Why cross-border financial planning is like puzzle-solving

The first conversation with a new client is often the most enjoyable part of my job, and the most challenging. That's when the puzzle is set. A client arrives with assets spread across Australia, the US and the UK, perhaps an account in China or a property in India. Making sense of it all always comes back to one question: what does the client actually want? Cross-border clients have traditionally fallen into two camps, though that is shifting, largely because of pressure on the UK economy and tax system. The first group moves for tax efficiency. They head to Cyprus or the Middle ...