News & Insights

How / why did you get into your line of work in the financial services sector?

In 1988 a financial adviser from Refuge Assurance encouraged me to start saving money as I had just begun a new job. I said I would like to do what he was doing, so he got me an interview and 34 years later here I am still doing the same thing – helping people with their money.

Despite several obstacles on the way, global equities resumed their uptrend on the 1st Quarter of 2021. Many of these were discussed throughout the first 3 months of 2021 and many of the tops were called for the major stock indices; however, we saw the S&P500, the Dow Jones and the German Dax registering fresh new All-Time Highs during this period.

Some of the most confusing and complex areas for any UK expat to decipher are their tax obligations, in both their new home country, and their country of origin. Should you be paying tax on foreign income? Is there any kind of foreign residence tax exemption? How can I get a residence tax definition? It’s a labyrinthine subject, and one that merits the help of a financial professional, but it’s good to be forearmed with a basic grasp of the subject before you do so. If you are liable to pay UK tax you will be expected to file a tax return, failure to do so or not doing so in good time, can result in penalties and even interest payments on monies owed.

What is the most important aspect of your work, in relation to clients, or the part of your day-to-day role which gives you the most satisfaction?

I don’t have direct contact with clients unless they visit head office, and that’s become far less frequent over the last 18 months – I suppose the head office team are my clients and it’s my job to support them. As office receptionist my role has changed a lot since more of the day to day business interactions are taking place online and not face to face. But I keep busy by helping everyone in the office in whatever way I can, even if that’s just keeping them supplied with coffee! I get real satisfaction from being part of a team and knowing that I can help to ease someone else’s workload and make their day a little bit better.

One of the main concerns of parents when they are considering relocation to Spain, is of course the quality of the education available. Alongside questions around the type of employment opportunities available and the overall quality of life, education is one of the key factors in deciding where to eventually settle.

If, as is often the case, the family does not speak Spanish fluently, this often leads them to consider the option of an international school in Spain. There are no shortage of options in this regard. With a large, thriving community of expats already living there, those looking for a Spanish private school will find any number of options available.

How / why did you get into your line of work in the financial services sector?

I’ve always been very service orientated, whether it was waiting tables in my teens or building and maintaining Enterprise network infrastructures in Spain and Portugal. I enjoy understanding complex, underlying concepts and I get great satisfaction when I can translate it into something my clients understand, relate to and see the benefits of. I got into financial services because I felt that it was very similar to my background in IT in that I continue to build networks, bridges and connections, however this time it’s not with equipment, it’s with people.

In recent years Portugal has become a very attractive prospect for anyone looking to move to sunnier climes. A number of initiatives by the Portuguese government have made it easier for non-European citizens to apply for special visas, which allow them to both live and work in the country. The most famous of these is the so-called Golden Visa, which permits people to become resident based on their making a significant investment in the country, purchasing property, or setting up a business. Whatever your reason for wanting to move, and there are many, getting a mortgage in Portugal is going to be high on your agenda.

How / why did you get into your line of work in the financial services sector?

On leaving school aged 17, joining a bank or insurance company was a popular career choice. I spent 13 years with Standard Life, which also gave me the foundation to study and obtain advanced level financial services qualifications. I always wanted to further my career in the industry and to give direct client advice – this took me abroad in 1999 and I have never looked back since.