EXPAT FINANCES NEED A GLOBAL GAME PLAN

Expats require cross- border fluency from advisers who understand international tax standards

- BY VIKRAM DHAWAN Special to Gulf News

Most expat financial advice feels familiar and well-meaning, often from friends or advisers.

But in today’s mobile world, strategies that work in one country may fall short for those with global assets, cross-border taxes, or heirs in different jurisdictions.

The decision to invest in property should consider more than just location or purchase price. Take the case of Sarah", who bought a London flat. When she moved to Singapore, renting it became a tax tangle. Selling later triggered a massive UK capital gains bill she hadn’t planned for. Passing it to her US-resident daughter meant UK inheritance tax and complex US reporting.

Real estate needs a cross-border lens

Property can play a role in your plan — but only if treated as a global asset, not an impulse buy. Consider ownership structures, cross-border tax impact, and exit strategies. It’s not about avoiding property, but integrating it into a wider cross-border strategy.

Keeping domestic pensions or life insurance may feel sensible, but they’re often built for one country, one currency, and a fixed retirement path. Today’s expats live