International Financial Planning — for Expats & Global Investors
Standard UK financial planning breaks down the moment you move abroad. Tax residence, domicile, pension rules, inheritance law, and currency risk all change — often fundamentally — when you cross a border. We provide independent financial planning built specifically for internationally mobile individuals and high-net-worth expats, across all the jurisdictions where our clients live and hold assets.
Why standard UK financial planning doesn't work abroad
What breaks when you move abroad:
- UK ISAs lose their tax-free status once you are non-resident
- UK pension contributions are restricted — no UK earnings, no UK relief
- Your UK residence history affects IHT on worldwide assets under the post-April 2025 long-term-resident rules
- UK wills may not be valid or enforceable in your country of residence
- Capital gains realised while non-resident can create unexpected UK tax liabilities on return
- UK financial advisers cannot legally advise clients resident in most overseas jurisdictions
What international planning provides
- Advice that is legal and compliant in your country of residence
- Investment wrappers structured to be tax-efficient where you live — not in the UK
- Cross-border estate planning that coordinates UK and local succession law
- Currency strategies that protect the real value of your international assets
- Ongoing advice that adjusts as you move, as laws change, and as your life evolves
- A single adviser relationship that holds the complete picture across all jurisdictions
Plan your finances — free tools
Three free calculators and assessments to help you understand your position and what decisions you face.
DB Transfer Value Calculator
Estimate the critical yield needed to match your defined benefit pension income in drawdown. Useful for QROPS and international pension transfer planning.
Use the calculator →
Statutory Residence Test
Work through the UK Statutory Residence Test to determine your UK tax residence status for a given tax year. Essential for expats with UK income or assets.
Run the test →
Retirement Income Calculator
Project your retirement income from pensions, investments, and other assets — adjusted for currency, inflation, and the country where you plan to retire.
Calculate your income →International financial planning services
Each service area has a dedicated guide explaining how it works, what the key issues are for expats, and how we approach it. Use the free tools below if you are unsure where to start.
Wealth Management
Independent portfolio management and asset allocation for high-net-worth expats. We select from the full international investment universe — not a restricted panel — to build portfolios aligned with your risk profile, timeline, and residency situation.
Read guideTax Planning for Expats
Cross-border tax structuring covering UK residence, domicile, offshore income, CGT, and inheritance tax. Coordinated with local advisers in your country of residence to avoid double taxation and take advantage of the treaties that apply to your situation.
Read guide
Estate Planning
Wills, trusts, and succession planning that works across multiple jurisdictions. We identify the conflicts between UK succession law and local forced heirship rules, and structure your estate so assets pass to whom you intend — wherever they are held.
Read guide
Investment Portfolio Management
Offshore investment bonds, discretionary managed portfolios, and direct fund access — structured to be tax-efficient in your country of residence. We advise on fund selection, wrapper choice, and rebalancing strategy on an ongoing basis.
Read guide
Currency & FX Strategy
Managing multi-currency income, overseas pension payments, and cross-border transfers. We work with specialist FX providers to reduce the cost and volatility of currency conversion for clients with income and assets in multiple currencies.
Read guide
Offshore Structures
Offshore investment bonds, foundations, and international trusts — explained clearly. We identify when an offshore wrapper is genuinely advantageous for your situation and which jurisdiction and provider best fits your needs.
Read guide
Education & Family Planning
International school fee planning, university funding, and the fee-status rules that determine whether your child pays home or international tuition. For many expat families, the most significant unplanned financial liability.
Read guideExplore each planning area in detail
Each sub-service page provides comprehensive guidance on how that area of planning works for internationally mobile individuals — including the key concepts, the planning strategies available, and how Global Investments approaches it.
International Tax Planning
UK residence, domicile, SRT, the new FIG regime (post-April 2025), CGT for non-residents, IHT planning, and double taxation treaties — detailed guidance for internationally mobile individuals.
Explore tax planning →Estate Planning & Succession
IHT mitigation strategies, international wills, forced heirship rules, powers of attorney, and trust structures for clients with assets across multiple jurisdictions.
Explore estate planning →Wealth Management
Holistic international wealth management — portfolio construction, discretionary vs advisory management, investment wrappers, custody, ESG, and consolidated multi-jurisdiction reporting.
Explore wealth management →Offshore Structures
Offshore bonds, family investment companies, discretionary trusts, foundations, and international holding companies — how each works, who it is for, and what to avoid.
Explore offshore structures →Currency & FX Planning
Managing multi-currency portfolios, forward contracts, base-currency matching, dollar-pegged Gulf currencies, repatriation planning, and the Temporary Repatriation Facility (TRF).
Explore currency planning →Education & Family Planning
International school fees, university funding, the home vs international fee-status rules for expat children, and savings structures for globally mobile families. A six-figure liability most families underplan.
Explore education planning →Our financial planning process
1. Discovery
We map your full financial position — assets, income, liabilities, pensions, protection, existing structures — across every jurisdiction where you have a footprint.
2. Goal setting
We establish what you are trying to achieve: retirement income, estate transfer, tax reduction, currency consolidation, or a combination. We set measurable targets with realistic timescales.
3. Strategy design
We produce a written financial plan covering each area of your finances — investment, tax, protection, estate, and currency. The plan explains what we recommend, why, and what it costs.
4. Implementation
We manage the implementation process — applications, transfers, new wrappers, adviser appointments — coordinating with your accountant, solicitor, and other advisers as needed.
5. Ongoing review
We review your plan at least annually. We track performance, monitor tax positions, and update the strategy when legislation changes or when your circumstances change.
6. Life event reviews
Major life events — relocation, divorce, inheritance, business exit, new property — trigger an immediate review. Your financial plan must remain current as your life evolves.
Financial planning guides for expats
Agricultural Property Relief: Guide for Landowners and Farmers
Agricultural property relief (APR) can exempt farmland and farmhouses from inheritance tax at 100% or 50%. This guide covers qualifying conditions, the vacant possession versus tenanted distinction, farmhouse eligibility, habitat conservation land, the interaction with BPR, and the significant changes announced in the October 2024 Budget.
ReadAndorra Residency: Tax Benefits and Financial Planning
A complete guide to Andorra residency for HNW individuals — the tax advantages, the residency application process, passive and active residency categories, and the financial planning considerations for those considering the move.
ReadAnnual Investment Allowance (AIA) and Full Expensing: A Business Tax Guide
The Annual Investment Allowance provides a 100% first-year tax deduction on qualifying plant and machinery. This guide covers the £1m limit, what qualifies, the interaction with full expensing from April 2023, and planning for groups and straddling periods.
ReadAnnual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED): What It Means for Offshore Property Structures
ATED is an annual charge on UK residential property held by companies and certain other entities — understanding it is essential for any non-resident using corporate property structures.
ReadAnnuities for Expats: A Complete Guide
What annuities are, how they work, current rate context, impaired life annuities, and the specific considerations for expats deciding between annuity and drawdown.
ReadArmed Forces Pension Planning: A Guide to AFPS 15 and Beyond
A comprehensive guide to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15): accrual rate, preserved pension, commutation, Early Departure Payments, interaction with SIPPs, death benefits, and QROPS for personnel living abroad.
ReadGet a free financial planning review
Our independent advisers specialise in expat and internationally mobile clients — covering investments, tax planning, estate planning, pensions, and offshore structures.
Important regulatory notice
The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to future returns. The information on this website is for general guidance only and does not constitute a personal recommendation or personal financial advice. Tax rules, pension legislation, and investment regulations change — information may become out of date. Always verify current rules and seek advice from a qualified independent financial adviser before making any financial decisions.
Global Investments provides independent international financial planning advice. We are not tied to any investment provider, insurance company, or product range. We may receive remuneration from product providers on the placement of business — this is disclosed in full in our client agreement before any advice is given.
Book a free financial planning review
Most expats have never had a proper review of their financial position as non-residents. A free planning review takes around 45 minutes. We will give you an honest assessment of where the gaps are and what you need to do — with no obligation to proceed.
Book a free planning review