?????????????? Explain please.

Rosemary

You missed out the inevitable welcome spiel

I'm glad someone got it
It's against site rules to be unwelcoming isn't it and the opening replies to the OP were not welcoming as Sue pointed out.
Of course I'm being a bit tongue in cheek
Nothing personal at all. Ironicaly some would say I was the cause of The Conceirge introduction
Sorry off topic I know, it just tickled my doo dahs, apologies.

You saw the need
But did not do the deed

Shame on you

Rosemary

Is this an "inside" joke? I am confused....



Am I required to introduce myself here? I am sure I did that on a seperate thread but, may have been mistaken.

No worries. You did introduce yourself on another thread and we thought that we welcomed there, if not then apologies to you and a belated welcome.

Rosemary

Thank you and I am too big and ugly to take offence... and maybe too stupid to even notice!

Hope I can be of some entertainment to this group in the future. Just don't hit me in the face, that's the money maker

R

I retired at 52, making it a long run in to pensionable age.
I have several private pensions that I intend to take at 60, and then of course the state pension that I will (allegedly) get at 65.

As regards to transferring them to something more beneficial, with all the financial turmoil there has been over the last years I'm really challenged to think of anything that I can trust that would be more beneficial.

Have you not considered that each individual pension carries a certain number of running charges?

I recall a Watchdog program putting the frighteners on everyone (wrongly) about pensions and their costs and telling viewers emphatically to not undertake a pension.... I thought my head was going to explode after watching this! But, the show did raise some valid points - these things can be expensive and don't ultimately benefit!

On a side note - well done on the early retirement.

I have recently had an email relating to one particular shady firm about trying to help raise issues with the FSA and any other governing body which will listen and to attempt to lobby governments to regulate a little more than nothing and a little less than stifling. Will be interesting if anything shall come of it.

Sorry walkthetalk, didn't mean to hijack your thread.
I have been a very naughty boy in the past nothing to do with you or your post.
Big welcome to BE

no problem Bez (you're twisting my melon man...)

You know, having left the Uk and seeing most of the communities - I can't ever imagine going back. Do you all live near each other or have you all just gotten really close over the years?

Will I ever cease to be an outsider?

Like most forums there is always those who are fairly regular posters ( cos we are saddo's with no other life) (( joking)).
I have been given some very good advice here and as such I always try and give something back but as with ALL forums things can go a bit wonky at times. Expats are a strange bunch, well apart from me ....of course.
Settling in anywhere always takes time.

Once people have made more than one post they cannot possibly be called outsiders. Some members have friendly little jokes running between them due to having been on BE for a while. I believe that some may live near to each other. We do not have any other English nearby but have met up with Mitzy and his wife and Lynnxa and her husband. Plus a few others like a lovely lady called Spain who have now left Spain and either no longer post or post rarely.

So relax and enjoy yourself.

Rosemary

Well ... yes of course I did. But you invest in most things and there more often than not is a charge. If it's not those horrible IFA's, its the insurance company

I pay ridiculous charges on investments as well. Partly to the insurance, partly to the IFA. When it all went to crap with the banks the investments plummeted, but the professionals still had their charges. The pensions were the same. I did consider taking it out and sticking it under the bed, because when your investments can be effected by some idiot having his evil way with a chambermaid in the US, you know you are on a loser!

The best investments I ever made over the years was in UK property. It never failed me, and it was one of the reasons I was able to retire at an early age

Ouch! Burned!

Yeah but, not all charges are % - some are monthly set amounts. Although if you retired THAT early maybe you are like some of my Russian clients - "Rory, I am not really bothered by returns, just a safe location...!!!!" Honestly, these millionaires... ahem

I like to think of myself as the charitable guy. Looked after a lot of people for nothing in the past in an attempt to atone for the errors of my industry. Unfortunately, there is not always enough hours in a day for that!