A pension fund is one of the most common investment schemes available. If you’re planning to retire comfortably, you can include a pension as part of your investment portfolio. Even if you live abroad or work as an expat, there are offshore schemes available that allow the pensioner to avoid taxes and other charges. But what do you know about how these schemes invest your money? Let’s take a closer look at pension funds and the typical source of returns.
Stocks
One of the biggest investment avenues for pension funds is stocks. These tend to be the riskiest, but with proper management could lead to high returns. Pension funds are either self-managed or managed by a third party agency. Of course, the management type is a critical consideration because it can impact the charging of commission and other fees.
Real estate
According to www.pensionsforexpats.co.uk, most expat pension fund schemes also invest in real estate. The funds are either circulated in private equity, or at times the pension funds directly participate in acquisition, development, sales, and management of the real estate and other related properties. Usually, pension funds favour commercial properties. The main goal of creating a commercial portfolio is to combine appreciating equity with income adjusted by inflation.
Private equity investment
A pension fund is often considered as an institutional investor. As such, one of the most common investments is private equity. It’s a type of investment that’s suited for experienced investors looking for a more sophisticated opportunity. In general, a private equity investment refers to a pool of funds put into the equity of private companies. Eventually, the goal is to sell the investment at a promise of high gains. Fund managers specialising in private equity tend to charge higher fees because of the near-guarantee of substantial profits.
Infrastructure
Pension funds have a somewhat restrained approach to investing in infrastructure, though a small portion of the funds may go to both public and private developments. These include utilities, energy, and other public services. For example, the pension fund may invest in building a tollway where a percentage of the fees will go back to the funds and the invested funds.
How are pension funds protected from inflation?
To protect from inflation, pension funds diversify investment assets. Usually, a portion of the funds is invested in assets that increase in value when there is inflation. There are many other strategies that fund managers use to avoid the adverse effects of inflation. Of course, the reality still remains that risks cannot be avoided entirely.
Investing in a pension fund is an excellent strategy if you want to be financially stable during retirement. Whether you’re an expat or not, a pension should be on top of your list of financial products to have years before retiring. With the help of a fund manager, you can better understand how pension funds work and choose the right scheme according to your current employment circumstances, age, and future financial goals.
