Owning Property vs Regular Saving
Have you ever heard the term, “safe as houses”? This is exactly how many would describe their attitude towards property investment. That it’s the safest haven for your money, and an appropriate platform to shelter long-term savings. To be fair, property can often be a fantastic investment. Owning large quantities of property, mortgage free, in […]
assets, Featured, financial goals, Future Planning, Investments, Personal Finance, Property, Retirement Planning, Stock Market, World Economy
Setting Up A Bank Account In Vietnam
Dear Sven, I have just moved from Madrid to Saigon, and have taking a job as a junior manager at a local manufacturing company. My general manager is a lovely Vietnamese man, and he has told me that I am responsible for opening my own bank account while I am in the country. I have […]
Financial Planning, Pensions, QROPS
UK Pension Freedom triggers 55% Tax
Transferring existing UK pensions into offshore schemes has become more and more popular for British Expats over the last few years, but new rules may have made the move less attractive. Pension freedoms, introduced from April 6th, mean that British savers who transfer their pension to Australia or New Zealand, for example, could face a shocking […]
Financial Planning, Retirement Planning
UK Pension Rule Changes
UK pension rule changes will have a big affect on expats retiring abroad, but not all is lost, as there are still options available. As you know, pensions in underfunded public schemes, such as teachers, police, NHS, and the military are now prevented from transferring their pension pots overseas. This means that anyone retiring abroad […]
British Pensions, Expat Retirement, Featured, Pension Planning, QROPS, Retire Overseas, Retirement Planning, SIPP
International Money Transfers
Your bank is no longer the only way to move money from one country to another. Here is a closer look at your options for international money transfers: More and more business takes place across borders and as a result currencies need to be exchanged 24hours a day. As the world has changed, so have […]
Currency Transfers, Expatriate, Featured, International Transfers, Personal Finance
New CGT Rules for Brits
When selling UK properties, Britons that live overseas are now subject to Capital Gains Tax, but you can minimise the impact. April 5th marked a new tax year in Britain, and the introduction of new legislation which taxes any gains made on residential property sold by all of those living outside the UK. Up until […]
British Expats, Capital Gains Tax, Featured, Property, UK, UK property
Analysis, Financial Planning, Politics
What the UK Election Result Means for Expats
As the Queen confirmed David Cameron’s second term as Prime Minister of the UK, the cloud of political and financial uncertainty lifted, and investors are now hoping to reap the benefits. In the housing industry, expats who have invested in UK property should start to see a more aggressive rise in prices. With no threat […]
Eurozone, Government Changes, Great Britain, Great British Pound, Stock Market, UK, UK General Election 2015, World Economy
Financial Planning, Forex, Market Watch
Maximising Your Currency Options
Sterling has been one of the best performing currencies so far this year, recently hitting a seven-year high against the Euro, and powering ahead against the Australian and Canadian dollars. Consequently, expats are keen to ensure that they do not miss out, and thankfully there are some new products on the market that can help […]
Currency Exchange, Expat finance, Featured, Forex, Great British Pound, Travel money
Explained, Financial Planning, General, Market Watch, Tax-free Growth
No Place to Hide for Expat Tax Evaders
Within the next two years, almost 100 governments around the world will be exchanging information about bank accounts. Loopholes have rapidly begun to close for expat tax dodgers, and they are running out of places to hide. At present, if tax authorities suspect people of tax evasion and want details about their finances, they have […]
Expat Tax, Featured, Tax avoidance, Tax Changes, Tax Evasion, tax liabilities
Analysis, Financial Planning, Investments, Market Watch
Searching for Value, From Pigs to Property!
Many may think that successful investment managers are nothing but gamblers, sharks, charlatans, cowboys and crooks. These are individuals who use the concept of the “market” as an imaginary platform to showcase their so-called “skills”. Although one will come across the odd con-man, both on Wall Street and in Southeast Asia, who will have you […]
Featured, Financial advice, Financial Planning, Investment advice, Offshore wealth management, Personal Finance, Value Investing, Warren Buffet
Financial Planning, Long Term Savings, Regular Savings, Retirement Planning
UK Interest Rates Are Putting Off Savers
It seems with five short weeks until the general election, one thing will remain the same regardless of the resulting vote: UK interest rates are unlikely to be raised in the first year by any party. The prediction is that the base rate will stay at its current level of 0.5pc for at least the […]
Diversification, Interest Rates, Investment choices, Long term planning, Long term Savings, UK
Financial Planning, Pensions, QROPS, Retirement Planning
Prove you’re alive or lose state pension
Words of warning for British Expats; if you don’t want to lose your state pension, then you need to act. It is more than 100 years since David Lloyd George first oversaw the introduction of the state pension. At the time, he probably did not anticipate so many British pensioners choosing to live abroad. Equally, […]
British Pensions, Expat Retirement, Featured, Overseas, Retire Overseas, State Pension, UK Pensions
