Residency by Investment sounds like a simple way to set aside a backup when you’re managing your money, but the complexity and rapidly changing landscape of tax and government priorities means you should probably talk to an expert.

In this episode of Taxbytes for Expats, I’m joined by Sandeep Nair, COO of Vancis Capital, to talk about residency and citizenship by investment. He sets out, in very practical terms, what these programmes actually involve because this is one of those areas where you don’t want to get the details wrong, and having an adviser like Sandeep is the best way to get accurate and up to date information.

We talk through why people explore residency or citizenship options in the first place, global mobility, retirement planning, tax considerations, and what’s increasingly referred to as a “Plan B”. Sandeep explains how clients define their goals, what the advisory process looks like, and the types of jurisdictions that tend to come up most often in these discussions.

From my side, I bring it back to the tax piece: why these decisions can’t be made in isolation, how Irish tax rules continue to apply in ways people don’t always expect, and why early, joined-up planning is critical.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. Sandeep’s Background and Entry into Global Mobility Planning: We start with how Sandeep moved into the world of residency and citizenship by investment, and why this space has grown so quickly in recent years.
2. What Residency and Citizenship by Investment Actually Means: We break down what these programmes involve in practice, who they’re designed for, and why they’re very different from simply “moving abroad for a while”.
3. Why People Seek Residency or Citizenship Options: We explore the key drivers behind these decisions, including global mobility, retirement planning, tax considerations and the growing concept of a “Plan B”.
4. Popular Jurisdictions and the Types of Programmes Available: Sandeep outlines the regions and countries that come up most often, from Caribbean passports to European residency programmes, and what attracts people to each.
5. The Need for Joined-Up Tax and Professional Advice: We discuss why immigration decisions have to be considered alongside tax, banking and structuring advice, and why oversimplifying residency can lead to costly mistakes.

Get in touch with Sandeep Nair:

Website: https://www.VancisCapital.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanciscapital/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-nair-0461974b/

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You may think that seeking investments as an Expat in Ireland is as simple as finding the right advice. In practice, though, the conventional wisdom doesn’t always mean the best results for you.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Paddy Delaney of Informed Decisions, we get into some of the assumptions many people hold about investing as they move closer to retirement, particularly the idea that “de-risking” automatically means safety. Paddy explains why that conventional wisdom doesn’t always stack up in practice, and why understanding volatility, time horizons, and having a proper plan matters far more than simply defaulting into a middle-of-the-road fund.

We also spend time on something that comes up constantly in my work with expats: fees, transparency, and how to tell whether you’re getting advice or being sold a product. We talk about commission, “free” financial plans, what questions you should be asking before you sign anything, and how easily costs can stay hidden in the background for years if you don’t know where to look. This is particularly relevant if you’ve brought pensions or investments with you from another country and are trying to make sense of how everything fits together in Ireland.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you listen to Part 1 of my conversation with Paddy for all of his advice about financial planning, and to prepare you for this episode.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. Challenging the “De-Risking” Myth Near Retirement: We unpack why automatically moving into lower-risk, middle-of-the-road funds as retirement approaches can actually reduce long-term outcomes, and why volatility isn’t necessarily the enemy if you’ve planned properly.
2. The Importance of Planning Beyond the Investment Product: This is one of those areas where having a real plan matters — we talk about thinking through “what could go wrong,” having other assets to draw on, and avoiding forced decisions at the worst possible time.
3. Advice vs Product Sales: How to Tell the Difference: We explore the key signals that distinguish genuine financial planning from a transactional product sale, including how advisors are paid and why “free” plans are rarely free.
4. Fees, Transparency, and Asking the Right Questions: From hidden charges to headline Annual Management Charges that don’t tell the full story, we explain where fees really sit, why expats can get a nasty surprise, and the direct questions you should feel comfortable asking upfront.
5. What Value for Money Actually Looks Like in Financial Advice: We discuss the wide spectrum of service levels in the market, what ongoing advice should include, and why paying more only makes sense if you’re genuinely getting engagement, insight, and support in return.

Get in touch with Paddy Delaney

1. Website: InformedDecisions.ie
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddy-delaney-qfa-rpa-apa-73778969/
3. Podcast:

Investing in Ireland has always been tricky, particularly for anyone who recently relocated here, and with so many options out there it's hard to realise the benefits of your savings beyond your pension without sound advice.

In this episode of Taxbytes for Expats, I’m joined by Paddy Delaney, founder of Informed Decisions, for the first part of a really practical conversation about financial advice in Ireland. Paddy has spent over 20 years in the financial services world, and he brings a refreshingly honest perspective on how advice is given, where incentives can sit, and why it’s so important to understand who you’re dealing with before you take any financial recommendations on board.

We step through the often-confusing differences between financial advisors, brokers, and financial planners, including how banks fit into the picture and what “independent” advice actually means in practice. This is one of those areas where people assume all advice is the same — and it really isn’t.

Paddy shares real-world examples of why intent, structure, and remuneration matter, and how those factors can directly impact your long-term financial outcomes. We also talk about when you do need financial advice, and when you really don’t. Paddy is an expert on helping you make transparent and informed financial decisions.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

1. Understanding the Different Types of Financial Advice: We break down the often-confusing distinctions between financial advisors, brokers, planners, and independent firms, and why knowing the difference really matters before taking advice.
2. How Incentives and Commissions Can Shape Advice: Paddy shares real-world insight into how remuneration structures can influence recommendations, highlighting why transparency and client-first intent are so important.
3. Banks as a Source of Financial Advice: We discuss why banks are still a common and accessible starting point for advice in Ireland, along with the limitations that come from being tied to a single provider.
4. When You Actually Need a Financial Planner: This is one of those areas where assumptions creep in, so we talk honestly about who benefits most from paid financial planning and when simple saving habits may be enough.
5. Why Pensions Are the Obvious Starting Point in Ireland: We explore pensions as a tax-efficient investment tool, common issues with underperformance, and why understanding what your pension is doing over the long term is just as important as contributing to it.

Get in touch with Paddy Delaney

1. Website: InformedDecisions.ie
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddy-delaney-qfa-rpa-apa-73778969/
3. Podcast: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/podcasts

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Use the link below and quote "Expat Taxes" when registering with Currencies Direct to receive a €50 One4All or Amazon voucher when you transfer €5000 or