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.

Tree Farms Are Becoming a Popular Investment.

Tree Farms Are Becoming a Popular Investment.

An area that is planted with trees for the purpose of producing timber is known as a tree farm. Tree farms are usually owned on a private basis and can refer not only to forests but to plantations and tree nurseries too. Both plantations and tree nurseries refer to places where trees are grown, for sale to commercial endeavours or retail markets.

Tree farms start with the planting of saplings, which are leaves that are either harvested or have been naturally dropped from trees. The investors then wait for these saplings to grow into trees. 

When the trees mature, they are harvested for wood and also for more saplings, which are then used to replace the trees that have been cut down, to grow a new generation of trees. This

process of regeneration can be repeated indefinitely so that a constant supply of trees is produced without the need for adding more land to the tree farm. This, in turn, serves to protect the environment as the area surrounding a tree farm can be conserved and maintained for its original purposes.

Those who invest in tree farms have the choice of the size and type of trees they plant. Some investors prefer to plant larger trees as these trees yield more timber per sapling while most investors in tree farms prefer planting smaller trees as the amount of wood or trunk as compared to the amount of leaves is less, and all the wood can more easily be harvested from the ground.

There are many different types of trees that can be planted in tree farms and the type of tree that an investor plants depends on the needs of the investor and the type of return that is desired.

One of the more popular trees used in tree farms is the Eucalyptus tree . Eucalyptus has a high density and is used extensively for paper pulp and increasingly Biomass. The wood has a quick growth cycle and is perfectly suited to most tropical environments.

Bamboo is the wood of choice for many forestry related investors. One of the main advantages of using Bamboo for a sustainable source of energy is the rate at which it can grow. As the fastest developing land plant in the world, a bamboo stump can renew itself in just 50 days after harvest making it a far quicker source of material than alternatives such as tree stumps and branches.

Furthermore, the water efficient method that Bamboo uses to grow and its ability to regenerate for an average of 25 years ensures that management costs are significantly lower creating a greater opportunity for return.

In addition, Bamboo Biomass requires a relatively lower temperature to process therefore further improving cost efficiency of producing new forms of energy. With consistent and rising demand, and with a ready-made market for this wood, it is easy to see why the Bamboo tree is a popular investment.

One of the more popular trees used in tree farms is the Teak tree Tectona Grandis. Teak is a tropical tree renowned for its grain quality that produces durable hardwood used extensively in furniture; house building, and yachts. Growing demand for teak wood, coupled with limited international supply, suggests that increases in teak prices should continue steadily. 

New Teak Forestry Plantations generally have a growing cycle between 20-25 years as the plantation is fully managed and use new practices to help with biological growth. However, many Teak investors buy in to a standing teak plantation where the trees are already established and the cycle from purchase to harvest is 10 years.

When investing in tree farms, an investor needs to carefully investigate and research the situation in order to determine which size and type of tree best suits their investing requirements. Here at Silvinvest, we have numerous options to prosper from tree production. Request a brochure: Teak, Agarwood, Eucalyptus, Bamboo and Paulownia products available.

Teak Investing - Key Facts and Opportunities

Look in the Right Places and Money Does Grow on Trees

Although few investors realise it, timber has outperformed the stock market significantly over time the last 30 years. Of course, there’s a simple fundamental driving this out-performance for timber – biology. No matter what’s going on in the world or the markets, trees keep growing. This annual growth provides a natural hedge against inflation. The conclusion for many is that timber investments provide a great tool to diversify portfolios and immediately owning trees becomes a very interesting proposition.

Teak is one of the most durable, robust and sought after tropical hardwoods. The global shortage continues to drive the supply/demand deficit and has lead to what is widely regarded as one of the few consistently high yielding low risk commercial opportunities. [The product provider] have pioneered a structure that not only offers a safe and secure purchase structure, but also further reduces what is already considered to be a low risk investment.

• Purchase trees from existing company stock

• 5 – 15 yr investment term

• SIPP Compliant – Relationships with SIPP providers where necessary

• 8-12% IRR

• Harvest Flexibility 2018 onwards

• Packages available from £20,000

• Increase personal stock in the future – Additional trees can be purchased at any time

• Asset based investment

• Ethical, sustainable & green

• Purchase directly from Plantation Owners

• Highest level of customer security through exceptional corporate governance

• Secure Ownership Structure – Protected by a UK trustee

• Unique purchase order structure further de-risks the purchase (customers only receive mature elite trees of a predefined size)

• Size Warranty on delivery – predictable returns from a known quantity of timber

• Customer orders underwritten by company buffer stock

• Widening supply demand deficit supports rising global prices

• Perfect inflation buffer (inflation of 3%, tree grows in size/value 10%)

* Ideal balancing tool to diversity portfolio

Warren Buffet: Only buy something you would be happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.

For further information please view the full product brochure within our Members area or contact us info@silvinvest.co.uk. Alternatively, you can request a product enquiry appointment using the widget located top right

Investing In Gold: 5 Clear Advantages

Treat yourself to Physical Gold

When income is not a requirement but long term stability and growth is the aim, Gold is an attractive and simple investment tool that has a strong reputation for building a consistent foundation on which to build a portfolio of investments.

Gold is the basis of our entire financial structure and provides a safe haven, whether Governments or retail investors. When the stock market is particularly turbulent and economies are faltering, Gold is the investment of choice.

As a limited commodity, Gold is continuously in high demand, creating a value to the commodity which is forecast for growth both in the short and long term.

Stability Of Investment

As the global reserve currency, Gold is always going to have an inherent value which means that any direct investment in the physical product will create a tangible commodity that maintains its structural worth and creates a viable safe-haven for those that continue to choose to invest in it.

As we move into times of economic uncertainty, investment in such a stable commodity acts as a buffer against the ravages of inflation and global market events to create a more certain opportunity for growth than a high proportion of other more liquid forms of venture.

Tax Relief

When investing in certain gold coins, there is no demand to pay either VAT on the purchase or Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on any growth within the portfolio.

This offers significant savings for tax payers, especially those that are liable for a higher rate in the UK, and makes the investment in Gold even more attractive.

Though coins are ineligible for pension investment which means pension holders cannot take advantage of VAT and CGT benefits, the up to 40% tax relief that is available within a pension acquisition does ensure a discounted rate for the gold purchased or enable a greater quantity of gold to be bought for the same price.

Direct Ownership

Whether coins or gold bars are chosen, when capital is placed into physical gold the investor himself becomes the legal owner of the asset.

The gold can then be stored on the owner's behalf or alternatively cash investors are able to take physical ownership of their asset whenever they so wish.

This creates a certainty of wealth in the investment that is simply not possible with so many other alternative ventures.

Infinite Term

The term of any investment in gold is also purely down to the financial decisions made by the investor himself.

The asset can be sold at any point in time either privately or back to the gold broker in question. This means that any cash investor can place their wealth into gold when interest rates are low and then liquidate their asset when they so wish or at a point in time when they feel their investment has reached an expected level of growth.

Flexible Investment

An investment of this type requires no minimum level of capital and can be extended to a substantial level. Furthermore, cash investments can be made directly into gold, or gold bars can be bought within both a SIPP and SASS pension to create wealth for retirement and stable growth for the future.

For further information on how to purchase gold, contact Silvinvest by booking a product enquiry appointment top right of page.

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

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.

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What Are The Potential Benefits of a UK Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)?

Before discussing the potential benefits of a Sipp, it is worth briefly describing when Sipp's came into being and who are eligible to have a Sipp.

Self invested personal pensions started in 1999 as a product available to UK consumers. The Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) is essentially a pension wrapper that is capable of holding investments and providing you with tax efficient savings for when you retire. As a form of personal pension scheme they differ in several ways from a standard Personal Pension product. Presently, there are over 600,000 SIPPS in force in the UK. Anyone is eligible to have one, even Children can benefit from receiving Tax Relief.

The benefits of a Sipp highlight the main differences when compared to a Standard Personal Pension.

SIPP Benefits: Children

A Sipp is held in Trust and forms part of Estate upon death so in effect any residual fund value in retirement can be left to your beneficiaries, on death. Personal Pension plans finish on death in retirement and the Annuity provider (Insurance Company) benefits from the pension finishing.

Nomination of Beneficiaries can take place when applying for a Sipp and can be changed if needed by altering the trust form.

SIPP Benefits: Cash

25% Cash Lump sum can be taken from the age of 55. Though this also applies to Personal Pensions, it does not apply to most Final Salary schemes which are taken from 60-65 years of age. However, a major difference when compared to a standard Personal Pension is once a lump sum has been taken, a SIPP allows the remaining fund to remain invested. What this means in effect is the remaining fund can continue to grow and provide increased retirement benefits going forward.

The level of income taken is also flexible so allowing greater choice. This is a really big difference that can benefit a retired person. Standard personal pension funds have to purchase an annuity and set conditions on how much income will be received in retirement and annuity rates are correlated against interest rates. Therefore, if retiring in an era of low interest rates this can have a massive effect on income received.

SIPP Benefits: Control

Most pension funds are correlated which means they are linked to the stock market. In recent times this has meant volatility and reduced returns. A dear friend of mine has recently received his annual statement and having paid in £1,500 gross over the last 12 months has seen his investment worth £592 taking into account charges and performance. The funds invested within are not high risk, just the general funds made available for pension investing.

A SIPP offers control over investments. Most alternative investments offer potential for higher growth than other "Standard Products". Though generally deemed high risk, investment returns are the single most important aspect of pension planning. The alternative to low returns is to pay greater contributions.

SIPP Benefits: Charges

Most people are not fully aware of the charges levied against their pension. With a SIPP the charges are transparent, with fixed costs and highlighted on annual statements. Charges against a SIPP can be seen to be high when applied to a small pension fund (<£20,000) but competitive when applied to a decent pension fund value (>£30,000+).

It is worth considering alternatives to standard pension products especially if you are concerned with the amount of contributions you would be required to make to achieve a reasonable pension pot prior to retirement. Preserved or Frozen pensions can be used to fund a SIPP and countless people have pensions from previous employers or previous personal pensions that are not working hard enough to achieve a retirement aim. Existing Personal pensions plans can also be used to fund a SIPP compliant investment.

Here at Silvinvest we can offer, via our partner firms, a free full pension review. We can also make you aware of how to track an old pension if you have lost track of any plans. Contact details can be found on our website.

Lastly, it is worth looking at the DirectGov site and take a look at the pension credit facility. This will allow you to gauge how much you are likely to receive at retirement from your own pensions and benefits provided by the UK Government.

If you have found this article of interest please share via your social media.

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How Long-Term Investments Can Benefit You

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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.

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Investing in Two Successful Tropical Tree Species.

Two Successful Tropical Tree Species.

The forestry sector in Costa Rica has been influenced for many years by two commercially viable and vital tree species, Teak and Melina. Offered to both national and international investors, both species are highly sought after and have become a favourite as species of choice within sustainable tree farms.

Teak and Melina originated in Asia but over the last 30 years have been planted in many regions of Costa Rica. This is mainly due to the trees adaptability to the climate and environment. Therefore, as non-native trees, they are the two most widely established tropical tree species in the Costa Rican forestry sector.

Teak started to be planted in Costa Rica during the 1920′s. Teak was strongly marketed for being a sought after and important tropical hardwood. There is still a massive demand for tropical hardwood especially from India, where teak is known as the hardwood of choice.

Teak as a tropical hardwood, is one of the most used woods worldwide. Teak is in demand, in considerable amounts, by the the worlds markets with stable and generally increasing prices. This non-native tree has been intensively grown in forestry plantations due to its hardy nature and natural resistance to flood and pest.

Larger teak tree farms are generally in the hands of large international organisations while smaller plantations up to 40-60 hectares are controlled by national producers and professional project managers. The timber derived from tree plantations is mostly exported internationally, in form of raw-logs or as a plained and processed product. The main consumer countries are the population rich India, Indonesia and China.

Both countries are the two main importers of tropical wood while Europe and America are also big markets.

Importers of teak have strict rules in terms of certification (e.g. certified by the FSC)

Much later, Melina was starting to be introduced and planted with the aim to help pulp paper production. Afterwards, the importance of Melina has climbed considerably in the territory of Costa Rica. This is due to its short harvesting cycle which is unusually short for a hardwood. After 12 years a healthy Melina tree stands just short of 100 feet tall.

Melina is the most consumed type of tropical tree in Costa Rica.
Currently, both species benefit from sustainable demand.

Here at silvinvest we highlight several superb Forestry Investments. Register to gain access to the Sales Brochures and interact with our Potential Returns Calculator.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

Tree Farms Are Becoming a Popular Investment.

Tree Farms Are Becoming a Popular Investment.

An area that is planted with trees for the purpose of producing timber is known as a tree farm. Tree farms are usually owned on a private basis and can refer not only to forests but to plantations and tree nurseries too. Both plantations and tree nurseries refer to places where trees are grown, for sale to commercial endeavours or retail markets.

Tree farms start with the planting of saplings, which are leaves that are either harvested or have been naturally dropped from trees. The investors then wait for these saplings to grow into trees. When the trees mature, they are harvested for wood and also for more saplings, which are then used to replace the trees that have been cut down, to grow a new generation of trees.

This process of regeneration can be repeated indefinitely so that a constant supply of trees is produced without the need for adding more land to the tree farm. This, in turn, serves to protect the environment as the area surrounding a tree farm can be conserved and maintained for its original purposes.

Those who invest in tree farms have the choice of the size and type of trees they plant. Some investors prefer to plant larger trees as these trees yield more timber per sapling while most investors in tree farms prefer planting smaller trees as the amount of wood or trunk as compared to the amount of leaves is less, and all the wood can more easily be harvested from the ground.

There are many different types of trees that can be planted in tree farms and the type of tree that an investor plants depends on the needs of the investor and the type of return that is desired.

One of the more popular trees used in tree farms is the melina tree (Gmelina Arborea). Melina has a high density and is used extensively for building materials and furniture. The wood has a off white appearence and this creamy colour enhances its demand for the packaging industry. The Melina is planted in Costa Rica, a perfectly suited environment for the species. It needs to be planted 10 degrees either side of the equator for it to flourish. Melina is a quick growing species and can reach 100 feet tall within 12 years and this is another reason for its popularity. In more temperate conditions a tree (oak for example) would require a much longer growing cycle before it would be suitable for harvest.

Melina is the wood of choice for pallets used in transportation. With consistent and rising demand, and with a ready-made market for this wood, it is easy to see why the Melina tree is a popular investment.

Another type of tree that can be planted in tree farms is the Teak tree Tectona Grandis. Teak is a tropical tree renowned for its grain quality that produces durable hardwood used extensively in furniture; house building, and yachts. Growing demand for teak wood, coupled with limited international supply, suggests that increases in teak prices should continue steadily. New Teak Forestry Plantations generally have a growing cycle between 20-25 years as the plantation is fully managed and use new practices to help with biological growth.

When investing in tree farms, an investor needs to carefully investigate and research the situation in order to determine which size and type of tree best suits their investing requirements.

Silvinvest highlights some fantastic 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 child’s long term financial future.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.

Transfer Your Poorly Performing UK Pension Fund into a Forestry Investment

Transfer Your Poorly Performing UK Pension Fund into a Forestry Investment.

Official figures from the Office of National Statistics state that two in three people in Britain do not have a private pension, which has led to wide spread speculation that those not saving for their retirement could be spending their final years in poverty.

For the one third of people who do have pension provision, most are enjoying significant increases in the value of their funds with contribution pensions holders seeing growth of up to 33% more than they were two years ago.

However on the flip side, many other pension holders are still stuck in underperforming funds which could have nearly as little financial impact on retirement as having no pension at all. While money is tight and the economy is flat, it is essential to ensure that your pension is invested in funds that are going to perform well for you. And if you find that your investment is not achieving the growth you would like, then it may be time to take back control and ensure you are not left behind when retirement age arrives.

The Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) introduced in 1999 provides an opportunity for any pension holder to take control of their future, and transfer existing or new pension products into funds that they feel will work for them, taking command of their financial
prospects and leaving nothing to chance.

Though you may have several preserved pensions funds from old employer schemes or SERPs related options that are not performing as well as you would like, by transferring these underperforming funds into a SIPP facility you can opt to invest in industries from across the globe that not only meet your financial expectations but also appeal to your conscience too.

Unlike many other commodities that are seeing significant decline in recent years, demand in the forestry industry remains strong and this year tropical hardwood alone will supply almost 90 million cubic meters of wood, enough to fill the Empire State Building nearly 100 times. Yet investing in timber not only makes economical sense, it also contributes to a sustained and positive environment.

As trees keep growing, so it is possible to enjoy growth in your forestry investment, even when stocks and shares are on the decline. With the introduction of SIPPs, individuals can now easily transform underperforming funds into an investment prospect that financial managers have been using successfully for so long.

With steady, stable increases within the funds and predictable returns, similar to the growth of a tree itself, timber is a perfect investment for pension funds and while your pension grows, so does the health of the planet, providing a greener and more sustainable environment for future generations as well.

So if you want to take back control of your future and find an ethically sound investment that is going to work for your pension, then consider transferring your underperforming funds into a SIPP and investing in the timber industry to give the chance to create a solid foundation for your future.

for further information on Sipp’s take a look at our investing page.http://www.silvinvest.co.uk/articles