Asset Management and Financial Planning Specialized for Foreigners and Expatriates
Whether you are an American or Canadian expatriate, or a non-US person with investments in the United States, you will benefit from the specialized expertise required for expatriate financial issues. Our company is affiliated with Individual Asset Management, www.iamadvisors.com, an independent financial management firm of Beverly Hills, CA, which specializes in portfolio management and expatriate financial consulting, with a global perspective in mind. Their insight comes from the experience of living as expats, and from that of an international clientele living on four continents around the globe, and involved in a wide variety of professions. Some areas you may wish to examine:
• Do you require assistance in managing an IRA or 401k account when you are outside the US?
• Has your retirement custodian notified you that they will no longer manage your account if you reside outside the US? (This has begun to happen with several very well-known financial companies). If you are suddenly confronted with the need to change your custodian to someone who will accept expatriate retirement accounts, we can help.
• Is your current asset manager now requiring higher and higher account balances to open or maintain an account? (Some have changed to a $250,000 minimum)
• What management services are you really receiving from your current manager? Are you receiving just a portfolio of mutual funds, which in turn have their own layers of fees on top of the manager's fees? Are you paying a management fee plus (unknowingly) a type of deferred commission charge as well? We can examine your current portfolio and look for ways to pay the least amount of expenses.
• Does your current investment company have any conflicts of interest in managing your accounts? Are you placed in certain investments solely for these reasons?
• Have you had a risk assessment done for your portfolio? Does it match your needs and your own tolerance for risk?
• Is your total portfolio balanced globally now that you may own real estate in a different country?
• For Canadians, can you benefit from an offshore account?
• Are your savings in one currency but your expenses in another? Efficient currency exchange rates can often save 3-4%. For building a house of $300,000, for example, that could mean an extra $9,000 saved! If you are having a pension paid in US or Canadian dollars but spending your money in pesos, you can lock in exchange rates to plan your budgeting more efficiently.
• What are the estate tax consequences if you are married to a non-US citizen? Or, if you are yourself a non-US citizen, what are you required to file if you inherit money from someone in the US?
As you can see, there are many special financial circumstances for US citizens living abroad, or foreigners who may have investments in the US. Please let us assess your financial situation as well as your income tax concerns.