Stuart Porter
Who I Work With
I work with a small number of British expatriate families in the UAE.
If you are a British professional in the UAE with financial arrangements spread across more than one country — and a quiet awareness that they have never been properly brought together — you will recognise the situation described on this page.
I work with a small number of clients by design. Providing the quality of attention this kind of planning requires, and building the long-term relationships in which it works best, is only possible when the practice is intentionally limited in size.
My clients are based across the UAE — primarily in Dubai, though I work with families throughout the Emirates.
Established Professionals and Business Owners
Most of the people I advise are senior professionals, partners, directors or business owners, typically in their forties and fifties.
They have accumulated pensions and investments over many years of professional work — often across more than one jurisdiction.
UK pension arrangements may sit alongside offshore investments.
Property ownership may exist in the UK or elsewhere.
Residency intentions may remain uncertain.
As financial arrangements grow and diversify, decisions taken independently can begin to interact in unintended ways.
At this stage, the focus often shifts from accumulation alone to coordination, protection and long-term clarity.
My role is to provide structured oversight so that retirement, investment and estate considerations remain aligned rather than fragmented.
In practice, that often means being the one person who holds the complete picture.
Cross-Border Complexity
Many British expatriates are more connected to UK legislation than they realise — even after decades of living overseas.
Inheritance tax exposure, pension rules and succession considerations may continue to apply.
At the same time, UAE residency and potential future relocation introduce further variables.
Financial decisions rarely exist in isolation.
A pension withdrawal strategy may influence tax exposure.
Investment structure can affect estate outcomes.
Liquidity planning may determine flexibility if residence changes.
A pension drawn at the wrong time, in the wrong structure, can trigger a UK tax charge that a straightforward review would have avoided. These are not unusual situations — they are the predictable result of financial arrangements that have never been reviewed together.
Reviewing these elements together is how costly surprises are avoided.
A Long-Term Perspective
The families I advise are rarely seeking short-term adjustments or speculative strategies.
They are typically looking for:
- A retirement framework built around the life you want — not a generic model
- Investment oversight that is disciplined, evidence-based and free of product bias
- Estate coordination that reflects your cross-border reality and family intentions
- Ongoing review that keeps your plan aligned as circumstances change
They value continuity and measured judgement more than activity.
Financial planning at this stage of life is less about accumulation and more about stewardship.
Where This Approach May Be Less Appropriate
My advisory model is based on long-term engagement and structured review.
It may be less suited to those seeking frequent trading, tactical market positioning or isolated product recommendations.
Financial planning tends to work best where there is an intention to maintain a considered advisory relationship over time.
If that describes your current approach, this practice is probably not the right fit. If what you are looking for is considered, long-term planning from someone who will take the time to understand your whole picture — then it may well be.
A Considered Fit
An initial conversation is simply a chance to talk through your situation without obligation. There is no set agenda and no sales pitch — just an honest discussion about where you are, where you want to be, and whether working together makes sense for both of us.
If your financial arrangements have grown across borders over many years and you would value a coordinated, long-term perspective rather than fragmented advice, I would welcome that conversation.
A 30-minute video call, at a time that suits you. No obligation. No sales pitch.
Arrange an Introductory ConversationOr Contact Directly
• Enquiries are typically responded to within one business day.