Expats

WE UNDERSTAND THE MANY
UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOU GO THROUGH

We are experts in helping you navigate the difficulties involved in being an expat, so that you can enjoy all the upside of living in a foreign country without worrying about your finances.

Expats difficulties in a foreign country

Is there a way to successfully manage your finances while living abroad without leaving money on the table?

Historically, the vast majority of U.S. expatriates have been limited to working with personal financial planning consultants who lack certain knowledge when it comes to managing their finances while living abroad. Unfortunately, those relationships have proven ineffective and in many cases – quite costly.

We understand the financial challenges and opportunities posed by living abroad. We help American expatriates find solutions to these complexities to avoid pitfalls and make the right choices. Our goal is to make our clients’ time abroad a catapult to a secure financial future as well as the adventure of a lifetime.

What is different about cross-border planning?

Analyzing current investment

Cross-border planning analyzes your current investment and tax strategy as an American living abroad, considering two or more countries.

Optimization U.S. estate taxes

Helps you optimize U.S. state and federal income taxes before moving or living abroad by considering two or more tax systems.

Analyzing host country taxes

Analyzes host country taxes and treaties to avoid expensive financial mistakes in the U.S. and the host country.

Analyzing domestic estate taxes

Cross-border planning analyzes deficiencies in domestic estate planning, considering two or more legal systems.

On top of what regular financial plans offer, we also include:

Customized investment strategies

Customized investment strategies and advice unique to your situation and host country

A customized, high-level overview

A customized, high-level overview of the host country’s tax system and its relevant treaties with the U.S.

Recommendations about your investment accounts

Recommendations for what to do with your investment accounts when you no longer live in the U.S.

Customized report

A customized report of U.S. tax implications while living abroad

Tax recommendations

Tax recommendations for your particular situation

Referrals

Referrals to qualified professionals in specialty areas

Our personal financial planning process

1Access to Certified Financial Planner™ advisors 2 Access to a highly educated team with degrees ranging from Master of Finance to Ph.D. in economics 3Access to federal IRS Enrolled Agents to state-specific Certified Public Accountants
4Access to a multilingual team fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French 5A team that specializes in cross-border tax and investment planning 6Cross-border financial and tax planning specialist
7Experienced team who has lived in Europe, North and South America and understands what it is like being an expat 8Access to an experienced network of tax, legal, immigration, and financial professionals across the world 9Experience in the financial services Industry since 2007

American expatriate issues we commonly advise on:

1

International tax planning

2

Estate planning for U.S. citizens living abroad

3

Expatriate insurance for U.S. citizens

4

Education savings

5

Charitable giving

6

Currency risk management

7

Compliance with U.S. tax laws including FATCA, FBAR and PFIC rules

8

Tax and estate planning issues related to foreign spouses and multinational families

9

Use of U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans while working abroad

10

Retirement abroad planning

Top countries that we commonly advise on

Mexico and Spain Flag
countries we advice on world map

Download your free personal financial guide to living and retiring in Spain

Prepare to Live Abroad Section

We can help you solve some of the most common needs

Portfolio analysis icon

Portfolio analysis

Employee benefits icon

Employee benefits

Retirement planning icon

Retirement planning

Investment selection icon

Investment selection

Tax planning strategies icon

Tax planning strategies

Credit card selection icon

Credit card selection

Rent or buy decisions icon

Rent or buy decisions

Education funding icon

Education funding

Cash flow planning icon

Cash flow planning

Insurance planning icon

Insurance planning

Estate planning strategies icon

Estate planning strategies

Behavioral financial coaching icon

Behavioral financial coaching

Schedule a free consultation today

We are committed to helping Americans navigate the tricky waters of cross-border planning

CB Free Consultation Section
Five key cross-border wealth management questions to answer before moving abroad
Will your current investment strategy still work?

Strategies and investments that worked well in the U.S. may not work after you move. For example, U.S. mutual funds cannot be sold outside the U.S. Under its MIFID II regulations, the European Union will generally not allow EU residents (whether they are EU citizens or not) to buy U.S.-based investment funds unless they are working with a U.S. investment advisor. At the same time, U.S. citizens should also avoid buying non-U.S. investment funds that will be deemed tac-toxic PFICs (Passive Foreign Investment Companies) by the IRS.

Will your current advisor, custodian, or investment firm still be able to help you?

Expat Financial Planning offers highly specialized, easy-to-understand, comprehensive financial planning solutions accessible for most expats. Expats will avoid expensive financial mistakes and save time and money when working with us.

How will your new country treat and tax your investment accounts?

Each country has its own unique tax laws. How your new country of residence will tax your U.S. investment and retirement accounts may be quite different than how the IRS taxes those accounts. For example, Roth IRAs are a great way to save for retirement and avoid future taxation in the U.S., but the unique tax-free nature of Roth accounts is not recognized in many countries, such as Germany, Italy, and Japan. On the other hand, the UK and France fully recognize the tax-free nature of Roth accounts under the terms of their double taxation treaties with the U.S. Still other countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark, allow you to take tax-free withdrawals, but assess an annual tax on the Roth account balance.

Can you break U.S. state residency and save on taxes?

If you are moving overseas for the long term, you will want to break state residency to avoid paying state income taxes. To ensure you do not get a surprise state tax bill, you will need to take definitive actions – sell property, close or move bank accounts, drop vehicle registration, etc. You will likely also have to file a final part-year or non-resident state tax return and possibly make a declaration to the state tax authority to formally cut ties.

Will your estate plan work in your new country?

Estate planning is a key component of cross-border wealth management. Just as every country has its own unique tax laws, every country establishes its own unique set of estate and inheritance laws and probate procedures. Even a simple will may fail to distribute your assets as you wish if its stipulations conflict with your new country’s succession laws. Probate tools such as revocable trusts are designed for tax and legal efficiency in the U.S. but will not be effective in many other countries. Even worse, they may create unanticipated and punitive complications in those countries. For example, many countries treat inheritance via a trust structure as coming from a third party and therefore subject it to a higher tax rate than if it came directly from a relative. Another potential risk is that your new country completely ignores your trust and hence, your wishes. Even the UK – a country with a long tradition of using trusts – applies punitive taxes to trusts depending on how they are structured. Much of the world has strict forced heirship rules and high estate or inheritance tax rates. Before you leave the U.S., ensure that your estate plan does not make an already difficult situation even worse for your loved ones. These five questions are simply the tip of the iceberg, but they are important considerations as you start your new adventure off on the right foot.