Around nine million Americans live abroad, and thousands more join them every year. The most common reason why Americans move abroad is for a work placement, though others move abroad due to a sense of adventure or for romantic reasons. Moving abroad can have a...
Why US Expats Should Choose a Fiduciary (not Suitability) Standard Financial Advisor
US expats looking for financial advice are faced with a number of options. Financial advisors for expats who offer investment advice can be broadly divided into two groups though: those that comply with a Fiduciary Standard, and those that comply with a Suitability...
How do the New EU PRIIPs Rules Affect US Expat Investors?
Since January 1st 2018, any person or firm advising an EU resident, including US expats living in EU countries, regarding certain investments has to comply with new EU-wide laws known as the PRIIPs regulation. What is a PRIIP? A PRIIP is a Packaged...
How do the New European GDPR Rules Affect US Expat Investors in the EU?
US expats living in the EU are subject to EU-wide laws as well as national laws in the country where they live. One recent EU law that came into force that affects US expat investors living in the EU is General Data Protection Regulation, more often known as GDPR....
Investment Account Considerations for US Expats
Dealing with financial matters has become increasingly difficult for US citizens living outside the USA over the last few years as a result of what is called FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), which has led to both US and non-US financial institutions being...
SHARPEN THE SAW: FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR AMERICANS LIVING ABROAD
It is estimated that there are between six and seven million U.S. citizens living outside the USA. As many formerly “emerging” markets become more developed Americans are finding that life in places like Ecuador, Uruguay, and Thailand may offer a good standard of...
Managing Your US Retirement Account Once You Leave the USA
If you have worked in the United States it is likely that you have paid into a US retirement account such as an IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement) or a 401k (a company-sponsored retirement plan). The question arises as to what should be done with such an account...
What FATCA Means to the American Expatriate
The IRS is at it again – making life more difficult for US citizens living abroad in its zeal to rake in tax dollars. A few years ago the IRS launched a major effort to combat money-laundering and tax evasion by US taxpayers using non-US financial accounts. No doubt...
Managing US Pension Accounts for non-US Residents
If you have worked in the United States it is likely that you have paid into a US pension account such as an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) or a 401k (an occupational pension plan). The question arises as to what should be done with such an account once you give...
Pitfalls of Exotic Investment Strategies
For the better part of this year investment markets have been largely trendless. There have been many ups and downs but no clear breakout to either the down-side or the up-side. The current state of things, a slowing and fragile economy in Europe as well as issues...

Tom Zachystal CFA, CFP, MBA
Tom Zachystal is President and Chief Investment Officer at International Asset Management, which specializes in financial planning and investment advice for Americans moving or living abroad. Tom has an MBA in Global Management from Thunderbird University in Glendale, Arizona, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential, and is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP™) practitioner. Tom has been providing investment advisory services to overseas Americans for over 20 years.
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