Avoiding Costly Mistakes When Choosing a UK Adviser From Overseas

Finding the Right UK Adviser While Living Overseas Isn’t Always Straightforward

If you’re a British expat living abroad, chances are you’ve still got strong financial ties to the UK—pensions, property, tax residency questions, or inheritance considerations. But choosing the right financial adviser while overseas isn’t always straightforward.

Many jurisdictions have complex rules on what advice can be offered, and by whom. That’s why working with a UK-regulated adviser—on a reverse solicitation basis—can often be the most secure and compliant route for expats who want clear, trustworthy guidance.

What Does “UK-Regulated” Actually Mean?

A UK-regulated financial adviser is authorised and overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This ensures:

• Transparent, fee-based advice, not hidden commissions

• Likley access to the Financial Ombudsman and Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

• Strict obligations around suitability, documentation, and ongoing service

• A legal framework that prioritises your best interests

These standards apply regardless of where you live, as long as the advice is provided under UK regulation and within the scope of reverse solicitation—that is, you approached the adviser, not the other way around.

What Is Reverse Solicitation?

Reverse solicitation simply means you, the client, actively sought out the adviser. It’s a legal and compliance safeguard that allows British expats to continue receiving UK-regulated advice even after moving overseas.

However, this also means:

• The adviser should not be marketing directly in your local jurisdiction

• You should be initiating contact—e.g., via a website form, referral, or previous relationship

• The adviser must make clear that they are not authorised in your country of residence and that advice is governed by UK rules only

Red Flags to Avoid When Living Abroad

If you’ve been offered financial advice abroad, watch out for:

🚩 Unclear fees or high commissions
🚩 Long lock-in periods with big surrender penalties
🚩 No regulatory information or oversight
🚩 Aggressive sales tactics pushing a product—not a plan

Unfortunately, many British expats end up in unsuitable products because the adviser was incentivised to sell, not serve.

By contrast, working with a UK-regulated adviser gives you access to financial planning that’s built around your goals, not theirs.

What Services Can Still Be Provided?

As long as you approach us under reverse solicitation, we can offer guidance on:

• UK pensions – including SIPPs, QROPS evaluations, drawdown planning

• Inheritance tax – especially for UK-domiciled individuals

• Offshore bonds and tax-efficient investing

• Multi-currency investment portfolios designed for mobile expats

• Private and offshore banking

• General retirement, estate, and long-term wealth planning

Everything we do is under UK compliance standards and designed to remain flexible as your life evolves.

How We Work with Global Clients

We work with British expats across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond—all under UK regulation and by reverse solicitation only.

This means:

• You contact us first—via referral, web search, or recommendation

• All meetings are conducted online or by phone

• All documentation and advice is governed by UK regulatory standards

• We’ll clearly confirm that we are not offering advice under local laws

Book a Discovery Call

If you would like to speak to a UK-regulated adviser about your pension, tax exposure, or investment planning, we’re happy to help.

👉 Click here to request a callback or arrange a free 30-minute meeting