Not sure whether to commit - 25k

Archi_Bald

5% "per annum" sounds like an insanely high interest rate for Gibraltar.

A very quick Google shows that the Gibraltar interest rates are not a multiple of UK and European interest rates. So something is not right with the 5% "per annum".
http://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/gibraltar/investments.html

jimjames

goofy115 wrote: »

If you're looking for a 5 year investment have you considered the bank of gibralter 5 year bond.The interest rate is 5% per annum - paid monthly on the first day of the month.Your money has a safety net too-100% of the total of all qualifying deposits up to a maximum of €100,000 is covered via the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/home/2022-5-year-fixed-income-debentures

The OP is looking for investments. If they are tying their money up for 5 years why would they want to use cash and limit their options? At least with shares you can get money whenever you need if you really need access.

Archi_Bald

The email address (gsb@treasury.gov.gi) listed on that site https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/home/2022-5-year-fixed-income-debentures is invalid.

Doesn't bode well for the debenture.

Cowboys.

process

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Alright then.

Whatever nationality and residency, you should be having an emergency cash fund that can tick you over for 6-12 months if anything unexpected happens. In the UK, you'd put this money into the best interest paying instant access account you can find.

You'd also pay off any debts as a priority, but that may not apply to you.

Regarding investments, you need to aim for a balanced portfolio, regardless of whether you DIY your investment or have an advisor doing it for you. Advisors will help you because you pay them, directly or indirectly, for what they do. Personally, I wouldn't pay an advisor if my investment funds were below £100K. I would also most definitely not pay any advisor if I did not have quite a good grasp about investment basics myself.

That's why I would suggest you take another couple of months before you decide where to place which of your money, and read, read, read - NOT about individual investments but about the principles of investments. Then you can decide whether you want to pay a professional to manage your investments, or whether you want to do some or all of it yourself.

Your £25K won't lose a lot if you don't invest it for another couple of months. But you might save most or all of your £25K if you go into investing with your eyes wide open.

Big thanks... I will have a gander. I have a meeting with the talked of advisor next week. I understand we'll be talking about what percentage of risk I'd like to invest, how much and for how long.

Right now just to dip my toes in the water, I'm thinking of £500 a month for 2 years - 12k. If I'm happy with the porfolio's progress, I can then always consider suplementing it.

Buut yes, I will have a good read prior to our meeting.
Can anyone recommend any fundamental questions I should be asking?

Incase interested and if you have time, this may be of interest (and isnt meant to advertise, but provide the input I have recieved!)




Hi Mark,
Alls good thanks and indeed the weather is better!

I'm still interested in investing, but not really sure on how much. And would further like to talk about risks. A quick few questions if you don't mind:

Are Holborn Assets registered in a jurisdiction, if so what jurisdiction?
Is the fund regulated and if so, by whom? A Holborn Assets prospectus would be great.
Is there any investor protection?
Can you state who will audit the fund, who is the custodian, and who will manage the fund?


Good to hear from you.

As you may be aware, the UAE and KSA are not strictly 'regulated' jurisdictions however Holborn are licensed to trade by the Ministry of Economy and Insurance, I have attached our 'terms of business' for you.

I myself am an FSA (Financial Services Authority, now known as the FCA) regulated advisor and have been a managing partner of my own practice since the year 2000 in conjunction with my Father, a UK based IFA for over 40 years. Our company is called 'Intelligent Financial solutions' and we are directly authorised by the FCA – reg no 300469. I only use my UK company for my UK based clients and a select expats that are existing clients of mine.

Any business placed for clients within the UAE & KSA will effectively be governed under Channel Island registered companies, for example; Royal London, Friends Provident International, Skandia, Zurich International, Generali International. These companies are regulated heavily and give unrivalled client capital protection under Channel Island law.

If we are arranging a pension transfer for a client for example, we would use an independent Trustee, typically based in the IOM however for a simple lump sum bond or monthly investment the money is held by the regulated insurance company recommended by ourselves and usually from one of the listed companies above, Royal London, skandia, Zurich etc. Essentially the funds are managed by the insurance company however you and I are free to choose the funds invested in within the insurance companies portfolio, usually up to 200 funds available to choose from and we have the ability to be able to swap and alter funds with no charge for the lifetime of the investments.

noh

FCA reg number 300469 belongs to "Independent Financial Solutions" not "Intelligent Financial Solutions" as stated.
They appear to have permission for mortgage and non investment insurance bussiness only,
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/firmBasicDetails.do?sid=114028

Interestingly they appear to share the same address as the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre
http://www.freddibnah.co.uk/fred-dibnah-tours.htm

Edit:
The same person owns both and lives at the address which was Fred Dibnahs house.
http://thesteepletimes.com/movers-shakers/where-dibnah-mucked-around/

block10

The owner of Independant Financial Solutions, is an ex-hair dresser. Interesting life story, but you should gather a bit more background on their expertise & qualifications.