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If you look at any historical global index chart spanning decades it is always higher on the right than on the left. It is like a playing a yoyo while riding an escalator up. The important thing with any investing is to keep emergency funds AND funds required for living expenses for perhaps at least one year, probably longer, out of the market. These can be in a variety of holdings, such as easy access (very short-term), money market funds (MMFs) (short-term) and short-term UK Gilts of 1 to 5 years. The rest goes in global index funds, such as FTWG (all world), VEVE (developed world) and/or some in VUSA (S&P500 USA only) or a combination. Only you can decide. If in any doubt, go global, or at least developed world. Investing in more focused investments carries greater volatility and risk, but greater volatility can often reward longer term investors. If you haven't already, I would suggest you open a brokerage account and consider transferring all your individual defined contribution (DC) pensions garnered over the years from previous employers onto one single platform. Your broker will perform this transfer task on your behalf if you gather the information for them. Just ensure the broker you choose offers the ability for SIPP drawdown, not all do. This is not financial advice, just something to perhaps consider. Consolidating your pensions will create transparency, most likely reduce fees and give you the option of how you wish to invest as most pension companies 'lifestyle' your pension investments as your age increases. Lifestyling is an old-fashioned technique for de-risking with purchasing an annuity upon retirement in mind. Since pension freedoms were introduced in April 2015 the flexibility introduced was life-changing, making annuities no longer the only option. It is a great thing. Which? - Compare investment platforms https://www.which.co.uk/money/investing/investment-platforms-and-fund-supermarkets/best-investment-platforms/compare-investment-platform-fees-and-charges-anYec4l0G9J5 [ I seem unable to post clickable links ] I feel you were lucky for holding off too. Personally, I would NEVER buy anything of consequence here in Thailand, especially land or a condo. Renting is the only way I shall ever go here. Despite being in my 14th year of living here that opinion has never changed. I'm not suggesting it is wrong to do so, but I would not. If I cannot carry it, I don't buy it. Unless I'm prepared to leave it behind. Of course, other people's circumstances are completely different from my own as I am single. If I had a Thai family then I would look at it in a completely different way.

Just for information - The FSCS safeguard of £85,000 per financial institution is valid and correct, but many are not aware that there is also a temporary high balances safeguard of £1 million for up to 6 months for special life events, such as receipt of an injury claim, inheritance, sale of property etc.. https://www.fscs.org.uk/making-a-claim/claims-process/temporary-high-balances/

No problem. This process is all so fresh in my mind and still ongoing in the case of the NRCGT filing. I would recommend getting help with the NRCGT, to avoid any overzealous questioning from HMRC. My accountant came in less than my calculations. Also, in addition to present sale costs involved the initial property purchase costs (conveyancing, solicitor, estate agent etc.) and stamp duty are all deductible, plus no VAT. To be honest, being so kind to my tenants by giving them 6 months notice backfired on me as they found an alternative rental very quickly, at the end of December 2024. This meant that my house remained empty waiting for a buyer. With no tenants and being the landlord means I am responsible for utility bills and council tax payments. Despite resistance I eventually created online accounts for these which was a lot easier to deal with in the end. Re: NRCGT - I had all the calculations on a spreadsheet and hoped to do it myself, but the filing process seemed too convoluted requiring software which I'd need to purchase. So in the end I searched for an accountant to do it for me. Because I am still in the process of filing I'd prefer not to name them yet, but once completed would be more than happy to recommend. They have all 5-star reviews on Trustpilot with only one single 4-star review and that person was happy too. I provided the house value estimate for 6th April 2015 from my own records (Zoopla) and my agent thought it was reasonable and provided a headed letter stating such. The accountant seemed to obtain an estimate from elsewhere but agreed with mine as it was within his parameters. Obviously the higher the estimate the better, if using the rebase method. GIA = general investment account. Within a GIA you are exposed to all types of taxation treatment on all investments held. Be aware of ERI (excess reportable income) and you want funds which do 'UK reporting' and only invest in income generating and distributing products, rather than accumulation funds. This will make calculating taxes for year-end far easier. As you likely already know, ISAs and SIPPs have limitations upon how much can be added per year. In the case of an expat (non-resident landlord) ISA contributions are zero, and SIPP contributions are a maximum of £2,880 per year, with a further £720 tax relief added. Rental income is considered unearned income and therefore not included within pension contribution calculations. Of course, maintaining a trusted UK address can be very useful. My purchasers were first-time buyers with finance in place, presumably assisted via the bank of Mum & Dad, but that I am guessing. I finally received the proceeds at the end of June 2025, so it took quite a long time from first going to market. The first quarter of 2025 was inundated with buyers attempting to complete before the stamp duty deadline so I believe that added to the delays, plus my finicky buyers and their PITA solicitor. Some things were frustrating to deal with or pay for, such as clearing the loft or shed etc., paying for a contractor to perform such tasks which you could have done yourself quite easily. At the beginning of my rental journey back in 2012 I just did it myself, with help from online research. The agent was local and knew the area well. Same agent also marketed the house for me as we'd already established a good relationship over all those years and they gave me a good price with the selling fees. Being a landlord and selling a property is painful at the best of times, add to that doing it all remotely from 6,000 miles away just adds to the frustration. One which I am happy never to repeat, but once done being freed from the burden of being an overseas landlord and all the concerns associated is immeasurable, in my opinion. Replacing such a large illiquid asset and transforming it into investments which can be bought and sold at the touch of a button in seconds already feels wonderful. The timing could've been better (just after Trump held up his tariff board back in April), but I don't want to complain.

Not true. A re-entry permit is optional. As well as obtaining at immigration offices at any time, one can also be obtained at the airport prior to departure, if necessary.

I prefer to never offer advice regarding finances or investing as everyone's circumstances are different. All I can do is offer what I have done. I bought my house in 2001 and lived in it until retiring in 2012 at 49yo. I then left the UK and rented the house. 3 sets of tenants throughout and the last were the best, although none were bad. I consider myself fortunate as you do read some horror stories. I did the whole renting process using an estate agent which cost 12% of income per year and the house spent little time empty between tenants. The agent dealt with all necessary contractors and tenant checks. I'd also acquired a NRL1 letter from HMRC which allowed my rent to be received tax free from my agent. As an expat my income was supplemented from time to time from funds from my ISA until the mortgage was paid off in 2018. I'm currently around 4 years away from UK state pension age and have already topped-up my NICs remotely via HMRC's website, so expect close the maximum, although I did contract out of SERPS in the 80's so yet to determine the precise amount when it finally comes. I do intend to take it immediately, as if deferred will take close to 17 years until break-even. Back to the property .. More than ever since Rachel Reeves' Autumn budget last year I wanted to sell. I was stunned she did not raise the higher rate of CGT from 24% back to 28%, instead she raised investment CGT in line. With the gradual decline of positives being a landlord and the looming Renters' Rights Bill made this a no-brainer for me. I wanted out. Around October last year my tenants were formally given 6 months notice to vacate (only two were required, but they were great tenants). Then, during the first week of 2025 my house went on the market. It has now sold and the proceeds received. I'm now dealing with NRCGT and the filing, which requires software to be purchased. I employed the services of an ex-HMRC CGT expert instead. I am halfway through the 60-day filing requirement period and it is still not complete, but no issues are foreseen. The rebasing method of calculating the NRCGT is vastly more preferable to the apportionment method in my case, but this required a verified property value estimate for the date of 6th April 2015 as the bulk of the gains occurred prior to 2015. Following 2015 the gain is primarily inflation, for which you/we are taxed. Now I am no longer an overseas landlord I feel immensely relieved to be out. Once the NRCGT filing is complete I will feel even more relaxed than I have in years. The funds will be drip-fed chunks at a time into my GIA where I can quite easily exceed my rental income via safe(ish) investments with no water leaks, dripping taps or heating issues. Around 50/50 between equity and bond/debt style investments which will take my overall investments to around 80/20. My rent-to-value percentage was just below 4%. Am I content and happy to finally be out? - Damn right! Just to add: - I have lived in Thailand since 2012 and the sale of the house was all done remotely via email and an identity app on the phone. Just one peice of paper witnessed and posted, the TR1.

^^ Two.

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Listening to a bloke in the pub is always the best way to garner the most reliable of information on any subject or topic. Thanks for the letting us in on it.

Surely there are transport services available for you to get back to civilisation.

I wouldn't get out of bed for 3%.

Good grief 😬

I never wai anyone. A smile and perhaps a gentle nod of the head is sufficient in my mind for me as I am not Thai. Been coming for 25 years and lived here for 12, but I am still not Thai and never will be. The only time I can picture myself performing a wai is if I have an encounter with immigration officials or police where a positive outcome is dependant upon them, but that hasn't happened yet. I cringe when I see farang at a bar, restaurant, or reception waiing the staff - eek!