When you’re living abroad, financial planning can feel more complicated than it should. Tax rules change between countries, currencies move, and the right investment structure often depends on where you live now — and where you might live in future. That’s why we offer a free, no-obligation financial review for expatriates in Portugal, Spain and across Europe.
If you’re wondering what actually happens during this process and how it could help you, here’s a clear breakdown of how it works from first contact through to ongoing financial support.
1. Initial Contact & Consultation
Most people get in touch either directly through my website, via a personal referral, or through the professional networks I work with — including lawyers, accountants and well-known expat communities such as ExpatsPortugal and InterNations. I’m a recommended adviser on ExpatsPortugal and regularly collaborate with international tax lawyers and accountants to ensure the planning is both technically accurate and locally compliant. However you find me, the first step is straightforward: we arrange an initial digital meeting.
What happens on the first meeting
- Introductions and reassurance – I will introduce myself, explain the company and our regulatory status so you know your finances are handled in a fully regulated environment.
- Your questions answered – This is your time to ask anything about investing, pensions, tax planning or expat financial life.
- Fact-find and compatibility check – We go through your personal and financial picture: assets, income, pensions, existing investments, future plans, risk preferences, views on inflation, taxation, currencies and interest rates. We also discuss whether we’re a good fit to work together.
This meeting is not a sales pitch — it’s about understanding your goals and seeing if my services are relevant and beneficial for your situation. Typical reviews uncover unnecessary platform fees, outdated tax-inefficient holdings, and better currency solutions, often saving individuals thousands over time. If it’s clear there are areas worth improving, we will go away and start building a personalised financial plan.
2. Your Personalised Financial Plan
After our first discussion, I prepare a written report and recommendations tailored to your profile. It’s designed to be clear and practical — with full disclosure of costs and options.
Access to leading providers
Because of the size of our company, we have relationships with hundreds of investment providers and top-tier discretionary fund managers (DFMs).
This often means:
- access to institutional-only strategies or lower pricing than the retail market
- the choice between simple, low-cost ETF portfolios for those starting out, and more bespoke discretionary solutions for higher-value portfolios
If you’d like to explore more on DFMs, I cover it on my site — and I’ve also written detailed comparisons of products like the popular Prudential International Bond and the Utmost Apex Bond.
Two core elements of advice
- The structure – We decide which product or jurisdiction best fits your tax residency and long-term goals (for example Portuguese or Spanish compliant investments, UK pensions, offshore strategies). Getting this right matters. For instance, Jersey is on Portugal’s blacklist, which can trigger higher taxes without the correct planning.
- The investment strategy – Once the structure is right, we design the underlying portfolio. Balancing cost, performance expectations, risk and currency exposure.
You’ll receive this in a suitability report which you can review in your own time before making any decision.
3. Implementation & Ongoing Support
When you’re ready to proceed, my team and I handle the onboarding and compliance work for you:
- preparing AML and KYC documentation
- dealing with the provider’s back office so you don’t have to
- keeping everything digital where possible (a positive change since COVID)
When it’s time to fund your investment, your money is never paid to me or my company. It moves directly from your existing accounts to the selected financial institution, which is typically based in a well-regulated jurisdiction such as Ireland, Luxembourg or the UK.
Currency transfers made easy
One of the main benefits of international investing is the ability to hold and invest in multiple currencies.
Most of the solutions recommended are focused on letting you keep and invest your money in the currency that makes the most sense for you — EUR, GBP, USD or others. Meaning that in many cases, no currency conversion is required at all.
However, if a currency transfer is required for planning reasons (for example, you hold GBP but decide to invest in EUR), We recommend:
- Wise – ideal for smaller, everyday transfers
- Currencies Direct – better suited for large sums such as property sales or major investments. They are FCA regulated and provide personalised rate support
I explain this fully in my currency guide for expats.
4. Reviews & Adjustments Over Time
Your plan isn’t static. We’ll agree a review schedule — quarterly, annually, or as needed, to check:
- investment performance versus your goals
- tax changes (for example, the UK recently brought pensions into scope for inheritance tax, prompting strategy updates for many clients)
- personal changes such as relocation, retirement timing or new income needs
If you’re using a discretionary fund manager, we often bring them into these reviews once a year so you hear directly from the people managing your portfolio.
Why This Process Works
– Regulated & transparent – You’ll know who’s behind every recommendation and what you’re paying.
– Tailored for expats – Cross-border tax and residency planning is at the core of every step.
– Flexible over time – Life abroad changes, your plan should too.
Ready to Start?
Schedule your free financial review today. Complete the form below (or visit our contact page) see how much tax you could save, whether your current investments are working for you, and what changes could make your finances more efficient as an expat.
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Disclaimer: While care has been taken to ensure the information in this article is accurate at the time of publication, laws and regulations may change. This content should not be relied upon as a substitute for personalised professional advice. Always seek guidance based on your specific circumstances.
