Employee benefit advice

We have acted for the UK branch of an international firm of management consultants (500 plus employees) where we were involved in the setting up and ongoing administration of a group personal pension for employees (dealing with all attendant communication issues including drafting the relevant sections of the firm's staff handbook) and where IAS was also responsible for running the group disability and life assurance schemes, providing advice on their structure as well as guiding the company through the claims management process, when claims arose. In essence, our brief was to provide a seamless extension to the company's in-house HR function and to deal directly with the company's employees, where appropriate.

Financial counselling services for companies

Over the last 5 years IAS has delivered a range of financial seminars and provided one-to-one advice to employees of a major electronics company and a privatised utility group. This has involved discussing with employees the financial implications of redundancy, ensuring that they make informed decisions when confronted with a range of possible financial options at what is often a difficult time.

Pre-retirement seminars

Over the last 4 years, we have devised and delivered pre-retirement financial/investment seminars for a major oil company across the country and as part of this contract have assisted 100s of employees with their retirement planning.

Executive financial counselling

We currently provide a range of counselling services to a large energy plc, where IAS is the designated external independent advisor. The cost of our services, on a pre-agreed basis, is met by the employer or employee (depending on the circumstances) and covers an investment advisory and a pension review service, offering an overview of an employee's accrued pension benefits, including those benefits relating to previous periods of employment/self-employment. This helps employees take stock of their overall benefit position as well as offering guidance on how to maximise retirement planning opportunities going forward.

Starting your own business

IAS has assisted many individuals with the personal finance (including tax) implications of starting their own business. This will include advice on the business structure (self employed, partnership or Ltd company), the personal and corporate tax implications including income tax, national insurance and VAT issues, IR35 implications, and future retirement/pension planning options. Many individuals contemplating starting a new business have previously worked in a large company structure and a key issue is ensuring they understand the previous range of employee benefits provided and, where appropriate, take steps to replace the "catastrophe" life insurance and disability insurance cover.

Investment planning

IAS has assisted many 100s of private clients in structuring, implementing and managing a portfolio of investments during periods of significant volatility in investment markets. At all times, IAS has attempted to ensure clients have well balanced and structured portfolios that suit their investment temperament and profile.

Pension planning

During a period of substantial (and ongoing) change to the rules which govern UK pensions, IAS has helped many private clients structure an effective retirement strategy. This has included selecting and implementing a range of private pension vehicles, providing advice on the annuity options at retirement for clients with money purchase funds, and advising individuals in final salary pension schemes whether or not to exchange part of a termination payment in situations of redundancy in return for an enhanced deferred pension benefit. IAS has recommended/implemented a number of employer-sponsored Group arrangements for employees (including stakeholder schemes and multi fund manager schemes), as well as personal pension plans for individuals including Self Invested Plans (SIPPs).

Expatriate planning issues

IAS has provided financial planning advice to individuals who are based abroad for a period, often as part of an overseas secondment for a large Plc. company. In our experience, UK nationals based overseas are apt to fall prey to the seductive charms of the offshore financial services industry (largely unregulated) with the result that they are frequently encouraged to buy unattractive/expensive offshore investment products offering very poor value for money. As well as advising on suitable investment vehicles while individuals are based offshore (which will frequently include UK based investments - UK nationals retains their UK personal tax and capital gains tax allowances even for periods where they are based offshore and non-resident for UK tax purposes) IAS will guide the expatriate on the planning issues which arise on their return to the U.K.

There are circumstances when UK-based nationals can benefit from offshore planning (e.g. the use of roll-up funds) and when marital circumstances (e.g. a non domiciled spouse) can also lead to offshore solutions.