Retire Abroad: Wealth and Tax planning

Your future, brighter

You’ve likely imagined retiring abroad – with sunnier skies, more room to breathe, and a gentler pace of life. But beyond the lifestyle, the financial realities can feel daunting. Will you face double taxation? How will Inheritance Tax affect your UK assets once you move? Can you access your savings without penalties?

The difference between a secure, stress-free retirement and a costly mistake is expert planning. At Sable International, we help globally mobile clients craft bespoke strategies that protect your wealth, optimise tax efficiency, and give you the confidence to enjoy your retirement abroad.

Wealth and tax planning seminar

24 February 2026

We'll be hosting an exclusive seminar providing clear, actionable guidance on planning your retirement overseas. This seminar is designed to cover important factors about leaving the UK, as well as provide an introduction to some featured destinations (below).

What you’ll learn:

How to navigate tax, investment and estate planning when living abroad
How to avoid accidentally triggering tax penalties
Where to start to keep your retirement stress-free
A look at Real Estate options
What it is really like to live in your chosen destination, presented by people who live there

Join us in London to gain clarity, ask questions and leave with a clear path for your retirement abroad.

Book now

Featured destinations

We will also be hosting intimate roundtables to explore some of our top destinations. Each session covers financial, property, and lifestyle considerations.

Mauritius

25 February 2026

Discover prime property investment opportunities, that can provide permanent residency for your entire family. Get an honest look at the Mauritius lifestyle from a guest speaker who has worked and lived on the island for 25 years and retired there himself.

Book now Book one-on-one

Portugal

26 February 2026

Learn about cross-border wealth considerations from a local wealth adviser, get the latest update on the Portugal property market, and understand the D7 retirement visa.

Book now Book one-on-one

South Africa

27 February 2026

Book a private consultation to discuss retiring to South Africa from a wealth planning perspective, covering exchange control and cross-border pensions.

Book one-on-one

Can’t make it in person?

Book a virtual session the following week with a cross-border wealth, tax or property expert to discuss your retirement plans and receive tailored guidance.

Book now

What our clients have to say

"Excellent customer service. Excellent rate. Delivery fast. No complaints!"

Anthony C.
"Service is outstanding, communication is great and I can speak to a real person. Highly recommend Sable for international money transfers."

Heather O.
"Always a good experience dealing with Sable consultants. They are well-mannered, professional and helpful."

Lorraine J.
"Efficient and attentive service, highly recommended."

Anthony N.
"Sable was incredibly responsive and provided extraordinary levels of customer service. Despite being eight hours behind GMT, Sable was available 24/7 to field requests and provided immediate responses to all of my questions."

John C.
"Fantastic company with world-class service."

Anthony S.
"Brilliant service as always. Highly recommend."

Sharon H.

Meet your wealth team

James Barnett

Managing Director: Sable Wealth
Colin Sher

Sales Director, Mauritius Real Estate
Derrick Mace

Mauritius Real Estate Agent
Julian Adshade

Wealth Adviser
Ian Henning

Independent Financial Planner and Mortgage Adviser
Cláudia Mendes

International Financial Planner
Mikayla Morkel-Brink

Sales and Marketing Representative

James Barnett

Managing Director: Sable Wealth

James grew up in South Africa and moved to the UK in 1999, and since then has lived and worked in the UK, South Africa and Mauritius. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession, completing his Articles with EY.

James has almost 30 years of experience in the Financial Services and Professional Services sectors. His career has spanned Audit and Business Valuations at EY, Market Risk at Credit Suisse, Strategic Change Management at Credit Suisse and UBS, Financial Services Audit and Corporate Finance as a Partner at Grant Thornton, and Financial Planning and Wealth Management as Director and later CEO of an Independent Financial Planning and Wealth Business.

James now leads the Sable Wealth team from London on a growth journey from Good to Great, and hopes to make a meaningful contribution towards Group strategic goals and revenue synergies.
Outside of work James loves travelling, snowboarding with friends, stand-up paddle boarding with his wife, swimming in the ocean and spending time with his children and family.
Colin Sher

Sales Director, Mauritius Real Estate

Colin has over 30 years of experience in property. After completing qualifications in accountancy, tax and business management in South Africa, he served for 15 years as a Director of Broll/CBRE, leading brokerage teams and managing complex sales and leasing for international clients.
He then became an independent consultant, specialising in maximising property potential through development and marketing strategy. For over a decade, Colin has been involved in the Mauritius Real Estate market, recognising its great opportunities and residency appeal. Now a resident for over two years, he is passionate about running Sable International Real Estate.
Derrick Mace

Mauritius Real Estate Agent

Born in South Africa, Derrick moved to Mauritius in 2007 to join Pam Golding Properties, pioneering the sale of the first government-approved schemes enabling foreigners to purchase property and gain residency.
He successfully sold over 300 units in the North before developing the island's first West coast marina, West Island Resort.
Derrick’s 20 years on the island make him an unmatched expert in the real estate rules and regulations. He highlights Mauritius’ benefits: safety, a low-stress lifestyle, excellent private healthcare and education, and a favorable tax system. Now heading the Sable International West Coast office, Derrick is ready to help make your dream of an outdoor, secure, island lifestyle come true.
Julian Adshade

Wealth Adviser

Julian was raised in both South Africa and the United Kingdom and has a background in wealth management, having previously worked with several of South Africa’s leading banks.
He holds multiple financial planning qualifications, including a postgraduate diploma in financial planning from Stellenbosch University. He is a Certified Financial Planner® and a member of the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa. In addition, he is a Chartered Financial Planner in the UK and a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Julian provides holistic advice to individuals and families on managing their wealth across multiple jurisdictions. His work includes helping South Africans internationalise their wealth, supporting clients relocating to the UK, and assisting those moving to or returning to South Africa from abroad.
Outside of his professional life, Julian enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and participating in a variety of sports.
Ian Henning

Independent Financial Planner and Mortgage Adviser

Ian grew up in South Africa and moved to the UK in 2004. He kick-started his financial career with Sable International as a mortgage advisor.
After this, he moved to Kinleigh Financial Services where he worked as a mortgage broker for four years.
Ian then returned to Sable International. In 2013 he obtained his level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning and has been helping his clients with all their investment and mortgage needs ever since. Ian is one of our dual authorised financial advisers and is part of the investment committee.
He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family.
Read Ian's latest articles and insights
Cláudia Mendes

International Financial Planner

Cláudia was born in a small town called Welkom in the Free State, South Africa. She studied at the University of Johannesburg, where she obtained her BCom Honours in Financial Planning and later obtained a diploma in Investments through the University of the Free State. Cláudia joined Alexander Forbes for 11 years before relocating to Cascais, Portugal where is now one of Sable Wealth's cross-border financial advisers.
She is a Certified Financial Planner, is a member of the Financial Planning Institute (FPI) in South Africa, an Associate member (ASCI) for the Chartered Institute For Securities & Investment (CISI) in the UK, is a member of the Federation of European Independent Financial Advisers (FEIFA) in Europe, and holds an Advance Certification with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
As a cross-border financial planner, Cláudia assists clients who are from, or have a link to, multiple jurisdictions which include SA, the UK, the EU and the US.
In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, staying active and socialising with family and friends.
Download Claudia's Wealth brochure.
Read Cláudia's latest articles and insights.
Mikayla Morkel-Brink

Sales and Marketing Representative

Mikayla holds a four-year degree from the University of San Diego, California, where she attended on a tennis scholarship. After returning to Cape Town in 2016, she began her career in real estate, initially working in marketing and administration before transitioning into sales—a move that sparked her passion for property.
In 2023, Mikayla spent two months in Portugal, where she immersed herself in the culture and language, achieving an A2 level certification. With a deep interest in both property and travel, she is dedicated to understanding her clients’ unique needs, especially in real estate and investment migration decisions.
Outside of work, Mikayla enjoys playing padel, mountain biking, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Sable International: Building Futures Beyond Borders

For over 30 years, Sable International has offered seamless solutions that simplify the complexities of cross-border movement and financial management, so that you can focus on what matters to you most.