For British Expatriates in the US

Investment Planning: Many British expats retain assets invested in the UK. These assets often include pensions and investments with limited financial planning options. One critical consideration is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). This is a significant factor for US-connected individuals. The UK’s FATCA compliance requires careful structuring of assets to ensure tax compliance. We offer US-compliant solutions in both Great British Pounds (GBP) and US Dollars (USD), allowing you to manage currency risk and invest in a tax-efficient structure.

Pension Planning: Retirement planning for British expats in the US can be challenging. The majority of UK pension providers are hesitant to engage with US residents. In an era of fully flexible pension withdrawal in the UK, navigating this landscape without willing providers can be daunting. At CBFP UK, we provide retirement solutions that offer full flexibility in drawdown. Our solutions also offer the option to move pension funds into US Dollars when opportune. This can mitigate currency risk and ensure your pension benefits are paid in your preferred currency during retirement.

For American Expatriates in the UK

Investment Planning: Americans living and working in the UK must carefully structure their financial planning due to ongoing US tax filing requirements. Considering the UK’s adherence to FATCA, all investments held outside the US must meet tax compliance standards to avoid substantial penalties. At CBFP UK, we help Americans in the UK structure their investment planning to hold assets in either Great British Pounds (GBP) or US Dollars (USD) in a compliant and tax-efficient manner.

Pension Planning: Often, many Americans have accrued or are accruing pension funds in the UK. However, their US citizenship often discourages UK pension providers from working with them at retirement. Subsequently, accessing benefits can be an uphill battle. CBFP UK steps in to provide comprehensive at-retirement pension planning services, including fully flexible options. Additionally, we offer currency solutions within UK pension schemes. This allows you to hold and invest funds in USD, GBP, or Euros. Therefore, you have the freedom to transition between these currencies at your convenience, offering potential mitigation of currency risk.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.

Retirement Planning for British Expatriates

Pension planning as a British expat has evolved in today’s globalised world. Often, pensions are left behind in the UK, with options considered only upon retirement. Here are some of the challenges expats may encounter before and during retirement:

1. Accessing Expert Advice: Finding specialised pension advice from qualified and regulated advisors prove challenging.
2. Limited UK Options: British expats often face difficulties in finding UK product providers willing to serve them.
3. Navigating UK Regulations: Understanding how UK pension laws apply to non-UK residents can be complex.
4. Choosing Advisors: Expats may have to rely on commission-driven overseas financial advisors who may not be regulated or qualified for UK pension advice.
5. Exchange Rate Risks: Managing the exchange rate risk between GBP and their resident country’s currency is a concern.

At CBFP UK, we offer a fee-based pension planning service.  Our advisors are qualified and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We provide pension planning solutions for British expats worldwide, helping them plan for retirement, mitigate currency risks, and efficiently access benefits. Additionally, we collaborate with specialised cross-border tax advisors who can explain the tax implications of UK pension or QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) income in your resident country.

Investment Planning for British Expatriates

CBFP UK offers investment advice to British expats and foreign nationals with funds in the UK or offshore. Our investment solutions are designed with considerations of:

• Currency Preferences: We consider your currency needs.
• Investment Goals and Time Horizon: Your objectives and time frame are key factors.
• Tax Status: We assess your tax status both in the UK and your country of residence.
• UK Tax Allowances: We optimise your investments in line with available UK tax allowances.
• Local Tax Compliance: We ensure that your investment structure aligns with the tax rules of your country of residence to prevent inefficiencies.

What sets CBFP UK apart from other overseas financial advisory firms?

• Our fee-based approach. We do not receive commissions at any point. Our fee-based model results in lower annual running costs.
• Our charges are transparent, with no hidden commission payments that inflate annual fees.
• Complete flexibility in accessing your funds. None of our investment solutions carry penalties for partial or full fund withdrawals.
• Investment solutions are available in GBP, Euro, and US dollars (with FATCA compliance for US-connected individuals).
• We can select an appropriate investment platform to deliver a professionally managed investment solution.
• Assist with both lump sum investments and regular savings plans.
• Emphasise continuous monitoring of your investments to ensure they remain aligned with evolving risk tolerance and objectives.
• Regular reviewing of the investment manager’s performance against an agreed benchmark. If there is consistent underperformance, we have the flexibility to select a new manager.

CBFP UK provides advice, recommendations, and implementation of investment solutions tailored to your objectives and unique circumstances. Additionally, we offer ongoing investment management to ensure that your portfolio continues to align with your financial goals.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.

Financial Planning for Australian Expats in the UK and British Expats in Australia

CBFP UK is your trusted partner for informed financial decisions. We specialise in comprehensive solutions for expats and international families, including Pension and Investment advice. Regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, we collaborate closely with Australian partners to create a unified financial strategy spanning both countries.

Our team, including cross-border tax and legal advisers, seamlessly integrates expertise into your financial plan for optimal solutions, saving time and enhancing efficiency. Navigating cross-border regulations and tax laws can be daunting, but we guide you through the complexity with meticulously tailored solutions designed for flexibility.

For Australian Expats in the UK:

Living and working in the UK likely means employer contributions to a UK-based pension scheme. Recent changes in legislation by HMRC and the Australian Government complicate understanding your options. If you plan to move back to Australia, we provide insights into accessing and managing your UK Pension tax-efficiently.

Specialising in personalised financial plans, we consider your UK assets, intentions, and potential tax-efficient transfers to Australia. This includes Cashflow Forecasting for a clear understanding of your financial landscape. Collaborating with local Australian advisers ensures a holistic approach, also assisting with mortgage and protection planning.

For British Expatriates in or moving to Australia:

UK Pension transfers to Australia have been a tax-efficient strategy. However, recent changes require a clear understanding of options. Whether you’re moving to Australia or already there, we offer insights for tax-efficient management of your UK Pension.

Collaborating with local Australian advisers, we create a personalised financial plan aligning with your goals, managing both UK and Australian assets. This includes Cashflow Forecasting for a deeper understanding of your financial landscape. Don’t hesitate to reach out; let’s discuss how we can assist in making the best decisions for your financial future.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.

Environmental, Social, and Governance, ESG investing

For some clients, socially responsible investing is an important consideration when implementing a strategy. As a concept, socially responsible investing has been longstanding, but with limited options for clients. However, in recent years, it has grown in popularity among investors. Since then, we are seeing more commitment from fund managers and more options available to retail investors. This includes non-residents. ESG investing encompasses environmental, social, and governance factors when selecting or de-selecting companies in which to invest. Research in these areas is far greater than before. Publicly listed companies looking to attract investment are including ESG factors as part of their corporate goals. These are positive ways investors can encourage companies to change behaviors.

At this time, there is no consistent standard across our industry as to what factors a fund may apply to the investment process to call itself ‘ESG’. As such it is vital we look under the hood (bonnet), to understand the research process undertaken by any funds we recommend. If this is an area of interest we will spend time at the outset of the process to explain this style of investing and options available to you.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.