Insights & research
Articles from our advisory team
The Pension Annual Allowance Charge: How It Works and How to Handle It
The pension Annual Allowance charge catches more high earners every year — often unexpectedly. This guide explains what triggers it, how it is calculated, voluntary and mandatory Scheme Pays, and how to manage AA liability across multiple pension schemes.
Read article →PensionsA Complete Guide to Pension Tax Relief — and How to Maximise It
Pension tax relief is the single most powerful tax break in the UK system. Many higher-rate taxpayers are failing to claim all of it. Here's everything you need to know.
Read article →PensionsPension Credit for Returning British Expats: What You May Be Entitled To
Many returning British expats qualify for Pension Credit — a means-tested benefit that can significantly boost retirement income. Here is what you need to know.
Read article →PensionsWhat Happens to Your Pension If Your Employer Goes Bust?
The Pension Protection Fund protects defined benefit pensions when employers become insolvent. But compensation has limits, and not all schemes qualify.
Read article →PensionsPension Death Benefits: Planning for What Happens When You Die
Pensions have historically been one of the most IHT-efficient assets you can hold. That is changing from April 2027. Understanding the current rules, the forthcoming changes, and the actions available now is essential planning for any pension holder.
Read article →UK PensionsPension Drawdown Strategy for Expats
Drawing an income from your pension while living abroad involves multiple layers of complexity. A practical guide to the key decisions and risks.
Read article →Tax PlanningPension IHT Reform 2027: What It Means and How to Plan Now
From April 2027, unused pension funds will form part of a UK estate for inheritance tax purposes. This is one of the most significant pension changes in a generation. Here is what it means for your planning and what you can still do before the change takes effect.
Read article →Financial PlanningPension Income in Multiple Currencies: Managing FX Risk in Retirement
When your pension pays in sterling but you spend in euros, dirhams, or baht, currency movements can significantly affect your standard of living — here is how to manage this risk in retirement.
Read article →PensionsPlanning with Legacy Lifetime Allowance Protections After April 2024
The Lifetime Allowance was abolished in April 2024 — but legacy protections still matter. They affect the Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance, QROPS transfers, and tax on overseas pension transfers. Here is what protection holders need to understand.
Read article →PensionsPension or Investment Property: Which Builds More Wealth?
The pension versus property debate is one of the most enduring in personal finance. The honest answer is nuanced — pensions typically outperform on a pure returns basis when tax relief is accounted for, while property offers leverage and tangibility. For expats, additional factors complicate the picture further.
Read article →PensionsUsing Pensions for Inheritance Tax Planning (Post-2027 Changes)
How the April 2027 changes bringing pensions into the IHT net affect estate planning for UK expats and HNW individuals, and the revised strategies available.
Read article →Tax PlanningPFIC Rules Explained: A Practical Guide for US Expats Investing Internationally
US citizens living abroad face severe tax penalties if they invest in foreign mutual funds or offshore structures classified as PFICs — understanding the rules is essential.
Read article →Tax PlanningPFIC Rules and ETFs: The US Tax Trap That Catches Expat Investors
US citizens and Green Card holders investing in UCITS ETFs or offshore funds abroad face punitive PFIC tax rules — understanding the options can save tens of thousands in unnecessary tax.
Read article →Tax PlanningTax-Efficient Charitable Giving: A Complete Guide for High-Net-Worth Donors
Charitable giving is not just about impact — with the right structure, it can also deliver significant tax efficiency. Here is how to give effectively while minimising your tax burden.
Read article →Wealth ManagementSetting Up a Charitable Foundation: A Guide for HNW Families
For high-net-worth families with a genuine commitment to giving, a charitable foundation can formalise philanthropic activity, deliver significant tax efficiency, and engage future generations. Understanding the options is the starting point.
Read article →Wealth ManagementDonor Advised Funds and Strategic Philanthropy for HNW Individuals
Donor Advised Funds are the most tax-efficient giving vehicle for HNW individuals in the US, and UK equivalents exist through Charities Aid Foundation. This guide covers how to give more, give smarter, and integrate philanthropy into your broader financial plan.
Read article →Wealth ManagementPhilanthropy Structures for HNW International Clients
High-net-worth international clients have a range of philanthropy structures available — from donor-advised funds to private foundations — each with different tax, governance, and impact implications.
Read article →Financial PlanningHow to Build a Sustainable Retirement Income as an Expat
Building a retirement income that lasts 30+ years, in multiple currencies, across potentially several countries, requires more planning than a straightforward UK retirement. This guide covers all the key income sources and how to sequence them efficiently.
Read article →Tax PlanningPortfolio Bonds for International Clients: Tax Efficiency and Planning
A comprehensive guide to portfolio bonds (offshore investment bonds) for internationally mobile clients — how they work, their tax advantages, and how they fit into international financial planning.
Read article →InvestmentsPortfolio Bonds vs ISAs vs Pension: Which Wrapper Wins Abroad?
A structured comparison of the three main UK tax-efficient wrappers — portfolio bonds, ISAs, and pensions — for investors who have moved abroad or are planning to.
Read article →InvestmentsPortfolio Concentration Risk: When Diversification Fails
Diversification is the closest thing finance has to a free lunch — but it can fail in ways investors do not expect, particularly when assets that appear uncorrelated suddenly move together during a crisis.
Read article →InvestmentsWhen and How to Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio
Without rebalancing, portfolio drift can leave you taking far more risk than planned. Here's how to rebalance effectively — and tax-efficiently.
Read article →InvestmentsRebalancing a Global Investment Portfolio: When, How and How Often
Rebalancing returns your portfolio to its target allocation after market movements — but the method and frequency matter significantly for returns, tax efficiency, and transaction costs.
Read article →Expat LifeLiving in Portugal as an Expat: NHR Regime, Tax and Property 2026
Portugal's Non-Habitual Resident tax regime has been replaced by the IFICI scheme for 2024 arrivals — this guide explains what changed, what remains attractive, and how expats should plan their finances for a life in Portugal.
Read article →Speak to a Global Investments adviser
Our independent advisers work with internationally mobile clients on pensions, investments, tax planning, protection, and international financial structures.