Who we help / 02
UK residents with US assets
A 401(k), IRA or stock plan left behind in the States does not manage itself. We help you hold and eventually draw on US assets from the UK without tripping cross-border rules.
Many people arrive in the UK carrying financial ties to a former life in the United States: a 401(k) or IRA from a US employer, RSUs or options from a US-listed company, or a brokerage account that has simply stayed put.
These assets are valuable, but they are also awkward to manage from abroad. US platforms are increasingly reluctant to serve non-resident clients, currency movements affect real returns, and the interaction between US and UK tax on withdrawals is rarely straightforward.
We help you decide what to keep, what to consolidate and when to draw from each account, coordinating with tax advisers so that access and reporting are handled correctly on both sides of the Atlantic.
Assets we commonly advise on
- 401(k) plans
- Whether to leave, roll over or begin drawing, with the UK tax consequences considered alongside the US ones.
- IRAs
- Ongoing management and distribution planning for traditional and Roth accounts held while resident in the UK.
- RSUs and stock plans
- Planning around vesting, concentration risk and the tax treatment of sales in both jurisdictions.
- US brokerage accounts
- Reviewing holdings for cross-border efficiency and dealing with platform residency restrictions.
Common questions
- I have a 401(k) from a US employer. Should I leave it where it is?
- Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The right answer depends on the plan, your UK tax position and your long-term plans. What matters is that the decision is made deliberately, with both regimes in view.
- How are RSUs and stock plans treated when I move to the UK?
- Vesting, sale and currency all interact with UK and US tax rules. Timing decisions can materially change the outcome, so they are worth planning before rather than after a vest.
- Can I keep contributing to a US IRA from the UK?
- It depends on your earnings and where they arise. We help you understand what remains possible and how it fits your wider plan.
Not sure where you fit?
A short conversation is usually enough to tell whether we are the right firm for your circumstances.