International financial planning is rarely straightforward.
For individuals and families who live, work or retire across borders, financial decisions are shaped by multiple tax systems, currencies, regulatory regimes and long-term lifestyle choices. Navigating that complexity requires more than local knowledge — it requires experience built over time.
As Blacktower marks 40 years of financial advice in 2026, its history reflects the growth of international living and the increasing demand for genuinely cross-border expertise.
The Evolution of International Living
When Blacktower began advising clients in 1986, international mobility was relatively limited. Today, it is commonplace for individuals to:
- Work internationally during their careers
- Retire outside their country of birth
- Hold pensions, investments and property across multiple jurisdictions
- Support families spread across borders
Each of these scenarios introduces layers of complexity that domestic advice alone cannot address.
Why Cross-Border Advice Is Different
Cross-border financial planning involves far more than translating one country’s advice into another.
It requires an understanding of:
- How tax systems interact
- Double taxation treaties
- Residency and domicile rules
- Currency exposure and sequencing risk
- International pension structures
- Estate planning across jurisdictions
Decisions made in one country can have unintended consequences in another — often years later.
Experience Built Over Decades
Four decades of advising internationally mobile clients has shaped Blacktower’s approach to planning. Over time, advisers develop not just technical knowledge, but perspective:
- How rules evolve over time
- How clients’ lives change
- How relocation decisions impact long-term outcomes
This experience helps advisers anticipate complexity rather than respond to it after the fact.
Planning That Adapts as Life Changes
One of the defining features of cross-border clients is change. People move again. Tax regimes shift. Family circumstances evolve.
Long-term international planning must be flexible, regularly reviewed and grounded in an understanding of how multiple systems interact.
Final Thought
Cross-border financial planning rewards experience. For clients navigating international lives, working with advisers who have spent decades supporting similar journeys can bring clarity, structure and confidence.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.