Retirement planning: Is your dream retirement destination financially sustainable?

Whether you want to stay in Asia when you retire, move back home or go somewhere else entirely, you need to plan ahead and consider all the financial implications to adequately evaluate the sustainability of your choice. Robin Copley offers some insights to consider, as well as a cautionary tale!

Relocating in retirement

Expats are more likely than most to consider retiring in a different country. According to the popular US website, International Living, 60% of expats retire to a different country when they stop working. Many return to their home country to be near to family and friends but others opt for a new destination entirely.

A second statistic, however, reveals a dark side to the dream of retiring in paradise. According to NatWest International Personal Banking, 45% of expats regret not thoroughly researching their retirement destination’s cost of living.

Of course, retirement planning should be a priority for anyone of working age, but there are additional factors to consider when you are planning to retire in a different country. Careful planning is required to ensure that you have adequate funds to live off in your new home and can afford the lifestyle you yearn for until the end of your days.

Let’s look at two examples that show how retiring abroad can go brilliantly right or disastrously wrong.

John’s ‘winging it’ approach to retiring abroad

John, a 65-year-old American living in Singapore had reservations about returning to the US upon retirement. Lured by YouTube vloggers vaunting low prices, warm weather, and beautiful golden beaches, he turned his attention to Portugal.

Lisbon, the San Francisco of Portugal? He was sold and made the impulsive decision to retire there. It was so much cheaper than the US, he could live like a king. Or could he?

Unfortunately, John failed to factor a number of important elements into his move. 

1. Cost of living

John assumed Portugal would be cheap, and housing and food certainly were. However, he underestimated some important costs including electricity, buying a car, and the cost of fuel to drive down to those gorgeous beaches on the Algarve. These ate up more of his budget than anticipated.

2. Currency exchange and budgeting

John also failed to account for fluctuations in the euro-to-dollar exchange rate. When the dollar weakened, his US pension lost value, leaving less in his pocket each month to cover his expenses.

3. Healthcare planning

Before he moved to Portugal, John had only heard great things about Portugal’s healthcare system, a seeming Nirvana compared to the US. Consequently, he didn’t bother with private health insurance.

However, John hadn’t considered the country’s long wait times. When he needed specialised treatment for a heart condition, John was forced to pay for expensive private care, a cost he had not factored into his budget.

4. Tax implications

John was unaware that the US and Portugal have a tax treaty. Without proper advice, he started off paying taxes in both countries until a friend pointed out his mistake. He had to pay for expensive advice to unpick this costly error and the process caused a huge amount of unnecessary stress.

Later on, John secured a resident visa to live in Portugal. Under this status, his foreign government pension was not taxed. After five years, he was able to apply for citizenship and jumped at the chance of an EU passport with his customary gung-ho attitude! What he didn’t realise was that citizens do pay tax on foreign government pensions. Yet another blow to his budget.

5. Emergency fund

John did not set aside an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. This could have provided a financial cushion when he needed it to cover the additional costs he faced. Instead, he had to dip into his retirement savings leaving him with the constant nagging feeling throughout retirement that he would eventually run out of money.

Jane’s considered approach to retiring in Thailand

Jane, a 62-year-old teacher from the UK, spent the last few years of her working life teaching in Malaysia. Her dream was to relocate to Chiang Mai, to be near to her son and grandchildren. She began her planning five years before retiring and discussed her plan with her financial adviser. Her relocation strategy considered:

1. Cost of living

Jane researched the cost of housing, utilities, and groceries in Chiang Mai, comparing them to her current expenses. Armed with this knowledge, Jane discussed her proposed move with her financial planner, and they ran the figures through cashflow forecasting software to determine that her pension and savings would comfortably support her in Thailand.

2. Currency exchange and budgeting

Jane’s financial adviser discussed the currency exchange risk of drawing pension income from the UK. By setting up a multi-currency account and planning her transfers carefully, Jane was able to avoid costly fees and ensure her income aligned with the cost of living in Chiang Mai.

3. Healthcare planning

Never one to take risks with her health, Jane purchased an international private health insurance policy to cover any unforeseen medical costs. This gave her peace of mind that whatever the future held health-wise, she wouldn’t have to worry about out-of-pocket costs.

4. Tax implications 

Jane consulted a tax adviser to understand Thailand’s tax system and how her pension income from the UK would be taxed. She discovered that Thailand had recently introduced new legislation on foreign income and how it is taxed. She was able to plan strategically when to transfer money to minimise her tax burden.

5. Emergency fund

Ever the pragmatist, Jane continued her habit of maintaining a healthy emergency fund into retirement. This provided a cushion to protect her savings against unexpected expenses. It gave her peace of mind knowing that no matter what challenges arose over the course of her retirement, she would be prepared. Her financial stability wouldn’t be compromised, and she would never have to rely on her son financially, maintaining her independence.

The benefits of planning ahead to retire abroad

Jane’s careful planning paid off. She enjoys a low cost of living, excellent healthcare, and a welcoming expat community. Her financial stability allows her to travel back to the UK to visit annually, and she has built a fulfilling new life in Chiang Mai.

On the other hand, John’s lack of preparation led to a series of stressful financial and logistical challenges. He struggles to maintain his lifestyle and his retirement is dominated by financial worry. He wonders whether he might have to return to the US after all.

While it can sound romantic and appealing to upsticks in search of adventure in retirement, failing to future-proof your financial sustainability can turn the retirement dream into a living nightmare.

If you’re looking to retire in a different country, speak to a financial adviser to ensure that your financial plan guarantees you the dream, not the nightmare.