Estate Planning News & Insights

Succession tax in Spain has long been a concern for expatriates, but recent reforms across several regions have significantly reduced the burden for immediate family members. If you live in Spain or are planning to relocate, it’s essential to understand how Spanish succession and gift tax (SSGT) works, how it varies by region, and how […]

If you’re a British expat living in France, you’ve probably heard of assurance vie—a popular and flexible investment product widely used for long-term savings, tax optimisation, and estate planning. But while the benefits of assurance vie are well publicised, the rules around how withdrawals are taxed can be more complex, especially for those navigating cross-border […]

For British nationals living in France, understanding how to manage savings and investments under a different legal and tax system can be challenging. However, one financial structure stands out for its flexibility, efficiency, and long-term planning benefits: the French Assurance Vie. Understanding Assurance Vie The Assurance Vie is a cornerstone of financial planning for residents […]

Why a strategic financial plan is essential for British nationals living abroad For British nationals who have chosen to live, work, or retire overseas, the expat lifestyle offers many opportunities—warmer climates, cultural enrichment, tax advantages, and improved quality of life. However, these benefits can quickly be undermined without careful and informed financial planning. Whether you’re […]

As we approach tax season, it’s crucial to stay on top of upcoming tax deadlines, especially if you’re considering taking advantage of Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime. The deadline for NHR applications for the 2024 tax year is fast approaching on March 15, 2025. If you’re planning to apply, it’s essential to start the […]

In a world where our financial stability impacts almost every aspect of our daily lives, it is more important than ever to preserve what we have worked so hard to achieve. Unless you're lucky enough to win the lottery, most of us have worked hard and for a very long time to achieve financial security and the lifestyle we want for ourselves and our families in retirement.

We all remember Robert Maxwell and the Mirror Group pension scandal in the early 90s when innocent working people woke up to the horror that their pension contributions had been used to subsidise his failing empire. The same happened when "Sir" Philip Green sold BHS for £1 in 2015, and this confirmed that even some of the biggest household names cannot be trusted with our retirement funds and financial future.

Effective wealth management is about many things but it can perhaps be boiled down to two essential elements: protection and (or) growth.

Whether you prefer to emphasise protection or growth will depend largely on your circumstances, goals, and attitude to risk. One part of this is determining whether you want your investments to create the security of income or the flexibility and reinvestment potential of a lump sum.

Investors are typically split around 50-50 on this question, which is why it is no surprise to learn of a recent Aegon survey of 1,300 investors which found that 58% preferred insurance plans to pay monthly income rather than a lump sum at maturity.