The Advertiser, Dordogne
May 2011
www.dordogneadvertiser.com
Directory 19
ADVERTISING FEATURES
No more electrical issues Communicating your electrical needs can be difficult if your French isn’t up to scratch, so why not contact Dordogne-based English electrician Adrian Kewell? SOLVING electrical problems abroad is standard fare for Adrian Kewell, who worked in Portugal and Barcelona before arriving in France four years ago. Having set up AK Electrical in Eymet in 2006, the business is now going from strength to strength as a result of word-of-mouth
Adrian Kewell runs AK Electrical
recommendations and satisfied repeat customers. The company specialises in electrical installation and electrical repairs for homes and commercial properties. With over 30 years' experience as an electrician, Adrian operates mainly in department 24, covering the surrounding areas of Eymet and Bergerac, but is now keen to expand his client base further afield. "I started initially as an apprentice in the family business, G J Kewell & Sons based in Littlehampton, West Sussex," said Adrian. "My grandfather founded the company in 1962 and ever since then I have continued my career as a self-employed electrical contractor, contracting and subcontracting projects throughout the UK." The company provides clients with total peace of mind and can manage an electrical job right from the begin-
ning through to completion. "We can provide a complete package that includes conception, procurement, project management, installation, technical expertise, innovation, and electrical design, as well as preventative maintenance and emergency repairs," said Adrian. "We can also always be trusted to be at the forefront of electrical safety," he added. The company can take on any type of electrical project, whether it is full rewiring, refurbishment or the upgrading of existing electrics that is required. Typical jobs include: implementing additional sockets or lighting; installing garden and ornamental
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Adrian operates mainly in department 24, but will travel further afield lighting; connecting heating systems and boilers; fixing up storage heating; fitting security and burglar alarms, and CCTV systems; putting in door entry systems; kitchen refurbishment; fault finding; and consuel certification (which involves a visual inspec-
AK Electrical is fully registered and all work carried out complies with French regulations
tion, testing and sign off by the national authority). "AK Electrical is fully registered and all work carried out complies with French regulations - the company is also insured and covered by a ten-year guarantee," said Adrian. "Each job is conducted diligently and efficiently to ensure that clients receive a top quality job whilst getting the best value for money." 06 32 31 61 85 ak-electrical@hotmail.co.uk
Get more out of your money in France
A CAREER in French banking convinced Arnaud Campion that most French banks gave poor financial solutions to international customers. Mr Campion set up Wealth Generation, his financial advice firm, after 12 years working as, among other roles, a branch manager for a leading high street bank and as a wealth manager in charge of international customers. He said: “Trying to arrange equity release is a nonsense: they don’t offer it; and making an interest-only loan is very difficult or they ask you to purchase 70% collateral.” One of the French banks offers a scheme that looks like equity release, he said, but it is more accurately described as a “reverse mortgage”. What is more, it is inflexible and expensive and only aimed at the over-65s. “I have partnerships with dedicated mortgage specialists and offer creative financial solutions: I can do an
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Photo: Pouche - fotolia.com
High street banks may not be the best bet for financial solutions for non-French residents, says Arnaud Campion of Wealth Generation
funds, so you can use it to buy a property in or outside France, to invest in a savings account, a pension plan, a car, or whatever you like.”
I have partnerships with dedicated mortgage specialists and offer creative financial solutions: I can do an equity release or an interest-only loan Arnaud Campion
Director of Wealth Generation
equity release and refinance up to 50% of the loan to value and I can do an interest-only loan with a 20% collateral and without any early redemption penalty. “With my equity release you don’t have to demonstrate the use of the
Mr Campion said he could also arrange mortgages to purchase properties outside France as well as inside. Another plus point is that his lenders will consider all your worldwide income when deciding how much they can lend to you (such as
money held offshore), not just money declared in France. He added: “I am not only a mortgage broker but a wealth manager. “I have a brand new pension plan which means your money remains always available and you have at the moment at 4.5% lifetime guaranteed income, with a ratchet effect. “This means that if you invest €100,000 you
have a guaranteed income of €4,500 at 65. Whatever happens to your investment then, including dropping to only €50,000 value, you keep your guarantee at €4,500. “If on the other hand your investment performs well and in 10 years is worth €200,000, then your income guarantee increases to €9,000. “There is a ratchet effect on the highest-ever level, so you always get that
amount at 65, even if the value of the investment drops.” Wealth Generation (www.wealth gen.fr) also offers investments such as French life assurance policies. This is essentially a savings account, but if you die up to €152,000 goes to your heir without inheritance duty, and the money is always available. “There are two kinds of investments you can put your money in. One is eurofunds, which give 100% guarantee on your capital and all your accrued interest. These can never go down and at the moment there is a 3.37% guarantee for 2011 and 2012. That’s the most secure investment I can offer. “I also promote an internationally diversified fund that has existed for more than 21 years. “It has, over the last 10 years, had an average 7.25% income. It did not even go down in 2008.” Mr Campion also offers tax advice, including assistance with filling in wealth tax and income tax returns. “I help clients to invest their tax instead of throwing it away. Instead of paying large amounts of tax you can invest in property or small and medium-sized businesses.” He said that it is wrong to think of France as being a high-tax country. “If you compare two people earning good money in the UK and France, they will pay more income tax in the UK.” For older retired people, in particular, it is much better to be paying your tax in France than the UK, he said. “I often advise people who have still been making a UK tax return but living in France, that they should have been making a French one.” In such cases, he can advise on how to claim back UK tax paid and pay the French tax. “You can go back three years and my clients usually save 50%.” Mr Campion said that his tax solutions are aimed at people who are fairly wealthy, however for mortgages he can help with loans of €100,000 or more.