By Gareth Horsfall
This article is published on: 3rd July 2025
Pensions, detractions, deductions and more……
I should start this E-zine with an apology that it has taken so long for me to write another one. I would never have left it this long normally, but what with recent global events and the threat of some kind of new world war, I almost felt a bit paralysed with what to write as it all seemed a bit irrelevant.
Thankfully, at least for now, we seem to be over the possibility of global armageddon so whilst we all have some breathing space, I thought I would just put some more financial planning thoughts and experiences down on an E-zine.
But before I start, I am sure you are all eager to know what I have been up to with the new home / land. Well, as many of you already know, spring time brings power to grass! It was quite something to see it grow quite so quickly. Sun and rain, until the start of June, gave it some kind of super power. However, I decided not to try and win the battle because as most people told me I would never win this one, and it would not be long before it all started to dry out with the heat of the summer (which it has now started to do) and besides that it is good for the wildlife
In the end I decided to work with it and mowed ‘sentieri’ into the long grass to allow the birds, butterflies and insects to continue to enjoy their natural habitat. I read that this is a good thing to do for the health of the land, fruit etc and actually it looks quite nice as well. Apart from a few locals who have told me that I need to cut the grass back to the floor because snakes hide in it (which kind of seems an interesting point, because I don’t really want to meet any vipers and if they have somewhere to hide and get away without me noticing them then we should both be happy) others have commented on the nice effect of being able to walk amongst the grass and see the insect life going about its daily business. Not only, but its been fun watching the various flowers that have been popping up at different times. It almost feels like they have been drawing straws. One variety seems to have its moment, then dies back and the next one appears and so on, until I guess at some point it will be so hot and dry that even they will have had enough, but still there are flowers appearing in the shady areas. This all sounds very Laura Ashley and my next step will be to buy a long flowery dress, wide straw hat and wicker basket to collect the fruit! However, land management is interesting and somethng new for me and apart from the grass I have spent time doing the fruit ‘raccolta’ and making jams with the help of my kitchen aid ‘Bimby’! Apricot, Prune, Mulberry, and cherry jams to date. Still got figs, apples and pears to go. I will keep you posted.
Other than that any kind of land clearance and tidying up has come to a stand still because it is just far too hot and so I will have to wait until the autumn to start my early morning (before I start work) workouts on the land…..and then there is the oil as well! Busy busy busy!
But, moving on from my travails, of which many of you share, I wanted to just go through a few clarifications in this Ezine which have come about due to recent discussions with clients and people contacting me and asking questions. I also wanted to share info on the tax deductions and detractions that you/we can take advantage of in Italy to help reduce our taxable burden. As it has been observed many times, unlike many countries which offer non-taxable income allowances (US and UK as examples), Italy does not. Therefore we pay tax from Euro number 1. However, Italy does also have a system of deductions and detractions which can be used to offset against income to try and reduce the tax burden. If I am being honest I can’t say that they are as good as a non-taxable allowance in terms of their effect on income, but they can be help. Lastly, I have posted some short videos on investment themes with the collaboration of one of our investment partners, Chris Saunders at New Horizon Asset Management. A way to get ideas out quickly and easily.
Initially I wanted to touch on the subject of UK pension payments.
UK state pension.
I am not sure why but a number of you have contacted me this year to say that your commercialista is now saying that you need to declare your UK state pension on your Italian tax return and pay tax on it. This is, of course, very correct and makes me question why some commercialisti are only now waking up to this fact. It always worries me when I get a surge of the same enquiry. My concern is for those people who have been legitimately taking advice from well meaning professionals who have not been doing the right thing and will now start to file in the correct way. This could mean that the Agenzia delle Entrate will be alerted to the fact and may come asking for back payments, fines and penalties. If this is the case then they have 5 years to do so, and they have a sneaky habit of doing so about 4 years and a few months after the filing.
If you find yourself in such a situation then please remember that your commercialista has to carry insurance in the event of them mis-advising you. As long as you have the proof that they did so (which may be the hardest thing to prove because often they just provided verbal confirmation that something did not need declaring) then you can ask them to carry any costs incurred by you as a result of an error on their part. The hard part is proving it and then having that discussion with them. Check those historical emails discussions!!!
Sign the P85 with HMRC
On a similar note I recently met 2 people in the same Umbrian comune who had received a letter from the AdE which stated that they were no longer able to apply for the double taxation credit for tax paid in the UK on their UK personal / occupational pension payments. Now, this might sound like a contravention of the double taxation treaty, but as the AdE stated in their letter (which I managed to gain sight of), the correct action is that when someone leaves the UK with a pension in payment, they must apply to HMRC for gross income payments by applying through the P85 system on the HMRC website. Failure to do so means that the AdE is not obliged to offer any tax credit for tax paid in the UK and instead can charge full Italian tax. This means that you could pay in Italy and the UK until such time as you have received a gross payment authorisation from the UK: Back payments can be claimed from HMRC (where tax credits have not been awarded already) by completing the P85 form but these can take time.
In my experience, over the last 15 years, Umbria and Tuscany have always been at the leading edge of tax legislation and implementing it to the letter of the law so its not beyond imagination that this may spread out across Italy. However, there are instances in Abruzzo and Marche as well. Therefore, if you are the holder of a UK pension, are still paying tax in the UK and claiming that back through the credito d’imposta option every year, it would be advisable to apply for UK gross pension payments via the P85 claim form on the HMRC website, before the AdE refuses you the option and you end up paying twice. https://www.gov.uk/tax-right-retire-abroad-return-to-uk
So, moving on from pensions, lets take a look at tax deductible and detractable expenditure in Italy. Annoying, as they are due to the adminisitrative issues involved, they can reduce taxable income so are worth looking into..
Firstly, it might help to know the difference between a tax deduction and a detractable expense.
Both are valuable, and knowing the difference helps you understand how the savings work.
Without a doubt the most common category is healthcare expenses ( detractable at 19%)
What you can claim is as follows:
There is a franchigia related to these expenses, which means that it is only the accumulated expenses over €129.11 which are considered eligible. If your total health expenses are below this amount then you cannot detract from tax. (You cannot claim this credit if the expense is covered by insurance)
To give an example……if my total expenses are €800 during the year, then the calculation is €800 – €129,11 = €670,89, on which I apply the 19% tax credit = €127,47 tax credit.
This example may not seem much but a few years ago I had to have some urgent dental care which cost €10,000. It was not covered by insurance and so I had to pay myself. That year I had a tax credit of €1875,46. Every little helps.
So, for all those trips to the farmacia make sure you present your codice fiscale to the pharamcist and they will normally tell you whether it is an item that qualifies or not.
** FARMACIA AND HEALTH EXPENSES ARE NOW REGISTERED AUTOMATICALLY ON THE AGENZIA DELLE ENETRATE WEBSITE (YOU CAN ACCESS THE WEBSITE AND CHECK THEM YOURSELF) HOWEVER THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN THEY DON’T APPEAR SO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS AND GIVE THEM TO YOUR COMMERCIALISTA / FISCALISTA WHEN YOU FILE YOUR RETURNS **
This is by far and away the next biggest category for gaining tax credits. I know myself because in 2024 we spent alot of our savings on the new home and this year we will be applying for almost all of these bonuses as tax credits.
The key incentives for home improvements are as follows:
On your ‘Prima Casa’ you can claim a 50% tax credit up to a maximum spend of €96000, spread over 10 years.
On your second home or property (other than Prima Casa) it is a 36% on a maxi psend of €96000 spread over 10 years.
(excluding boilers which burn fossil fuels, such as caldaia gas)
This is a category which people often fail to utilise because there are some questions over whether foreign insurance premiums paid can be deducted in an Italian tax return.
The policies which qualify are Life insurance, accident ( both max €530) and long-term care insurance (LTC) – (€1291)
They must qualify ( even if issued outside Italy) under the following conditions:
I myself still insist on entering my life policies issued in the UK years ago, before Brexit, and which cover me throughout the EU and were issued whilst the UK was still in the EU. I principally have life insurance contracts with Legal and General and they provide cover across the EU. The other alternative is to take out Italian equivalent policies especially for things like health insurance. It’s worth getting a quote from one of the bigger insurance providers such as Generali (or Genertel, their online offering) Allianz, Zurich, Groupama, Unipol Sai, Banca Intesa, Reale etc
Other categories include:
Donations (19-30%)
donations to recognised NGO’s, religious institutions or universities.
Mortgage interest (19%)
You can deduct interest on mortgages for your first home (prima casa) up to a cap of €4,000 per year.
Education expenses (19%)
Max annual deduction for private schools may vary by level and region, with a cap around €800 per child.
If you rent your main home, you may claim a tax credit based on your income and contract type.
For example: Ordinary rental contracts (contratto 4+4), Student housing and transfers for work (if you’ve moved for employment reasons)
The credit varies depending on income, age, and contract type (e.g., up to €495.80 or more).
Family related deductions and credits
Dependent children and other family members, alimony and maintenance payments (deductible), Nursery/kindergarten costs (detraction up to €632 per child)
Disabled persons (LEGGE 104/1992 BENEFITS)
Special deductions and detractions for people with disabilities or their caregivers, including: 19% for adapted vehicles (with limits), full deduction of medical devices, assistance costs, etc.
Sport and Youth activities (19%)
Up to €210 per child under 18 for gym, swimming, dance classes, etc. Applies to recognized sports facilities and clubs.
You may or may not have noticed by now that the effects of war often have very little effect on financial markets, in fact we could even argue that they actually have a slight positive effect in the main, where the wars are contained in their various regions of the world.
(I will refrain from any personal thoughts on this because there is a human element here which is indescribable).
A month or so ago I decided with one of our investment management partners, Chris Saunders at New Horizon Asset management, to do some trial question and answer short videos which I thought might be a good way to quickly get some investment manager thought out into the internet-sphere and from which you/we could all benefit from. Our initial video was on the possibility of a tariff on European goods, imposed by the USA, and which is a topic which is still on the table and so I will share it here.
The second was a video on the Iran / Israel escalations which have, for the meantime, now subsided but which included some historical information from Chris about the duration of war and effect on financial markets in general. Quite interesting if you are akin to listening.
I feel like these are still relevant given that we don’t know yet where things are going. If you find them useful then please let me know, I would welcome the feedback. They are meant to be quick fire short videos which we can get out to you and on social media to react to events, rather than waiting to write about it on an Ezine which takes time and by the time that I can get round to it Pres. Trump has already changed his mind another 50 times. It’s proving to be a challenging year to keep on top of the political minefield. Thankfully as we have seen from the markets dull reaction to recent events, the politics is largely treated as short term noise and so we can focus our minds on our long-term personal financial planning instead.
If you are interested in the questions and answer short videos then click on the links below.
If you would like to discuss these or any other tax or financial planning related issues for your life in Italy then please don’t hesitate to contact me on gareth.horsfall@spectrum-ifa.comor call / message on +39 3336492356
Always happy to help where I can!
If you want to know more about me or the things I do then just click here.
By Barry Davys
This article is published on: 30th June 2025
It is all about the planning, solutions, implementation and continuing support (PSIC).
We take as long as is necessary to understand your situation and listen to your hopes and plans for the future. It is time well spent because to be effective for you, we work to understand first, which then guides the process for your planning. In fact it governs how you and your adviser approach each step in our PSIC process..
– 31 over €1M
– 13 over €2M
– 7 over €3M
– 3 over €4M
– 1 over €5M
– 1 over €6M
– 2 over €7M
– 1 over €8M
– 6 with Price by Request
If this is how you want your planning to be managed, book an initial call directly with Barry Davys, at a time that is convenient for you, using his online service. You will be offered the choice of a phone call or a video call when choosing your time.
By Barry Davys
This article is published on: 27th June 2025
Are you planning to relocate to Spain and don’t know where to start? Are you a Spanish national thinking of coming back to Spain after more than 5 years in the UK?
Barry Davys was a guest with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce alongside Kle&Vera – the international law firm, in the UK for a recent webinar on Relocating to Spain & the Financial Insights.
You can watch part of this webinar below:
If you have any questions after watching the video or would like to talk to Barry, please use the online calendar booking system to choose a time that suits you.
By Katriona Murray-Platon
This article is published on: 7th June 2025
Although the official beginning of Summer is not for a few weeks, these last few weeks of lovely sunny weather already makes it feel like summer is here.
Tax season is almost at a close. Those in departments numbered over 55 have until Thursday 5th June to finalise their tax declarations. I hope you managed to submit your returns in time.
If you now realise that you missed out some income or misdeclared income, you can still amend your tax return on the online webpage. Please note however that as the return has been filed by the deadline, this will generate a tax statement and any tax due on this first statement must be paid promptly. If you amend your return on the website now, this will generate a second statement which may request more tax from you and therefore adjust your monthly payments or will result in a tax rebate. Whichever the case, you must pay the first tax statement first and wait until the second statement is issued.
In June there is still one more declaration to complete if you are a trustee of a trust for which one of the beneficiaries, settlors or trustees are French resident. A trust must also be declared if it contains French based assets.
Although Trusts do not exist under French law, the French courts have accepted that Trusts set up in other countries can have effects in France (Paris Court of Appeal decision, dated 10 January 1970, Epoux Courtois and others of Ganay) provided that they have been set up in compliance with the laws of the country in which it was set up and that they don’t contain any provisions that go against French public policy (ordre public) especially as regards the réserve heriditaire (mandatory heirs rights).
Although generally, if it says Trust in the document, then it needs to be declared, there are some exceptions such as Unit Trusts, a company trust, or an investment trust. Also pension trusts do not need to be declared in the annual trust declaration provided the trustees of these pension trusts are subject to the law of a State which has signed an agreement with the French state to provide administrative assistance in the prevention of fraud and tax evasion (https://bofip.impots.gouv.fr/bofip/7886-PGP.html/identifiant=BOI-DJC-TRUST-20220330). This includes pension trusts in Malta.
There are two declarations that need to be done, TRUST 1 (https://www.impots.gouv.fr/formulaire/2181-trust1/declaration-de-constitution-de-modification-ou-dextinction-dun-trust), if you have never declared the trust before or it is a new trust and TRUST 2 (https://www.impots.gouv.fr/formulaire/2181-trust2/declaration-annuelle-de-la-valeur-venale-au-1er-janvier-des-biens-droits-et- ) which is the annual trust declaration which must be done every year. Unfortunately, you cannot submit these forms online like you can when you do your income tax return, they must be submitted in paper form and sent to the Non-Residents tax office in Noissy-le-Grand before 15th June every year.
For those with Pru Assurance Vies or those thinking of investing in a Pru Assurance Vie there is news as, on Tuesday 27th May 2025, the Prudential Assurance Company (PAC) board reviewed the Prufund Expected Growth Rates (EGR) as part of the quarterly review process. The Expected Growth Rate (EGR) is the forward looking element of the Prufund smoothing process. Pru announced that the EGRs for all the offshore versions of Prufund remain unchanged. The Unit Price Adjustment (UPA) part of the smoothing process, which is a backward looking element, and which is formulaic and non-discretionary are also reviewed quarterly. This quarter there is a negative UPA for the Prufund Cautious fund in GBP of – 2.3%.
At the beginning of June, I shall join some of my colleagues and some of our product providers for our adviser meeting in Paris. It will be interesting catching up with my colleagues and also hearing our providers views on the markets in what has been a very interesting first part of the year!
After all the May bank holidays, I am looking forward to having some normal working weeks and getting lots of work done before the summer holidays. If you have any questions or would like to organise a meeting to discuss your finances, please do get in touch.
By Peter Brooke
This article is published on: 30th May 2025
I recently attended the FEIFA Annual Adviser Conference in London and wanted to share a brief summary of the latest market insights, along with how advisers are continuing to evolve their approach to best serve clients in today’s environment.
The Federation of European Independent Financial Advisers (FEIFA) – not to be confused with the football governing body! – was founded 16 years ago by a group of experienced IFA firms across Europe. They saw the need for an organisation that could uphold professional standards and represent the interests of advisers and their clients with both industry bodies and regulators across the continent. Spectrum is proud to be one of the original founding members, and we continue to support and build on those standards through our ongoing involvement.
The annual conference brings together FEIFA members and leading industry voices to discuss the unique challenges of advising cross-border clients. As Head of the Spectrum Investment Committee, it remains a valuable and important event in my calendar.
Staying the Course Through Market Volatility
Richard Flood (RBC Brewin Dolphin) reminded us that global events—whether pandemics, wars, or political wrangling —are a constant. Despite this, markets rise over time. The key is to focus on long-term fundamentals rather than react to short-term noise.
Volatility, he stressed, is a normal part of investing and “the price you pay for superior returns.”
Avoiding volatility by sitting in cash is not a good idea either as Inflation diminishes the purchasing power of cash – as illustrated in this Equities v’s Cash ‘inflation adjusted’ performance chart.
Navigating an Uncertain 2025
David Coombs (Rathbones) highlighted the ongoing impact of geopolitical events like Trump’s executive orders and Tariffs on trade and compared them to other countries ‘protectionist policies’ like unbalanced tax rates (eg Ireland), agricultural subsidies (eg France).
He also stressed the unconsidered challenges that passive investments (eg ETFs) pose to market stability due to being “forced sellers & and forced buyers” therefore adding to volatility.
Active management, in his view, remains vital, especially in 2025, and he shared a wonderful example of how active he has been in the last year:
The below chart is the Shopify share price, a share he has held for some time, the red dots are where he sold some shares (trimmed) and the yellow dots are where he added money – this shows that active management is much more than strategically choosing which companies to own or not own, but how to add value through tactical decisions.
The Passive Investing Paradox
Henry Wilson (LGT Wealth Management) discussed the risks of over-reliance on passive funds, including the concentration risk in a few large companies (eg MAG 7). Because of this concentration of returns (and risk) to fewer, larger companies he believes that true diversification is under threat, valuations are higher, future returns are compromised…
… BUT as Harry Markowitz, the architect of Modern Portfolio Theory & Efficient Frontier said “Diversification is the only free lunch to investing”.
Therefore while passive investing remains a useful tool, LGT and Spectrum advocate for highly diversified, actively managed portfolios to help manage risk and improve long-term returns.
If you are going to own passive investments you have to be active with them.
Model Portfolios & Adviser Alpha
Matthew Lamb (Pacific Asset Management) explored the evolution of model portfolios and the increasing role of technology. With many portfolios becoming similar, the real value lies in the advice given—not just the investments chosen.
This fits strongly with my recent newsletter about risk (click here) – If most ‘Balanced’ portfolios are similar to each other and most ‘Growth’ portfolios are similar to each other then the outcome for you, as my client, is not in picking between two balanced funds or two growth funds… it’s ensuring we choose correctly between Balanced or Growth in the first place!!
Good risk profiling conversations make sure we start in the right place.
Planning for the Summer
After almost 13 years, we’re finally heading to Australia for a long-overdue family holiday. We’ll be visiting my wife’s side of the family, who all live in Queensland. She’s been able to make a few trips in that time, but between school schedules, travel costs and a global pandemic, the children and I haven’t been back since 2013. We’ll be away for five weeks from the end of June and are really looking forward to the trip.
I’ll still be checking emails and messages periodically, but if you’d like to catch up — whether by phone, Zoom or in person before we go — please do get in touch or book something in the calendar before Friday 27th June.
All being well, I’ll be back at my desk (with a fair dose of jet lag) on Wednesday 6th August.
Lions V’s Australia
Of course, seeing family and friends is the main priority — but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t something else I’m particularly excited about.
As a lifelong rugby fan, getting the chance to see the British & Irish Lions take on Australia in both the 1st and 3rd Test Matches — plus the Queensland Reds in early July — is nothing short of a bucket list experience for me.
As always, if there’s anything you’d like to go over before I head off, just let me know. And if anything comes up while I’m away, I’ll do my best to ensure it’s handled smoothly.
Contact me if you have any questions via the below channels, or the booking system – always drop me a quick message if you need a time slot outside of those available.
Mobile & Whatsapp: +33 6 87 13 68 71
Email: peter.brooke@spectrum-ifa.com
Calendly booking system: https://calendly.com/peterbrooke/30min
By Tom Worthington
This article is published on: 27th May 2025
Ever feel like your wallet has a mind of its own? You set out to save, but somehow end up splurging on that fancy coffee machine or the latest gadget. Let’s delve into the psychological phenomenon known as behavioural confirmation and see how it might be influencing your financial decisions.
Behavioural confirmation is a type of self-fulfilling prophecy where our expectations about others lead them to behave in ways that confirm those expectations. In the realm of personal finance, this can manifest when we project our beliefs onto our spending habits, leading to outcomes that align with those beliefs—even if they’re detrimental.
Imagine believing you’re terrible at budgeting. This belief might cause you to avoid tracking expenses, leading to overspending, which then reinforces your initial belief. It’s a vicious cycle where your expectations shape your behavior, confirming your original assumption.
Similarly, if you think you’re a savvy investor, you might take on riskier investments without proper research, leading to potential losses that challenge your self-perception.
Believing in your investment prowess is great, but overconfidence can be costly. You might ignore warning signs or dismiss advice, thinking you know best. This can lead to poor investment choices, reinforcing the belief that the market is unpredictable, rather than acknowledging personal missteps.
Imagine believing you’re the next Warren Buffett after a couple of successful trades. This mindset, while empowering, can sometimes lead investors astray. Overconfidence bias is a well-documented phenomenon in Behavioural finance, where individuals overestimate their knowledge, underestimate risks, and exaggerate their ability to create returns.
To combat Behavioural confirmation:
Think of your financial beliefs as that friend who insists they’re bad at directions. Every time they get lost, they say, “See? I told you!” But maybe, just maybe, if they used a map or GPS, they’d find their way. Similarly, by challenging our financial self-perceptions and seeking guidance, we can navigate towards better financial health.
At the Spectrum IFA Group we can help you by being your GPS through the financial world and design your bespoke road map to make sure we you get to where you want to go.
By Michael Doyle
This article is published on: 25th May 2025
I Do Love a Bargain
I know it’s almost summer, but is there anything better than the hope and expectation that builds around Christmas. It’s the best time of the year for me.
Not only do we get to enjoy all the trappings that come with the festive time of year but on Boxing Day the madness begins!!!!
The trainers that were €130 have been reduced to €60, the jacket that was out of reach at €400 is now €240, the sports T-shirts that just 2 days ago were €40 are now €20. What a time to buy.
There’s something similar happening in the markets right now and I just wanted to take a few minutes to explain why I think now could be a great time to invest.
The markets have been bumpy — and that’s a gift in plain wrapping. Volatility creates opportunities. Quality companies with strong fundamentals often get marked down along with the rest of the market, offering savvy investors the chance to buy value at a discount. If you’ve read my other articles, you’ll know I’m partial to the odd quote from Warren Buffett: “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” Right now? There’s more caution than confidence. That’s your opening.
While central banks have taken us on a wild ride with interest rates, there are early signs of stabilization. Inflation is cooling in many regions. As economic data settles, interest rates may begin to ease, restoring more predictable conditions for both equities and bonds. Those who position themselves before the pivot are typically the ones who benefit most.
Time in the market beats timing the market — every time. The longer your money is invested, the more it compounds. Trying to wait for the “perfect” moment often leads to missed gains. Historically, the market’s best days tend to cluster near its worst days — miss those, and you risk missing most of the upside.
I wrote an article on this a few years back which still holds true today. You can read it here.
From AI and biotech to clean energy and space tech, we’re witnessing a new industrial revolution. These aren’t just exciting ideas; they’re multi-trillion-euro transformations already reshaping global economies. Investing now means getting in before the wave crests — not after.
The global landscape is broader than ever. While some markets face headwinds, others are thriving. A well-diversified portfolio — across sectors, regions, and asset classes — isn’t just a shield, it’s a springboard. With the right structure, you can grow your wealth through both sunny and stormy weather.
Because uncertainty is the soil where opportunity grows. Because prices reflect fear, not fundamentals. Because the future isn’t waiting — it’s happening now.
As your financial adviser, my job is to help you see the forest through the trees, and to guide you with strategies that match your goals, timeline, and comfort level — especially when others are sitting on the sidelines.
Let’s have a conversation. Your future wealth might just thank you for acting today.
The best time to invest? Yesterday. The second-best time? Right now.
You can now book a 30 minute zoom meeting with me (at your convenience) by clicking here
By Michael Doyle
This article is published on: 22nd May 2025
I’m Scottish and I live between France and Luxembourg. I moved to Luxembourg in 2008 and then France around 2015 and have commuted between both for a lot of my time with Spectrum. Needless to say my French has improved over time (as long as people speak to me as if I’m 6 year old child).
One of the things though that I still struggle with is some of the terms they use, eg Pédaler dans la semoule which seemingly means going around in circles. I always wondered why people were pedalling around in semolina.
It got me to thinking that I often assume people know all of the terms we use in financial planning, so here I’ve decided to try and break down the barriers.
A stock represents partial ownership in a company. When you own a stock, you own a slice of that business — known as a “share” — and have a claim on its assets and earnings. Stocks are traded on public exchanges, and their value fluctuates based on the company’s performance, investor sentiment, and broader market conditions. Investors often buy stocks to participate in a company’s growth and, potentially, receive dividends.
A share is a single unit of ownership in a company, essentially your piece of the total stock issued. If a company issues 1 million shares and you own 10,000 of them, you own 1% of the company. Shares entitle the holder to a portion of the company’s profits (via dividends) and voting rights in some corporate decisions. Shares can rise or fall in value depending on market demand and the underlying company’s performance.
A bond is a type of loan that investors give to governments, municipalities, or corporations. In return, the issuer agrees to pay back the principal amount on a set date and provide regular interest payments over the life of the bond. Bonds are considered fixed-income investments and are often used to provide portfolio stability and predictable income, especially in contrast to more volatile assets like stocks.
An ETF, or Exchange-Traded Fund, is a pooled investment vehicle that holds a diversified basket of assets — such as stocks, bonds, or commodities — and trades on a stock exchange like a regular share. ETFs allow investors to gain broad market exposure, often at a lower cost and with greater flexibility than mutual funds. They are popular for their diversification, transparency, and ease of access for both beginners and seasoned investors.
Let’s have a conversation. Your future wealth might just thank you for acting today.
You can now book a 30 minute zoom meeting with me (at your convenience) by clicking here.
By Michael Doyle
This article is published on: 20th May 2025
I wrote an article back in 2021 which you can read here. I just wanted to offer a reminder of the 10 most important reasons why you should consider having an Assurance Vie whilst living in France:
You can now book a 30 minute zoom meeting with me (at your convenience) by clicking here.
By Chris Burke
This article is published on: 8th May 2025
Happy (Almost) Summer, everyone!
So far this year, the weather has been very unusual, to say the least. Hopefully, things will start to feel a bit more normal soon – which brings me nicely to the financial world, which has been anything but normal! Sometimes it feels like many of us are just pawns in the game that very powerful people play.
In my world, however, many of these ‘games’ are understandable from a financial perspective, and we don’t panic. Instead, we factor in all scenarios and focus on the medium- to long-term goals for our clients.
This month, I’ve put myself in my readers’ shoes and asked:
Whether you’re new to Spain (generally considered to be less than three years) or well-established, it’s important to stay financially organised and understand what actions you need to take.
Living abroad as an expatriate requires thoughtful financial planning to navigate both Spanish and international financial systems. Here are the key areas to consider:
1. Understand Tax Residency and Obligations
In Spain, spending over 183 days within a calendar year establishes you as a tax resident, meaning your worldwide income and assets may be subject to Spanish taxation. It’s crucial to understand the rules around tax residency to avoid unexpected liabilities.
2. Strategise Property Sales and Investments
If you own property in your home country, consider carefully when to sell. Selling property in the same tax year you become a Spanish resident can lead to significant capital gains taxes. Planning the sale before relocating may help mitigate this issue.
3. Establish a Comprehensive Estate Plan
Creating a Will that covers both your home country and Spain is essential to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. It’s wise to consult with advisers experienced in cross-border estate planning to navigate the complexities.
4. Optimise Currency Management
Managing currency exchange efficiently can help minimise losses due to fluctuating exchange rates. Consider using multi-currency accounts or international banking services to provide greater flexibility and cost savings.
5. Savings, Investments & Pension Planning
Ensure these are structured to reduce future tax liabilities—whether that’s for withdrawals, passing assets to your spouse or children, or aligning with your investment expectations (e.g., risk/reward balance). Most importantly, work with someone you trust to help manage these assets.
6. Consult with Experts
Whatever your budget, make sure you work with a recommended lawyer, tax adviser, accountant, and financial adviser. In Spain, you are considered guilty until proven innocent, and it can take years to resolve legal issues—during which your bank accounts or assets may be frozen. Many expats are unaware of this, especially if they come from countries where the opposite presumption applies.
7. Use Your Life Experience
When choosing the right advisers, trust your gut—or your “spider senses,” as I like to call them. You’ve built up intuition through life experience, and more often than not, it’s spot on.
Engaging with financial advisers who specialise in expatriate services can provide tailored guidance on investment strategy, tax planning, and navigating financial matters in both Spain and your home country.
By proactively addressing these areas, you can establish a solid financial foundation for your life in Spain – ensuring both compliance with local regulations and alignment with your long-term goals.
I’m here to help you get organised and take those financial worries away. If you’d like to discuss any of the topics above in more detail, or would like an initial consultation to explore your personal situation, you can do so here.
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