For most expat families, financial planning doesn’t begin in a meeting with a financial adviser. It starts at the kitchen table – setting goals, understanding what you earn and spend, and agreeing what you can realistically save. Only once that’s in place can a financial planner step in and help you build a strategy that works.
A good starting point is to take 10-15% of your household income as a rough savings guide. Then the question becomes: where should it go?
There’s No One-Size-Fits-All
What works for one family won’t work for another. Your investment approach needs to reflect your location, career plans, children’s education timeline, tax residency and more. You might be working in Malaysia now, but planning to move to Australia in two years. That’s where transitional planning comes in – making sure your investments, savings, and education planning can travel with you.
Think Long-Term: Education and Future Planning
If you’ve got children, education is likely to be one of your biggest financial commitments. The cost of four years of international schooling from GCSEs to A-levels can exceed £100,000 at many schools. And with around 60% of multinational employers no longer covering school fees for dependants, more of the planning burden falls on parents themselves.
You’ll also want to check what your child’s fee status will be if they plan to study in the UK. That alone can make a huge difference in tuition costs – and it’s not always clear unless you plan ahead.
Avoid Wealth Caught in the Wrong Currency
One of the most common pitfalls for globally mobile families is letting wealth accumulate in the local currency. It might be convenient, but it leaves you exposed to future exchange rate risk and limits your options.
Instead, look for tax-efficient accounts that give you access to the whole of the market – not just locally available funds. The right structures can grow with you, remain flexible if you move again, and offer greater access to international opportunities.
Keep the Big Picture in Mind
Whether your goal is financial security, a university fund, or just peace of mind that you’re doing the right thing for your family – start with the basics: audit your finances, agree your goals, commit to a savings amount, and then work with someone who can help you shape it into a proper plan.
Want to feel clearer and more in control of your family’s finances?
Start with our free Financial Health Check – it takes just 15 minutes and gives you a 360° view of your current finances, opportunities, and where you could be working smarter.
About Three Sixty Financial
Three Sixty Financial helps British expat families across Asia build long-term financial security with confidence. Our advisers provide impartial, fee-based planning with a focus on education, cross-border investments and family wealth strategy. As expats ourselves, we understand the real-life pressures that come with raising a family overseas – and we’re here to help you plan around them.
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