Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) – Why?

In the first article in this short series, we outlined a little of the background to the UK government’s decision to permit pension fund transfers out of the UK to overseas arrangements in certain circumstances. We also had a brief look at what exactly a QROPS was. In this article we will look briefly at … Read more

Currency transfer – Stay in control, no need to panic!

By Elisabeth Dobson, Head of Private Clients at World First At the time of writing, we have just seen sterling lose around 3% in value against the euro – in a matter of days. Whilst on the surface this may seem insignificant, if you’re relying on a sterling income to finance your life in Spain, … Read more

Ethical expat investment

courtesy of Investasure Financial Services Ltd. [Editor’s note – Expatriates often struggle to find the right investment vehicle for their money, a task made more complicated by the various taxation and legal requirements of different countries. In recent years another element has been thrown into the mix: ethics. The following article explores the history of … Read more

Self-Employed Taxes in France – An Expat Guide

France is a country of many beautiful images. One of the most prevailing is that of the small French business. Whether a small farm, the baker or the local carpenter and odd-job man, everything that comes to mind suggests a small and perhaps rural enterprise. Although France has the largest economy in Europe and vast … Read more

Expatriate Healthcare Insurance

by Medibroker International Since the explosive growth of the past decade in global telecommunications and the Internet, more expatriates are working on contract overseas, than ever before. More families and couples are retiring abroad at an earlier age, being very familiar over the years with foreign holidays to such as Spain and Portugal, or Florida. … Read more

Why invest in property?

Why real estate or why property, some people ask when looking for an investment. Well, as far as I am concerned, real estate/property investment is, and always has been, the most powerful type of investment for building wealth. It has been said that over 90% of the world’s millionaires got there by owning property. The … Read more

An Expat Guide To The Euro Zone

There are vast books written on this subject, many by renowned academics and economists. It has been said, with some justification, that one needs a PhD to understand many of them. Don’t worry! This short article isn’t going to start debating history, politics and the economic theory but rather it will look at some day-to-day … Read more

Sun, Sea and Risk – Overseas Property and Pension Funds

by Joe Lopez from The Rights Group in Spain Spain and the Costa del Sol in particular, has been a favourite destination for legitimate and some not so legitimate UK nationals for many years. The last five years have seen a property explosion on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca with new construction projects … Read more