Summary
This guide helps expats in Asia choose a financial adviser who is transparent, experienced, and focused on long-term planning. It covers how to spot trustworthy advice, why a strong financial foundation matters, and why good advisers review what you already have before suggesting new products. With the right support, expats can simplify complex decisions and build a stable financial future.
Why Expat-Specific Financial Advice Matters
If you’re an expat living in Asia, your financial life isn’t as simple as it once was. Local pensions may not be an option. You might still have property or ISAs in the UK. Tax rules change depending on where you live – and planning for retirement becomes a multi-jurisdictional puzzle.
That’s why finding the best financial advisers for expats in Asia isn’t just about credentials. It’s about finding someone who truly understands your lifestyle, your assets, and the goals you want to reach.
How Do I Pick a Good Financial Adviser?
Here’s what to look for when choosing an adviser:
- Experience working with expats
- A clear, fee-based model with no hidden product commissions
- Qualifications from the UK (like CII or CISI)
- Transparent, plain-English communication
- Familiarity with UK pensions, QROPS, and local regulations
- An in-house HMRC-registered UK tax agent is a bonus
They should also offer guidance that evolves with you – not just a product pitch up front.
Fee-Based vs Commission-Based Advice
One of the most important questions to ask: how does your adviser get paid?
Commission-based advice can sometimes come with sales incentives that don’t always align with your best interests.
At Three Sixty Financial, we operate on a fee-based model. That means our only incentive is to give you impartial advice that serves you long term – not to sell you a financial product.
It also means:
- Full transparency on cost
- You know what you’re paying for
- Fewer surprises later on
Do They Understand Cross-Border Planning?
If you live in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand or Hong Kong, you’ll need someone who understands both the UK rules and the regulations in your host country.
Whether you’re:
- Planning to retire abroad
- Managing UK property and pensions
- Saving for children’s school fees
- Navigating tax exposure in multiple countries
… your adviser should be confident working across those borders.
Do They Offer Holistic Support?
You don’t just need investment advice. The best financial advisers for expats in Asia offer a full view of your financial life.
That includes:
- Retirement planning
- Education fee saving
- Inheritance tax and estate planning
- Regular savings strategies
- Emergency funds and protection planning
But holistic support means more than just ticking off a list. A good adviser won’t rush you into investment decisions before laying down the right foundations. They should help you get your basics in order first – like building an emergency fund, ensuring you’re putting aside enough for a pension-equivalent, and understanding your full financial picture.
They should also go above and beyond in the early stages to get you set up properly – whether that’s guiding you through opening a local bank account, supporting with documentation, or helping you make sense of cross-border challenges.
Importantly, they shouldn’t push you into new financial products straight away. Instead, a good adviser will review what you already have – pensions, savings, insurance policies – and help you understand if those are still serving your needs. Often, simply improving the use of existing assets is the smartest first step.
At Three Sixty, we take a holistic view of your assets, goals and lifestyle so you can make confident decisions – not just be sold something new.
What Services Should They Offer?
Look for an adviser who provides:
- One-to-one financial advice tailored to expats
- UK pension advice and QROPS planning
- Regular savings plans and lump sum investing
- Tax-efficient structuring and residency-aware strategies
- A clear financial health check to get started
How Do You Know If a Financial Adviser Is Trustworthy?
As expats ourselves, we’ve been through many of the same challenges you’re facing.
We know what it’s like to build a future abroad while still holding ties back home. That’s why we’ve built a service around clarity, impartiality and long-term relationships – not sales targets.
Three Sixty Financial has been helping expats across Asia since 2001. We provide clear, fee-based advice that works for your real life – wherever that takes you.
What About Their Track Record?
A good adviser doesn’t just help in the moment – they help you plan across years, decades, and life changes. So it’s worth asking: how long have they been doing this? Have they worked through recessions, relocations, and major shifts in markets or tax rules?
At Three Sixty Financial, we’ve supported clients through multiple economic cycles over the last 20+ years. We’re still working with many of the same families we started with – and that longevity means everything to us.
How Much Money Do I Need to See a Financial Adviser?
You don’t need to be wealthy to benefit from financial advice. In fact, the earlier you start planning, the more value you can get. At Three Sixty, we work with expats at all stages of their financial journey – from setting up regular savings plans to investing large sums or preparing for retirement.
“As of March 2022, approximately 480,000 UK State Pension recipients living overseas do not receive annual increases to their pensions, with 84% residing in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.” GOV.UK+1Latest news & breaking headlines+1
This underscores the necessity for UK expats to engage in comprehensive financial planning, particularly when considering retirement abroad. By consulting with a qualified financial adviser, expats can better navigate the complexities of international retirement planning and ensure financial stability in their chosen country of residence.
Are Financial Advisers Really Worth It?
If you’re managing multiple currencies, planning a long-term future overseas, or juggling assets across borders, a good adviser can save you time, stress, and costly mistakes. They help you avoid pitfalls, structure your money more efficiently, and build a plan that works wherever life takes you.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re new to expat investing, navigating pension decisions, or just want to get your finances sorted once and for all – finding the right adviser makes all the difference.
Take your time. Ask the right questions. And look for an adviser who puts your long-term interests ahead of short-term products.
Take the First Step
Start with our free 15-minute Financial Health Check. It’s quick, clear, and gives you a full picture of where you stand – and where you could be making smarter choices.
About the Author
This article was written by Gary Cane, a partner at Three Sixty Financial with over 20 years of experience helping expats achieve their financial goals. Known for his clear, straightforward advice and long-lasting client relationships, Gary supports individuals with retirement planning, education fee saving, and sound investment decisions.