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We look to financial advisers for many different reasons. We may want help investing our savings or managing our pension funds. We may need advice on taxation generally, or specific help with estate planning.

However, the most important financial decision we make is likely to be that of our choice of adviser. We are trusting them to find the best solutions to protect our hard-earned assets.

This is particularly important when deciding to move to live in a different country. It is likely that you will need help with multiple aspects of your financial planning, and it is vital that your financial situation is considered as a whole. Working to achieve long-term security – and peace of mind – in a new country with different tax regimes and succession rules is a complex undertaking.

You will be looking for a strategic financial plan which is personalised according to your individual situation and goals. Plus, ongoing support as your life naturally evolves, and both local regulations and the overall investment climate change.

With all this in mind, here are some points to consider when looking for a financial adviser.

Your financial planning must be tailored to your personal situation.

It is essential that your financial planning is based on your personal situation – your country of residence, future plans, family situation and concerns, who you wish to leave your assets to, your time horizon, investment risk tolerance, and key objectives.

Successful wealth management must take all these into account. Your adviser should take the time to get to know you, asking a range of questions and establishing your risk profile, before making recommendations or trying to sell you a product or investment.

You want to be able to build a good relationship with your advisers so they’ll be around to support you right through retirement, perhaps even guiding your heirs in the future.

How big is the firm and how long have they been in business?

When looking for a long-term adviser covering a range of services, the size and longevity of the firm is relevant.

A firm with a long history gives you peace of mind that they are likely to be there for as long as you need them.

And the larger the firm, the more specialists they will have covering the various services you need – local financial advisers, technical tax experts, pension professionals, investment analysts, and succession law experts. In-house teams can seamlessly work together to provide integrated wealth management advice and recommendations.

This is important. For example, how you hold your investments can affect how much tax you pay and how easily they can be passed onto your chosen heirs. So rather than using different advisers for each aspect and receiving isolated advice, you benefit from a comprehensive, strategic financial plan covering all of them.

A larger firm will also have more resources to apply effective compliance procedures to ensure regulatory rules are adhered to, which protects clients. It will also be in a position to keep on top of changing regulations, such as tax and pensions, analysing how clients are affected and establishing compliant solutions where necessary.

Do they live and work in your chosen country of residence?

Using an adviser who lives and works in your country of residence will prove highly beneficial.

For a start, they will have personally experienced what it is like to move to and settle there and how the local taxation affects residents. They’ll have built up an in-depth understanding of the local tax and succession regimes and the legitimate planning opportunities available there.  And they’ll be in a position to react fast to changes.

While you may prefer to continue your existing relationship with an adviser, it is unlikely they will know the ins and out of local regulations or keep on top of tax reforms. (In Spain it gets even more complex as the 17 autonomous communities have their own variations with regards tax rules.)  Continuing to use your current adviser could result in you buying inappropriate investments, paying more tax than necessary, or your beneficiaries having to deal with unnecessary complications on your death.

Another important issue here is regulation. Unless your adviser has taken the time, effort and expense of getting set up and regulated in your country of residence, they would not be in a position to provide authorised advice to local residents.

How are they regulated and what qualifications do they hold?

All the above considerations need to be combined with qualifications and high professional standards.  Investing, pensions, estate planning and taxation are all very technical subjects that require specialist understanding. Ensure your advisory firm has professionals with officially recognised qualifications, who keep fully up to date with financial and regulatory changes.

In the UK, for example, the Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning meets the UK Financial Conduct Authorities (FCA) qualification requirements.  Even though you’ve moved abroad, you still want your adviser to have achieved that level of qualification.

Last, but not least, for security and peace of mind choose a firm that is authorised to provide advice in your country of residence and abides by national and international regulations. When it comes to investing, check that both your adviser and the investment managers they are recommending are regulated.

Once you find an adviser who meets the above requirements, the rest of your financial planning will follow smoothly on. You won’t need to worry about neglecting any key aspects or keeping up with tax reforms. Your adviser will talk you through all the issues you need to consider, helping you weigh up all your options before you take any final decisions. They’ll then keep you updated on any reforms that affect you.