If your living abroad adventure is taking you from the UK to another country within the European Economic Area, your move should be fairly straightforward in terms of the legalities. If you’re planning on moving to a further-flung destination, you should contact either the British Embassy or the embassy for the country you’re interested in before you start making any plans.

Living abroad – before you take the plunge

Living abroad doesn’t need to be a massive headache, but it does require research. You should make sure that you visit your intended new home at least once to be sure that you’re making the right choice. Also make sure that you look into any relevant laws or customs, and consider your budget and currency fluctuations carefully.

If you’re used to free health care, such as the NHS in the UK, make sure that you’re aware of how the health care system works in your new country. Benefit systems, pensions and help for widows and dependents may also vary from country to country should anything happen to you while living abroad – so organise your life assurance to ensure you are covered in the new country, the best place to seek this advice is through an International  Financial Adviser who understands your new destination.  If you’ll be living abroad with young children, make sure you investigate the education system too.

Once you’re living abroad, what else should you consider?

Once you’ve arrived in your new country of residence, you may need to apply for a residence permit and/or register with the local authorities. You should also register with your local embassy and organise any ID documents that you may require – you may even need to make changes to your driver’s license if you intend to buy or hire a vehicle. If you’re moving within the EEA, you may be able to organise a non-resident bank account as soon as you get there, with the option to upgrade to a regular bank account once your residence permit has come through.

If you haven’t already organised that all important life assurance, then now is the time to do it; you should be able to find expat financial advisors in your area, or simply use a local service if you’re confident that they are regulated and bona fide. If you haven’t done so before, you should also make a will now, and on a more personal level, try to learn the local language so that you can fit in with your new community.

Our advisors here at Guardian Wealth Management have plenty of firsthand experience of the challenges you face when living abroad – many of our advisors are living as expats, so we totally understand how you feel and the different things you need to think about. With advisors all over the world, we can help you to organise your pensions, life assurance and wills, as well as dealing with matters such as inheritance tax. So whether you’re just considering living abroad, or you’ve already made the move, feel free to contact us at any time for some accurate and friendly advice.

Your activity when spread trading can be the choice of one of two things; you can place an up bet or a down bet. An up bet is also sometimes known as a long position or alternatively, a buy – and you’ll place an up bet if you think that a commodity or share that you’re interested in will rise in value. Conversely, a down bet, sell or short position is placed if you believe that it will fall in value. Ultimately, you’re not actually buying a share, but rather betting on its price movement.

Spread trading – what’s the risk?

Spread trading can be a great way to support your other methods of financial planning, but it’s certainly not without its risks. In effect, you’re gambling with your money, so it makes sense to ease yourself into it gradually.

Each time you wish to place a bet, you need to consider what level of risk you’re prepared to take. You then have to select an amount to bet per point, which can be anything from a pound upwards .

You’ll also have to decide whether you want to place your bet on a daily, rolling or contract month basis.

Choosing the length of your spread trading bet

If you choose a daily bet, it will automatically be closed at the end of the trading day, if you haven’t closed it manually prior to this shut-off point. You’ll need to spend a little more if you want to place a rolling bet, which will continue to remain active through to the next day of trading. If you decide to place a contract month bet, it will last for anything up to a three month period, closing on a predetermined day.

This is just a brief look at the main terms and idea behind spread trading; if you’d like some more detailed information or help then visit guardianspreadtrading.com where full explanations are covered and you can practice on the demo site without any risk.

The team at Guardian Wealth Management are experienced in this potentially tricky situation and are on hand to give you advice on all areas of financial planning; Spain and your new home in the sun could be easier to access than you might think! Whatever aspect of your finances you need help with, we’ll be able to provide timely assistance in a clear and understandable manner. Once you’ve actually headed off to the sun, we’ll also be able to manage your finances on your behalf, ensuring that your money is working as hard as it can for you.

Good financial planning puts Spain well within reach

Planning for your retirement isn’t as hard as it initially appears, especially if you’ve got the professional back-up on hand to help guide you through the process. Guardian Wealth Management has experts in everything from inheritance tax to pensions and will be happy to organise every element of your financial planning; Spain will be nothing but relaxation and enjoyment as our team will take care of the hard work!

One major area that you need to make sure you’ve got covered is your pension. After spending years paying into your fund you’d expect to have a healthy sum at your disposal to live off. However, choosing to move to a new country could have a detrimental effect on that pension and you could potentially be better off transferring your contributions into a QROPS. A Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme could mean that you’re not subject to the constraints and taxes of your previous home and frees up your finances – ask your financial advisor for more information. They’ll be more than happy to help!

No matter where you are, you can access a financial advisor – Spain is just one area that we cover

Having set yourself up in your own little piece of paradise, you should also consider you and your family’s medical insurance – after all, you want to guarantee that you’ll get the healthcare you know your family deserves in your new home. Thankfully, you can get all the help you need from your financial advisor – Spain is just one of the many areas that we cover, so we really can be on hand whenever you need us.

The ever-evolving world of inheritance tax liability

Specialist wealth management advisors can assist you with every aspect of your financial health, but there are a few areas that could be seen as more important than others. For example, the recent budget mentioned a range of changes in the field of inheritance tax liability but didn’t go into too much detail. It’s only now that announcements have been made detailing that non-resident UK taxpayers will soon see an increase in their allowance, but all that information was originally buried deep within a tiny paragraph of the budget statement.

Our wealth management advisors scour each and every document to ensure that all policy changes are tracked and that our clients are kept informed of any new rules that may affect them, whether it’s regarding inheritance tax liability or any other matter. We also point our customers in the right direction, informing and advising them of the best solutions that will enable their money to grow for the future, using a combination of savings accounts, investment opportunities and other possibilities.

Make sure you have the professionals on your team

Doing all this on your own could potentially be a minefield, so having the professionals at hand to give you the best in up-to-date advice is pretty much a necessity. Even the smallest error on your part could see you in dire financial straits, so putting your trust in a specialist company who do this kind of work every day is undoubtedly the preferred option. Why take the risk when you could have peace of mind knowing that your money is in safe hands?

If you think you need help with understanding your inheritance tax liability, why not speak to the team here at Guardian Wealth Management? With financial advice available on pensions, long and short-term investments, insurance and much more, we’re your one stop shop for everything you may need when it comes to securing your economic future. With independent and experienced wealth management advisors at your disposal, you can be sure that we’ll do everything possible to guarantee that your money is being put to work in ways that are most suited to you.

From taxes to QROPS advice, we’re your one-stop shop

With everything from ‘Granny Tax’ to increases in Stamp Duty for those looking to move to a new home, there’s a lot to keep an eye on when it comes to your finances. Meeting with someone who has experience in staying up to date with the ever changing world of financial regulations can really pay off. Whether you’re looking for advice on savings and investments right now or something further down the line like pensions, your money needs to work harder than ever before.

Preparing for your future is without doubt one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Consider what life will be like for you when you decide to retire; will you even be able to afford to do so when you reach retirement age? What about if you want to escape to a place in the sun even earlier? You’ll need to investigate the potential of something like a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme which allows you to transfer your pension – tax free – to an offshore facility when you move abroad. We can provide relevant and bespoke QROPS advice to help you understand what this type of pension can mean for you and with more changes in the pipeline regarding QROPS transfers, QROPS advice is essential if you’re to make the most out of this alternative option.

Plan ahead – speak to an independent financial adviser today!

Life is going to be very different in the United Kingdom of the future; the NHS is going through major changes, so the need for health insurance may also increase. University fees are on the up and provisions will need to be made if you want to ensure that your children can experience higher education. As time goes on, you can be sure that there’ll be even more need for expert financial planning – so why not speak with an independent financial adviser from Guardian Wealth Management today, and start making those essential plans?

Talking to an independent financial adviser will give you the assistance you’ll need to secure your future. By covering tax-efficient investments, QROPS advice and so much more, you’ll soon be on the road to financial security – and never has this been more important.

Since 1994, our company and financial advisers have worked to the highest standards laid down by both financial regulators and professional bodies to ensure that international workers and expatriate clients receive the best possible financial planning advice.

We view it as an honour and a pleasure to be given the opportunity to utilise our knowledge and experience to help both advisers and consumers gain greater understanding of the different facets of financial planning and wealth management.

David Howell, managing director, said: “We constantly strive to make sure that Guardian Wealth Management offers the most comprehensive advice to those seeking guidance and are delighted to regularly feature across trade, consumer and national press.”

The UK publications in which Guardian Wealth Management has featured in during the last year include Financial Adviser, Financial Times, the Telegraph, International Adviser and This is Money, among many others.

But Guardian Wealth Management’s reach is far from limited to the UK and our deep understanding and knowledge of the expatriate market has seen us published in The Peninsular (Qatar) and Qatar Today as well as the Dubai Chronicle.

David continued: “Guardian Wealth Management seeks to help those approaching or in retirement, as well as international clients who are looking to save as much of their income as possible to maximise capital growth over the longer term.

The wide variety of magazines and newspapers in which we have featured is testament to our ability to offer sound financial advice across the board and demonstrates our know-how across a range of subjects.”

Recent comments and articles on the biggest themes in the market have ranged from the imminent UK Budget, the onslaught of RDR, to the approaching changes in the QROPS market as well as tax breaks.
In addition, Guardian Wealth Management has published its views on the need for expat women to plan for retirement and last month, enjoyed much success with the “Qatar – The New Expat Haven” article which made headlines both across the UK and the Middle East.

Internal developments have also been well-documented in the press, including the launch of the spread betting site, new appointments and the opening of a new office in Hong Kong as Guardian Wealth Management seeks to expand its global footprint.

David added: “Our unswerving presence in the media has helped raise awareness for the Guardian Wealth Management brand among those looking for financial planning advice and has demonstrated our strong reputation in the marketplace.

It is always a delight when existing clients or potential clients recognise our standing in the press and look to us as a leader in our field.”

The letter states that while it’s certainly true that TLPIs aren’t appropriate for all retail investors, clarification should be given by the FSA as to which funds within the sector are viewed by the regulator to be ‘Ponzi’ schemes, or in other words, fraudulent investment operations.

The possibility of ban of the sale of these types of investment plans has arose due to FSA concerns about the design, marketing and sale of these products, and the impact on retail investors in the United Kingdom. Among the concerns raised by EEA Fund Management, they pointed out that for TLPIs are entirely suitable, providing clients have received professional advice from a suitability qualified  authorised financial planning or an investment company. Their concerns centre on the fact that other products may carry similar risks but haven’t been singled out in the same way or labelled ‘toxic’.

Recommendations for Stable TLPIs

The letter has outlined some recommendations in order to ensure stability of the products, including the disallowance of investment into a TLPI when investment is below a stated minimum threshold, an agreement for investors to declare that any TLPI investments are not over an agreed and allowed percentage of their overall portfolio, along with limitations on fees payable for TLPI sales, in order to provide consistency between this type of product and other alternatives.

Financial Planning Advice You Can Always Trust

Here at Guardian Wealth Management, we appreciate that the FSA has the protection of client’s to consider, but also believe the consultation paper needs to be completed and as a result clear guidelines for both fund managers and the investors is forthcoming.

If you’d like to talk to a professional financial advisor  regarding your investment portfolio, or any other financial planning matter at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us – alternatively, feel free to look through our website for details regarding a whole host of financial planning products  and services.

In order to assess your suitability for a QROPS, you need to have a good idea of your future plans in terms of retirement. A QROPS is a type of pension scheme which allows you to transfer your existing UK pension (occupational or private – the state pension isn’t eligible for transfer) into an overseas alternative. However, to stop every single British citizen from making a QROPS transfer, there are some restrictions in place. So, firstly, you need to be thinking about making a move abroad for your retirement – you can’t transfer your UK pension into a QROPS unless you’re already living overseas, or are planning to do so in the immediate future.

Making the right financial planning decisions for retirement

Another financial planning condition that you’ll need to satisfy in order to take out a QROPS is that you MUST NOT have already bought an annuity. If you’ve already bought an annuity product for your UK pension, you won’t be able to consider a QROPS transfer. QROPS can offer great tax benefits for expats, but before you go jumping into any financial planning decisions, you’ll need to ensure that any QROPS you’re considering is registered as an approved scheme by HMRC. You can find out by calling their helpline, visiting their website, or contacting your financial planning advisor.

When trying to decide whether or not a QROPS would benefit your overall financial planning strategy , there are some other points worth bearing in mind. Firstly, if you’re looking for a pension option that will give you greater investment flexibility, then a QROPS could be a great idea. Additionally, in terms of the fluctuating economic situation and how this can affect currencies, with a QROPS, you often have the option of drawing funds in the currency of your choice.

Feel free to ask us for help

QROPS also often allow greater flexibility when it comes to taking a lump sum – and as well as being able to draw this in a number of different currencies, depending on the specific QROPS, this can sometimes be completely tax free. In order to weigh up all of the potential benefits, it’s important to compare QROPS from across the whole marketplace – and remember that while QROPS are only available to expats, you don’t need to reside in the same country as the one from which you’ve sourced your QROPS.

When it comes to your financial planning, it’s vital that you take the time to consider the potential benefits and pitfalls of the product your thinking about. It can be hard to make these pivotal decisions yourself, so whether you’re looking into the QROPS market or anything else, it’s vital that you seek advice from a financial planning advisor – our advisors are always on hand, so do feel free to contact us if you need any help.

A good financial adviser  will be able to provide a variety of options to you regardless of the wealth management issues you wish to discuss. However, although it’s tempting to focus on financial plans for your retirement or other personal advantages, there’s one element of wealth management that is often overlooked – school fees planning. As parents of the next generation, it’s down to us to ensure that we’re providing adequate educational opportunities for our children – after all, it is them that will shape the future for all of us. While retirement planning, savings and other wealth management issues are also important, it’s essential to put the right plans in place now to enable your children to access the best education possible, to help secure their own future and the future of their children too.

School fees planning – home and away

School fees planning isn’t for everyone – after all, in the UK, we’re lucky enough to have a good, free education system that will cater for most young individuals. While the UK’s state school system is certainly one of the best available in the world, some of us would prefer to offer our children a private education or the chance to progress to university. If you have children of your own, and you’d like to take control of their education, then school fees planning  will allow you to put aside the funds necessary to open up these opportunities for them.

Making plans to save money towards school fees can also be an essential element of expat financial planning. It’s common knowledge that many countries don’t have the same free access to education as we enjoy in the UK – or perhaps you’d rather your children attended a private or international school that can offer an education in their native language. Whatever your motivations, by speaking with an independent financial adviser, you’ll be able to take advantage of their specialist knowledge and find the most appropriate ways of planning for your children’s education and covering their university or school fees.

A step in the right direction

With ever-increasing university fees and the high level of financial commitment required to secure a place in a private school, getting your education fees planning in place as soon as possible will allow you to help your children take that first step in the right direction. Guardian Wealth Management has offices in the UK and all over the world, enabling you to get professional advice from a qualified financial adviser wherever you may be.

If you’d like to talk to a financial adviser about making provisions to cover your children’s school fees, then please feel free to contact us  for some friendly, no obligation advice.

We also understand that many of you follow current affairs and the financial markets and would like the opportunity to back your own judgement by entering short term positions to try to take advantage of market fluctuations.

The last few months have seen the various financial markets rise and fall on a daily basis. Politics, financial data, social news, interest rates, company forecasts and a whole host of other factors impact upon the movement of these markets. When the markets are volatile there are people who seek a profit whether the movement is upwards or downwards.

So now Guardian Wealth Management can give you the opportunity to do the same. The new platform gives you access to up to 3,000 markets that you can trade direct to your own computer.  Visit Guardian Spread Trading

Spread trading allows you to speculate on the movement of stocks and shares without the fees or commissions associated with a stockbroker. You can speculate on indices such as the FTSE or DAX, currencies (FX), bonds, oil, interest rates, commodities and share prices. You can trade on the movement and actually speculate on a market falling as well as rising.

Guardian Spread Trading  offers:

• Market Squawk: Real time audio news & commentary for FX markets.
• Real time scrolling FX news
• Free to open your account
• No on- going or annual fees
• No deposit required when opening an account
• No maximum amount to trade
• Live charts
• Tight Spreads*
• Guaranteed Stops to limit losses
• Beginners Guide
• Demo Account
• 24 Hour Trading, Monday to Friday
• Wide Range of Markets

*Jan – Sept 2011, spreads fixed over 99.9% of the time. Overnight spreads may vary.

Ian Sweet, the Commercial Director, at Guardian Wealth Management said, “I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to offer our clients the ability to seek a profit from the markets in a way that is different from our traditional offering. It is a dynamic way to play the market, with the potential for both high risks and high rewards. Guardian Spread Trading is at the cutting edge of technology, with comprehensive information at the client’s finger tips.”

However you should also remember that spread trading carries a high level of risk to your capital and you can lose more than your initial deposit. This product may not be suitable for all investors so you should seek independent advice if you do not understand the risks.

Before attempting any live trades you may wish to familiarise yourself with our spread trading user manual and demo account where you can practice without risk to your capital.

If you want to find out more go to Guardian Spread Trading  where you will find helpful guidance and information in addition to applications for demo and live accounts.

The information and comments provided herein under no circumstances are to be considered an offer or solicitation to invest and nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. The information provided is believed to be accurate at the date the information is produced.

Guardian Spread Trading is a trading name of London Capital Group Ltd (LCG) which is a company registered in England and Wales under registered number: 3218125. LCG is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), a member of the London Stock Exchange. Registered address: 2nd floor, 6 Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4AB.