Originally from the Isle of Man, I have been based in Dubai since 2014, helping expatriates across the Middle East turn complicated, cross-border finances into a clear plan they can actually act on.
Originally from the Isle of Man, I have been based in Dubai since 2014, helping expatriates across the Middle East turn complicated, cross-border finances into a clear plan they can actually act on.
I am UK, EU and US qualified, with over 15 years’ experience in financial planning. Today, as Regional Head of Technical and Private Client Adviser at Skybound Wealth, I advise my own private clients and focus on complex cross-border planning cases involving multiple jurisdictions, currencies, and moving parts that don’t fit neatly into a standard template.
Clients typically come to me when their finances look fine on paper, but feel disjointed in practice, and they want to know whether they are genuinely on track for retirement.
Most of my clients are globally mobile professionals and families who have built wealth across different countries. That often means a UK pension or two, investments held offshore, property back home, cash in different currencies, and sometimes equity compensation or business interests. On paper, it looks fine. In real life, it can feel fragmented and uncertain, especially when the big questions show up: When can I stop working? How much can I spend without running out? What happens if markets fall, inflation spikes, or sterling moves? What happens if I relocate again?
This is where I do my best work. I specialise in retirement and estate planning for global expats, particularly US, UK, South African and European nationals. My focus is joining the dots across pensions, investments, tax considerations, currency risk and legacy planning, so your decisions are joined up and your plan stays robust as your life evolves. Clients work with me because they want straight answers, evidence-based recommendations, and a relationship that is proactive, not reactive.
I have also authored articles for the Financial Times, Money Marketing and The National, and I bring that same standard of clarity to client conversations. No jargon. No guesswork. Just a plan that makes sense, backed by proper analysis and built around what you are trying to achieve.
How do I know if I have enough to retire, and what does ‘enough’ actually mean?
“Enough” is not a number from a blog post. It is the cost of your life, in the country you plan to live in, adjusted for inflation, healthcare, and the lifestyle you want. The right way to answer this is to map your assets (pensions, investments, property, cash), your future contributions, and your spending plan, then stress test it against real world risks like market falls, inflation spikes, and currency movements. The outcome is a clear range, not blind optimism.
Should I consolidate my pensions and investments, or keep things separate?
Consolidating can make your plan simpler and easier to manage, but it is not automatically the best move. The right answer depends on charges, investment options, guarantees, access rules, tax treatment, beneficiaries, and where you might live later. Sometimes keeping a scheme is the smart play. Sometimes simplifying reduces costs and improves control. The key is to make the decision based on facts, not convenience.
I have money in different currencies. How do I manage currency risk in retirement?
Currency can quietly make or break an expat retirement. If your future spending is in one currency and most of your assets are in another, you need a plan for that gap. That usually means matching part of your portfolio to your future spending currency, building a cash buffer for near term spending, and managing withdrawals in a way that reduces the risk of being forced to sell investments at the wrong time. It is not about trying to predict FX. It is about building resilience.
What’s the best way to take income in retirement without running out of money?
This is where most people get it wrong. The goal is not to chase a single “safe withdrawal rate.” It is to build an income strategy that blends reliable sources of income (pensions, annuities where appropriate, rental income if relevant) with a flexible investment withdrawal plan, plus a cash reserve to reduce pressure during market downturns. Done properly, you can spend confidently, adjust when needed, and protect long term outcomes.
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