Finding a financial adviser when you live abroad is not the same as finding one at home. The rules change, the regulations change, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be significantly more expensive. This guide explains what is different about international financial advice and how to find an adviser who is genuinely qualified to help you.
Why international advice is different
When you live in one country and plan to stay there, a domestic financial adviser who understands local tax law, local pension rules and local investment products can serve you well. The moment you move abroad — or plan to — the picture changes fundamentally.
Your tax residency may shift, your pension may be subject to different rules, your investments may need to be held in different structures, and the adviser who was perfect for you at home may not be legally permitted to advise you in your new country. International financial planning is a genuinely specialist discipline, not just a domestic adviser with a passport.
Regulation: the first thing to check
A financial adviser must be regulated by a recognised authority in the jurisdiction where they provide advice. Being regulated in the UK does not automatically authorise someone to advise a client living in Spain, the UAE or Singapore. Each country has its own regulatory regime, and an adviser needs the appropriate permissions for the work they do.
Before engaging any adviser, ask which regulator authorises them and get their registration number. Then verify it independently:
- UK: FCA Register
- Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland
- UAE (Dubai): Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
- Spain: Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV)
- Australia: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Singapore: Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
If an adviser cannot provide verifiable regulatory details, walk away. You can read more in our guide on how to check whether a financial adviser is regulated.
Cross-border experience
Regulatory authorisation is the minimum bar. Beyond that, you want an adviser with demonstrated experience working with clients in your specific situation. An adviser who is technically regulated in your destination country but has never actually advised someone moving from your home country may miss issues that a more experienced adviser would catch immediately.
Ask directly: how many clients do you work with who are moving from the UK to Portugal? How many US citizens do you advise? What are the most common issues you see in this situation?
Fees: understand the full picture
International financial advice is not free, and nor should it be — good advice takes time, expertise and ongoing commitment. But you need to understand exactly what you are paying and how.
Common fee layers include an initial advice fee, an ongoing adviser fee (often a percentage of assets under management), platform or custody fees, investment management fees if a Discretionary Fund Manager is used, fund-level charges, and transaction costs. A total annual cost of 2–3% is not uncommon in the international market. Over 20 years, that can consume a significant portion of your investment returns.
Always ask for the total cost, not just the adviser fee. See our detailed breakdown of international financial adviser fees for more.
Custody: who holds your money?
Your investments should be held by an independent, regulated custodian — not by the adviser themselves. This separation protects you if the adviser encounters financial difficulties. Ask who holds your assets, where they are held, and how they are protected under investor protection schemes.
Investment options
International advisers typically use international investment platforms that offer access to a wide range of funds across multiple currencies and jurisdictions. The platform matters for tax efficiency, reporting, currency management and cost. Ask which platforms the adviser uses and why.
Questions to ask
Before committing, work through these questions:
- Who regulates you, and in which jurisdictions?
- How are you paid, and what is my total annual cost?
- Who holds my money?
- How many clients do you have in my situation?
- What happens if I move country again?
See our full list of 10 questions to ask an international financial adviser.
Warning signs
Be cautious if an adviser:
- Cannot provide verifiable regulatory details
- Pressures you to transfer a pension without explaining the risks
- Is vague about total costs
- Recommends a single product before understanding your full situation
- Cannot explain who holds your money
Why location matters
An adviser in your destination country will understand local rules, local tax, and local market conditions. But they may not understand the rules in your home country. An adviser in your home country may understand your existing arrangements but not the rules where you now live. The ideal is often an adviser who understands both jurisdictions — or a network of advisers who can work together.
This is where Link Independent can help. We connect expats with regulated advisers who have the right experience for their specific circumstances. Use the Expat Planner to get a personalised financial readiness report, or find an adviser directly.