Our Chartered and Certified Financial Planners help expats around the globe manage their financial affairs in line with their life objectives from UK pension transfers, managing existing investments, lump-sum investments/portfolio management, regular savings, insurances, international mortgages and much more.
Smart Financial International is a values-based financial planning firm. Established in 2021, the business is the European arm of the multi-award-winning UK-based and FCA regulated Smart Financial Planning Limited established in 2008.
Our aim is to help expats achieve their lifestyle goals and aspirations without the fear of ever running out of money, through the provision of outstanding financial and wealth advice, and smart management of investment portfolios.
As independent financial planners, with only Chartered and Certified Financial Planners, you can rest assured that any advice we give will be fair, unbiased, and unrestricted. Once we understand your long-term goals and objectives we will review all suitable products in the market and advise appropriately to meet your objectives.
In following our philosophy that, ‘investing money is only done to facilitate the delivery of goals and objectives’ it is important that we are only investing in reliable long-term, low risk, and low-cost solutions which give the highest possible likelihood of achieving those objectives.
Founder, CFP Chartered MCSI, IMC
Steve is our Chief Executive and oversees Smart Financial, Smart Divorce, Smart International and Smart SSAS
Founder and Director of Finance
Michelle is our Head of Finance and HR as well as managing the day-to-day of Smart SSAS.
Our holistic approach means you’ll have access to specialist advice from across our diverse business and international network. We also work closely with offshore lawyers, trustees and other professional advisers.
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Steve established Smart Financial Planning Limited in the UK in October 2008 and serves as the Chief Exec of all of the Smart Financial companies. He has around 25 years experience in the profession, having been a Partner and Managing Director at previous firms, and is a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a holder of the Investment Management Certificate.
Steve is the course developer and the lead trainer of the Certified Financial Planning Licence (CFP) and the Financial Planning MBA through the Financial Planning Training Academy.
Steve was an active member of the Manchester branch of the IFP before its amalgamation with the CISI, holding the position of Chair from 2009 until 2014. He also used to sit on the Financial and Legal Sector Panel. He speaks regularly at Financial Planning meetings around the country and is also a regular contributor to a wide range of feature articles on financial and money management-related subjects across trade, local and national press.
Steve also leads Financial Planning Training Academy, a specialist training business set up to train financial advisers to become accomplished Financial Planners, and the Change The Future TM Programme which is the leading, ‘Coach the coaches” programme for Financial Planners.
Steve is married to Michelle and they have two boys, he is a keen runner and crossfitter, an Ironman triathlete and is a committed fund raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis trust and other related charities. He has recently competed in the CF Warrior Games where his team raised over £14,000 for the CF Warrior charity.
Steve’s perpetual target is to run a sub-3 hour marathon which he had hoped to achieve in Manchester in April 2020 however COVID and circumstances continue to conspire against him! He is currently considering whether to launch another attempt in Manchester in April 2022.
As the needs of the business’ clients changed, Steve established Smart Trustee Services Limited (Smart SSAS) in 2011. In 2012 Smart Business Financial Planning was established and today is our Change the Future™ program.
In 2021 Smart Financial International was established to support clients who have emigrated from UK and moved to Europe and beyond.
Michelle Martin established Smart Financial alongside husband Steve in October 2008. She is the Head of Finance and is the principal point of contact for Smart SSAS.
Michelle holds an honours degree in International Management and Spanish. Having joined Shell Chemical’s graduate scheme in 1999 she progressed to an account management role before leaving to take up a management position with Albion Chemicals. In 2007 Michelle joined Steve at their previous firm before setting up Smart in 2008.
Michelle is married to Steve and mum to their two boys, Charlie and Harry. In her spare time she enjoys keeping fit, travel and the sunshine!
She is a keen fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and CF Warriors.
Max began his career at Smart Financial in early 2025 after completing his financial planning apprenticeship with a wealth management firm. Prior to entering the field of financial planning, Max pursued his studies in economics at the University of Manchester.
Originally from the West Midlands, he has moved back to Manchester to live with his girlfriend, whom he met during his university years. In his free time, Max enjoys watching and playing football, although, in recent years, he has not enjoyed supporting West Brom.
James completed his studies at Newcastle University, earning a degree in economics. He joined Smart Financial towards the end of 2024 and is thoroughly enjoying both the work and the fresh challenges it brings.
Raised on the outskirts of Manchester, he aspires to relocate to the city centre someday. In his free time, he is passionate about skiing, playing cricket, and supporting Manchester United. Whenever he has a free weekend, he enjoys traveling across the country to see friends and explore new places.
Charlie joined the team in February after completing studies at the University of Granada, Spain. Working alongside Max and Jim in Michelle Reilly’s team, Charlie plays a key role in supporting our clients. You’ll often hear from Charlie when coordinating meetings with our planners, assisting with essential paperwork, or simply keeping you updated.
Charlie is currently studying with the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), progressing towards becoming an investment specialist.
Charlie is committed to putting clients first and delivering outstanding service at every stage of the relationship.
Charlie joined Smart Financial in August 2026 after completing a BSc Business with Finance degree at Liverpool John Moores University. Charlie is particularly motivated to start his career in Financial Planning and is aiming to complete his CFP qualification.
Away from work, Charlie enjoys hiking, football and live music whenever the chance arises. Having grown up on the outskirts of Liverpool, he is a keen Liverpool fan and enjoys attending fixtures as often as possible.
