Vide Greniers in April and May

Click on the photo below to see the list.

Events to look forward to in and around Mayenne.

Who are we?

Beacon GWM have been providing independent financial advice since 1995. We decided to specialise in the French market when we identified that many of the ex pats moving there were insufficiently prepared for the French fiscal system. We

We are authorised and regulated in the UK through the FCA and authorised to provide advice in France through the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar and we have bi-lingual staff who support us with the administration side of things, so you can be sure we can deal with any of your queries promptly and efficiently. We have offices both in the UK and in France.

How we can help

Firstly we will take the time to get to know you and your financial situation. We will make a list of priorities and suggestions and leave you as much time as you need to make the best/right choice for you. There is no fixed script as the solution will always be tailor-made for you.

There is no charge for this as we firmly believe that our bespoke solution is the best step to a lasting professional relationship. Our advisors will guide you whenever your financial needs or situation change to insure that you are getting the right advice at the right time.

We speak English, advice in plain English and most of the paperwork that you will receive will be in English. If not we will explain exactly what the document is and its purpose.

We will ask you for some key information which will help us understand your situation and needs. All initial meetings are free and confidential. It’s as simple as that.

We cover the following areas:

·         Taxation – we will help you find ways to minimise your taxes.

·         Investments – we can review your existing investments and recommend new ones in a variety of currencies that are in harmony with both the UK and French tax systems.

·         Pensions – we ensure that your current and future arrangements work for you in France.

On our website we have a number of fact sheets explaining the different taxes that you will encounter and other useful information. We also work with a number of key professional partners. We feel confident that we have a partner who can answer questions outside of our domain.

Contact us:

You can call or email with your query or ask for a call back. Or download a form from our website.

·         Call: 0033 0634119518

·         Email: info@bgwealthmanagement.net

·         Website: www.bgwealth.eu

Beacon… standing out amongst the best

New Year cheer for the pound versus the euro

In the first months of 2015, we’ve seen the rise and rise of the pound against the euro, with GBPEUR hitting its highest level since March 2008. At the start of February, the rate was at 1.334; at the start of January it was down at 1.2824. In just one month, the euro lost over 4% against the pound.

But why? Well, part of the reason is that while the European economy continues to grapple with extreme levels of unemployment and fears over deflation, the UK economy had become one of the fastest growing in the G10. Euro uncertainty around the Greek election, and fears of a possible Greek exit from the single currency hardly helped matters either.

Here’s what all of this actually means to you - a year ago, a pound bought you €1.20.  At the time of writing, it’ll buy you €1.33 – that’s an increase of 10.8% and the highest it’s been in nearly seven years.

When we talk about the sums involved in buying a property overseas, the savings you could make when you compare the exchange rates of now with those from a year ago could make your eyes light up. Last year £300,000 would buy you a €360,000 home; now you could buy something worth €39,000 more. 

It’s really good news for expats, for whom the current strength of sterling means prospective buyers will be able to get more for their money. Anyone looking to buy property in Europe would be advised to think about fixing their exchange rate now to take advantage of the pound’s strength against the euro.

This is really useful if you’re planning to set up a purchase but are worried that the exchange rate may move against you. So by fixing a rate now, you won’t be affected if the value of sterling falls between now and the time the payment goes through.

In addition to good exchange rates, house prices in some of the destinations preferred by British expats aren’t exactly setting the world alight. In Spain, house prices went up by 0.3% in the year up to December 2014, and in France and Italy, actually fell 1.2% and 3.8% respectively in the same period. Additionally, homes in Ireland, Greece and Portugal are described by the OECD as undervalued.

It’s not just those buying property that will be pleased with sterling’s strength against the euro - for those studying abroad, their money will go further transferring money to pay for tuition fees and day-to-day maintenance costs. Those who have retired overseas and are getting their pension payments sent to their bank account in their new country of residence will also benefit.

As we’ve seen, the euro has been through a tough spell, enduring a rocky start to 2015. It could continue to be a volatile year, with elections aplenty in the EU - Estonia, Malta, Finland, the UK, Poland, Denmark, Portugal and finally in Spain. Throw in a Catalan referendum on independence and we have the makings for some serious ballot box driven volatility in the coming months. And that could mean more good news for British expats buying property in Europe.

October 18-November 2, daily during the school holidays

And November 8 to November 11 every day.

Visit 14h to 15:30 (all age groups) - duration 1:15

A wicked witch has launched a curse on the Manor of Merlin. To lift this spell, Merlin must find the cursed spellbook. Visit the manor with Merlin and go treasure hunting in the wild garden.

A candle-lit visit at 17:30 (strongly not advisable for children under 7 years and sensitive people) - duration 1:15

While Merlin tells his story, an unscrupulous visitor opens the iron chest in which there was a cursed spellbook. Using the powers of black magic that visitor proclaims himself Duke of the Manor and he concocts a scary scavenger hunt with strange creatures and sometimes evil. Only a secret formula will allow you to ship the Duke in a haunted mansion and find Merlin!

Provide warm clothing and boots depending on the weather.