We live in a world of quick answers and surface-level advice. From TikTok clips on crypto to Instagram influencers offering investment tips. There’s no shortage of noise telling us what to do with our money. But when your financial future spans multiple currencies, tax systems, and time zones, you don’t need more noise.
You need clarity.
And that clarity often starts with one key decision: choosing to work with a properly qualified financial planner.
I’m a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) and hold qualifications in the UK, US, South Africa and France, not to put a bunch of letters after my name, but because financial advice should be rooted in professional training, ethical standards, and a commitment to doing right by the people we serve.
As a CFP®, I’m held to a fiduciary standard, which means I’m obligated to put your best interests ahead of my own. That’s not just marketing talk. It’s a standard that governs how I approach every piece of advice I give, from retirement planning to pension transfers, investment strategy to estate planning.
And let’s be honest: if you’re an expat, this stuff gets complicated quickly.
Your pensions might be in the UK. Your family might be in South Africa. Your income could be in dollars. Your goals might include retiring in France.
Working with someone who’s licensed and qualified in all those regions, who understands how those systems talk (or don’t talk) to one another, is essential. It’s not just about optimising returns. It’s about avoiding costly mistakes, ensuring compliance with each country’s regulations, and building a financial strategy that actually reflects your life.
It’s about integrating all the moving pieces, your lifestyle, your values, your legacy, and giving you a plan that actually makes sense.
Because here’s the thing: credentials might not feel exciting. But when it comes to your financial wellbeing, they’re not a formality, they’re a foundation.
When you see CFP® or Chartered MCSI or RE5, it means your planner has been tested. Not just on technical knowledge, but on ethics, judgement, and professionalism. It means they’re committed to ongoing learning. And it means they’ve invested in their own standards so they can hold yours.
So whether you’re navigating a cross-border pension transfer, structuring your estate plan across jurisdictions, or just trying to make sense of where to invest next, know that working with a qualified professional isn’t a luxury.
It’s your peace of mind, in action.
If you’d like to chat about how this applies to your situation, feel free to drop me a message, whether you’re in Toulouse, Tennessee, Tokai or Tokyo. You deserve advice that travels as well as you do.
