SIPP and SSAS can be great solutions for clients, but they are complex regulated products set within a pensions framework that is forever changing. They are not products you want to work with unless you have the necessary knowledge and support.  

Xafinity (part of the Equiniti Group) has individuals with a wealth of experience and talent to support clients and IFAs. The Technical Support Team is hugely knowledgeable and the six team members have more than 100 years’ experience in the pensions industry.  

Regularly the team deals with queries on a wide variety of topics including:  

·         green energy e.g. wind farms and solar panels

·         joint property purchases

·         property development

·         abolition of Protected Rights

·         gold bullion

·         protection from Lifetime Allowance charges

·         carry forward and the Annual Allowance

·         discretionary fund management / platforms

·         in-specie contributions and transfers

·         loans and borrowing

·         flexible drawdown

·         pubs, hotels, farmland, forestry etc.

We want you to feel comfortable to call on us with any question you might have, and we promise we’re friendlier than we look!  

Stuart Russell, Head of Technical

I oversee technical governance here. An actuary by profession, I have spent morethan half of my life in pensions!    I have worked specifically with SSAS and SIPP for over 27 years now.   

Email: stuart.russell@xafinity.com

Tel.  01786 434257

Gayle Murray, Technical & Projects Manager

I run the day to day operations of the technical team. It’s my responsibility to ensure the team stays absolutely on top of the latest legislative challenges, and interprets these into workable solutions.   I have an honours degree in maths and I’ve also completed all the FPCs and CF9, which were great for broadening my understanding, but nothing beats the daily problem solving challenges that fly my way.   Outside work I take any frustrations out in ‘body combat’ classes!  

Email: gayle.murray@xafinity.com

Tel.  01786 434263

Ian Fisher, SSAS & SIPP Senior Technician

  

I have worked in pensions for longer than I care to remember and was around to witness the start of SSAS, Personal Pensions and then SIPP.  I’ve worked in a number of senior pensions roles within the industry, and before joining Xafinity I ran my own pensions technical consultancy company. I hold FPC 1, 2 & 3 & G60.    Away from the office, I am interested in fishing (freshwater and sea) and football.  

Email: ian.fisher@xafinity.com

Tel.  01786 434289    

Graeme Rae, SSAS & SIPP Senior Technician

I guess I’m a relative junior to the team with just 25 years of pensions experience, accumulating both defined benefit and defined contribution experience. Having moved into the wonderful world of self invested pensions in 1993, I have built up 18 years of both SSAS and SIPP knowledge. I have a good understanding of both client and adviser requirements via my previous role as Pensioneer Trustee representative, attending trustee meetings and supporting advisers in respect of prospective new SSAS & SIPP business.   In my spare time, I am a keen club curler (think ‘winter Olympics’ rather than bending chocolate biscuits!), allowing regular socialising both on and off the ice.   

Email: graeme.rae@xafinity.com

Tel.  01786 434225  

Gordon Sinclair, SSAS & SIPP Senior Technician

I have specialised in the SSAS and SIPP market for 11 years and started my career working for firms in Nottingham and Leicester.  Having gained valuable experience I moved back up to Scotland to work for Xafinity in Stirling. I have FPC1, CF4 and CF9 qualifications.   In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking and watching rugby (unfortunately my playing days are over!)  

Email: gordon.sinclair@xafinity.com

Tel.  01786 434284  

So now you know a little about us, please do feel free to call us – we are here to help!

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin - August 2008

Topics covered: A-Day Protection Calculations and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's)...read bulletin.

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin - September 2009

Topics covered: Finance Act 2009, Restructure Expensive Pre-6 April 2006 Borrowing, Normal Minimum Pension Age change to 55, Problems with Property Rental Payments, Ensuring Acceptable Investments, Protected Rights and Safeguarded Rights...read bulletin.

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin - March 2010

Topics covered: 50% Income Tax: Anti-forestalling: where are we now?, Last Chance to Take Benefits Before Age 55, VAT Change for 2010, Commercial Property or Land...read bulletin.

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin - September 2010

Topics covered: Change from age 75 to age 77 for securing pension, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Value Added Tax (VAT), RPI to be replaced by Consumer Price Index (CPI), Contracting-out, Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA)...read bulletin. 

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin - March 2011

Topics covered: Removal of the need to secure pension income, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Early Access to Pensions Savings – Discussion, Contracting-out, Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA), Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), ...read bulletin.  

·                       SIPP Technical Bulletin – January 2012

Topics covered: Removal of the need to secure pension income, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA), Early Access to Pensions Savings, The Scotland Bill, Financial Transaction Tax, ...read bulletin. 

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - August 2008

Topics covered : A-Day Protection Calculations and Energy Performance Certificates, Registered Pension Scheme Return 2007-08...read bulletin.

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - September 2009

Topics covered: Finance Act 2009, Restructure Expensive Pre-6 April 2006 Borrowing, Normal Minimum Pension Age change to 55, Problems with Property Rental Payments, Ensuring Acceptable Investments, The Registered Pension Scheme Return 2008-09...read bulletin.

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - March 2010

Topics covered: 50% Income Tax:Anti-forestalling, where are we now?, Last Chance to Take Benefits Before Age 55, Adoption of Post A Day Scheme Rules, VAT Changes for 2010, Commercial Property or Land ...read bulletin.

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - September 2010

Topics covered: Change from age 75 to age 77 for securing pension, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Value Added Tax (VAT), RPI to be replaced by Consumer Price Index (CPI), Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA), Adoption of Post A-Day Scheme Rules, Data Protection: New Powers for the Information Commissioner ...read bulletin. 

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - March 2011

Topics covered: Removal of the need to secure pension income, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Early Access to Pensions Savings – Discussion, Contracting-out, Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA), Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) ...read bulletin. 

·                       SSAS Technical Bulletin - January 2012

Topics covered: Removal of the need to secure pension income, Annual Allowance & Restricting Pensions Tax Relief, Change in Normal Minimum Pensions Age (NMPA), Early Access to Pensions Savings, VAT online, The Scotland Bill, Financial Transaction Tax ...read bulletin. 

• Anti-forestalling - Where are we now? - February 2010

  The budget on 22 April 2009 announced the intention to restrict, from 6 April 2011, the availability of tax relief to basic rate on pension contributions for individuals whose taxable income is £150,000 or higher...read bulletin.