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Female Finance: International Women’s Day

“I wish more women would become financial advisers; it’s an excellent career but it’s not an easy life. The profession is dominated by men, but I urge women who begin a career in finance not to emulate the way men work. Women tend to have a unique skill set that is ideally suited to this role, and the ability to really listen and understand a client’s needs. To make life easier I would find a mentor: a woman, if you can.”

Christina Brady – Associate Director

I’m proud to be a woman in finance. For almost 20 years now, I’ve been offering my support and advice to a wide range of clients, most notably expats living in Spain.

My advice to women starting in the financial services is: know your worth. Don’t try and conform to how others do things – be the best version of yourself and play to your strengths. Now more than ever you’re going to be dealing with female clients and you will be able to use your innate empathy to build a relationship of trust.

Also, be resilient. You may spend a lot of time answering questions on subjects outside of your area of expertise. It can be a hectic job with long hours so don’t forget to make time for yourself, whether that’s doing yoga, reading or enjoying a nice big glass of Rioja!

Lucia Melgarejo – International Financial Adviser

Women need to support women. Share knowledge, share experiences and share insights – it’s this foundation that yields the most success, the best reputations and the highest levels of integrity.

I would sum up my approach to a career in finance as follows:

  1. Never sell yourself short
  2. Step up and take responsibility
  3. Know your objectives
  4. Pick a female mentor
  5. Run your own race

Working in financial services can present endless opportunities for those who cultivate positive, enduring relationships, always keep learning and put their clients at the heart of every effort.”

Manuela Robinson – Joint Country Manager

“Always be yourself, because that’s your biggest strength. Don’t think of yourself as a woman in a man’s world because you’re not – you’re an equally qualified individual and never forget it. Sometimes a woman is at an advantage in that we have a different set of skills, whether you’re a partner, mother, family organizer, party planner, listener or a friend!”

Rosemary Sheppard – International Financial Adviser

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.

Other News

As state pension systems slip, investment advice becomes paramount

Golden piggy bankWhen an expat is faced with the question of what to do with their pension, there are several options available to them. And it’s important to understand everything that could be beneficial for your pension pot because very few countries offer their citizens high standard pension systems, as shown by the latest Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, which ranks the pensions provided by the governments of 30 countries.

The good news is that the Index’s ranking had a few standouts. Near the top of the table, coming in at number two (beaten only by Denmark), was the Dutch system, which is great for any expats in the Netherlands who are eligible to receive the country’s state pension. If you’ve lived or worked in Netherlands, then you would have built up a Dutch state pension. The longer you have lived in the country, the larger your Dutch pension will be (you can combine it with a state pension accumulated in another EU and EEA member country).

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Safeguarding your Pension and Assets

Many UK expatriates do not realise that even if they have left and are no longer resident in the UK, they remain UK-domiciled and therefore subject to UK Inheritance Tax (IHT) on their worldwide estate at a rate of 40 per cent after allowances. This can come as a major shock. 

Brexit

What can be done about this? There are several options. 

Transfers of wealth on death between husband and wife are exempt from IHT, but only if the spouse is also domiciled in the UK (or both are non-domiciled). This catches out many expatriates who have married a foreign passport holder who is likely to be domiciled elsewhere. Even then, the IHT is only delayed rather than avoided, because on the death of the survivor the tax will be payable on the passing of the family assets to the next generation. 

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