Spec Inves Prop Share Discussion Threads

[chopsy] 24/10/2005 20:20

I was a bit annoyed today when I found that I could not purchase warrants on a foreign stock for my SIPP. The provider simply does not do it. Is it regulation or whim, anyone know?

[shirishg] 17/10/2005 10:43

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[shirishg] 17/10/2005 10:43

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[shirishg] 17/10/2005 10:43

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[shirishg] 17/10/2005 10:43

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[shirishg] 17/10/2005 10:43

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[stuart14] 11/10/2005 14:37

I'll check these out later. Sounds promising.

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 12:23

thanks for the feedback, i know epml very well, colleagues of old work there including the founder Francis Moore, i think he's currently the chair of the sipp provider group. winterthur life hav also just launched an on-line sipp with squaregain and cofunds.

[the dogsbody] 11/10/2005 12:08

Excellent and informative thread sipptrader and I hope it encourages more people to make the effort to take out a SIPP. There are plenty of providers out there to suit individual needs. Having taken one out through EPML with Squaregain I can say it was an easy, hassle free process. Just like an ordinary dealing account to trade online and with the same charges. A big advantage for those interested in holding AIM shares is being able to trade or tuck these away in a SIPP when they cannot be held in an ISA.

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 11:38

Got ya.

Thanks for your help.

I'll let you know how I get on with SJP next time I see them (maybe a few months yet).

Not sure I fancy foreign property or even more property here at the moment, had enough trouble selling our place!

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 11:34

yes, you can invest in property now but only commercial property, after 'a' day you can buy residential property as well. not sure many providers are going to offer the esoteric type investments straight away as there is still clarfication required from the revenue on a number of issues regarding tax status, custody etc.

the more important changes to you will be from a pension side, i.e. maximum contribution limits change significantly and there is a new lifetime limit applied.

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 11:31

Is this "A" day what I read on the BBC today? From there you can start investing your SIPP in Property, Wine, Race-horses etc?

I've brought my ISA's for this year so pretty happy to wait a while, plus haven't cashed in enough to hit my CGT allowance yet so have that to play with.

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 11:23

stuart14,

normally one wouldn't advise waiting to put money in a pension as the sooner you start the more money you will have at the end and the factor for growth based upon starting as young as possible is huge but 'a' day isn't far away and most providers are currently gearing for a new product offering after 06/04/2006. can't say much more on that front!!!!

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 11:18

Cool!!!!!

I like them, and that is what counts for now I guess!!

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 11:17

i'm sure SJP will be able to help, i have connections with them so no further comment!!!

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 11:16

Thanks Sipp.

I have my current ISA's with St James Place. Maybe I should also talk to them?

I'll get googling now!!!

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 11:14

there are a number of sipp providers that have joint ventures with on-line brokers. if you google 'sipp providers group' you should be find an impartial list of providers and services. each works slightly differently but essentially there is an out sourced admin company that looks after the pensions side and then releases funds to a broker who you contact to place deals. some providers offer the dealing service in house and can get you better rates for unit trust deals etc. i daren't recommend any for you because i ought to remain impartial, very few are fsa regulated so worth asking if you consider this to be important, some people do and some don't. i would strongly advise you pay a few hundred quid and talk to an ifa though, it could make a big difference in the long term.

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 11:07

Hi Sipp,

Yep, employed PAYE and have the pain of personal tax returns every year, although I'd never had investments etc up until last year, just managed to spend it all!!

Got married and kiddie on the way so thinking of the future now. If the gov are going to give me 40% back I suppose I should take advantage. There are some shares out there that look good for future longer term growth that I could stick some into.

I take it you can buy and sell shares through the SIPP but just cannot take out the money.

Does anyone do an online trading account though a SIPP? I use i i i for my portfolio, something like that but wrapped in a SIPP would be great.

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 10:54

i take it you are employed and subject to paye, i don't think it shows on your code but on your own personal tax return, if you don't already complete one it looks like you would have to start!!

we all have to make provision to have an income in retirement, whilst a pension is fundamentally an investment it is what you will probably have to live on once your retire.

when i started mine the plan was to tie it up for 40 years, so far so good in that it's growing at a sufficient rate that i should be able to afford to retire sooner!!

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 10:48

Thanks SIPP. DO you know how much of an effort it is to claim the other 18% back? Would I just see it as relief on my next years tax-code?

I take it that would be 18% of 17.5k, so £3150?

I suppose I should think a little longer term, although i'm not particularly keen on having money tied up for a minimum of 23 years.......

Thanks for your help

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 10:44

Stuart,

your maximum gross contribution would be £17,500. Therefore you would write a cheque for £13,650. The revenue would apply £3,850 tax relief. You then claim the further 18% as part of your tax return.

dependant on the provider you choose and the scheme rules you can buy shares in any company listed on a recognised stock exchange including aim but not offex. so you could buy shares in a company listed in germany, the US etc. you can also but any mutual type fund provided that it is either recognised or approved by the fsa along with commercial property, options, futures etc.

you have to bear in mind that the purpose of a pension fund is to provide income upon retirement hence the reason it is locked in. also you must remember that the fund itself is exempt from tax so there is no cgt liability all interest is earnt gross etc.

[stuart14] 11/10/2005 10:37

Hi Sipp.

If for example I earned 100'000k last year and I am 27 what figures do I actually get for a SIPP?

I'm assuming 17.5K from me, then another how much from the revenue?

Once that money is in the SIPP how can I start trading in it? Can I buy any shares (maybe not ZBA!!) or is it limited to FTSE 350 stocks etc?

If I cannot touch it until I am 50 it sucks, but then I guess some nice long-term investments would benefit from the tax??

Thanks again

[sipptrader] 11/10/2005 10:27

a sipp from the pensions side is a standard personal pension, your provider will claim tax relief at the basic rate of tax i.e. 22%. you can claim up to the higher rate if of course you are a higher rate tax payer. It is true that you cannot 'withdraw' any monies from the sipp until you are attain a minimum age of 50 (unless you are employed in one of the revenue's prescribed employments such as a sportsman etc). At age 50 you have the choice of purchasing an annuity, continue to build you fund untouched or to take an income directly from your fund (subject to income tax) via a mechanism known as income drawdown. this facility is designed for people who retire early and need an income but don't want to purchase an annuity at that time. it has its downfalls in that you will be reducing your eventual pension pot and ideally you would want to at least match capital growth with the withdrawals you are making. at this point you may also take a tax free lump sum subject to certification but normally 25% of the value of your fund.

[birthofthecool] 07/11/2002 13:38

I have recently sold most holdings into cash having seen the typical 20% plus destruction of my personal pension holdings including so called safe bond funds etc. If we hit the big crunch and bottom out when say Dow goes sub-6000 I suppose it may be time to buy again - next year some time. Serious discussion please from those working on their own fading hopes of a pension one day (I am 44 so there is still some time!