The only cross-border adviser with an actual office in KL
Bratu Capital is based in Desa ParkCity, Kuala Lumpur. We advise European expatriates across Malaysia on pension transfers, UCITS structuring, tax planning, and estate planning. Regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority. Licence BS201292.
Why European expats in KL need a different kind of adviser
Most financial advisers serving expats in Malaysia are based in Singapore, Dubai, or the UK. They advise remotely, without reference to Malaysian tax rules, Bank Negara regulations, or the practical realities of holding assets across three jurisdictions while living here.
The cross-border structure problem is not solved by picking better funds. It is solved by getting the architecture right: which wrapper holds your investments, which jurisdiction governs your estate, how your pension interacts with the Malaysian tax system, and whether you are holding the right currency for your intended retirement picture.
We are based in Kuala Lumpur. We understand the Malaysia-UK double taxation treaty not as a reference document but as a practical planning tool. We know what EPF means for foreign nationals since the 2024 mandatory contribution change (effective 1 August 2024). We understand how foreign-sourced income remittance rules have evolved since 2022 and where the planning levers sit.
For European expats in Malaysia, having an adviser who is physically present changes what is possible in the advisory relationship. Same time zone. Face-to-face meetings. Awareness of the local regulatory environment.
Cross-border financial planning for European professionals in Malaysia
UK and European pension planning
QROPS, SIPP, and defined benefit transfer analysis for British, French, German, Dutch, and other European nationals living in Malaysia. We assess whether transferring your home-country pension makes sense for your specific situation, not in the abstract. CETV analysis, PCLS planning, and interaction with the Malaysia-UK double taxation treaty.
UCITS portfolio construction
Irish-domiciled accumulating UCITS funds are the structural default for globally mobile investors who want to avoid US estate tax exposure and maintain portability across tax jurisdictions. We build and manage UCITS portfolios appropriate for your risk profile, time horizon, and currency exposure. No US-domiciled ETFs for non-US clients.
Malaysia tax and foreign income
Tax residency analysis, foreign-sourced income planning under the 2022 remittance rules, treaty application for pension and investment income, EPF implications for foreign nationals, and interaction with your home-country tax obligations. We work with your accountant where relevant and coordinate across jurisdictions.
Cross-border succession and wills
Malaysia's Distribution Act 1958, the interaction with EU succession regulations for EU nationals (Brussels IV choice of law election), and the practical mechanics of multi-jurisdictional estate planning. Life insurance as a liquidity tool during probate. Labuan structures for business owners and family offices with genuine cross-border activity.
Managing multi-currency exposure
A European expat in Malaysia is typically running four currency exposures simultaneously: employment income, day-to-day spending, home-country pension or property, and intended retirement currency. None of these are being actively managed unless someone has addressed them explicitly. Currency strategy is not speculation. It is basic housekeeping.
For business owners and family offices
Labuan International Business and Financial Centre provides a low-tax framework for qualifying business activity within Malaysia's legal jurisdiction. Relevant for business owners, holding companies, and high-net-worth individuals with genuine cross-border operations. Not a general-purpose tax shelter. Substance requirements and audit obligations apply.
European expat professionals living and working in Malaysia
Our clients are senior European professionals, typically in oil and gas, banking, or technology, who have been in Malaysia for two or more years. British, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Romanian, and other EU nationalities. They have a home-country pension they have not addressed, investments scattered across brokerages in multiple countries, and an estate plan that assumes they still live at home.
We work with a select number of clients. The complexity of cross-border wealth management means quality degrades quickly at scale. When we take on a client relationship, we have the capacity to actually understand the situation and stay on top of it as circumstances change.
Our fee model is transparent: 2% upfront on new investment structures, 1% annual AUM. No trail commissions. No product-linked fees. Clients know exactly what they are paying and can evaluate whether they are receiving value.
The initial session is 30 minutes by video or in person at our Desa ParkCity office. We look at the situation as a whole, explain what applies, and tell you honestly whether there is a planning problem worth addressing.
Book a planning session
We see clients in person at our Desa ParkCity office and by video call. The initial session is 30 minutes. We look at your situation across all jurisdictions, identify what needs to be addressed, and tell you what the planning options are.
Book a Planning Session