After spending more than 30 years in financial planning, I realised the most important retirement question isn’t “how much money do I have?”—it’s “how do I want to live?”. Now at 64, I’m on this journey myself, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and planning my own permanent retirement in Southeast Asia. That’s exactly why I can help you navigate yours.
I’ve also been involved in various business ventures over the years—some successful, some not so much. These experiences have given me a grounding in what life throws at you and taught me that resilience matters as much as planning.
The Cousins Who Changed Everything
Back in 2021, I returned to the UK to refurbish a property I owned so I could sell it. I was winding down work-wise and was unsure what to do next. I still had a small selection of loyal clients, so as long as I had an internet connection, I could still help with their investments. I thought I liked the idea of travelling the UK, combining two of my passions: hiking and wild camping. I bought a van, converted it into a small camper, and planned to spend at least a year travelling throughout the UK, enjoying the outdoors.
On a trip to the Brecon Beacons, a mountain range in Wales, I stopped off to visit my cousin and her husband, Denise and Peter. They’d both been in the nursing profession for many years. With both children grown up, they’d decided they wanted to retire overseas. They were both in their early 60s. They had £600,000 in pensions and savings, plus a property in Anglesey, an island off the north-west coast of Wales, worth around £250,000.
By any measure, they were in excellent financial shape.
However, they looked miserable.
I hadn’t seen them for a few years. They knew I’d lived in Thailand and wanted some “boots on the ground” advice.
“We’ve always enjoyed our trips to Asia over the years and have been planning retirement in Thailand for three years,” Peter said. “We’ve read everything, watched every video, joined all the Facebook groups. We’re more confused now than when we started. And honestly, we’re terrified of making a mistake.”
Denise added, “Everyone says Thailand is cheap, but we’ve seen costs ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 a month. We don’t know what’s realistic. And what about healthcare? What about visas? What if we hate it after we’ve sold our house?”
It was then I had my lightbulb moment: I’d spent years helping people optimise their finances, but I’d never really helped them design their lives. I could tell Denise and Peter whether their retirement pot was sufficient, but I couldn’t tell them whether Thailand was right for them, how to navigate living abroad, or whether their vision was realistic.
I thought, how many Denises and Peters are out there in the same position?
That conversation changed my direction. I was already a whole year into van life, and I’d started questioning whether driving around the UK in a transit van was really what I wanted to do. I was missing the lifestyle I’d had in Vietnam—the food, my friends, and especially the weather.
So, with the house refurbished and sold, transit van disposed of, I returned to Vietnam and made a decision that would bring me to this point: I would stop selling investment products entirely and focus on what I actually think adds more value—helping people design retirements they’re genuinely excited about, not just financially viable. I do still have a small core of investment clients I still take care of, but that’s not my main focus now.
When you sell products, your income depends on what clients buy. Even with the best intentions, that creates conflicts. If a client’s investment underperforms, you’ve damaged a relationship—maybe even lost a friend. I’d seen it happen too many times. I realised I could provide far more value—and preserve far more relationships—by offering pure advice. No products, no commissions, no conflicts. Just honest guidance based on what’s genuinely best for each person’s situation.
Learning by Living
My perspective on international living didn’t come from research—it came from decades of experience across three continents.
In the early 1980s, I moved to the Middle East and spent over a decade working in financial services across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This was long before Dubai became the glittering metropolis it is today. I learned what it meant to build a life in a completely different culture, to navigate systems that operated by different rules, to find community far from home.
During that time, my “future ex-wife” returned to the UK with our son. I followed shortly after and invested in a kitchen manufacturing business owned by a friend of mine. I thought I was done with international living. I was wrong.
On my return to the UK, we moved back to where I grew up—a place called Rossendale, 20 miles from Manchester. After five years of marriage, we decided to go our separate ways and divorced. Being single, I did try to adapt but found it difficult. I wasn’t growing any more and felt isolated. I was meeting the same people every day, growing increasingly frustrated with the endless traffic congestion, no real social life, and the weather. I didn’t mind bad weather, but every day? Nah!
I’d been a tourist in Asia many times over the years, but in 2005, I found myself drawn to Southeast Asia and established myself on a more permanent basis. Over the years, as well as Vietnam, I’ve worked in Thailand, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. I’ve also spent significant time in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving me insights into retirement destinations most advisors never consider. Each place taught me something different about what makes a location work for long-term living versus short-term visits.
Currently, I’m based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I now call home. I’m not here on an extended holiday—this is my life. I navigate the healthcare system, deal with visa renewals, manage banking across currencies, build friendships with locals and expats, and handle all the practical realities that travel blogs gloss over.
I learned that the “best” country isn’t the cheapest or the most exotic. It’s the one that aligns with how you actually want to spend your days. I learned that making friends in a new country requires intention and effort. I learned that healthcare, visas, and banking can make or break your experience, no matter how beautiful the beaches are.
And I learned that most people planning retirement abroad are drowning in information but starving for wisdom.
My Own Journey
At 64, I’m not just advising on retirement abroad—I’m living it. I have a 37-year-old son, Stefan, who lives in the UK. We stay connected despite the distance, and I make regular trips back to see him. Although my marriage didn’t end well, the experience taught me about adaptability and starting over, lessons that have served me well in international living.
I’m actively planning my permanent retirement in Southeast Asia, which means I’m working through the same questions and concerns my clients face. Which country offers the best balance of cost, healthcare, lifestyle, and community? How do I structure finances for currency fluctuations? What visa pathway makes most sense? How do I maintain connections with family back in the UK?
I don’t have all the answers. But I’m working through the process thoughtfully, and that lived experience makes me a better guide for others on the same journey.
Outside of work, I’m focused on staying as healthy as I can for this next chapter. I have a martial arts background—I’ve trained in various disciplines and hold a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I know my way around a gym, and I’m not too bad in the kitchen. The discipline from martial arts and the balanced lifestyle shape how I approach life.
Why I’m Different
I combine three things that are rarely found together:
Financial expertise from 30+ years helping people make complex money decisions. I can assess whether your retirement vision is financially realistic, not just aspirationally appealing.
Deep international experience from actually living abroad for decades—Middle East in the 80s and 90s, Southeast Asia from 2005 onwards, plus extensive experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. I’m not advising from theory or short visits. This is boots-on-the-ground advice. I’m living in Ho Chi Minh City right now. I know what it’s like to navigate foreign healthcare, deal with visa bureaucracy, and build community in a new place.
Peer credibility from being 64 and facing the same life stage. I’m not a 30-year-old digital nomad telling you how to retire. I’m your peer, with professional expertise and decades of international experience.
I don’t sell you a dream. I help you assess whether your dream is realistic, identify the obstacles, create a concrete plan, and support you through execution.
An Invitation
If you’re seriously considering retirement abroad—particularly in Southeast Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa—but feel overwhelmed by the complexity, I’d be honoured to help you gain clarity.
I offer Retirement Clarity Sessions—90-120 minute consultations where we cut through the confusion and create absolute clarity on your retirement vision, financial reality, and concrete next steps.
Many clients tell me this single session saved them months of research and helped them avoid costly mistakes.
If you’re ready to move from confusion to clarity, book your Retirement Clarity Session today.
Neil A Crossland
International Retirement Strategist
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam