Why expats in France need a Conseil en Gestion de Patrimoine advisor

If you are a British expat living in France, you should be working with an international Conseil en Gestion de Patrimoine (CGP) – read on to learn how a CGP can transform your financial and legal affairs.

More and more French asset holders are using the services of a Conseil en Gestion de Patrimoine (CGP). The word “patrimoine” doesn’t have a translation into English, but it refers to a family’s assets that need protecting, from real estate to deposit accounts and antiques.

As an expert in legal and financial affairs, a CGP can fine tune all your legal and financial matters so they run like clockwork and produce the most lucrative results possible.

What exactly is a CGP?

A CGP stands for a firm or qualified person experienced in areas such as insurance, banking, finance, mortgages, inheritance, family and notarial law, healthcare and property investment, as well as other general matters.

An international CGP is also specialised in all these areas, but instead of a France-centric outlook, works globally, allowing asset holders to take advantage of international conventions, rules and legalities across their portfolio.

Less common are international CGPs who hold UK and French degrees, and who are referenced by both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in France.

This is exactly where DTB Wealth Management holds a unique position in the marketplace.

“No local notaire, accountant, banker or British international financial advisor will have the full knowledge, experience, or the qualifications to give a global independent, expert and unbiased answer,” says UK-born Daniel Butcher, founder of DTB Wealth Management, who has lived in France for nearly 40 years.

From Brexit to tax liability – how DTB Wealth Management is helping the Smith family

After moving to France in 2019, retirees John and Caroline Smith asked DTB Wealth Management to get their tax, inheritance and asset management in order. DTB contacted HMRC in the UK and helped them to register with the French Tax authorities.

With two children from previous marriages, they needed to protect Caroline in case John predeceased her.

“If nothing was done, she could find herself sharing their French property with John ‘s children,” says Butcher. “To avoid this, we advised them to sign a Donation aux Derniers Vivants (DDV) and arranged a meeting with a notaire who could help them finalise the paperwork.”

John also wanted to optimise the tax liability on his UK pension so DTB first helped him to transfer it to a QROPS in Malta. He could then Flexi Access the entire pot, bring it back to France and re-invest it in a multi-currency Assurance Vie that was adapted to British expats living in France.

With end of the Brexit transition period fast approaching, DTB is also advising the Smiths on how to obtain their Carte de Séjour and helping them find the best healthcare top-up policy for their needs.

“This is just an example of the complete transversal service we can offer the British expat community in France,” says Butcher. “Every family has their own unique set of needs and we are proud to offer our clients thoughtfully-designed, tailor-made solutions.”

To find out how DTB Wealth Management can help you, visit www.dtbwealthmanagement.com, but to discuss your unique circumstances with a specialist advisor, call +33 (0)672 348 50.