Written by: Peter Dougherty | BISSAN Wealth Management
Spain has become a popular retirement destination for Americans thanks to its top-notch and affordable health care, vibrant lifestyle and low cost of living. Other retirees are attracted by its favorable climate and great food.
But although Americans can retire in beautiful Spain, their money can’t. To assist retirees in Spain with their finances, Peter Dougherty has been swinging like a pendulum on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to further his financial knowledge. He doesn’t just balance portfolios; he balances time zones.
Mr. Dougherty works at BISSAN Wealth Management, a financial planning firm in Spain, where he assists expats who live in Spain with their financial and retirement planning. Because he’s the only American to be accredited as a European Financial Planner (EFP) in Spain, it’s natural that clients look to him for guidance about their money and retirement. And by staying up to date on money matters in both the U.S. and Spain, Peter can steer clients away from financial pitfalls and toward good opportunities.
Helping Americans who live in Spain means he must work harder than many of the financial planners who assist only Americans in the U.S. or only Spaniards living in Spain. That’s because even if a U.S. citizen who lives in Spain never intends to set foot on U.S. soil again, they are still American citizens – and for tax purposes, that means being taxed in the United States and in Spain.
As Mr. Dougherty says: “In constructing a financial plan for Americans in Spain, we need to incorporate both American and Spanish considerations into the plan. We tailor this to each family’s individual circumstances; our results never look the same twice.”
Even after it puts together a financial plan for a family or individual, BISSAN Wealth Management continues its work in two important ways: providing ongoing investment advice and assistance as well as updating each plan to reflect changes in market, personal, investment, and family circumstances. And Mr. Dougherty continues his diligent study of cross-border finances to ensure that every potential regulatory, taxation and financial aspect is understood and considered.
As part of his studies, Mr. Dougherty became a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® in the U.S. in 2023, obtained a master’s degree in Spanish taxation from Nebrija University in 2024, and earned a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® credential in the United States in 2025.
“Specializing in cross-border retirement planning means that my clients dream of beaches while I dream of financial regulations that don’t conflict. So far, only one of us is getting there.”
For more information: https://www.financial-planning-in-spain.com
Related: The Secret Ingredient That Transforms Your Holiday Table