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The ‘wheres’ and the whys of UK expats in Europe

Among the most surprisingly popular destinations are Czech Republic, Slovakia and Finland (each of these countries is home to 5,000 or more UK expats).

Why do expats become expats?

You could be forgiven for thinking that migration is only a recent trend – one that reflects the “increasingly globalised world we live in”. However, although you would be right in assuming that the rate of migration has increased in recent years, the fact remains that humans have been migrating ever since our ancestors left the savannahs of Africa around two million years ago.

In reality, it is just much easier to achieve nowadays – the benefits of modern transport, the internet and expert expat financial advice are all pretty obvious.

And yet, it still takes imagination, as well as no small amount of gumption, to move from one’s country of birth to a place which may have only been visited for a few annual holidays. After all, it is so often easier to simply stick with the environment and lifestyle you know. MoveHub, a company specialising in helping expats make the move, analysed more than 180,000 of their customers’ experiences and discovered that the following were the major reasons people cite for deciding to embrace the expat life:

  • Better quality of life
  • Career progression
  • Economic pressure
  • Family ties
  • Lifestyle change
  • Politics
  • Wanderlust

Making the most of your brave new world

Whatever your motives, if you’re in it for the long-term and want to be assured of the best possible chance of future financial security for both you and your loved ones, the best way to achieve this is to receive expert expat financial advice.

So whatever the next few weeks, months and years bring in terms of whether the UK stays in the EU, Blacktower will remain by your side with all the most pertinent international financial advice that is right for you.

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

Financial changes in France for 2018

French flag against a blue skyJanuary 2018 will see the French government introduce several legislative, tax and other financial changes, some of which will be of interest to British expats living in France.

First and foremost is the change to the wealth tax – also known as the Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune (ISF – or the “solidarity tax on wealth”). We touched on the topic last year when discussing the number of French job opportunities rapidly increasing.

The country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who was elected in May 2017, has introduced the change as part of a push to attract more wealthy investors to France. The change is just one of many in what he called a “profound transformation of France” in his new year’s address.

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Food for expat thought: Takeaway anyone?

Fish and ChipsWhat do you miss most as an expat?

Of course, there will be no shortage of new experiences available to you in your expat environment, especially if you are moving overseas to retire, but sometimes, it’s the smallest things that might bring a lump to your throat…or a rumble to your stomach, maybe.

Perhaps this was the case for one group of British expats who chartered a plane to fly in a large delivery from their favourite curry house in Portsmouth.

James Emery, an aviation assessor for trainee pilots in France, piloted the small aircraft which flew 89 meals from Solent Airport all the way to Bordeaux.

“I’m a chilli addict, “he said, “and an aviation geek, so I thought I would combine my two hobbies to get my favourite meal to me in France.”

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