The Expat Sage Podcast
Moving, Working, and Investing for Americans Abroad.
Pre-relocation planning advice and investment strategies for American citizens moving abroad.
Discover expert insights and comprehensive strategies for expats on investing in a dual taxation world, managing finances, and planning for retirement.
Episodes
37 episodes
PFIC Rules, Real Risks, Smart Moves
A simple foreign fund should not blow up a decade of savings—yet for U.S. citizens abroad, the PFIC regime can turn a plain ETF into a financial trap. We pull back the curtain on how ordinary investments meet an extraordinary tax system, why th...
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17:15
How UK Reforms And U.S. OBBBA Reshape Every Financial Move For Americans In Britain
Finance rarely flips overnight, but 2026 comes close. Two permanent shifts collide: the UK ends the non‑dom era, and the U.S. OBBA cements the 2017 tax architecture, forcing Americans in Britain to rethink every choice around income, investment...
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13:13
The UK Rewrote Tax For Newcomers, And Your First Four Years Could Define Your Financial Future
The UK recently rewired tax for global movers, and the clock starts the day you land. We unpack the Foreign Income and Gains regime, which replaces the non-dom concept with a hard four-year window during which foreign income and gains are exemp...
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13:47
How Sticky States, like California, New York and Virginia, Keep Tax Claims After You Move Abroad
Planning a move abroad and feeling good about the federal side? The real fight may be back home. We unpack how California, New York, and Virginia use domicile and statutory residency to claim your worldwide income long after you’ve crossed an o...
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15:47
From Golden Visas To Tax Traps: Portugal, Italy, Spain Compared
The ground has shifted under European residency, and the shortcuts are gone. We pull apart the new reality for Americans eyeing Portugal, Italy, and Spain, showing where mobility still works, where it doesn’t, and why structure now matters more...
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13:17
The Expats’ Playbook For Moving To Spain
Thinking about trading gray skies for Mediterranean light? Before you pack your bags for Spain, we unpack the exact moves that protect your portfolio, your cash flow, and your peace of mind. Spain taxes by residency, the U.S. taxes by citizensh...
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16:13
The U.S.–Swiss Financial Double Lock Explained
It’s not a glitch. It’s the system. When U.S. citizenship-based taxation meets Switzerland’s residence-based rules, the result is a financial double lock that touches every account, fund, pension, and estate plan. We unpack how FATCA hardened b...
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14:38
Investing Minefield for Americans in Europe
We map the collision between U.S. citizenship‑based taxation and European investing, then give a clear, four‑pillar plan to build wealth abroad without triggering PFIC penalties or losing key tax benefits. The goal is simple: avoid the traps, u...
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13:19
How U.S. Expats Should Use FEIE, FTC, and Roth Accounts For Tax-Free Growth
We break down how FEIE and FTC truly work for expats and show how that single choice drives IRA eligibility, Roth versus traditional value, and long-term taxes. We end by stressing the employer match tax “time bomb” and how to plan around it.
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15:33
Tax-Smart Move To France
Planning a move to France with U.S. retirement accounts can feel like threading a needle in a storm—until you know exactly where the thread goes. We break down the cleanest path for dual-citizen couples to establish residency, safeguard 401(k) ...
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15:03
U.S.-Ireland Taxes: Protecting Your 401k And IRA Abroad
Thinking about moving to Dublin with a foot in both worlds? We walk through the easy part—immigration with dual U.S.–Irish citizenship—and then open the door to the financial maze most folks miss: how two tax systems collide over your retiremen...
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16:25
No, You Can’t Roll A UK Pension Into A US 401(k) or IRA
A simple question—can a UK pension be rolled into a US IRA or 401(k)?—opens a door to some of the most punishing rules in cross‑border retirement planning. We walk through the hard stop that HMRC’s QROPS regime creates, why no US plans qualify,...
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14:20
How U.S. Expats In Ireland Can Take Retirement Money Without Paying Tax Twice
Two tax systems. One retirement account. If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Ireland, every withdrawal choice carries outsized consequences—and a few of them can quietly cost six figures. We break down the practical path to keeping more of your ...
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17:03
New Rules, Real Steps: Moving from the U.S. to Germany in 2024–2025
Thinking about trading a U.S. zip code for a German postcode? We break down the smartest routes to make that move real—what’s changed, what still trips people up, and how to land with confidence. From the Schengen 90-day entry window to the inf...
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6:48
Come to Italy, Keep More Money: The Tax Schemes You Need to Know
Wondering if Italy's tax incentives could be your ticket to la dolce vita? Today we unpack the four major tax schemes designed to attract specific types of new residents to Italy in 2024.The landscape has shifted dramatically. The popul...
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13:15
Escape Double Taxation: Foreign Income Exclusion vs Tax Credit (FEIE vs FTC)
The nightmare of double taxation haunts countless Americans living abroad. That sinking feeling when tax season arrives—wondering if you'll truly have to pay taxes both in your new home and to the IRS—can overshadow the excitement of your inter...
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19:55
Why your 'simple' TOD account might cost your heirs thousands in taxes
Ever wondered if those "simple" financial solutions actually create more problems than they solve? That's exactly what we discovered when examining Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) accounts for Americans living abroad....
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16:14
When Uncle Sam Follows You to Dublin: Mastering Cross-Border Investing
The financial complexities faced by American investors in Ireland represent a perfect storm of conflicting tax systems, hidden pitfalls, and reporting burdens. Caught between US citizenship-based taxation and Irish residency-based rules, many e...
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17:46
Navigating the US Expatriate Tax Labyrinth: Estate Planning Across Borders
Have you ever wondered what happens to everything you've built abroad when you're no longer around? For American expatriates, this question unlocks a labyrinth of complex tax implications that could dramatically affect your legacy.The U...
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6:33
Beyond Borders: Protecting Your Legacy as a US Expat in France
Franco-American inheritance planning presents a complex web of conflicting tax systems and legal principles that can significantly impact expatriates' legacies without proper planning.• French inheritance tax focuses on beneficiaries, w...
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28:54
Croissants & Bureaucracy: The Honest Guide to Moving to France
Have you ever lost yourself in daydreams of charming French villages and Parisian cafés, only to wonder how to actually make that dream a reality? That fantasy of living in France quickly collides with complex immigration requirements, dual-cou...
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38:16
Green Card Exit: Tax Traps Explained
Surrendering your green card involves complex tax consequences that can lead to a significant exit tax. Timing is critical as the specific date you give up your Lawful Permanent Resident status directly impacts your tax situation and potential ...
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7:16
Navigating Portugal's Visa Maze: Your Complete Guide to Legally Moving from the US
Thinking about moving to Portugal? Before you start packing, you need to understand the critical two-step process that determines your success as an American relocating to this increasingly popular European destination.Portugal's immigr...
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23:21
Tax-Efficient Investing for American Expats in Britain
The financial tightrope walk between two tax systems creates unique investment challenges for Americans living in Britain. This comprehensive exploration cuts through the confusion, offering clarity on navigating the complex terrain of cross-bo...
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21:21