For UK IFAs, Pension Transfer Specialists, and Canadian Professional Advisers ·

Refer Your Client to a Specialist - UK Pension Transfers to Canada

If you work with British expats in Canada and you have a client holding a deferred UK employer pension, you have a client who needs a QROPS transfer specialist – not a generalist adviser.

Simon Huften handles exclusively UK-to-Canada pension transfers. He is licensed in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. He has completed $250M+ in transfers using iA Clarington and Industrial Alliance, both confirmed HMRC ROPS-listed receiving providers. He coordinates the FCA independent advice step for Defined Benefit transfers and manages CETV windows actively from the moment they are issued.

A referral to Strata QROPS is a referral to a named specialist with a clear process, a no-fee model for the client, and a track record in the precise transfer type your client needs.

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Why Your Client Needs a Specialist, Not a Generalist Advisor

Most Canadian financial advisers are not equipped to handle a UK pension transfer. The process involves HMRC ROPS list verification, CETV management with a three-month guarantee window, coordination of FCA-regulated independent advice for Defined Benefit cases, and precise application of paragraph 60(j) of Canada’s Income Tax Act for the tax-free RRSP rollover. Errors in any of these steps can trigger an immediate tax charge or force the entire process to restart.

Simon Huften has spent ten years exclusively in this transfer type. That specialisation matters for your client – and for the quality of the referral you are making.

HMRC ROPS list verification

Simon confirms both the sending scheme and the receiving provider are HMRC-recognised before any process begins – protecting your client from the 25% Overseas Transfer Charge on non-compliant transfers

Active CETV management

The Cash Equivalent Transfer Value is valid for three months. Simon manages the window from issuance – coordinating all steps to prevent expiry and the cost and delay of re-requesting

iA Clarington and Industrial Alliance

Both confirmed HMRC ROPS-listed receiving providers. Simon verifies ROPS status at the start and close of every transfer

FCA DB advice coordination

Defined Benefit pensions with a CETV above £30,000 require independent FCA-regulated advice before transfer. Simon coordinates this step – introducing your client to appropriate FCA-authorised advisers and managing the process through to completion

Paragraph 60(j) rollover execution

The tax-free transfer from the UK pension to a Canadian RRSP is governed by paragraph 60(j) of the Income Tax Act. Simon executes this precisely – including the 60-day contribution deadline that, if missed, forfeits the rollover

The FCA Advice Requirement - Why It Creates the Referral Relationship

For Defined Benefit pensions where the Cash Equivalent Transfer Value exceeds £30,000, FCA regulations require the scheme member to obtain independent financial advice from a UK FCA-regulated Pension Transfer Specialist before the transfer can proceed. This is not a formality – it is a regulatory gate.

If you are a UK-based IFA or Pension Transfer Specialist working with a client who intends to transfer their DB pension to Canada, your role is to assess the suitability of the transfer and issue the Certificate of Advice. The Canadian side – receiving provider setup, ROPS verification, 60(j) rollover execution, and CETV management – requires a licensed Canadian QROPS specialist.

Simon Huften is that specialist. He works alongside UK FCA advisers on DB transfer cases – handling the Canadian execution after you have delivered your advice. The client relationship and the advice process remain yours. Simon handles everything on the Canadian side from the moment the Certificate of Advice is issued.

Canadian Professional Advisers - Accountants, Solicitors, and Immigration Lawyers

If you are a Canadian accountant, estate planning solicitor, or immigration lawyer and you have a British expat client with a deferred UK employer pension, you have a client with an unaddressed asset and – from April 2027 – a growing estate planning risk.

Many British expats permanently settled in Canada have never addressed their UK pension because they assume it is complex, inaccessible, or not worth the process. In most cases it is none of these things. The transfer mechanism is established under HMRC’s QROPS framework and paragraph 60(j) of Canada’s Income Tax Act. The process is repeatable and, for the right profile of client, strongly advantageous.

A referral to Simon Huften gives your client access to a named specialist who will assess their position, confirm their eligibility, and manage the transfer from first contact to RRSP receipt – at no cost to your client.

Canadian accountant

Client signal to look for: British expat client with UK pension declared on T1161 (Form T1135) or mentioned in income planning conversations

Why the referral makes sense: Pension transfer to RRSP is tax-deferred under 60(j) – no Canadian tax event on transfer. Removes ongoing UK reporting obligation once transfer completes.

Estate planning solicitor

Client signal to look for: British expat client with UK pension assets not addressed in estate plan – particularly post-April 2027 IHT exposure on uncrystallised pension death benefits

Why the referral makes sense: A QROPS transfer removes the pension from the UK IHT regime. Resolves a structural gap in the estate plan without requiring the solicitor to hold UK financial qualifications.

Immigration lawyer

Client signal to look for: British client with permanent residency or citizenship who mentions a UK employer pension they have not addressed

Why the referral makes sense: The QROPS transfer requires Canadian tax residency – permanent residents qualify. Referral is timely and appropriate at or after the residency stage.

Canadian financial planner (non-specialist)

Client signal to look for: Existing client with a UK pension the planner is not equipped to transfer

Why the referral makes sense: Simon handles the QROPS transfer exclusively. The referring planner retains the broader financial planning relationship – the referral enhances the client’s financial position without creating a competitive conflict.

IHT URGENCY: From April 2027, UK pension death benefits will be included in the UK IHT regime – potentially taxed at 40% on the residual fund at death. If you are advising British expats in Canada on estate planning, their deferred UK pensions are now an active IHT exposure. A QROPS transfer to a Canadian RRSP removes the pension from the UK IHT regime entirely. The transfer process takes 12–16 weeks for DB pensions and 6–10 weeks for DC pensions. Clients beginning the process in Q1 2027 may not complete before the April deadline.

How the April 2027 IHT change affects your client’s pension →

How a Referral Works - Four Steps

A referral to Strata QROPS is straightforward. You do not need to provide pension documentation or complete any forms on your client’s behalf. An introduction is enough to start the process.

Introduction

You introduce your client to Simon Huften by email or phone – or pass Simon’s contact details directly. Simon’s response time is same-day during business hours.

Your Involvement: Email or phone introduction only. No forms, no documentation, no obligation.

Initial consultation

Simon holds a free 15-minute consultation with your client – assessing their pension type, CETV estimate, age, and residency position. He confirms eligibility and outlines the transfer timeline.

Your Involvement: You receive a brief written summary of the initial assessment on request – so you remain informed without being drawn into the technical process.

Transfer process

Simon manages the complete transfer – ROPS verification, CETV request and management, FCA advice coordination (DB cases), documentation, and transfer instruction to the receiving provider.

Your Involvement: No ongoing involvement required unless you choose to maintain contact. Simon updates you at key milestones on request.

Completion

The pension arrives in the client’s Canadian RRSP. Simon confirms completion and provides the client with T4A documentation for their tax return.

Your Involvement: Your client’s pension position is resolved. The referral reflects positively on the quality of professional connections you maintain for your clients.

About Simon Huften and Strata QROPS

Credential / Signal	Detail
QROPS-only specialist	10+ years exclusively in UK-to-Canada pension transfers. $250M+ in completed transfers under the QROPS framework.
Licensed in Ontario, BC, and Alberta	Simon is registered to advise clients in all three major British expat provinces. Clients across Canada are served.
No fee to client	Strata QROPS is compensated by the investment provider (iA Clarington or Industrial Alliance) only after the transfer completes. Zero cost to the client throughout the process.
Confirmed HMRC ROPS-listed providers	iA Clarington and Industrial Alliance are both confirmed on the HMRC ROPS list. Simon verifies ROPS status at the start and close of every transfer – not assumed, verified.
DB and DC transfers	Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution pensions both handled. DB transfers include full FCA advice coordination. DC transfers typically complete in 6–10 weeks.
Active CETV management	Simon monitors CETV validity windows from the moment they are issued – preventing expiry that would force the process to restart and a new valuation fee.
RRSP destination	The pension lands in a Canadian RRSP under paragraph 60(j) of the Income Tax Act – a Canadian domestic account. Not a QROPS wrapper. The client retains full RRSP flexibility including beneficiary designation.

Frequently Asked Questions - For Professional Advisers

How do I refer a client? What information do I need to provide?

An email or phone introduction is sufficient to begin. You do not need to provide pension documentation, policy numbers, or scheme details on your client’s behalf. Simon will gather that information directly from the client in the initial consultation. The minimum you need to confirm before making the referral is that your client holds a deferred UK employer pension and is currently Canadian tax-resident.

Will I receive updates on the transfer after the introduction?

Yes, on request. Simon can provide written milestone updates – confirmation of eligibility, CETV issued, FCA advice completed (DB cases), transfer instructed, and completion with T4A issued – so you remain informed without being drawn into the technical process. The default is not to copy you on every step unless you request it; some referring professionals prefer to keep it simple and hear only at completion.

My client has a Defined Benefit pension. What happens with the FCA advice requirement?

For Defined Benefit pensions where the CETV exceeds £30,000, FCA regulations require independent advice from a UK-regulated Pension Transfer Specialist before the transfer proceeds. Simon coordinates this step – he works with a network of FCA-authorised advisers who specialise in this advice category and will introduce your client to the appropriate adviser once the CETV is confirmed. The Certificate of Advice must be issued before the transfer can be instructed. Simon manages the timeline so the CETV window does not expire while the advice process is underway.

Does making a referral to Simon create any regulatory obligation for me?

Referring a client to a specialist for a service outside your own licence scope is standard professional practice. You are not providing pension transfer advice by making the introduction – Simon provides the regulated advice on the Canadian side (and coordinates FCA-regulated advice on the UK side for DB cases). As with any professional referral, you should satisfy yourself that Simon is appropriately licensed and experienced for your client’s needs. His provincial registrations, provider relationships, and transfer track record are detailed on this page and at /about-simon-huften/.

My client's pension may be affected by the April 2027 UK IHT changes. Is the timeline still achievable?

DB transfers complete in 12–16 weeks from CETV request to RRSP receipt under Simon’s active CETV management model. DC transfers complete in 6–10 weeks. A DB client beginning the process by October 2026 has a realistic path to completing before April 2027. A DC client beginning before January 2027 is within reach. Simon will confirm the realistic timeline based on your client’s specific scheme in the initial consultation. Do not assume there is time – the IHT change is confirmed legislation from the UK Autumn Budget 2024.

How the April 2027 IHT change affects your client’s pension

Is there any cost to my client? Is there a fee for the referral?

There is no fee to your client at any stage of the process. Strata QROPS is compensated by iA Clarington or Industrial Alliance only after the transfer completes. The only out-of-pocket expense your client may incur is the FCA independent advice fee for DB transfers above £30,000 – this is paid to the FCA-authorised UK adviser, not to Simon, and is a regulatory requirement, not a Strata QROPS charge. There is no referral fee arrangement with professional contacts. The value of the referral is the quality of outcome for your client.

Tax treatment of a QROPS transfer to a Canadian RRSP | Full QROPS FAQ for Canadian residents

Make a Referral Enquiry

If you have a client who holds a deferred UK employer pension and is permanently settled in Canada, contact Simon Huften directly. A brief outline of your client’s situation – pension type (DB or DC), approximate age, and province of residence – is all that is needed to begin.

Simon responds to referral enquiries same-day during business hours. All professional contacts receive a written summary of the initial assessment within 48 hours of the client’s first consultation.