< 2 min read – written by a human, not AI
I wanted to share something we’ve been working on, but to frame it properly I need to start with the problem first, because that’s the bit most people don’t see.
If you’ve ever tried to invest money for a client who earns in one country, lives in another, and files taxes in both, you’ll know that it’s not straightforward. The usual rules may not apply. For example, most UK funds don’t in the same way for US taxpayers, and most US funds don’t work for UK tax residents. And the moment a client is a US taxpayer (US resident, US passport holder, US green card holder) the whole investment world shrinks very quickly.
We see this all the time with the people we work with. A client moves to LA for a few years, then back to London. Or a player lives in Europe but plays on the PGA Tour. Or a founder keeps a US green card “just in case”. Suddenly their perfectly sensible portfolio can become completely unsuitable;
- Gains can be taxed as income.
- Heavy reporting requirements.
- Unnecessary double taxation.
The list goes on.
Most advisers don’t touch this. Not because they don’t want to help, but because the risk of getting it wrong is huge. One wrong fund, an ISA, one EU ETF, a PFIC slip, and the client is stuck with tax treatment that is expensive to unwind.
We’ve been trying to solve this problem for a long time, because nearly all our clients face it in some shape or form. Cross-border planning only works if the investments underneath it actually work in both systems.
So, after a lot of 2025 building, testing, and getting the right people around it, we’ve launched something new: a global investment solution that works cleanly for dual UK and US taxpayers. It’s available in three risk levels and has been built deliberately with index funds that avoid PFIC issues, avoid UK non-reporting funds, and avoid the double-tax traps.
Is this relevant to everyone? No. But if you have clients earning in the US, living here, touring here, moving kids to schools, or splitting time between the two countries, then it matters a lot. If their portfolio isn’t built for both systems, they’re probably paying more tax than they need to or are unknowingly storing up a reporting problem for later.
That’s the main reason we’re sharing this. The investment world is full of choice, but for cross-border clients it’s the opposite. Choice disappears. Having something simple, globally diversified, and clean in both tax systems is harder to find than you’d think.
If you want to sense-check a client’s structure or investments, or just want to understand the pitfalls for someone earning or investing across borders, always happy to talk it through.
David James Wealth USA is an Appointed Representative of Blacktower Financial Management Limited and a member of Nexus Global (IFA Network) which is a trading name of Blacktower Financial Management Limited who are authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Reference: 188611.
Estate Planning, Inheritance Tax Planning and Tax Planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
The value of investments and the income from them, can fluctuate, and may loose value.
Investment advice and investment advisory services offered and provided through Blacktower Financial Management US, LLC. This communication is for informational purposes only based on our understanding of current legislation and practices which are subject to change and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, tax advice, tax recommendations, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
