Question 1

What does the engagement cost?

Accepted Answer

The first thirty-minute conversation is without charge and without obligation. Where an engagement follows, Richard is paid through commission on the products arranged and an ongoing fee on the assets managed. Every figure that applies to you, and what it pays, is set out in writing in the recommendation and the engagement letter before you proceed.

Question 2

Are you regulated by SEC Thailand?

Accepted Answer

No. Neither the practice nor Business Class Asia is licensed by SEC Thailand as an investment intermediary. In practice this means no securities are transacted directly. Execution is conducted through FCA-regulated platforms for UK-resident clients, or SEC Thailand-licensed brokers for Thai-resident execution. This is the standard structure for cross-border advisory and is fully disclosed on the regulatory page.

Question 3

How is the practice compensated?

Accepted Answer

Through commission on the products arranged and an ongoing fee on the assets managed. Because that links what Richard is paid to the products and assets involved, a conflict exists, and it is handled by disclosure: every cost, and what it pays, is set out in writing before you decide anything, and you may ask what any recommendation pays at any point.

Question 4

What happens to client assets if the practice ceases?

Accepted Answer

Client assets are never held by Richard Knight or by Business Class Asia. They sit with FCA-regulated platforms or SEC-licensed custodians, in the client name. Were the practice to cease tomorrow, the custody arrangement continues unchanged. Only the advisory relationship ends.

Question 5

Why is the practice deliberately small?

Accepted Answer

Fewer than ten new ongoing clients are accepted each year. Personal capacity is the binding constraint. Where capacity is full at the point of enquiry, that fact is communicated on the first call and a referral to a regulated alternative is offered.

Question 6

I have had a poor experience with an expat advisor previously. Why should I trust this practice?

Accepted Answer

There is no expectation that trust be extended on the first call. The first call is designed to give information sufficient for the visitor to decide with. CISI credentials may be verified independently on the public CISI register. If anything in the call presents as a pitch rather than information, ending the call is entirely appropriate.

Question 7

What happens during the call?

Accepted Answer

A thirty-minute conversation. Questions on both sides. Notes are taken throughout. The visitor leaves with a clearer view of what is in front of them. No pitch.

Question 8

Is preparation required?

Accepted Answer

Rough figures help: pension pots, savings, monthly income. Nothing precise is required. Documents are not requested in advance.

Question 9

What if the visitor is not in Bangkok, Hua Hin or Pattaya?

Accepted Answer

Zoom and WhatsApp video work equally well. Most first conversations are conducted remotely.

Question 10

Is the call recorded?

Accepted Answer

No. Written notes are taken. A copy of the notes is provided by email afterwards on request.

Question 11

Are American (US-person) clients accepted?

Accepted Answer

In some circumstances. US-person planning carries structural differences from UK-person planning, and FATCA and FBAR reporting represents a separate workload. The honest assessment is offered on the first call.

Question 12

Are Russian nationals accepted as clients?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The practice carries a long-standing Russian-national clientele. The site is published in Russian for that audience.

Question 13

Is the practice affiliated with deVere?

Accepted Answer

No. Richard worked at deVere & Partners earlier in his career; the practice today is independent of deVere. He is a CISI Associate Member and a senior consultant at Business Class Asia. How he is paid is set out plainly under "How is the practice compensated?".

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The 2026 expat in Thailand
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