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Intelligence for
the long horizon.
The articles on this page are for general information and education only. They do not constitute personal financial advice, investment advice, pension advice, insurance advice, tax advice, legal advice or a personal recommendation.
Atlas Bridge Wealth provides cross-border planning consultancy, education, coordination and client-introduction services. Where regulated investment, pension, insurance or product advice is required, this is provided separately by an appropriately authorised firm for the relevant jurisdiction. Where tax or legal advice is required, this is provided by suitably qualified professionals.
When falling markets meet retirement in Portugal
The art of sequencing risk. I have worked with clients through all kinds of market cycles: rising markets, sharp falls and the uncertain periods in between. One thing that experience has reinforced is that a fall in markets feels very different when your investments are paying for your everyday life. While you are working, you may have a salary covering the bills and time to leave your investments alone. Once you retire, those same investments may need to pay for the house,
Steve Thompson
Sep 285 min read
Selling your home in Portugal after 65? The Capital-Gains reinvestment route many residents often overlook...
For many people approaching or already in retirement, a large proportion of their wealth remains tied up in their home. Selling that property may release valuable capital, but it can also create a significant Portuguese capital gain. Most homeowners know that buying another principal residence may provide a way to mitigate the tax. Far fewer realise that Portugal offers another potential route for people who are retired or aged 65 and over. Subject to strict conditions, the q
Steve Thompson
Sep 66 min read
‘Will inheritance tax apply to my savings in another country?’
It is a question that comes up regularly with people who have lived in the UK for many years but have subsequently moved abroad: “If I now live in another country, does UK inheritance tax still apply to my overseas savings, investments or property?” The answer may be yes — and potentially for considerably longer than you might expect. The UK inheritance tax rules changed significantly from 6 April 2025. The old concept of domicile has largely been replaced for inheritance tax
Steve Thompson
Aug 124 min read
Your wealth has moved abroad. But has your financial planning?
Why British families living in Portugal increasingly need joined-up cross-border planning. Moving to Portugal can simplify many parts of life. Financial affairs are rarely one of them, however. For British nationals who have relocated — or are 'preparing' to relocate — wealth often remains spread across two or more countries. A home in Portugal may sit alongside UK property. Pensions remain with British providers. Investments and ISAs may have been accumulated over decades in
Steve Thompson
Jul 246 min read
Cross-border inheritance-tax planning: CLIENT CASE STUDY
The clients: “David” and “Sarah” are a British married couple in their early 60s (names will remain fictitious for the sake of this article). They had lived in the UK throughout their lives before moving permanently to Portugal just over two years ago. They are now Portuguese tax residents and both benefit from Portugal’s original Non-Habitual Resident regime. Having sold their main UK home and established their lives in Portugal, they assumed that becoming Portuguese residen
Steve Thompson
Jun 1612 min read
Your NHR is ending: what British expats in Portugal should consider before the 10-Year window closes
By Steve Thompson | Atlas Bridge Wealth | May 2026 For many British expatriates, Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident regime played an important part in the original decision to move. The attraction was clear: a favourable tax framework, good quality of life and, for many retirees, a more manageable treatment of overseas pension income. But NHR was never intended to last forever. Although the original NHR regime has now been withdrawn for most new arrivals, those already benefiti
Steve Thompson
May 237 min read
The UK’s new FIG Regime: a four-year planning window for returning British expats
For many British expatriates, the idea of returning to the UK can feel emotionally straightforward. Family, familiarity, healthcare, ageing parents, grandchildren, a change in lifestyle, or simply the sense that it may be time to come home. But financially, returning to the UK is rarely simple. For UK nationals who have lived abroad for many years — whether in Portugal, Spain, Dubai, Switzerland, Asia, or elsewhere — the decision to repatriate can trigger a major shift in tax
Steve Thompson
May 158 min read
What would UK political instability mean for UK expats and their money?
May 7, 2026 For many UK nationals living overseas, British politics can sometimes feel like background noise. You may live in Portugal, Spain, Dubai or elsewhere. Your day-to-day life may no longer revolve around Westminster. But if you still have UK pensions, UK property, sterling cash, UK investments, or future plans to move money abroad, what happens in the UK still matters. Recent speculation around Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s position has once again reminded markets th
Steve Thompson
May 75 min read
The Rising Importance of Tax-Efficient Estate Planning
UK Inheritance tax is no longer something that affects only the very wealthy. For many UK families, particularly those with property, pensions, investments and accumulated savings, the IHT position has become steadily more relevant over the past decade. With nil-rate bands frozen for many years, asset values having risen significantly, and further changes to pension treatment on the horizon, more people are realising that their estate may be far more exposed than they first
Steve Thompson
Mar 233 min read
Portugal’s NHR 2.0: is it right for you?
For a number of years, Portugal’s original Non-Habitual Resident regime made the country especially attractive to internationally minded individuals moving from the UK. Retirees, business owners, remote workers and families were all drawn by a combination of lifestyle, safety, climate and, of course, favourable tax treatment. That original regime has now closed to new applicants. In its place sits what is commonly referred to as NHR 2.0 , although its formal name is the Tax I
Steve Thompson
Mar 216 min read
The UK tax net trap: why “just coming home for a bit” could be a very expensive mistake
For many British nationals living overseas, the UK can still feel like home even after they have built a life elsewhere. So when there is unrest abroad, family pressure, a health issue, a business matter, or simply a desire to come back for a short period, the instinct is often the same: I’ll just return to the UK temporarily and sort things out. The problem is that HMRC does not look at that casually. In many cases, a short return can have major tax consequences. And for s
Steve Thompson
Mar 155 min read
Moving to Portugal? The UK assets you still need to worry about
One of the biggest misconceptions I come across is this: “Once I’m out of the UK, the UK is basically out of my financial life too.” Unfortunately, that is very rarely true. For many UK nationals moving to Portugal, the real planning work does not begin after the move. It begins before it, by understanding which parts of your wealth still remain tied to the UK, how those assets are treated once you become Portuguese tax resident, and what needs to change before small issues b
Steve Thompson
Mar 125 min read
From UK exit to Portugal arrival: The 10 questions that matter most
When people think about moving to Portugal, they often focus on the obvious things first. Visas. Property. Schools. Healthcare. Whether they will like the area. Whether they are making the right lifestyle decision. But in my world, the questions usually sound a bit different. They are nearly always about pensions, tax, investments, timing, income, and whether the decisions being made now could create unnecessary problems later. And in truth, the questions people ask before
Steve Thompson
Mar 106 min read
Portuguese property tax in 2026: the capital gains point many people miss
When people look at Portuguese property tax, most of the attention tends to go to IMT — the upfront transfer tax paid on purchase. And yes, that still matters. For 2026, the IMT bands for residential urban property have been updated by 2%, which means IMT on a main home generally only starts above €106,346 , up from €104,261 . For younger buyers up to age 35 purchasing their first permanent home, IMT generally only starts above €330,539 , up from €324,058 . But for ma
Steve Thompson
Mar 83 min read
Atlas Bridge Wealth: Redefining Cross-Border Financial Planning for British Nationals in Portugal
Steve Thompson - Founder & CEO @ Atlas Bridge Wealth November 25, 2025 The story behind why we built Atlas Bridge Wealth Moving to Portugal isn’t simply a lifestyle decision, it’s also a financial one. For many British nationals, the appeal is obvious: year-round sunshine, lower living costs, beautiful coastlines, and a pace of life that feels healthier and more grounded. Yet behind the dream often sits a complex financial reality. The moment you become a Portuguese tax resi
Steve Thompson
Nov 25, 20254 min read
New Portugal-based advice firm launches to serve growing expat market
https://www.international-adviser.com/new-portugal-based-advice-firm-launches-to-serve-growing-expat-market/
Steve Thompson
Oct 30, 20251 min read
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