Living in a place where the lifestyle and cost of living matches your financial situation

Are you ready to spend your retirement years in comfort, style, and maybe even a bit of luxury? As a retiree, you’ll want to be able to live in a place where the lifestyle and cost of living matches your financial situation. If you would like to discuss your options then please contact Headway Wealth today to book a no obligation initial consultation.

It goes without saying that before retiring in another country you need to thoroughly do your research. You need to know what it is like living there and how much it will cost. Are there theatres, entertainment, sports, activities, and more? Is the healthcare system good? Do they have all your creature comforts and favourite products you want? Getting older means more healthcare needs. Is the healthcare system affordable, or would you need to take out private health insurance?

It’s also important to understand how your pensions might be affected. Can you move your pension overseas? Will your pensions be payable into a local bank account? Don’t forget to look at the tax implications of living in another country other than your home country.

You’ll need to consider what is the visa application and residency process for moving to this country? Make a thorough budget of your expected monthly living expenses to see if it is financially viable to relocate. Remember to factor in flight costs for trips to family back home.

Many people dream of travelling long term or retiring abroad.

Heres’s a list of ten destinations  you may consider for your golden years.

Spain

Spain remains well within the budget of many retirees and is one of the most popular retirement destinations, given its laid-back lifestyle, climate, and coastal attractions. It’s also a relatively easy place to settle, given the large English-speaking population.

It has a very diverse regional cuisine and you’ll be sure to find loads to keep you active. There are many benefits for expats retiring there such as excellent affordable healthcare and a low cost of living.

While private healthcare is popular among expat retirees in Spain, due to the  high demands of services and often long waiting lists the country does have a comprehensive and well-developed national healthcare system.

Portugal

While not yet quite as popular as its neighbour, Portugal is increasingly being seen as one of the premier retirement locations in Europe. Retiring in Portugal is, without doubt, the best choice if you’re not cut out for life in the developing world or the tropics.

It enjoys one of the most stable climates in the world and 3,300 hours of sunshine per year. This means sunnier days than almost anywhere else in Europe. Portugal’s Algarve region has 100 miles of Atlantic coastline, punctuated by jagged rock formations, lagoons, and extensive sandy beaches, many awarded coveted Blue Flags from the European Blue Flag Association.

Recent legislation allows resident foreign retirees to receive pension income in the country tax-free. The law also provides for reduced taxation on wages, intellectual property, interest, dividends, and capital gains under certain circumstances.

France

Carefully planning your finances and retirement pension will enable you to make the most of living in France when you retire. With France’s climate, excellent food, wine and laid-back lifestyle, not to mention the excellent health care system, value-for-money properties and the fact that older people are really respected, France remains high on the list of dream destinations for expat retirees.

You’ll have to prove to the French authorities that you have a pension or other means of financial support, as well as a health plan to meet the cost of healthcare.

If you have a UK state pension, you can currently claim it in France and have it paid directly into a French bank account in euros without incurring any transfer fees or bank charges. Private pensions are normally paid in sterling into a UK bank account and you have to convert and transfer it into your French account.

Italy

Italy is experiencing another revival and is one of the best places to retire in the world. But it’s not only retirees looking to move to Italy.

Certain corners of Italy can be among Europe’s best deals If you are looking for old world charm at an affordable price, Italy should be at the top of your list. About a third of Italians speak English. Italy’s health care is ranked one of the highest in the world. Citizens and residents have access to their National Health Service for free or at a low rate.

Italy is a cradle of Western civilisation. It has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than anywhere else in the world. Italy is definitely the best place to retire for any food lover. The cuisine is world-famous, and each region has its own style of cooking and signature dishes.

Mexico

Retiring in Mexico has always been a top choice for many Brits looking to escape the cold winters, stretch their retirement budgets, or seeking out an adventure. For many, Mexico offers many of the benefits of back home, without much of the hassle.

In the big cities, major expatriate and tourist areas most people speak English. If you move here you can get by without learning Spanish and be comfortable. If you move outside of these areas, you will find that most people speak only Spanish.

The Mexico health care system provides both private and public options. You can find at least one hospital in every mid-sized and large city. It is simple and straightforward to buy property in Mexico for foreigners. You need to do your due diligence and hire professional advice which is a must.

Thailand

Considering it’s geography and diverse culture, Thailand is one of the best places to retire in Asia. Thousands of expats from across the globe settle here each year. The diverse geography ranges from cool, misty mountains, to white-sand beaches. You can live in bustling, modern, super-cities or enjoy the slow pace of life in a small town.

You can be sure that wherever you choose to retire in Thailand, there will already be a few expats there to welcome you. One of the best reasons to choose retirement in Thailand is that you can get a retirement visa. Other types of expats will have to show proof of employment in the country or make repeated visa runs to stay.

If you meet certain income and requirements, you can apply for a retirement visa which will take out some of these steps for you.

Malta

Malta is an increasingly desired retirement destination among expats these days and it’s no surprise why. Situated just 100 miles south of Sicily, the Mediterranean island offers an incredible charm, from it’s stunning historic cities to its crystal-clear aquamarine waters.

Malta, a string of three small islands in the southern Mediterranean, is one of the most historic and affordable places to retire in Europe. The country is home to some of the oldest human artefacts in the world and has been occupied by the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Ottomans and Knights Templar.

The language is English, crime rates are low and the health care is excellent. Malta does not offer a retiree visa, but its Global Residence Program amounts to one of the best residency opportunities in Europe. You can qualify simply by renting a place to live for as little as 800 euros per month.

The Dominican Republic

With an established expat community from across the world and a tropical climate, warm all year, the Dominican Republic is a place where you can enjoy the old town colonial living. In Santo Domingo, the city was originally founded by Columbus and is packed with centuries of rich history.

Today you can find a blend of Latin lifestyle and European architecture. This makes it one of the best places to retire anywhere in the world. The price of property in the Dominican Republic is still affordable and comes with some major benefits. The government is also investing in infrastructure within the country. Roads are improving all the time, while the Dominican Republic is also marketing itself as a medical and dental tourism location.

There is a generous residency program. The climate and beaches are one of the main attractions of living in the Dominican Republic. The white sand beaches are as good as you can find anywhere in the world. The waters are warm throughout the year, perfect for sailing, swimming and any number of other water sports.

Panama 

Modern living, beautiful weather and friendly people sees Panama becoming increasingly popular amongst retirees. Many expats who are already there find themselves significantly happier and healthier after moving to Panama.

In particular they say the great food, slower lifestyle and luscious tropical landscapes allow them to easily escape the worries of the wider world.

Panama, of course, has one other major draw, you will not be taxed on foreign earnings while living there. This means you can collect your full UK pension without paying any income tax.

Belize

Belize is a welcoming, safe and unassuming little country. The population values personal privacy, self-determination, and freedom, making it one of the best places to retire in Central America.

As well as a rivers, reef, ruins, and rainforest, Belize offers easy residency and tax-free living. It’s an English-speaking safe haven for both you and your money.

Belize is also a banking haven, one of the few remaining in the world. Every bank must maintain a minimum of 24% liquidity at all times, and its bankers respect bank secrecy.

Congratulations are in order

If you’re close to retirement and you’ve worked hard, done well for yourself and managed to build a sizeable nest egg, congratulations are definitely in order. The world is literally at your feet. To find out more, please contact us on +44 (0) 2033 935 920 or email [email protected]

The value of investments can go down as well as up, past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

Headway Wealth Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority