February 15 Guided hike in the Sierra de la Pila near Fortuna
A 9-km route in the mountains of central Murcia
The natural springs on the southern slopes of the Regional Park of Sierra de la Pila, where the hamlet of San Joy lies, are at the heart of this guided hike on 15th February, in which walkers follow a 9-km route to the beauty spot of Caramucel. This is an area of special interest as a habitat for birds which nest on ledges in rock faces. Along the way the landscape and views are among the most stunning in the regional park.
The route, which is described as being of medium difficulty, begins at 9.00 and is expected to last between 3 and a half and 4 hours. The starting point will be revealed after registration, which can be completed at a price of just 3 euros online here until 12th February or through the local tourist office in Fortuna (oficinaturismo@aytofortuna.es, telephone 968 685586 / 648 003225).
Walkers are advised to ensure that they wear appropriate footwear and hiking gear, and to bring drinking water and a snack.
For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.
Financial Advice Issues for Expats in Spain
I have been a Qualified Financial Adviser for almost 35 years now. 25 years in the UK for major institutions such as Natwest, RBS and Royal London. I have been in Spain giving expats financial advice now for 10 years and it is quite remarkable the different approaches as well as advice that are required for an expat now living in Spain. Blacktower is a company that has specialised in providing the best solutions for its clients living outside the UK for 30 years also.
The currency issue is always high on the agenda and a discussion for the long-term future has to be taken onto account. Questions like What will happen if one partner dies? Will the other remain in Spain? What about other family members? What Inheritance tax provisions do you have in place? The list goes on and on.
Existing portfolios and investments that were the mainstay of portfolios in the UK may now be obsolete. An example of this is quite often tax efficient products in the UK like ISA’s and previously held TESSA’s: PEP’s actually have low growth rates and provide no tax advantage to a Spanish fiscal resident.
Existing pension holdings either paid by the state or private pensions built up through working lifetimes are topics that have to be covered. Many expats have lots of small pensions from many ex employers and can be confused by the communications and administration in dealing with them. At Blacktower we specialise in advising on how to consolidate and bring all these pensions together in one place.
Bank accounts and investments in Spain always bring up lots of questions too. Quite often the small print associated with financial products in Spain is in Spanish this can make it very difficult even if you have a good grasp of the language. Understanding Jargon in English is sometime difficult enough. I provide clear easy to understand letters and documents in English so that you fully understand any terms and conditions before making a decision.
Advice on tax efficiency is just as important and offering good returns. There are products available exclusively for Spanish expats that can provide invaluable benefits. Having a good base knowledge of the tax implications both now and in the future is an essential ingredient to making a sound decision.
Click for more information about Keith Littlewood.
The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.
This communication is for information purposes only and it does not constitute advice or a recommendation. The value of investments can go up as well as down, and investors may not get back the full amount invested. The Blacktower group of companies operates across multiple jurisdictions, each authorized under its respective regulatory license. For further information, please refer to the relevant regulatory page.
