Investments News & Insights

When relocating to a new country, it's good to know all your options so you can ensure you have the smoothest transition possible. For one thing, there's the financial side to worry about.

This includes deciding on the best expat life insurance policy to buy as well as receiving expert pension transfer advice so that your retirement savings aren't negatively affected by the move. 

Naturally, some nations offer a smoother residency transition, with Portuguese citizenship and Maltese citizenship among the best, according to research.

You will, of course, also need to be aware of the entry requirements for each country.

Several countries have systems in place with the goal of attracting expats who will be able to gain residency in return for an investment. In a post-Brexit world, these may be the best options for some overseas movers. Although not suitable for everyone, some of these systems are of a very high, reputable standard and hold a range of benefits for expats who are eligible. A recent survey has analysed which countries offer the best of these migration schemes, with people choosing to buy Malta citizenship and Portugal citizenship as a matter of priority.

For expats, when it comes to money, planning ahead is essential so that your financial future remains stable.

There are several effective ways to get prepared, which include everything from taking out a suitable life insurance policy for expats, moving your pension into an overseas scheme so that you get tax advantages on your retirement savings, and making smart decisions on investment opportunities so they will provide worthwhile returns in the future.

One major investment opportunity that increasing numbers of British expats are keen to be a part of is the buying of UK property to then rent out to tenants – AKA buy-to-let.

Hacienda, or the Spanish taxman to you and me, has granted significant tax advantages for savings & investment plans held by Spanish Tax Residents, under certain conditions.

The advantages are considerable and further compounded as the Hacienda treats non-compliant investments negatively with extra reporting and punitive taxation every year.

Are your existing investments safe from punitive tax?

Expat financial advisers in Spain have been helping numerous British expats arrange their financial affairs so they can take advantage of the relatively low property prices across the country. Many properties could soon be unaffordable, but are still currently within tantalising reach for those who have the means.

Experts are warning that this period of opportunity cannot continue forever, as it is expected that the Spanish economy will soon rebound from a recent period of trouble with what is anticipated to be a marked and prolonged period of prosperity.

New figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have given a more accurate idea of the number of Britons living in Germany (and vice versa) and also show that many UK expats in Germany have made the decision that they will stay.

The report was compiled as part as a series and published as a response to the need for data on the British lives that will be most affected by Brexit. It included statistics on where British expats live and work, how long they've lived there, and what sort of employment they most often take on.

Recent pension transfers I have been involved with include British Airways and BT, amongst others, and these have prompted me to consider their perceived “gold-plated” image and whether clients may be better off transferring out to a Self-Invested Pension Plan (SIPP), perhaps, or a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

If you are contemplating your pension planning, ask your pension trustees to send you a Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) and you may be shocked by the size of the sum involved. The British Airways Scheme recently offered over £500,000 transfer value to a member whose pension entitlement would be £20833 at retirement. That’s 24 times the income.

Portugal offers an attractive regime of taxation to European Nationals considering a move here.

The regime is entitled (NHR) which stands for Non-Habitual Residents. Uncommon with other EU nations, a flat rate of taxation at 20% is applied to income derived in Portugal and a near total exemption for international income. For most European nationals, the NHR regime offers a simple and efficient residency programme.

The absence of wealth, inheritance and gift tax, coupled with a residency permit which allows free movement within the Schengen area, makes NHR extremely popular.