What to Think About When Moving Abroad from the UK
A Comprehensive Guide to Pensions, Transfers, Investments, Taxation & Estate Planning
Moving abroad is one of life’s biggest transitions, an exciting blend of new landscapes, lifestyles, and opportunities. Yet beneath the adventure lies essential financial planning. UK pensions, investments, taxation, and inheritance rules don’t switch off when you leave; they interact with your new country’s system in ways that can be beneficial, or costly, depending on your preparation.
Moving Abroad from the UK?
Download your FREE 2026 expert guide and plan your move with confidence.
Fill in the form to access your free guide and gain practical insights to help you protect your wealth, remain compliant, and make informed decisions before and after your move overseas.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
UK Pensions Explained
Learn how state, workplace, and private pensions work when moving abroad.
Property Decisions
Sell, rent, or keep your UK property? Understand tax implications and non-resident landlord rules.
Investments & Savings
Review UK investment products, explore multi-currency portfolios, and avoid tax inefficiencies.
Cross-Border Tax Planning
Understand residency, DTAs, pension taxation, and tax-efficient withdrawals overseas.
Inheritance & Estate Planning
Plan for UK IHT, local wills, and cross-border estate strategies to protect your wealth.
Banking & Currency
Set up accounts, manage multi-currency payments, and stabilise retirement income.
Major 2026 Changes
Stay ahead of state pension updates, inheritance reforms, and EU/UK regulation changes.
Actionable Checklist
Step-by-step guidance on pensions, investments, property, and financial planning before your move.
Your Free Guide to Moving Abroad from the UK
Practical financial guidance for UK expats navigating pensions, taxes, and investments overseas
Get access to our comprehensive 2026 PDF guide: What to Think About When Moving Abroad from the UK.
Inside, you’ll find expert insights on:
- Managing your UK pensions overseas
- Property planning: sell, rent, or keep?
- Restructuring investments for expat life
- Tax implications and residency rules
- Inheritance and estate planning considerations
- Currency management and cross-border banking
This free guide is one of many resources we’ve created for UK expats. By filling in the form, you’ll unlock access to our downloads page, packed with additional guides on pensions, tax, and financial planning for UK citizens abroad.

See What Our Clients Say
I've just completed the transfer of my UK pension to an international setup with SJB Global and Alex Gover as my Advisor. The process was made very clear by Alex... read more and I am confident that my finances are in safe hands with SJB.Over the last few years I've been contacted by many companies interested in advising on my expat/UK pension situation. However, I felt the approach of many to be pushy and/or they were not being transparent with fees. This was not the case with SJB, who clearly explained all the costs, constraints and benefits involved in the pension transfer and Alex spent a significant amount of time and effort with me ensuring I understood the process. Overall I am very happy and am in much greater control of my UK pension (and retirement) than I was previously. Cheers Alex

Andrew Taylor
Following the decision to switch to SJB Global in 2020 Matthew Quinn has been there with professional advice, information and support every step of the way since. I would certainly... read more recommend SJB Global to acquaintances along with Matthew as a trusted advisor.

ian killoh
It is now been almost 18 months that I have been working with Matthew from SJB monitoring and advising on my pension policy. The support I am getting from Matthew... read more is amazing, I would say my policy is not the typical one, yet the quality of service is superb and very responsive, strongly recommend Matthew for anyone seeking professional and informative consulting on pension.

Iyad Hindawi
I've just completed the transfer of my UK pension to an international setup with SJB Global and Alex Gover as my Advisor. The process was made very clear by Alex... read more and I am confident that my finances are in safe hands with SJB. Over the last few years I've been contacted by many companies interested in advising on my expat/UK pension situation. However, I felt the approach of many to be pushy and/or they were not being transparent with fees. This was not the case with SJB, who clearly explained all the costs, constraints and benefits involved in the pension transfer and Alex spent a significant amount of time and effort with me ensuring I understood the process. Overall I am very happy and am in much greater control of my UK pension (and retirement) than I was previously. Cheers Alex

Andrew Taylor
It’s been a breath of fresh air dealing with Jake from SJB Global. My previous advisor had set up my portfolio badly with annual costs eating heavily into my profits.... read more Jake focused on reducing costs to save me money whilst simplifying my portfolio to ensure it meets my ongoing requirements. The regular quarterly reviews have been positive and overall I have found Jake to be a very professional and knowledgeable advisor, in light of my experience I have recently recommended SJB global to several of my friends.

Darren Nash
I’ve dealt with Lewis over the past few months and he has been great help in transferring my pension across. He was always very professional and patient, ensuring I fully... read more understood everything and kept me updated on the progress and next steps through the transfer process. Look forward to continue working with Lewis over the coming years.

tanya spelkova
My adviser was comprehensive and thorough in ensuring they fully understood my situation and my objectives. The solution provided gives a good return but also reduces the management costs notably... read more - a key target. My adviser kept me very well informed and provided specific additional information where I had a concern. The process of transferring was efficiently and very well managed.

Glenn Vaughan
Piers made my portfolio grow ad cut those toxic investments that otherwise would have gotten me into financial trouble. I'm very lucky to be a customer.

Tatyana van 't Hof-Minayeva
I have to say that working with Randal Stephens has been a sincere pleasure and in the large majority of cases a blessing. His competence, his attitude to help a... read more non expert like me, his patience, his ethical behaviors in explaining pros and cons of the different actions to be taken has been really a gift to me. I can not remember of any single case in which I left the call with Randal with question marks and with me it would have been very easy in his field. Kudos to him and a sincere pity that I had to close this collaboration for personal circumstances

Alfonso Gentile
Having spent over 24 years of my working life in the UK, I decided to retire back in my home country. But with the issue of having to transfer my... read more pension, as my UK provider could/ would not sustain non British resident. I started the process some 1.5 years ahead of me retiring, as I had to consider all options available to me and most importantly finding a new trusted partner.As I was extra cautious, if not zealous, I needed to be walked through the entire process with due care and diligence, I have found all of this at SJB Global.Piers KEMP (my adviser at SJB) remained very resilient, and patient, to all my questions, including those about the reality and seriousness of the company (so many scams around in particular in the online world). He invested time and effort into our relationship, not making a single penny until the transfer was completed.So far so good, I am very pleased about SJB Global and Piers K. services.

Didier Fernandez
Jake Barber has been a fantastic Financial Advisor for me. When I was moving from the UK to Germany last Summer, I was searching online for a Financial Advisor who... read more specialises in helping UK expats who live in the EU. I contacted SJB Global and got a call back from Jake. From the first call I already started getting good advice on things related to my UK workplace and state pensions and investments, and ever since then I have received invaluable help with my finances. Jake is very knowledgeable and always on top of changes in the markets and regulations and quick to react and give me advice accordingly. He has also always been patient and very helpful with all my detailed questions and quick to respond over email too. I have moved my UK workplace pensions to SJB Global and I am very happy with the service I receive.

Siddique Khan
Very professional and trustworthy financial consultants. I have had many discussions and dealings with Alex Gover and have found him to be extremely helpful, honest and insightful.

Chris Marsden
I moved my investment portfolio to SJB Global earlier this year as I was not seeing any growth with my previous investment company. I have to say that from the... read more initial phone call through to the finalization of the transfer I have experienced nothing but 100% professionalism from both Jake and Luke. On top of that they are both caring people who give you the feeling that they have all the time in the world for you, they explain things very clearly and are totally transparent when it comes to costs, something which my previous investment company were not. It is refreshing, especially in this industry to see such a different approach. Even though I have only been with SJB Global for 9 or so months I have already seen significant growth and I am very much looking forward to working with Luke and the team to grow further my portfolio in the future. I would highly recommend anyone who is feeling unhappy with there current investment performance to contact SJB Global. You will not be disappointed.

Paul Simms
I received excellent personalised service & advice from Alex. He went above and beyond to listen to my needs and propose a custom investment plans suited to my needs, earning... read more my trust along the way. I'm very satisfied with everything and would highly recommend him.

Karine Pierre-Louis
I have been a client of SJB Global for over 4 years. Jake Barber and the team have provided excellent guidance and support during this time. As a result, I'm... read more approaching retirement without unnecessary stress. In an industry with far too many charlatans, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend SJB Global to anyone remotely concerned about the service they are getting from their financial advisor.

Steve Matthews
We moved our financial advisor from UK to Ben Eccles at SJB Global and have been very impressed with the care and attention to detail that he provides. He... read more is always available and informed whenever we have questions and we feel are pensions are in the best place as Spanish residents.

Juliette Slater
Since start of using SJB Global in 2018, I've restructured my pension and savings plans. Professional knowledge, experience and understanding of different available products has enabled me to make... read more some considered financial decisions. Now, I think I have a balanced portfolio of investments which can bring some returns for my retirement. I am currently in the process of making further investments and regular savings plans with SJB. Initially Jake Barber and now Ben Eccles have given me sound professional advice, not only on investments, but also on global trends, risks & opportunities. SJB are always available on request in addition to providing quarterly reviews. I can recommend SJB Global with confidence, to provide sound advice and good service. Thank you.

Paul Austin
Sound advice and guidance always from SJB Global. This professional outfit have a great perspective of the markets and I feel secure my investments are managed by these guys.

Peter Lacken
I have been dealing with SJB since i retired 4 years ago and have had no issues with the service. The team are extremely helpful and have always looked... read more after my best interests. So much so, my wife also now uses them for her pension investments. They recognise what we need and also the best route to achieving this. I would have no qualms in recommending them.

Andrew Thompson
I dealt with Piers Kemp who was extremely knowledgeable, approachable, swift to react to my queries (even the repetitive ones that he'd previously covered!) and, importantly, patient. It was a... read more long process slowed down by my previous providers, and at at times myself. However Piers never displayed frustration. It has been a top notch professional relationship thus far.

Woody Maynard
2021 / 2022 have been turbulent years and I went in to the assessment expecting a very painful feedback on my portfolio. I am happy to say Ben Eccles managed... read more to keep my losses to a minimum, and I have faith that once the chaos of the world today stabilises, he will make up for the challenges to date.

Adam Smith
I have been a client of SJB Global for the past 3 years and, during that time, Matt Quinn has worked diligently to safeguard my portfolio, advising (but never pushing)... read more which direction I should take my investments. I must be one of Matt's smaller clients but you wouldn't guess it from the time and patience he shows on his regular catch up calls. I have no hesitation in giving SJB and Matt a five star review.

Rob Leach
After having a bad experience worrying about an underperforming portfolio after moving my pension out of the UK (a QUROPS) I decided to make the changeover to it being... read more managed by SJB Global 2 years ago. They have turned the performance around, whilst at the same time listening to my needs and concerns and responding with clear and trustworthy communications. I am very happy I made the change!

Mike Hatrick
SJB Global have been my pension provider for a few years now. From switching over which was effortless to the array of products that they have access to is impressive.... read more My personal advisor is Matt Quinn a very honest and professional person that will keep me updated and informed along with a general review of my portfolio annually. Thank you for being my trusted partner Kind regards Justin woodmansee

Justin Woodmansee
I've just completed the transfer of my UK pension to an international setup with SJB Global and Alex Gover as my Advisor. The process was made very clear by Alex... read more and I am confident that my finances are in safe hands with SJB.Over the last few years I've been contacted by many companies interested in advising on my expat/UK pension situation. However, I felt the approach of many to be pushy and/or they were not being transparent with fees. This was not the case with SJB, who clearly explained all the costs, constraints and benefits involved in the pension transfer and Alex spent a significant amount of time and effort with me ensuring I understood the process. Overall I am very happy and am in much greater control of my UK pension (and retirement) than I was previously. Cheers Alex

Andrew Taylor