Want to discuss your questions with an expert or get their feedback on your ideas? Our advisers from the Preferred Banking team are happy to give you fast, personal advice on any financial decision you wish to make, big or small. With 25 years of experience, we are expert in expats.
All of our exclusive contact options are free of charge for Preferred Banking expat clients, with no strings attached. Our advisers are fluent in English.
What's on your mind?
Our advisers can help you to sort out things that impact your finances now and in the future:
Am I able to retire early? And if so, when?
What are the best ways for me to build capital for myself or my child?
How can I top up my pension?
Am I able to buy a second home?
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You might be wondering what exactly you'd get out of a consultation with an adviser, or what sort of people are on our team. One of our advisers reveals all in this interview.
Joëlle has been at ABN AMRO for ten years and has worked in various roles during that time, both for Dutch speaking clients and expat clients. She recently moved from Leiden to the countryside with her husband and 18-month-old daughter.
“My approach to consultations is to listen, listen, listen and provide feedback that’s tailored to your situation. However much input you want to give is up to you. If you leave my consultation with new information and feeling pleasantly surprised, I consider it a success.
While no two consultations are the same, they’re often about identical topics. One of them, no doubt because of the low interest rate on savings right now, is how to grow your capital more. Another is early retirement and the steps you can take to get there.
But it’s the consultations about investments that I love the most. Some clients are in two minds about starting to invest. I’m here to help them take that first step, get control over their finances and make their money work for them. I want to get my message across to women in particular, and I’m relieved that I almost never hear the phrase ‘my husband takes care of that’ anymore! Everyone should be able to feel confident about their finances.”
Joëlle’s financial inspiration: “To all those first-time investors, I’d recommend the podcast ‘Jong Beleggen, de podcast’. It’s by two young podcasters who talk in depth about their portfolio and explain how they invest.”
Mimoun lives in Enschede with his wife and child. Having worked at ABN AMRO for several years, he joined the Preferred Banking team as an adviser in summer 2023.
“I’m fascinated by finances, investments and the stock market, so I feel right at home at ABN AMRO. I’m now advising various Preferred Banking clients on a range of subjects, such as saving and investing sustainably, making extra mortgage repayments and whether it makes sense to do so, or estate and inheritance and how that affects wealth tax. Some clients come to us with only a vague idea of what they want to know, and we’re happy to help them find the information they’re looking for.
Many clients I chat with haven’t given much thought to their pension yet. They tend to put off making those sorts of decisions. But that can work against them, because the earlier you start, the better the potential returns. That’s why I help them to map out their current finances, looking at the steps they can take to build more capital, with a clear starting point and goal.
As a father, with my second child on the way, I’m personally interested in building capital. I’ll be looking into this during my paternity leave, so I can give them a good start in life. If a client is in the same situation, that’s definitely something we’ll have a look at.”
Mimoun’s financial tip: “Put money in your savings or investment account on pay day – don’t wait until the end of the month. You can set up an automatic transfer and link it to a specific target, to keep you motivated. I’ve set my target as the background of my ABN AMRO app, which acts as a reminder every time I check my account.”
Yvonne was a business owner before joining ABN AMRO. She has been advising clients for 13 years now.
“The best consultations I have are about people’s dreams for their financial future, such as in the Financial Outlook we offer as part of COACH. During these consultations, I map out a client’s current and future financial situation and assess whether their plans for the future are realistic. It’s a chance to take a deep dive and listen to the client’s story: their situation, their wishes and their financial targets. I support clients by giving them clarity on the consequences of certain financial decisions. That’s why we explore both the positive and negative impacts of those choices, so that the client knows what to expect and has peace of mind. I also provide some points for consideration. After all, things that aren’t realistic now could be further down the line.
I love being able to highlight every dimension of a client’s choice. To reassure clients, I make an effort to take things slow and explain each financial topic, be that pensions or investments, as clearly as possible. My clients often tell me how much they appreciate my input and honesty. That’s the best compliment anyone could give!”
Yvonne’s financial tip: “Think about your dreams for the future sooner rather than later. Taking steps now to build your capital, whatever your goals, reduces long-term financial strain.”
Monique has been working at ABN AMRO for almost forty years. She has been in various roles over that time, including at management level, all connected by one common denominator: contact with consumer clients.
“I’m as amazed as everyone else by how long I’ve been at ABN AMRO. However, this line of work will always fascinate me. No two days are the same, and every client is unique. Being born into an entrepreneurial family and married to a husband who runs his own business, I like to keep myself busy.
I make sure my clients know that they can provide as much or as little input as they like. It’s up to me to deliver added value – not by considering our products, but by looking at clients’ wishes. I try to put myself in their shoes
while sharing my own experiences of things like buying a property abroad. The same goes for more difficult subjects such as estates and inheritance. My parents passed away soon after each other, so I know what sort of things you might have to deal with.”
Monique’s financial inspiration: “I’d recommend Janneke van den Brink’s book, Financieel Vrij. It’s about how you can build up enough capital to do the things that give your life meaning.”
Bobby is a father of two and lives in Hilversum. Since joining ABN AMRO as a customer service representative years ago, he has gained experience of every area of the bank.
“Financial planning is like a jigsaw: you want to put together all the pieces of the picture that reflects your situation. If a piece is missing, we’ll sit down and find it together.
I try to talk about subjects with clients as early as possible – things that haven’t happened yet, but will in the future. An obvious example is your pension. As they say: the earlier you start, the better.
I specialise in topics related to capital and everything that encompasses: pension top-ups, gifts, you name it. I love being able to show clients how they can achieve goals that they thought impossible. I remember one older couple who had always dreamed of owning a holiday home in Spain. When their daughter’s marriage ended, they wanted to help her buy a new house, but assumed that financial commitment would put an end to their Spanish dream. I looked at their situation and saw they could responsibly reach both financial goals with a family mortgage and equity released from their first home.”
Bobby’s financial tip: “Think of a financial consultation in the same way as a health check. It lets you know how you’re doing moneywise. You may be given some points to do something about, and if not, take that as confirmation that everything is as it should be. Invest just one hour in your financial security and get peace of mind in return. It’s a no-brainer!”
Joëlle has been at ABN AMRO for ten years and has worked in various roles during that time, both for Dutch speaking clients and expat clients. She recently moved from Leiden to the countryside with her husband and 18-month-old daughter.
“My approach to consultations is to listen, listen, listen and provide feedback that’s tailored to your situation. However much input you want to give is up to you. If you leave my consultation with new information and feeling pleasantly surprised, I consider it a success.
While no two consultations are the same, they’re often about identical topics. One of them, no doubt because of the low interest rate on savings right now, is how to grow your capital more. Another is early retirement and the steps you can take to get there.
But it’s the consultations about investments that I love the most. Some clients are in two minds about starting to invest. I’m here to help them take that first step, get control over their finances and make their money work for them. I want to get my message across to women in particular, and I’m relieved that I almost never hear the phrase ‘my husband takes care of that’ anymore! Everyone should be able to feel confident about their finances.”
Joëlle’s financial inspiration: “To all those first-time investors, I’d recommend the podcast ‘Jong Beleggen, de podcast’. It’s by two young podcasters who talk in depth about their portfolio and explain how they invest.”
Mimoun Ghardi
Mimoun lives in Enschede with his wife and child. Having worked at ABN AMRO for several years, he joined the Preferred Banking team as an adviser in summer 2023.
“I’m fascinated by finances, investments and the stock market, so I feel right at home at ABN AMRO. I’m now advising various Preferred Banking clients on a range of subjects, such as saving and investing sustainably, making extra mortgage repayments and whether it makes sense to do so, or estate and inheritance and how that affects wealth tax. Some clients come to us with only a vague idea of what they want to know, and we’re happy to help them find the information they’re looking for.
Many clients I chat with haven’t given much thought to their pension yet. They tend to put off making those sorts of decisions. But that can work against them, because the earlier you start, the better the potential returns. That’s why I help them to map out their current finances, looking at the steps they can take to build more capital, with a clear starting point and goal.
As a father, with my second child on the way, I’m personally interested in building capital. I’ll be looking into this during my paternity leave, so I can give them a good start in life. If a client is in the same situation, that’s definitely something we’ll have a look at.”
Mimoun’s financial tip: “Put money in your savings or investment account on pay day – don’t wait until the end of the month. You can set up an automatic transfer and link it to a specific target, to keep you motivated. I’ve set my target as the background of my ABN AMRO app, which acts as a reminder every time I check my account.”
Yvonne Verwaaijen
Yvonne was a business owner before joining ABN AMRO. She has been advising clients for 13 years now.
“The best consultations I have are about people’s dreams for their financial future, such as in the Financial Outlook we offer as part of COACH. During these consultations, I map out a client’s current and future financial situation and assess whether their plans for the future are realistic. It’s a chance to take a deep dive and listen to the client’s story: their situation, their wishes and their financial targets. I support clients by giving them clarity on the consequences of certain financial decisions. That’s why we explore both the positive and negative impacts of those choices, so that the client knows what to expect and has peace of mind. I also provide some points for consideration. After all, things that aren’t realistic now could be further down the line.
I love being able to highlight every dimension of a client’s choice. To reassure clients, I make an effort to take things slow and explain each financial topic, be that pensions or investments, as clearly as possible. My clients often tell me how much they appreciate my input and honesty. That’s the best compliment anyone could give!”
Yvonne’s financial tip: “Think about your dreams for the future sooner rather than later. Taking steps now to build your capital, whatever your goals, reduces long-term financial strain.”
Monique Bonnet-Heeren
Monique has been working at ABN AMRO for almost forty years. She has been in various roles over that time, including at management level, all connected by one common denominator: contact with consumer clients.
“I’m as amazed as everyone else by how long I’ve been at ABN AMRO. However, this line of work will always fascinate me. No two days are the same, and every client is unique. Being born into an entrepreneurial family and married to a husband who runs his own business, I like to keep myself busy.
I make sure my clients know that they can provide as much or as little input as they like. It’s up to me to deliver added value – not by considering our products, but by looking at clients’ wishes. I try to put myself in their shoes
while sharing my own experiences of things like buying a property abroad. The same goes for more difficult subjects such as estates and inheritance. My parents passed away soon after each other, so I know what sort of things you might have to deal with.”
Monique’s financial inspiration: “I’d recommend Janneke van den Brink’s book, Financieel Vrij. It’s about how you can build up enough capital to do the things that give your life meaning.”
Bobby Le Febre
Bobby is a father of two and lives in Hilversum. Since joining ABN AMRO as a customer service representative years ago, he has gained experience of every area of the bank.
“Financial planning is like a jigsaw: you want to put together all the pieces of the picture that reflects your situation. If a piece is missing, we’ll sit down and find it together.
I try to talk about subjects with clients as early as possible – things that haven’t happened yet, but will in the future. An obvious example is your pension. As they say: the earlier you start, the better.
I specialise in topics related to capital and everything that encompasses: pension top-ups, gifts, you name it. I love being able to show clients how they can achieve goals that they thought impossible. I remember one older couple who had always dreamed of owning a holiday home in Spain. When their daughter’s marriage ended, they wanted to help her buy a new house, but assumed that financial commitment would put an end to their Spanish dream. I looked at their situation and saw they could responsibly reach both financial goals with a family mortgage and equity released from their first home.”
Bobby’s financial tip: “Think of a financial consultation in the same way as a health check. It lets you know how you’re doing moneywise. You may be given some points to do something about, and if not, take that as confirmation that everything is as it should be. Invest just one hour in your financial security and get peace of mind in return. It’s a no-brainer!”
Individual consultation within minutes
Chat
If you want to quickly chat to an English-speaking expert, open the live chat and get in touch with an adviser from the Preferred Banking team. You’ll have your answer in no time.
You can also instantly arrange a Direct Video Banking call with an adviser from the Preferred Banking team. Our experts are fluent in English. Please note that you’ll need to install the Microsoft Teams app if you’re calling on your mobile phone.
If you want to quickly chat to an English-speaking expert, open the live chat and get in touch with an adviser from the Preferred Banking team. You’ll have your answer in no time.
You can also instantly arrange a Direct Video Banking call with an adviser from the Preferred Banking team. Please note that you’ll need to install the Microsoft Teams app if you’re calling on your mobile phone.
