net) each tax year and receive tax relief at 20%.

The potential advantages to having a SIPP arrangement can be :

Control: The greater control and flexibility to change contributions and investment direction

Choice: Diversify into your choice of investment and at levels you require.

Admin: All of your pension funds and investments can be held within one place.

Transferring existing pension plans into a SIPP is available. Many people have preserved pensions that have value with numerous providers. This can be from previous Employer Schemes, Final Salary Schemes, Stakeholder Pensions and SERPS. Many people think that the transfer process from personal pensions into a SIPP can be a nightmare but in effect it can be easy. That is not to say it is the right thing to do but if it is then the process is efficient.

Should you decide to transfer pensions, ensure that you understand how the transfer will be made. The vast majority of cases will transfer into the SIPP as Cash. Whilst you are deciding where the cash should be invested you will be outside of an investment and therefore not receiving returns. If seeking investment, remember that you can choose to invest across different investments and not just a single fund. This allows for diversification.

www.silvinvest.co.uk

Investing in Melina Timber. Forestry Investments for UK investors.

When you choose to place your money in any type of timber investment, you know that the rewards you receive from the growth of such a fund are going to be solid and stable and free from the influences on general stock and shares, which has enabled timber investments to provide higher returns than a number of traditional market funds over so many years.

And at the same time that you watch your money grow, you also know that the investment you make directly contributes to cleaner air and a greener environment for the entire planet to enjoy.

When it comes to Melina timber, you are investing in one of the fastest growing species of forest-based hardwood tree in existence which has enjoyed average rises in sales value of 17.83% in the past six years. Melina Trees are best grown in Tropical areas, with Costa Rica a major centre for cultivating this species.

Widely used in both furniture production and construction, Melina can reach up to 95 feet tall during its 12 year life cycle and has out performed a significant proportion of standard stocks over the last century including some of the most fundamental of commodities such as oil, gas and gold.

As part of an established but expanding market, demand for hardwood timbers such as Melina is only set to increase as the population continues to expand, creating a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of strong and stable investments in a sustainable and environmentally friendly resource.

And your investment couldn't be more personal than if you were growing the trees yourself. When you start to invest in a Melina fund all contributions you make are used to directly purchase Melina trees which are then grown on your behalf to create a sustainable long term investment opportunity that is ideal for pensions, savings plans or even family trust funds which can make financial planning for the future so much easier and more secure.

The income generated from all trees sold is reinvested over the period of your plan so that by the time the final harvest starts to take place, you may have thousands of mature plants ready to provide you with a stable and substantial income which can be used to repay your mortgage, create wealth for your retirement or even to support younger generations as they start off in the world.

With a twelve year growth cycle before the Melina tree reaches maturity, there is no short term win with this type of investment but as the trees are thinned every four years to make room for the stronger specimens to flourish, you may find your first payments are available a lot sooner than you may have initially thought.

And as your fund and your trees reach maturity, a Melina investment can enable you to enjoy regular and reliable income generated from an investment that offers stable and steady growth for you and you family while you are safe in the knowledge that you have invested in a product that is completely sustainable and renewable; this means that a method of plantation management is used that ensures profitability for investors, while preserving the environment.

www.silvinvest.co.uk/investing

How Long-Term Investments Can Benefit You

http://www.silvinvest.co.uk/articles

In uncertain times, with markets usually volatile, it is tempting to make long-term investments and hope to ride out any economic storms.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of investment terms so what are the specific benefits of Long-Term investments.

The most obvious benefit of long-term investing is compounding. This is the effect of dividends or interest being reinvested to achieve sustained Capital Growth.

If investing on a regular basis, this equates to cost averaging. This means that you may purchase shares or units monthly, for example, the cost of the units will differ short-term but as long as the overall investment increases long-term then any troughs or peaks are smoothed.

What about a lump sum long-term investment?

In this instance you are hoping that the investment increases over the long run to achieve capital growth or any income derived will outweigh capital depreciation. However, what if the investment actually grew over the long term, GUARANTEED.

If you think about it how many investments can you think of that physically grow and offers huge demand and markets.

For a long-term and stable investment, you couldn’t do much better than an investment in Timber. While many investments have been very difficult to predict returns, timber remains a solid investment opportunity for the savvy investor. The return on investment figures for the last forty years shows timber comes out as a top performer when measured against many other asset classes.

So how does a forestry investment work?

Usually, an investor will commit a lump sum. This will purchase saplings, fund the land lease, pay commissions and forester/management fees. The saplings are planted and they start to grow. Initially, the saplings are worth very little but as time passes the young trees start to gain in value due to growth. Weaker trees will be harvested and sold to allow the stronger trees to become more established. Usually, this first harvest will happen within the first five years. The income the harvested trees return will be passed to the investor as an income payment. The remaining trees continue to grow and all the time they increase in value. Further harvests will take place until the investor is left with high value, strong mature trees.

Please allow me to take you through a scenario. For example, an investor initially purchased 600 saplings. After year 4, 300 trees are harvested (assuming a return of £5000 in income). After year 8 a further 105 trees are harvested (assuming a return of £15,000 in income). After year 10 a further 68 trees are harvested (assuming a return of £20,000 in income). To this point it is assumed £40,000 has been returned in income.

For argument sake, lets me make the calculated assumption that a mature Melina tree (Gmelina Arborea) is currently worth £250 each and over a 12 year cycle the price increased by 5% per annum compounded, a mature Melina tree would be worth £453 approximately.

Therefore, 127 trees would remain after 12 years and harvested. Assumed returns would be 127 X £453 = £57,531. On this basis the overall return would be £97,531 for an initial investment of… £18,000.

Now what if I was to inform you Gmelina Trees in Costa Rica have risen in value 2005-11 on average 17.83% per annum.

As a long-term investment option, various bodies predict strong growth for the timber industry and for the foreseeable future. In the UK alone we use 50% more natural resources per person than what nature can replenish. When you weigh-up the long-term nature of timber an investment today is an interesting option to help secure your financial future.

Alternatively, if you are looking for UK Pension investment or a home for an existing pension, forestry may just provide the returns you need to start in building your financial security for the later years in your life.

Whatever way you look at it, investment in timber is a solid financial choice.

Always seek advice from a qualified professional before committing to an investment.

http://www.silvinvest.co.uk/articles

Dear Prospective Investor

Dear Prospective Investor

Similar to many, you know that you need to be investing for your future and the future of your loved ones. With so many different investment options available all over the world, it can be hard to choose an investment product that is right for you.

Also, with all of the current upheaval in the markets and economies in various countries globally, picking an investment or market where you can feel assured of a future return can be a scary and difficult prospect. To compound the problem further, rates offered on savings accounts is less than inflation.

With all of these obstacles to safe investment, personal ideals such as environmental responsibility may have taken a “back-seat” when choosing between investment options, as most of the “big names” in Fund Management normally overlook the “eco-friendliness” of a particular market when creating their investment products.

It can be difficult to know if your investment with some of these big name investment firms is helping or hurting your investment plans.

However there are options to picking a sound investment that you can rest assured is also beneficial to the environment;

It’s easy to learn.

An asset class that is the third largest traded commodity world-wide.

An asset class that has actually risen in 3 of the last 4 economic downturns.

Has grown over 25% in recent years.

Sustainable and fair to the environment for current and future generations.

So What Is It? – Timber!

When considering investment options, many do not realize that there are eco-friendly, sustainable options for investing in timber that can actually help to improve the environment!

Silvinvest highlights several investment opportunities that are not only “Green” but offer superb potential returns. We explain how to invest using Cash or an existing UK Personal Pension. We also offer ideas and ways to provide investment returns to support your heirs’ long term financial future.

All of the marketed Forestry Plantations covered by Silvinvest are sustainable; this means that a method of plantation management is used that ensures profitability for investors, while preserving the environment. The importance of investing in sustainable timber cannot be underestimated. Legislation is being enacted by various governing bodies to stop the illegal harvest and logging that are devastating so many of the world’s old growth forests.

By investing in Timber, you are doing your little bit to help preserve the one resource that is responsible for the following;

1.6 billion people worldwide who depend directly on forests.

The majority of the world’s oxygen.

70% of the world’s cancer fighting drugs.

Up to 30% of land surface.

Ecosystems that are totally dependent on the world’s forests for survival.

The forests that you the investor help to create and the forests you help protect will take in vast quantities of carbon dioxide through the process of sequestration. This in turn will be converted into clean, breathable air, helping to reduce the CO2 within our atmosphere.

At Silvinvest, we are marketing certain investment plantations that can provide:

Transparency

Sustainability

Legitimacy

Potential

Rewards

Silvinvest also provides a helpful service where you can view brochures from responsible timber plantations. Access to the potential returns calculator so that any investor can quickly “crunch the numbers” associated with this investment class and easily see the potential value of investing in timber.

For example, estimates indicate that an investment of £18,000 in Costa Rican Melina Trees can be worth £104,189 at the end of a 12 year investment cycle.

Timber is a renewable resource that has been successfully traded for hundreds of years by many wise investors who have discovered the little-known fact that timber investments have generally outperformed stocks, bonds, and commodities over the long term.

This investment has remained remarkable immune to disruptions in the markets, or even political turmoil or terrorist attacks. The phenomenal growth of this industry when combined with various tax advantages, if held within a pension, that come from investing in commercial timber make this investment one that you cannot afford to at least educate yourself about before you make any decisions.

Since it is free to sign up for the newsletter and register to view brochures, downloads, investment calculators and more. Doesn’t it make sense to take a few moments of your time and learn more about the product?

Make a Change and Take Action Today.www.silvinvest.co.uk/articles

Self Invested Personal Pensions are a popular choice for Retirement Planning

Self Invested Personal Pensions are a popular choice for Retirement Planning

Self invested personal pensions (Sipp’s), were introduced in 1999 to the UK. Basically, it is a Tax Wrapper in the same way as any other personal pension. Tax Relief is applied to contributions and is granted at your highest rate of taxation. If you are a basic rate taxpayer you will receive 20 per cent tax relief. An £80 contribution will be grossed up to £100 invested. Also, lifetime contribution allowances are the same as a standard Personal Pensions. However, the main difference is the owner of the SIPP can make their own decisions as to where the money is invested (within certain guidelines).

At present, there are over 600,000 SIPPS in use in the UK. Anyone can have one (even Children receive Tax Relief). A SIPP offers flexibility, transparency (you know where your money is invested) and access to direct/alternative investments unavailable to a standard personal pension (and therefore not likely to be invested in the same old, under performing funds).

The shocking statistic is that 77% of Britons are retiring with their pensions providing an income of £2,000 per year or less! Making the most of your existing or preserved pensions has therefore never been so important.

So Why Self Invested Personal Pensions?

There are MILLIONS of Preserved, Frozen or Under Performing Personal Pensions in the UK. Within a SIPP, it may be possible to give the pension an opportunity to be more active, tailored to choice in the pursuit of investment returns. You can take control of your investments.

SIPP’s can also be a fantastic option pre-retirement as this type of arrangement can add flexibility as to how income is received in retirement. Though the maximum tax free lump sum is still 25%, the remaining funds can be reinvested to suit requirements. Whereas, with a standard personal pension, any residual fund (after taking the tax free cash) would have to purchase an annuity at a set rate for the rest of your retirement. The Sipp would allow benefits to be taken at age 55 and would offer a pension draw-down facility where the retiree can withdraw income at a level they choose, again subject to allowable levels.

Another major consideration for considering a SIPP is to provide a legacy. With a standard personal pension, in retirement should you die it is likely that your children would not receive any of your pension and your spouse may receive a a percentage of your pension if any at all. With a SIPP the remaining pension funds are paid to your beneficiaries, though subject to taxation. Who would you prefer to benefit, an Insurance Company or your family?

The investments Silvinvest highlight, are not only available for Pension Transfers but also direct cash investment. However, Preserved Pensions are not new money. Preserved Pensions have already accumulated funds and have a value.

Types of Preserved Pensions

Previous Employer Pension Scheme

Previous Personal Pension Scheme

Existing Personal Pension Scheme

SERPS (Contracted Out Personal Pensions/Protected Rights)

Are you considering using an existing pension to invest?

Establish what you have and what you are likely to receive, via a full pension report.

Here at Silvinvest we can put you in touch with Regulated IFA’s who can advise you on your options.

Don’t depend on the State to provide you with a pension safety net. Take control of your retirement planning.

The information contained in this article should not be construed as financial, tax, legal or any other professional advice or service. Please seek a professional opinion from your IFA prior to making any investment decision. The information in this article is for guidance only. While every effort has been made to offer current and accurate information, errors can occur.