Originally published: Spear’s, 19 March 2026
An overwhelming majority of UK-based HNWs expect to receive most of their income in currencies other than sterling over the next three years
Many high-net-worth individuals are choosing to remain based in the UK while expecting to see an increase in income from overseas investments, research from Investec suggests.
The bank commissioned market research company Pureprofile to interview 201 high-net-worth individuals in the UK in February 2026, with an average annual income of £810,450 and average net wealth of £6.4 million. The survey found that 92 per cent of respondents anticipate receiving more income in currencies other than sterling over the next three years.
This may be driven by overseas investments paying out in dollars or euros, international business interests, or global portfolios generating returns. The findings indicate that foreign currency is becoming an increasingly routine part of financial life for UK-based high-net-worth individuals, rather than something linked only to travel.
