Moving to Sotogrande? Spain Tax Residency, UK Pensions, ISAs & Financial Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Today I sit down with Gus from PLU Financial to talk about what people should consider before moving to Sotogrande or the Costa del Sol. The conversation covers why financial planning should happen before you arrive in Spain, what happens to UK ISAs when you become Spanish tax resident, how pension planning can change after Brexit, why timing matters for Beckham Law, and why succession planning is such an important topic for families, retirees, and high-net-worth individuals living in Sotogrande. Timestamps: 01:48 Why Gus moved to Sotogrande 02:29 Life before Spain: working in Mozambique 04:12 Moving from London to Sotogrande during Covid 05:37 What PLU Financial does 06:05 Who needs financial planning in Sotogrande? 07:41 Do people seek advice before or after mistakes? 08:13 Why planning should happen before moving to Spain 09:05 The “ostrich syndrome” mistake expats make 09:38 What happens to UK ISAs in Spain 10:26 Why UK advisers may not be able to advise Spanish residents 11:21 When Spanish tax residency changes everything 12:23 The worst financial mistakes expats make 12:54 UK pensions and the 25% tax-free lump sum 13:23 What to consider before keeping or cashing out ISAs 15:50 Defined contribution vs defined benefit pensions 16:31 Moving pensions overseas vs international SIPPs 17:41 Buying Spanish property personally or through a company 19:17 UK tax year vs Spanish tax year 19:57 Beckham Law timing and why it matters 21:23 Timing in tax planning vs timing the market 22:09 Why people from Dubai and the Middle East are looking at Spain 23:55 Is Spain really as expensive as people think? 24:33 Inheritance tax in Spain vs the UK 27:22 Why succession planning matters from the beginning 28:26 Why families need to talk about wealth earlier 30:11 How wealthy do you need to be to work with a financial planner? 33:10 Wrong assumptions international buyers bring to Spain 35:31 Why YouTube advice is useful — but not enough 37:07 The first financial decision to get right before buying in Sotogrande Sotogrande attracts international families, retirees, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth buyers looking for safety, privacy, space, schools, sport, and a strong community. But moving to Spain is not just a lifestyle decision — it can also change your tax position, investment structure, pension options, estate planning, and long-term family wealth strategy. This episode is especially useful for UK expats moving to Spain, people considering Sotogrande as a full-time base, families planning around Sotogrande International School, retirees with UK pensions, business owners relocating from the UK or Middle East, and anyone thinking about buying property in Sotogrande. Useful links: PLU Financial: www.plu-financial.com Disclaimer: This conversation is for general information only and should not be treated as personal financial, tax, pension, or legal advice. Always speak to a regulated adviser before making financial decisions. CONNECT WITH CHARLIE! 📲 Mobile +34 607 911 661 ✉️ Email: [email protected] 🔗 Website: https://charlesgubbins.com/ STAY CONNECTED! 📸 Instagram:   / charlieinsotogrande   👤 Facebook:   / charlieinsotogrande   👨‍💻 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliegubbins 🎥 YouTube:    / nollsotogrande   🐦 Twitter:   / charliegubbins   📱 TikTok:   / charlesgubbins