Wealth management brings together investment management, financial planning, custody, reporting and ongoing advice. For internationally mobile clients, the challenge is rarely just choosing investments. The harder question is whether the overall arrangement still works when your country of residence, tax position, currencies, family circumstances or future plans change.
A wealth manager may help coordinate different parts of your financial life, but the scope varies significantly between firms. Some focus primarily on portfolio management. Others provide broader planning, access to banking and investment platforms, consolidated reporting, estate-planning coordination or introductions to tax and legal specialists.
The important starting point is not “Which firm should I use?” but “What do I actually need the firm to do?”
The big picture
International wealth management is less about finding one perfect product and more about making sure the different parts of your financial life continue to work together.
Residence, tax exposure, investment access, currency, estate planning and family circumstances can all affect how an existing arrangement works.
The basics
What does wealth management actually cover?
The term ‘wealth management’ can describe very different services. Before comparing firms, understand what is included — and what is not.
Investment management
Portfolio construction, asset allocation, manager selection, ongoing monitoring and rebalancing. Understand whether decisions are discretionary, advisory or execution-only.
Financial planning
Cash-flow planning, retirement modelling, major future expenditure and coordination of financial priorities across different stages of life.
Custody and administration
Where investments are legally held, how assets are safeguarded, how statements are produced and what happens if you move country.
Tax-aware coordination
A wealth manager may take tax considerations into account, but this is not automatically the same as receiving specialist tax advice. Clarify where one service ends and another begins.
Estate and succession planning
Coordination around wills, beneficiaries, ownership structures and succession planning, often alongside qualified legal and tax advisers.
Consolidated reporting
Bringing together portfolios, cash, pensions and other assets so you can see your overall financial position more clearly.
Cross-border wealth
What changes when your life crosses borders?
An arrangement that worked well while you lived in one country may need to be reviewed when your circumstances become international.
Residency
Moving country can affect which products remain available to you and whether a provider is permitted or willing to continue servicing you.
Tax
Different countries may treat investment income, capital gains, pensions, trusts and investment wrappers differently. Do not assume that a tax-efficient arrangement in one country remains tax-efficient elsewhere.
Currency
Your assets, liabilities, income and spending may be denominated in different currencies. Currency exposure can therefore become part of your wider financial risk.
Regulation
A firm may be regulated to advise clients in one jurisdiction but not another. Ask whether the adviser can continue servicing you after a move.
Estate planning
Residence, domicile, citizenship, property ownership and family location may create additional succession and inheritance considerations.
Reporting
Multiple accounts across countries can make reporting more difficult. Clear consolidated reporting becomes increasingly valuable as complexity grows.
Before a move
Review your wealth arrangements before changing residence
One of the most useful times to review your arrangements is before a move rather than after it. Some decisions are much easier to make while you are still resident in your current country.
- Can my current wealth manager continue to advise me?
- Can I keep all of my existing accounts and platforms?
- Will I still be able to make new contributions?
- Will the tax treatment of my investments change?
- Do I hold assets or funds that are treated differently in the destination country?
- Should I review gains or losses before changing residence?
- Are my pension arrangements affected?
- Do I need to reconsider currency exposure?
- Are my wills and estate-planning documents still appropriate?
- Will I need local tax or legal advice after the move?
Do not make transactions solely because of a checklist. The appropriate action depends on individual circumstances and the rules that apply in each jurisdiction.
Service model
Who actually makes the investment decisions?
Discretionary management
You agree an investment mandate and the manager can make investment decisions within that mandate without asking for approval for every transaction.
Consider
- Delegation of day-to-day decisions
- Defined mandate
- Ongoing management
- Understand the manager's authority
Advisory management
The adviser provides recommendations, but you normally approve decisions before they are implemented.
Consider
- Greater involvement
- Recommendation-driven
- Client retains final decision
- Service levels vary
Execution-only
You make the investment decisions and the provider primarily executes instructions or provides the platform.
Consider
- Lower level of advice
- Greater responsibility on the client
- Suitability depends on experience and needs
These labels can mean slightly different things between providers. Always read the firm’s actual service description and client agreement.
Choosing a firm
What should you look for in a wealth manager?
Regulatory permissions
Confirm who regulates the firm, which legal entity will serve you and whether it can advise you in the countries relevant to your circumstances.
International capability
Ask how the firm handles clients who relocate, become non-resident or own assets across multiple countries.
Investment approach
Understand how portfolios are built, what asset classes are used, how risk is measured and how frequently portfolios are reviewed.
Independence
Ask whether the firm can recommend investments from across the market or whether it is restricted to particular products, funds or providers.
Custody
Understand where your assets are held, which custodian is used and whether custody is separate from the advisory business.
Reporting
Review sample statements. Good reporting should make it easy to understand holdings, performance, fees, transactions and currency exposure.
Continuity
Ask what happens if your adviser leaves, you move country or the firm changes ownership.
Professional network
For complex cross-border situations, ask whether the firm works effectively with external tax advisers, lawyers, trustees and accountants.
Costs
Look beyond the headline management fee
International wealth arrangements can involve several layers of cost. A low headline advisory fee does not necessarily mean the overall arrangement is inexpensive.
Advisory / management fee
The fee paid to the wealth manager for advice or ongoing management.
Platform fee
The charge for the investment platform or account infrastructure.
Custody fee
The cost of holding and administering investments.
Fund charges
Fees charged within investment funds or other underlying products.
Trading costs
Dealing commissions, spreads and other transaction costs.
FX costs
Charges or exchange-rate margins when currencies are converted.
Product or structuring costs
Some wrappers or structures may have establishment or ongoing administration charges.
Due diligence
Questions worth asking before you appoint a firm
- Which legal entity will provide my service?
- Which regulator supervises that entity?
- Can you continue to advise me if I move country?
- Do you currently work with clients in my destination country?
- Is your advice independent or restricted?
- Who holds custody of my assets?
- What happens if your firm fails?
- What is my total expected annual cost?
- Do you receive commissions, referral fees or other payments?
- How do you decide what investments go into my portfolio?
- Can I transfer my investments elsewhere without selling them?
- How frequently will my portfolio and circumstances be reviewed?
- How will performance be reported?
- How do you manage currency exposure?
- What tax or legal advice is included, if any?
- What happens if my adviser leaves?
- Who owns the client relationship — the adviser or the firm?
- What happens if I become resident in another jurisdiction?
Watch for
Potential warning signs
- The adviser cannot clearly explain total costs.
- The service depends heavily on one proprietary product.
- You are encouraged to act quickly without a clear reason.
- Cross-border tax outcomes are described as guaranteed.
- The firm cannot explain which regulated entity serves you.
- It is unclear where your assets will actually be held.
A warning sign does not automatically mean a firm is unsuitable. It is a reason to ask more questions.
Do you need advice?
Wealth manager or investment platform?
Wealth manager
May suit someone who:
- Wants ongoing advice
- Has more complex financial circumstances
- Wants portfolio management delegated
- Has multiple accounts or jurisdictions
- Wants coordination with other professional advisers
Investment platform
May suit someone who:
- Is comfortable making investment decisions independently
- Wants greater control
- Has relatively straightforward circumstances
- Does not require ongoing personal advice
- Primarily needs account access and execution
The right model depends on complexity, experience, the amount of support required and the jurisdictions involved.
Common scenarios
When international wealth planning becomes more complicated
Moving from the UK to the UAE
A professional has investments, pensions and cash accounts in the UK but expects to live in the UAE for several years. The key questions include account access, investment servicing, tax residence, currency exposure and what happens if they later return.
Moving between European countries
A family owns property in one country, holds investments in another and expects to relocate again. Estate planning, reporting and provider permissions may become as important as investment selection.
Founder after a business sale
A founder receives substantial liquidity after selling a business and wants to diversify internationally. The challenge is coordinating investment management, cash, tax advice, estate planning and future residency.
International retirement
A couple plans to retire abroad while retaining pensions and investments in their home country. They need to understand how income, currency, access and estate planning interact.
These are educational examples, not recommendations. They do not describe a particular person, firm or tax outcome.
When to get help
When should you consider specialist advice?
Professional advice may be particularly valuable when several jurisdictions, legal systems or tax regimes interact.
- Before changing tax residence
- Before selling a business or major asset
- Before making substantial pension decisions
- When holding trusts or complex ownership structures
- When family members live in different countries
- When estate-planning rules may overlap
- When investment providers may no longer be able to service you
- When a large proportion of your wealth is concentrated in one asset or currency
Compare providers
Wealth management providers for international clients
Compare providers that may be relevant to internationally mobile individuals, families and high-net-worth clients. The information below is based on publicly available provider information and WiT Access research. Availability, eligibility and minimums vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Some providers may have commercial or referral relationships with WiT Access. Commercial relationships do not determine editorial inclusion or ranking.
How to compare
Start with the relationship, not the provider name
Wealth management can combine financial planning, investment management, retirement planning and coordination with tax or legal professionals. International clients should also ask whether the relationship can continue after another move, which entity provides the service, and how reporting changes across jurisdictions.
01
Service model
Planning, investments or both?
02
International capability
Can they continue serving you after a move?
03
Minimums
What level of investable assets is required?
04
Cost
How are planning, management, custody and product costs charged?
What to compare
This is a list of questions. It does not score the providers below.
What to ask
Why it matters
- Financial planning
- Whether the relationship covers a plan, or only a portfolio.
- Investment management
- Who decides trades, and within what mandate.
- Cross-border support
- Whether a move changes what the firm can still do.
- Jurisdictions accepted
- The legal entity, and the countries of residence it can serve.
- Minimum investable assets
- The published segment may not be the service you would use.
- Fee model
- Planning, management, custody, platform and product costs are separate.
- Custody
- Who holds the assets, and what happens if the adviser changes.
- Pensions
- Whether retirement accounts are in scope, or referred elsewhere.
- Estate-planning coordination
- Whether the firm will work alongside a lawyer, and on what.
- Tax-reporting support
- What information is produced, and what is left to a tax adviser.
- Family / multi-generational planning
- Whether people in more than one country can be included.
- Private-office capability
- Whether more complex wealth has a stated service, or is not described.
- Ability to continue after relocation
- A relationship that works today may stop at the next border.
- Review frequency
- How often the plan is looked at, and what that meeting covers.
Filter providers
7 providers listed for comparison.
Cross-border wealth planning
AES International
Cross-border specialist
- Ideal for
- HNW globally mobile families, senior executives and business owners
- International reach
- Middle East, GCC and global UK families
- Public minimum
- $1m+ often cited; another page references £500k+
Services
- Financial life management
- Wealth management
- Investment strategy
- Retirement
- Estate and tax planning coordination
- Cross-border planning
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Wealth management
Cazenove Capital / Schroders Wealth Management
Multi-jurisdiction wealth management
- Ideal for
- HNW and UHNW individuals, families, entrepreneurs and international families
- International reach
- UK, Europe and Asia
- Public minimum
- £1m+ for a stated US-connected discretionary example
Services
- Global wealth advisory
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Wealth and estate planning
- Banking and lending
- Cross-border investment management
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Cross-border wealth planning
Partners Wealth Management
Cross-border specialist
- Ideal for
- HNW private clients, senior professionals, business owners and internationally connected families
- International reach
- UK-led, with cross-border planning
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
Services
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Retirement
- Protection
- Estate planning
- Cross-border planning
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Investment management
Quilter Cheviot
Multi-jurisdiction wealth management
- Ideal for
- HNW and private clients, and internationally mobile investors
- International reach
- UK, Jersey, Dublin and Dubai
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
Services
- Discretionary investment management
- Advice and dealing
- Managed portfolios
- International model portfolio services
- Multi-currency and offshore investing
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Wealth management
Rathbones
UK + international capability
- Ideal for
- HNW individuals, families, entrepreneurs and international clients
- International reach
- UK and Channel Islands
- Public minimum
- Private Office: £5m+
Services
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Wealth management
- Wealth structuring
- Offshore investment options
- Banking and lending via a partner
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
International wealth advice
Skybound Wealth
Strong international proposition
- Ideal for
- Expats, internationally mobile professionals, business owners and globally connected families
- International reach
- UAE, Cyprus, Switzerland, USA, Spain and the UK
- Public minimum
- £100k–£249,999 Wealth Builder; £250k+ Executive
Services
- International wealth advice
- Investments
- Pensions
- Inheritance planning
- Moving abroad or returning to the UK
- Cross-border planning
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Wealth management
Titan Wealth
UK + international capability
- Ideal for
- HNW individuals, business owners and families
- International reach
- UK, Channel Islands and UAE
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
Services
- Financial planning
- Investments
- Pensions
- Insurance
- Discretionary portfolio management
- Fiscal reporting
Listed for comparison. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Compare wealth management providers
Compare the international proposition, the published client segment and where the firm works. Open a profile for each service in full.
| Provider | Proposition | Best aligned with | Minimum | Services | Markets | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-border specialist | HNW globally mobile families | $1m+ often cited | Financial life management · Investment strategy + more | Middle East | View |
| Multi-jurisdiction wealth management | HNW and UHNW individuals | £1m+ for a stated US-connected | Planning · Investments + more | UK, Europe and Asia | View |
| Cross-border specialist | HNW private clients | Minimum not publicly stated | Planning · Investments + more | UK-led, with cross-border planning | View |
| Multi-jurisdiction wealth management | HNW and private clients | Minimum not publicly stated | Discretionary investment management · International and offshore | UK, Jersey, Dublin and Dubai | View |
| UK + international capability | HNW individuals | Private Office: £5m+ | Planning · Investments + more | UK and Channel Islands | View |
| Strong international proposition | Expats | £100k–£249,999 Wealth Builder | Investments · Cross-border + more | UAE | View |
| UK + international capability | HNW individuals | Minimum not publicly stated | Planning · Discretionary portfolio management · Pensions | UK, Channel Islands and UAE | View |
| Provider | Proposition | Best aligned with | Minimum | Markets | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-border specialist | HNW globally mobile families | $1m+ often cited | Middle East | View |
| Multi-jurisdiction wealth management | HNW and UHNW individuals | £1m+ for a stated US-connected | UK, Europe and Asia | View |
| Cross-border specialist | HNW private clients | Minimum not publicly stated | UK-led, with cross-border planning | View |
| Multi-jurisdiction wealth management | HNW and private clients | Minimum not publicly stated | UK, Jersey, Dublin and Dubai | View |
| UK + international capability | HNW individuals | Private Office: £5m+ | UK and Channel Islands | View |
| Strong international proposition | Expats | £100k–£249,999 Wealth Builder | UAE | View |
| UK + international capability | HNW individuals | Minimum not publicly stated | UK, Channel Islands and UAE | View |
AES International
Cross-border specialist
- Best aligned with
- HNW globally mobile families
- Public minimum
- $1m+ often cited
- Services
- Financial life management · Investment strategy + more
- Primary markets
- Middle East
Cazenove Capital / Schroders Wealth Management
Multi-jurisdiction wealth management
- Best aligned with
- HNW and UHNW individuals
- Public minimum
- £1m+ for a stated US-connected
- Services
- Planning · Investments + more
- Primary markets
- UK, Europe and Asia
Partners Wealth Management
Cross-border specialist
- Best aligned with
- HNW private clients
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
- Services
- Planning · Investments + more
- Primary markets
- UK-led, with cross-border planning
Quilter Cheviot
Multi-jurisdiction wealth management
- Best aligned with
- HNW and private clients
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
- Services
- Discretionary investment management · International and offshore
- Primary markets
- UK, Jersey, Dublin and Dubai
Rathbones
UK + international capability
- Best aligned with
- HNW individuals
- Public minimum
- Private Office: £5m+
- Services
- Planning · Investments + more
- Primary markets
- UK and Channel Islands
Skybound Wealth
Strong international proposition
- Best aligned with
- Expats
- Public minimum
- £100k–£249,999 Wealth Builder
- Services
- Investments · Cross-border + more
- Primary markets
- UAE
Titan Wealth
UK + international capability
- Best aligned with
- HNW individuals
- Public minimum
- Minimum not publicly stated
- Services
- Planning · Discretionary portfolio management · Pensions
- Primary markets
- UK, Channel Islands and UAE
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WiT Access provides general information and comparison resources. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Rules and provider availability vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Consider obtaining advice from appropriately qualified professionals.