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Investment options for UK expats, or British expats, depend on the right strategy considering your tax residency, long-term plans, and overall financial goals.
HSBC Expat positions itself as a premium provider of international banking and investment solutions for globally mobile expats or nomads. As part of the HSBC Group—a globally recognised brand with operations in over 60 countries—it certainly sounds like a safe and convenient choice for expatriates. This article is a guest post by author and expat financial wealth manager Adam Fayed from www.adamfayed.com , examining the pros and cons of the HSBC Expat proposition. Introduction As with many large, traditional financial institutions, the branding does not always reflect the reality. Despite the polished marketing and promises of "global access", expats may encounter high costs, subpar investment performance, and inadequate personalisation, particularly in comparison to newer, more agile financial platforms. While HSBC Expat offers functional banking services and global account access, it often falls short in areas that truly matter: cost efficiency, transparency, and investment flexibility. For globally conscious investors who prioritise long-term returns and excellent customer service, superior options are readily available on the market. In this review, we will explore what HSBC Expat offers—and where it falls short. Let us examine the pros, cons, and real-world implications for expatriates considering HSBC Expat for their banking and investment needs. Bottom Line: Is HSBC Expat Worth It for Expats? From a banking perspective, HSBC Expat is passable but hardly exceptional. It offers basic functionality, multi-currency accounts, and global money transfer tools. However, these benefits come with a lengthy list of caveats, including high minimum balance requirements, inconsistent customer service, and international transfer fees that are significantly pricier than those offered by fintech alternatives like Wise or Revolut. There's also the bureaucracy that comes with dealing with such a large, legacy institution. Many users report slow response times, a lack of proactivity from relationship managers, and a general sense of being just another number in HSBC's 40 million-strong customer base. But the real disappointment lies in the investment offerings. HSBC Expat promotes a variety of investment products—many of which are heavily concentrated in the expensive HSBC-branded funds. While packaged attractively, these funds often come with multiple hidden fees, entry charges of up to 3%, and annual management fees that eat into returns over time. It is particularly frustrating given that lower-cost, higher-performing alternatives are available through independent platforms and providers. HSBC Expat's so-called "diversified" portfolios often heavily rely on internal products, which can hinder proper diversification and independence. Some expats might assume that "you receive what you pay for" with a global bank; that assumption simply does not hold up in this case. Worse still, HSBC Expat's investment advice is not impartial. HSBC's advisors prioritise the promotion of the bank's own investment products, frequently disregarding the quality or suitability of these products to clients or investors due to their incentivisation. In contrast, fee-only advisors prescribe products based on their clients' requirements and needs, and they also provide a wide range of options from various asset managers, fund managers, and banks. Anyone taking a long-term approach to wealth building should be wary of this conflict of interest. HSBC Expat: A Familiar Name Does Not Equal Better Service Customers often cite the comfort of dealing with a well-known brand like HSBC, even when better options are available. However, this is a classic example of familiarity bias — the inclination to opt for what is familiar, even when it may not be the best choice. The mere fact that HSBC maintains branches in numerous countries does not guarantee seamless interconnection. In reality, there might be limited cooperation between HSBC branches in different countries. For example, you may not be able to deposit a cheque from HSBC Country A into your account in HSBC Country B—a serious issue for mobile individuals who expect international consistency. There's also the increased regulatory exposure that comes with banking at a global institution. HSBC has a long history of cooperating with regulators and, in some cases, has proactively shared information with tax authorities. This approach is not inherently wrong, but expats looking for more discreet or flexible financial arrangements should take note. Final Verdict: Look Beyond the Brand To summarise: HSBC Expat's banking services are functional but dated, often accompanied by higher fees, clunky processes, and impersonal service. Investment options through HSBC Expat are expensive, biased toward in-house products, and tend to underperform compared to more modern platforms. The global brand image masks systemic inefficiencies, especially when compared to independent providers or challenger banks that prioritise expat needs. There are better options available—both in banking and investing—that offer lower fees, better customer service, and more transparent, performance-driven products. HSBC Expat may work as a secondary account or for limited use, but for serious investors or globally mobile professionals looking to grow and protect their wealth, it's far from the best choice. As a general rule, avoid bundling your banking and investing with the same institution, especially when that institution is promoting its own branded funds. Independence, flexibility, and transparency should be your top priorities — and unfortunately, HSBC Expat does not score highly in any of those areas. Would you like this data adapted into a PDF report or a LinkedIn post version? We can also help tailor this to a specific audience (e.g., British expats, digital nomads, high-net-worth individuals, etc.) if you would like. For a second opinion, please contact Adam Fayed at +44 7393 450 837 via WhatsApp or hello@adamfayed.com via email. Or, you can contact us directly via email and WhatsApp at info@innovestglobalwealth.com and +256773488765, respectively. Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or tax advice. Some facts may have changed since the publication date.
This article is mainly about Investors Trust S&P 500 investing and MSCI products. In this article, we will discuss: Who is the investors Trust company? Should l buy s&p500 investing? Advisors and introducers who want to distribute Investors Trust globally can also reach out to me. Firstly, who is Investors Trust S&P 500 Savings Plan? Investors Trust is a fast-growing investment provider based in Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, Malaysia, and beyond. They also have administration offices in the UAE and Uruguay. Investors trust with in $4.1 billion in assets under management and clients in over a hundred countries, they are increasingly becoming a bigger player in the offshore investing landscape, having grown more than 45% per year during the pandemic. Most of the Investors trust clients are expats or locals in Latin American, Africa and Asia. The S&P500 investment product is more widely sold than the MSCI one, but the plans are very similar, as I will explain in this article. If you want to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, you can email me (nelson@innovestglobalwealth.com) What are the basics associated with S&P500 investing? The basic elements of the plans are below: The plans are available in USD only. With a minimum starting point of $200 a month, this option can be taken out over 10, 15, or 20 years. The 10-year option only has a 100% guarantee, meaning that you don’t have much downside protection. The 15 and 20-year accounts have 140% and 160% protection respectively, meaning that you can make some money, even if the market has fallen. There is a $10 a month fixed-charge alongside a 0.125% monthly fee applied on all terms. The admin fee is 2% for the 10-year account, 1.7% for the 15-year, and 1.1% for the 20-year. There are two index series options. The S&P500 and MSCI EAFE. The S&P500 is one of the major indexes in the United States, focusing on 500 of the leading firms, including Apple, Microsoft, etc. Over most 30-year periods, the S&P500 index has averaged about 10% per year, even if some periods are better. In comparison, MSCI EAFE is an index focusing on 21 developed market indexes, excluding the United States and Canada. This includes stock markets in Japan, the UK, Germany, and France. In the last decade, the MSCI EAFE index has underperformed the S&P500, but this won’t last forever. Below are the major firms in the S&P500 index:
In this Investors Trust Evolution review, we’ll look at the features of the savings plan from the investment provider. We’ll also offer some benefits and risks for this investment opportunity. The Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan can be used for education or retirement savings with USD, EUR, and GBP currencies. Higher commitment increases savings potential. Extra allocations are made throughout the plan when annual contributions exceed criteria, helping achieve future investment goals. If you are looking to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, which is what I specialize in, you can email me (nelson@innovestglobalwealth.com) or use (WhatsApp +1 803 857 2161). This includes if you are looking for alternatives or a second opinion. Different investors have different tolerances for risk, and Investors Trust offers a variety of lump sum products to meet those needs, including alternative investments and capital-protected fixed income portfolios. The firm prioritizes creative investing strategies that safeguard money, generate regular income, and, in some cases, capitalize on capital market fluctuations. Investors Trust provides a range of unit-link investment solutions with an emphasis on helping foreign investors gain access to global markets. They have insurance companies in the Cayman Islands, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico, and investors globally. Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan Features and Types Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan is a flexible USD, EUR, and GBP investment. Standard plans require a minimum annual investment of USD/EUR/GBP 1,200 (doubled for 5-year plans), with a minimum yearly increase of 600 USD/EUR/GBP. Investors can pick from yearly, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly payments. The plan has terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 years with a 1.9% annual administration fee for the first 10 years, then 0.35%. The structure charge is 0.125% of the account value, and policy costs are 7 USD/EUR or 4.5 GBP monthly. There are no bid/offer spreads. Death benefits of 101% of the account value and free fund transfers are guaranteed. Based on remaining contract years’ yearly administration expenses, surrender fees apply. After the initial term, partial withdrawals are allowed with a USD/EUR/GBP 1,200 surrender value. Issue age for 5-year terms is 18–80, declining with longer terms. Investors Trust Evolution Plus Savings Plan International Investment, a renowned publication for independent financial advisors and wealth management professionals, named the Evolution Plus Plan Best International Savings Plan. Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan is also available in the three major currencies. Plan contributions must be 12,000 USD/EUR/GBP a year. Riders for 2,500 USD/EUR/GBP lump sum minimum contributions are also available. In addition, investors can increase their contributions per annum by a minimum of 12,000 USD/EUR/GBP to progressively grow their investment. Investment management is easier with annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly modal premium payments. Investors save money since the plan has no annual administration fee or bid/offer spread. However, insurance fees are 10 USD/EUR or 7 GBP 7 monthly and structure fees are 0.16% of the account value (1.92% annually). Investors should also consider a 3.5% credit card fee. Free fund transfers improve plan accessibility and management. A guaranteed death benefit assures 101% of account value to recipients. However, surrender charges are low, with 1.92% in the first year and none after. Partial withdrawals are allowed at any time with a minimum surrender value of 10,000 USD/EUR/GBP, giving investors liquidity and flexibility as their financial demands change. Ages 18–85 can use the plan. Investors Trust Evolution Select Investments Trust Evolution Select accepts USD, EUR, or GBP contributions with a minimum of 12,000 USD/EUR/GBP annually. The plan offers riders for 2,500 USD/EUR/GBP lump sum minimum contributions and 12,000 USD/EUR/GBP annual increases. Modal premiums are the same as the two previous savings plans. No bid/offer spread and 1% administration charge over the annual original premium for the first 5 years. It also includes a policy fee of 10 USD/EUR or 7 GBP a month, a structure fee of 0.125% per month of the account value equal to 1.5% per year, and a 3.5% credit card fee. Fund transfers are free, and a guaranteed death benefit guarantees 101% of account value upon death. With a minimum surrender value of 10,000 USD/EUR/GBP, partial withdrawals are allowed at any time. Surrender charges reduce annually from 4% at year 1 to 0% at year 5. Plan is available to 18-85-year-olds. Pros and Cons of Investors Trust Evolution Savings Plan Benefits of Savings Plan Loyalty and additional allocations Diverse selection of mutual funds Extensive range of choices from asset managers Online portfolio monitoring Minimal initial investment requirement Complimentary fund transfers Cheaper than most plans like this on the market Disadvantages of Savings Plan Investors with enough money to do a lump sum might find those products are better for their needs. Investors who need access to their funds before the policy matures may be affected by surrender charges that are tied to the policy’s term if they cash out their policies early. Unlike the S&P500 account, the returns aren’t guaranteed. Conclusion This is a cheaper and more flexible plan than most of the competitors. There are some great fund choices. However, it is only good for people in certain situations, and you should seek guidance to make sure the plan is aligned to what you want to achieve. Do not be pained by Financial indecision, contact me via email for a second impartial opinion: nelson@innovestglobalwealth.com) or use (WhatsApp +1 803 857 2161).
Investors Trust Access Portfolio Review Investors Trust stands as the worldwide emblem representing the ITA Group of firms. Originating in 2002 as an international insurance conglomerate, Investors Trust has broadened its scope to encompass clientele across over 100 markets globally, operating through numerous office hubs to cater to its diverse international audience. Distinguished for its focus on medium to long-term unit-linked investment offerings, Investors Trust delivers an extensive array of solutions tailored explicitly for international investors. With operational presence in the Cayman Islands, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico, Investors Trust maintains service points in strategic locations including Dubai, Hong Kong, Uruguay, and a central corporate support office in the United States. Investors Trust Access Portfolio is a range of investment solutions offered by Investors Trust Assurance SPC, a leading international insurance company. The Access Portfolio aims to provide investors with flexible and diversified investment options to help them achieve their financial goals This article will review the product and explain why some investors will get good returns compared to others, making the advisor you pick essential to your investing success. The article will also briefly review the fixed income and platinum portfolios as well – two other lump sum options available on Investors Trust. If you want to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, you can email me (nelson@innovestglobalwealth.com) or Reach me via WhatsApp at +1 803 857 2161 Advisors and introducers who want to distribute Investors Trust globally can also reach out to me. Where is Investors Trust Access Portfolio sold? Worldwide, but often in expat-focused areas such as Dubai, Africa, Shanghai, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Qatar and various other locations. For locals, Latin America, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea are probably the biggest markets. What are the costs of Investors Trust Access Portfolio? It depends which option is chosen. The Access Portfolio Plus only costs 1% per year for admin charges, whereas the Access 800 Series is charged at 1.2% per year and policy fee of 180 USD per quarter. What are the biggest misconceptions about Investors Trust? The three biggest ones are that they are only in the Cayman Islands, are a relatively small company and don’t have great investor protections. To the contrary they are an A-rated institution which is now in Puerto Rico and Malaysia. They also don’t use offshore banks, and instead only use A-rated onshore banks like HSBC (US) and Standard Chartered (UK) to hold the funds, even though they are domiciled offshore as an organisation. Together with the segregated account system, these protections are top notch. For that reason, it is perhaps unsurprising that they have been one of the fastest growing companies in their niche in recent years, and are thus no longer a small company. Many older views fail to take account of this. Investors Trust Access Portfolio Investments minimum account for Investors Trust Access Portfolio For the Access Portfolio, $75,000USD, 75,000 Euros and 50,000GBP are the minimum account sizes. The minimum additional investments are 5,000GBP, 7,500USD and 7,500 Euros respectively, for top ups. What about if you don’t have $75,000 or currency equivalent? Investors Trust do have a smaller lump sum product called the Platinum. It starts from $10,000/10,000GBP/10,000 Euros. This product has less investment choices than the access portfolio, but does have some of the better fund options, such as the S&P500 index fund. In general, the fees associated with the Platinum can be higher than the Access portfolio, but that depends on which option you select, as there are three options associated with the Platinum portfolios. What is the duration of Investors Trust Access Portfolio investment? Different periods can be chosen. 5 years, 8 years and open-ended charging structures can be picked on day one. There are no early surrender charges if the open charging structure is put in place. In comparison, early surrender charges exist if you wish to leave the investment early on the 5 year and 8 year options. The three different products are called the Access 5000 series, the Access Portfolio 8000 Series and the Access Portfolio Plus. Full list of Investors Trust Access Portfolio investment managers available On the Access Portfolio, there are too many options to list here, but the most popular ones include: Ishares Blackrock Morgan Stanley Pimco Janus Henderson Franklin Templeton MFS Investec Fidelity AllianceBernstein Vanguard Vanguard isn’t available on the Platinum portfolio but it is available on the Access Portfolio. Investors have access to many International Government Bonds, Corporate Bonds, and Sharia Bonds. Investors have access to all Stocks on the NASDAQ, NYSE and the European and Asian Stock Markets Investors have access to funds managed by the world’s largest asset management firms like BlackRock, Vanguard, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Alliance Bernstein and many more. Are there any other lump sum options? For people looking for pure income, Investors Trust have a fixed income portfolio. This portfolio gives you the option to invest for 3, 5 and 15 years. The 3 and 5 year rates are fixed, with a minimum contribution of $10,000. The rates on offer are very low though – 1.75% for 3 years and rising to up to 3.6% for 10 year plans, so this should only be considered as a slightly better option than keeping your money in the bank. The positive about this plan is that the investments are backed up by Investors Trust’s assets and only cost $7 a month. That means Investors Trust invests the money (it is the only product they offer where they invest the money rather than the advisor) and hope to make more money than they are giving the client in return. If they don’t achieve that, they need to repay the client from their own assets. What have been some of the best performing funds on this Investors Trust Access Portfolio? That depends on which timeframes you look at. In recent years, US markets have done best, with emerging and energy-linked ETFs, facing downward pressure, with a lower oil price. Sometimes today’s winners are tomorrow’s losers, and vice versa, though. A great example of this is if you compare US and international stocks. Historically, each has a period of over performance, according to work from Fidelity:
