Part 1 showed you the trap.
Today: How to escape it.

Here's what they won't tell you: While governments were building the cage, fintech was building the keys.

In Part 1, we covered the regulatory squeeze: UK non-dom abolition, global minimum tax, DAC8 transparency, and property restrictions.

(If you missed it, catch up here. It's important context for today.)

Here are 3 infrastructure shifts that actually make surviving cross-border wealth management possible in 2026.

You're probably familiar with multi-currency accounts and digital payment platforms. You might even use them.
But here's what you DON'T know: The infrastructure shift in the last 18 months fundamentally changed what's possible and what that means for expats managing cross-border wealth.

What Sticking to Old Tools Can Cost

• Higher FX costs than necessary
• Slower transfers
• Limited access to global markets
• Poor visibility across jurisdictions

This isn’t theory.
This is everyday friction for expats.

So what’s actually different now?

Single-Currency Portfolios Are Dead. Multi-currency isn't optional anymore. It's survival.

Modern expats earn, spend and plan retirement in different countries.
That alone changes everything.

Some people now structure finances across:

For example, lets say Marcus earns AED in Dubai, spends GBP in London, plans to retire in EUR zone. In the past, he kept everything in one currency for simplicity.
Now, he tracks exposure across all three to understand risk.

Impact: You’re not just “living abroad.” You’re running a cross-border financial life.

✅ What works:
Multi-currency accounts are widely accessible. Global investing platforms exist and Tracking exposure is simpler than before.

⚠️ What breaks:
Currency movements go both ways and Tax reporting becomes more complex. Rebalancing requires active awareness.

🤔 What to check:
Ask yourself whether you’re over-concentrated in one currency. Then ask whether your setup actually matches where you plan to live long term.

⏸️ Quick reality check: How many currencies do you earn/spend/save in? If it's more than one and you're not managing this actively, you're bleeding money.

Real-Time Rails Just Killed the Banking Racket.

Real-time cross-border payment rails (SWIFT gpi, ISO 20022, UPI/Pix linkups, which is the infrastructure that moves money between countries) just killed the old banking monopoly on international transfers.

Cross-border payment rails evolved. Behind the scenes, settlement got faster, messaging improved and processing became cleaner. The friction is gone.

Hypothetically , say Priya - regularly sends money between countries. Earlier, she used traditional bank wires. Now, she uses modern digital platforms and gets clearer fees and faster delivery.

Impact: Transfers are becoming more transparent and Costs are easier to compare. Speed is improving.

✅ What’s works
Rebalancing costs less and happens faster. AI-driven FX engines optimize timing automatically. You can move money as fast as the market moves.

⚠️ What hasn't
Not all corridors are equal - some routes are slower. Hidden FX spreads exist on wrong platforms. Compliance checks can delay large payments.

🤔 What to check:
Do you actually know your real FX cost? Are you comparing total costs or just the headline fee?

💡 Pro tip: Always check if your bank may be making 2-3% on every international transfer. That's your money. Take it back.

Access models changed because technology changed distribution. Platforms can now structure products digitally, reduce minimums and reach global investors faster. That opens doors - but also adds noise.

Let’s say David wanted exposure to private markets. Traditional minimums were about $500k. Through tokenized funds on some platforms allow for smaller allocations. That feels empowering. But access doesn’t equal suitability.

Impact: You can now access the same strategies that were previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

✅ What works:
You now have fractional access to strategies that used to require $500k minimums. Smaller advisers can offer institutional-grade solutions they couldn't touch before.
Regional wealth hubs in GCC, Asia, and LatAm are building full-service ecosystems with OECD-aligned rules. This gives you legitimate alternatives to traditional offshore structures.

⚠️ What breaks:
Not all tokenized products are equal - do your due diligence on each platform. Liquidity varies significantly, and some tokenized assets are hard to exit when you need to. Regulatory frameworks are still evolving in many jurisdictions, which means the rules can change.

🤔 What to check:
Can you afford to lock money away for years? Do you actually understand the downside? Would you be okay if this underperformed or became illiquid?

Pick one thing. Do it this week. Momentum matters.

The system didn’t disappear. It stopped being enough.
Rules tightened. Transparency grew. Infrastructure evolved.

The problem isn’t access anymore. It’s clarity.

Knowing where you’re taxed. What you actually owe. How choices ripple across countries. That’s what we’re building at Settel.

Not advice. Not product picks. Just clear calculations so you can have better conversations with your partners, advisors and give yourself that reality check.

You just spent 6 minutes learning:

That's more than 90% of expats will ever learn about evaluating cross-border financial opportunities.

When they're scrambling in April with surprise tax bills, you'll have frameworks for evaluation.

But only if you understand your multi-jurisdictional tax position first.

Forward this to 3 expat friends who need these frameworks. They'll thank you when they avoid a bad platform or understand how to evaluate properly.

Let's survive 2026 together. 🚀

Warmly,

Anita

Founder, Settel.io

P.S. Got questions about your specific situation? Hit reply. I read everything.

P.P.S. Forward this to an expat friend who needs it. They'll thank you later.

P.P.P.S. This newsletter provides general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. Settel provides information and calculations to help you understand your tax position, not personalized advice. Always consult licensed professionals for specific recommendations. Investments can go down as well as up, and you may lose capital.