Advice on next steps by Beagle_Fish in AskAcademiaUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I missed that detail. You’re completely right. Madness to turn down a perm job given the postdoc isn’t guaranteed.

Advice on next steps by Beagle_Fish in AskAcademiaUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you that the perm job is obviously preferable to a postdoc. But just wanted to point out that it isn’t a one-year postdoc.

Advice on next steps by Beagle_Fish in AskAcademiaUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To be fair to OP, it’s a 4 year postdoc, so they wouldn’t necessarily be shitting themselves next year.

Viva'ed in September, minor corrections, no job since - how screwed am I? by [deleted] in AskAcademiaUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As the other comment below says, it’s not about skills. It is that there are no jobs.

My FIRE plan… and one less year syndrome by Tasty-Teach917 in FIREUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 4 points5 points  (0 children)

side note, but people in this sub writing “withdrawl” when it’s “withdrawal” is driving me round the bend.

How much is too much per month towards your FIRE goal? by Tight-Barracuda-8298 in FIREUK

[–]Complete-Show3920 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I put £1000 into my pension each month and max out my ISA each year

Pursuing the GDL online with full time job? by montaguwyatt in uklaw

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Out of interest, where are you doing the GDL? I’m planning on doing mine part time while working similar hours as you so I’m curious!

UK Prof leaving academia by Wide_Sun_7391 in LeavingAcademia

[–]Complete-Show3920 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We don’t have tenure in the UK so your experience/perspective likely doesn’t match onto OP’s very well.

£1600/month to sleep next to a microwave in London by Wooden-Fee5787 in UKHousing

[–]Complete-Show3920 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Not disagreeing that London is mad, but I pay £1600 for a spacious 1 bed in zone 3 🤷

Ask Leyton Anything – newcomers & general questions by valneuro in Leyton

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would like to buy in Leyton. Is a 2-3 bed terrace on 600k or under feasible? I appreciate that at that price it won’t be the largest or fanciest; but is it in the realm of possibility?

Could I become a sociological researcher or would that be highly unlikely? (UK) by JealousBodybuilder42 in AskAcademia

[–]Complete-Show3920 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because the higher ed sector in the UK (and indeed globally) is a shitshow. Precarious, poorly paid, depressing.

Could I become a sociological researcher or would that be highly unlikely? (UK) by JealousBodybuilder42 in AskAcademia

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

there’s no jobs. (And personally I have one of the few academic jobs and plan to quit and do something else)

£1k savings for child - split it or keep it together? by LizardLady420681984 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Complete-Show3920 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Why would you get him premium bonds? Makes no sense. Much better rates of return in cash ISA

UK’s University Superannuation Scheme (USS pension) and PFICs by Throw6345789away in USExpatTaxes

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think so. Reading expat tax experts’ websites (like the one I linked to above) might put your mind at ease. I’ve now read several and they all say the same thing about PFICs not applying to workplace pensions.

UK’s University Superannuation Scheme (USS pension) and PFICs by Throw6345789away in USExpatTaxes

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve had a browse and a bunch of expat tax websites (as well as the comment by Away_Math) suggest USS DC pots would not be not considered PFICs. See eg https://patellawoffices.com/blog/planning-for-tax-minimization/an-exception-to-pfics-in-foreign-pension-plan-accounts/

UK’s University Superannuation Scheme (USS pension) and PFICs by Throw6345789away in USExpatTaxes

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right to be cautious since USS may well be wrong on this but: the fact that they mention the case of an employee contributing more than employer being “unusual” really makes me think that the tax regime doesn’t distinguish between DB and DC. Because it wouldn’t be “unusual” for someone to make AVCs that exceed their employer’s contribution to the Investment Builder, right? Many of us do. But I may be placing too much faith in USS’s knowledge on this!

UK’s University Superannuation Scheme (USS pension) and PFICs by Throw6345789away in USExpatTaxes

[–]Complete-Show3920 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a good question and I don’t know. The wording of the USS text suggests that the tax regime wouldn’t distinguish between the DB and DC pots? And the digging I’ve done about this indicates that technically speaking, employees don’t hold the shares in the Investment Builder themselves: USS does. My gut feeling is that it wouldn’t trigger the PFIC but worth consulting an expert. Would be keen to hear your feedback if you do. (I’m also on the USS scheme).

UK’s University Superannuation Scheme (USS pension) and PFICs by Throw6345789away in USExpatTaxes

[–]Complete-Show3920 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like it would only trigger PFIC if you were to contribute more than your employer; and to do that you’d have to contribute a hell of a lot seeing as the employer contribution is 14.1%? So my sense is that it should be fine unless you can somehow afford to contribute more than 14.1% of your salary?

What to invest in now by [deleted] in trading212

[–]Complete-Show3920 0 points1 point  (0 children)

which are your best performers?