For many expats in France, assurance vie is the backbone of financial planning. It is flexible, tax-efficient, and widely recommended as the best way to pass on wealth. But in recent months, we have seen an increasing number of cases where heirs are left frustrated,...
Articles by: Robert Kent

Robert Kent
Director
Robert was an original founder of Kentingtons and has been working in tax and wealth management for over 30 years.
Robert was as a senior adviser for HSBC, in London, and ended up specialising solely on giving international advice to people from all over the world.
He then went on to work for Towry Law’s international division managing Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, working out of both the Windsor office and Brussels. Robert always wanted to expand into France, however, this was resisted by management who felt France was too complex.
Robert was then headhunted by a firm with an office in Brussels and was delighted to leave the UK to have his first experience living life as an expat. This is where he met his wife, Christine, who is a also a director of Kentingtons. It was whilst in Brussels, that Robert’s interest in France developed further, as many people who worked in Brussels chose to retire there and became the specialist in all matters French.
Christine being half French and half Belgian, was only too happy when Robert took up a new position on the French Riviera as south east regional manager for Siddalls, so finally achieving the dream of moving to France. Christine became pregnant with their first child and this coincided with a colleague leaving and Robert having to cover two regions. Unable to cope with the extra travel and workload, he parted ways with them and set up Kentingtons.
Kentingtons is a French based company, set up as Conseil en gestion de Patrimoine and Robert was one of the first advisers in France become certifié (certified but akin to chartered in the UK) and as such is able to offer advice on both fiscal and civil law, where related to financial planning, as well as offering wealth management counsel and management as Conseil en Investissement Financier.
Robert, lives with his wife Christine and their son Alex in sunny Provence. When not working Robert enjoys hiking, swimming and joys French fine wine and cuisine.
Articles by Kentingtons
QROPS pension transfers to France: What you need to know
QROPS stands for “Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme” and simply put, it is a pension scheme based in another country which is recognised by the UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and broadly similar to a UK-registered pension scheme and can receive...
What is French Gift Tax (“Droits de Donation”)?
For anyone relocating to or already living in France, it is crucial to consider their finances carefully. One subject that we are frequently asked about here at Kentingtons is French Gift Tax, otherwise known as “Droits de Donation.” French Gift Tax is an integral...
How Much Do Financial Advisors Cost in France? (Are You Paying More Than You Should?)
If you are paying for something, you usually know the cost up front. Buy a coffee, book a hotel, hire a plumber, and you are told how much it will be. From there, you decide if it is worth it or not. With financial advice, though, things are not always so clear-cut....
How are UK pensions taxed in France?
Whatever you love about France, such as its art, culture, stunning natural scenery, renowned cuisine, and a relatively leisurely pace of life, there is no question that it is an attractive place to retire, so it is not surprising that there has continued to be a...
Financial Advice for Expats: How to Choose the Right Adviser Living in France
Successful people seem to know that they need help and advice to achieve their goals. The first thing that they do is decide who their team is and who the key people are before moving forward with any project. It is how they work in business, and it is how they manage...
How to manage your tax liabilities between France and other countries
As exciting as it is to start a new life in France, there are, of course, certain mundane aspects involved. To echo the time-honoured saying, nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes. However, while the first of those things may seem simple enough, the...
Retiring to France From UK? Important Financial Steps You Need To Take
Whether you have already retired or thinking about retiring to France from the UK, it would be understandable if you saw the process largely in terms of choosing where to live in the country and purchasing a property, rather than necessarily devoting a lot of your...
La Pouvoir d’Achat! French Inflation Falls – But Why Are Taxes Rising?
In February 2023, French inflation was rocketing and reached a terrifying 6.3% (low compared to 9.6% in the UK). It finished 2024 at a much more acceptable 1.3%. So, it all appears to be under control, looking like good news for French residents. Less inflation means...
PACS in France (Pacte Civil de Solidarité): What You Need to Know
Since November 1999, it has been possible for couples living in France to get a PACS, or “se Pacser”, meaning a Pacte Civil de Solidarité. The easy way for those in the UK to understand a PACS in France, is that it is the French equivalent of a civil partnership,...
Pension planning for UK expats living in or moving to France
If you want to retire in style, what better place to enjoy it than in France? Whether you want the excitement of the French Riviera or the tranquillity of Provence, France has fabulous cuisine, wine and sunshine to make retirement a new beginning. Like anywhere,...
How French forced heirship rules affect estate planning
To say that succession planning can be a complex subject for UK nationals living in France would be an understatement. French inheritance law can be particularly confusing for UK nationals living in France, due to its strict system of forced heirship. The inheritance...











