How is the outcome of the Brexit process likely to affect your purchasing power as a British citizen living as an expat in Europe?
This question should have priority in your checklist of expat wealth management concerns right now as British expat retirees in Europe are facing the reality of trying to cope with steeper rises in living costs than what is being experienced by their UK-based equivalents.
The revelation comes in the form of a data release from international technology-led services and payments specialist Equiniti. The firm found that British retirees who live in Europe have seen currency shifts contributing to a 14% rise in their cost of living – nearly double the UK’s domestic inflation rate of 7%.*
In short, uncertainties regarding Brexit have served to compound a period of global volatility in which the prevailing politically centrist paradigms are being challenged by new polarisations, the US and China have become embroiled in a trade war and the developed world is facing mounting concerns regarding its capacity to maintain state healthcare and pensions systems for an ageing population.
Plan ahead to retain your purchasing power
According to the Office for National Statistics there were more than 207,000 retirement age UK nationals living in the EU in 2017.** If you are one of these and wish to retain your purchasing power during times of volatility, whether these are attributable to Brexit or to other factors, it is essential that you plan ahead by speaking with your expat financial adviser.
One strategy is to consider the possibility of an expat retirement transfer. All pension fund members are subject to the ups and downs of currency shifts, but by making a transfer and having a robust plan in place, you may be able to mitigate any increases in the cost of living.
It is important that you sit down with your financial adviser to discuss the possible impacts of currency exchange rate movements on your retirement assets and cash flow so that you can find the best way to achieve your retirement goals regardless of the vagaries of the market.
Advice from Blacktower Financial Management
If you would like to consider the ways you can retain your purchasing power even in the face of inflation and currency exchange rate movements, speak to Blacktower Financial Management’s expat financial advisers today about the possibility of finding a suitable cross-border solution.
Blacktower Financial Management provides personalised and regulated advice so that you can make the most of your expat pension and your long-term financial goals. Whether you live in Spain, Germany, Sweden or elsewhere in Europe, contact your local Blacktower Financial Management office today.
* https://equiniti.com/uk/news-and-views/news-releases/cost-of-living-for-uk-expat-pensioners-in-eu-rises-twice-as-fast-as-in-uk/
**https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/livingabroad/april2018
Disclaimer: The provision of information in this communication is not based on your individual circumstances and does not constitute investment advice
The above article was kindly provided by Blacktower Financial Management Group and originally posted at: https://www.blacktowerfm.com/news/694-expat-financial-advice-to-mitigate-currency-exchange-movement