2 APRIL 2009 - Advice Financial, a well established New Zealand advisory business, is now an affiliate of the British based Alexander Beard Group.

The joint venture announced on April 1 will operate out of Auckland and initially will focus on three main areas: providing pension transfer advice under the Qualifying Registered Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS), rules to people immigrating to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, marketing its specialist services to the extensive British population living in New Zealand who have not already considered a pension transfer and New Zealanders returning home with accrued United Kingdom pension rights.

QROPS are British government regulations, which govern the transfer of pensions between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Additional services will include taxation advice on investments left behind in the UK, as well as life insurance, mortgage and trust requirements for people newly arrived in New Zealand.

Advice Financial Managing Director Jamie Coltman described the development as an exciting new venture.

"We have been researching the UK market for some time looking to develop a partnership with a reputable firm. We believe we have found an excellent partner in the Alexander Beard Group, an extremely professional firm who share our principles, values, integrity and commitment to the needs of their clients. We welcome the opportunity to represent the firm in New Zealand," Mr Coltman said.

"We are now able to offer an all encompassing financial planning service starting from the time a client is considering migration or to those returning home. Through collaboration with our partner offices in the UK, Australia and South Africa, we can provide this comprehensive service to British, Australian and South African nationals either currently resident in New Zealand or looking to immigrate. Alexander Beard is qualified and registered to deal with every aspect of this financial niche market and we are now able to bring the same level of expertise to New Zealand."

The Executive Chairman of the Alexander Beard Group, Paul Beard, said the opening of the joint venture's New Zealand office was the next stage in a controlled expansion plan in the international expatriate and emigration market.

"We have had a strong presence in this market since 1995, and since the QROPS legislation came into force we have already transferred over NZ$10 million of pensions to Australia and we hope to have the same success in New Zealand," Mr Beard said.