How to choose a financial adviser as an expat: eight questions to ask

Expats are targeted by more sales pitches than most people. Moving abroad means moving away from the checks you took for granted at home. A few questions, asked early, separate a good adviser from a salesperson.

1. Which regulator covers you, and where can I check?

Advice on UK pensions generally needs a firm authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and you can check the public register. In the UAE, the regulator depends on where the firm operates, for example the DFSA in the DIFC, the FSRA in Abu Dhabi Global Market, or the Securities and Commodities Authority onshore. Ask which one applies, and look the firm and the individual up yourself rather than relying on a logo on a brochure.

2. How are you paid?

Some advisers charge fees. Others are paid commission by the product provider, which can be built into charges you do not see on day one. Neither is automatically wrong, but you should know which applies and what it costs you in money, not just in percentages.

3. What will this cost me in total?

Ask for a written breakdown of every charge: adviser, product, fund and platform. Ask for it as a yearly percentage and as an amount in pounds or dirhams over five and ten years.

4. Do you advise on the whole market, or on a limited range?

An adviser who can only recommend a few products is not necessarily bad, but you should know the limits.

5. What are your qualifications for pension transfers?

Transfers of guaranteed pensions need regulated advice, and the adviser must have the right permissions and qualifications. Ask who will sign off the recommendation.

6. What happens to my plan if I move country?

Many plans sold to expats are hard to keep or restructure when you move again. Ask what happens, and what it costs.

7. Can I see a written recommendation before I commit?

A reputable adviser puts the reasons in writing: your goals, the options considered and why one was recommended. If you are pushed to decide on the call, take that as a warning.

8. Who do I complain to if something goes wrong?

Ask whether you can use an ombudsman or compensation scheme, and which one. Protection differs from country to country.

Warning signs

• Pressure to decide quickly, or a deadline invented by the seller.
• Guaranteed returns on anything that invests in markets.
• A "free review" that turns out to be a product sale.
• Encouragement to transfer a guaranteed pension without a written comparison.
• Vague answers about fees.

What this means when you speak to us

Horizon Expat Wealth does not give advice. If you want to go further, we introduce you to a regulated adviser and name the firm on the first call, before any advice is given or fees are discussed. Use these same eight questions on them.

Choosing help, 2 minute read. Last reviewed October 2026. Applies to: Any country. General information, not personal advice.