Investing in France as an Expat: Financial Confidence & Wealth Management - Vicky Kirby

Vicky moved from Manchester to the French Riviera with a plan, savings in place, jobs secured, and a dream built years earlier on a beach in the South of France.

But building a long-term professional life abroad is never as simple as the dream.

In this episode, we go deep into what it really takes to build a financial advisory practice in France as a British expat: from navigating French bureaucracy and cultural differences in the workplace, to understanding social charges, licensing requirements, and the realities of entrepreneurship on the Côte d’Azur.

After nearly two decades working in corporate finance, including at AXA UK and AXA France, Vicky made the bold decision to leave salaried employment, complete a French master’s degree in financial engineering, obtain AMF certification, and build her own wealth management company focused on expats and women.

We discuss:

• The shock of French social charges and what they actually fund

• The cultural differences between UK and French working life

• The complexity of French investment products and inheritance rules

• Why financial confidence is not about having a million euros

• Pricing your services ethically as a female entrepreneur

• The reality behind Riviera glamour

• And how to build credibility in a country that isn’t your own

This is a candid conversation about relocation, financial literacy, resilience, and what it really means to build a sustainable career abroad.

A must-listen for anyone considering moving to France, starting a business here, or trying to understand the French financial system.

This is the full-length episode. If you would like to listen to a condensed 28-minute version, it is available on Living the Dream – Radio Edition.

Living the Dream: French Riviera Podcast Women and their professional journey while relocating to the South of France. https://livingthedreampodcast.com