Specialized Advice for Internationally Mobile Individuals

Globalization has made the world far more connected than ever before, driven by global companies importing specialized talent from around the world. The remote work trend and technology have only increased the mobility of today’s workforce, making it even easier to live a global lifestyle. While this lifestyle offers many benefits, it also comes with a myriad of financial questions.

Serving the Diverse Needs of American and Foreign Citizens

Wherever you call home, our cross-border planning specialists are here to serve as your advisor, advocate, and sounding board. Our clients include:

American Expatriates

Understanding the complexities of living abroad. You’ll likely face a dizzying array of financial issues when you move across borders, compounded by a litany of new laws and reporting requirements. On top of that, international financial institutions may be reluctant to work with you.

We have vast experience helping expats in similar situations. We’ll help you build a globally diversified plan with an emphasis on tax efficiency and risk management.

Foreign Citizens in the U.S.

Building your internationally portable financial plan. When you arrive in the U.S., you need a financial advisor who understands the unique challenges of global families, especially when you first encounter the U.S. financial and tax system. It is equally important when you are considering leaving in the future. We’ll help you understand what you need to know and build a financial plan that’s not bound by geography.

Non-U.S. Residents

Navigating the U.S. financial system. Perhaps you once lived in the U.S. and left behind some investments, inherited some assets here, or you simply view the U.S. as an attractive place to hold wealth. In any case, you’ve likely experienced significant frustration with managing these accounts from afar.

We’ll use our deep knowledge of U.S. and foreign regulations to ease your frustrations while developing a solid investment plan.

Q & A

Q:

Will your income be double taxed?

There are situations where cross-border families incur double taxation. Fortunately, most countries have tax treaties with each other so that being taxed twice on the same income is rare, and in many cases, planning techniques can be employed. U.S. taxpayers cannot escape reporting to the IRS, regardless of where they reside. People facing two different tax regimes greatly increases the need for smart tax planning.

What tax planning strategies can you use to reduce your taxes?

Smart tax planning often must be separated into three distinct buckets: ordinary income, passive investment income, and efficient estate planning. All three of these require advanced planning techniques based on individual circumstances.

Planning around ordinary income taxation often involves understanding the timing and source of income, along with the deliberate management of employer stock compensation programs.

Tax planning for passive investment income offers far more opportunities, specifically around the timing of realized capital gains and losses, and the utilization of tax-advantaged structures.

Efficient cross-border estate planning focuses on maximizing the after-tax transfer of wealth to the next generation; these strategies can vary widely and can become quite complex in structure.

What can you do to financially prepare yourself for an international relocation?

Planning a move to another country is an exciting, but daunting, undertaking requiring planning and preparation. There are many things to consider: where you’ll live, where your children will go to school, how to arrange compensation agreements, and so on.

It is just as important to properly arrange your financial life. The most obvious first step is opening bank accounts in your new host country. You may also need a new credit card. Should you relocate your financial assets to the new host country? This is a big decision, and often should be made over time with appropriate tax planning advice. One factor to consider in these decisions is if your move is permanent or only for a set time period.

Regardless, we advise that families consolidate their holdings into as few accounts and firms as possible. Interacting with financial institutions while abroad can be a frustrating challenge. Our biggest piece of advice is, before you move, learn about the financial system of your new host country and what to expect in regard to taxes or regulations. Being proactive will help you avoid costly or time-consuming mistakes. Finally, you should be mindful of legal and estate planning considerations given your new cross-border lifestyle.

How do you coordinate and manage investment and retirement accounts in different countries?

Globally mobile families face extra challenges in managing investment portfolios located in multiple countries. In general, foreign financial institutions prefer to avoid clients who reside in the U.S., while U.S. institutions likewise prefer to not service accounts for people residing abroad.

We generally recommend that U.S. taxpayers maintain all their investment assets in the U.S. financial system, understanding that certain tax-advantaged foreign accounts must be left in the country where they were established. Consolidating assets in the U.S. enables you to enjoy the significant benefits of our system including low costs, a strong transparency, a regulatory environment, and abundant investment choices, along with the appropriate tax reporting. Foreign professionals coming into the U.S. have the added challenge of moving portfolios into the U.S. or facing the difficulty of overseeing accounts in another country.

Cross-border families face a far more complex wealth management challenge. In general, they are better served by finding a trusted financial advisor who can understand their unique situation.

What should you know about owning real estate in multiple countries?

Real estate is often a large percentage of a global family’s net worth. It is not uncommon for cross-border families to own multiple properties in multiple countries – some primary residences and second homes, and some owned solely as rental properties.

The owner of rental income properties will need to pay taxes on that income in the country where it is located — a credit is then applied to reduce U.S. taxes. This can get complicated as each country may have distinct tax treatment of real estate. Finally, be wary of strange tax outcomes upon selling foreign real estate as a result of currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar.

How do you protect your family in case something happens to you?

A global lifestyle creates some obvious questions around immigration status and taxation, but also more vital issues arise related to access to medical care, legal rules governing healthcare, financial power of attorney, and estate planning.

We advise clients on strategies to ensure that their wishes and trusted relationships are legally documented in every country in which they spend time or hold assets. This is an area that many people overlook to their detriment, as unforeseen consequences can very negatively impact your loved ones.

What are the financial implications of having citizenship or residency in another country?

The decision to seek citizenship or permanent residency always leads to unique outcomes depending on one’s own personal situation. There are very important ramifications including one’s ability to live and work in certain jurisdictions, as well as ongoing income tax and estate planning considerations.

Foreign citizens considering becoming a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. should consider the long-term pros and cons of the decision given the unique worldwide tax filing requirements this country demands.


Meet the Crossborder Team

Our cross-border team offers tailored solutions for investment management, tax strategy, and international estate planning to high-net-worth individuals, international families, and U.S. citizens living abroad. With their personalized approach and expertise, they provide reliable and informed advice to help their clients achieve their financial goals. Their extensive knowledge of cross-border financial regulations and tax laws enables them to navigate complex financial situations with ease, ensuring their clients receive the best possible advice and guidance.

Our cross-border team offers tailored solutions for investment management, tax strategy, and international estate planning to high-net-worth individuals, international families, and U.S. citizens living abroad. With their personalized approach and expertise, they provide reliable and informed advice to help their clients achieve their financial goals. Their extensive knowledge of cross-border financial regulations and tax laws enables them to navigate complex financial situations with ease, ensuring their clients receive the best possible advice and guidance.

Expert Guidance for Your Global Lifestyle

Our cross-border financial planning advisors possess deep knowledge of both U.S. and international tax laws and regulations. So, we know what questions to ask to uncover potential issues, and how to resolve them. Moreover, we serve as a fiduciary, offering solutions in your best interest and tailored to your specific financial goals and priorities. Our objective advice and oversight focus on three key areas:

Tax Strategies

  • Assess your current tax situation and identify oppotunities to reduce current and future tax obligations
  • Analyze stock options and other equity compensation to help you derive maximum value
  • Create a tax-efficient distribution strategy for your global retirement and investment accounts

360 ° Planning

  • Create a worldwide balance sheet to provide a complete picture of your wealth
  • Identify which foreign retirement and investment accounts can be moved and when
  • Develop an asset protection strategy to help safeguard you and your wealth from the risks of a global lifestyle

Lifestyle Management

  • Review real estate including personal residence(s) and rental properties
  • Evaluate the pros and cons of pursuing citizenship
  • Assist with pre-move and post-move relocation issues to help ensure a smooth transition

Experts in Helping Cross-Border Professionals

Guidance to Make Your Cross-Border Experience Seamless

Transcript of Audio recording: Hello my name is Andrew Fisher and I'm the practice leader for the cross-border planning group here at Cerity Partners. We work with global clients, global families who have cross-border financial affairs, generally American citizens and taxpayers living abroad and non-american professionals who come here to the United States. Their challenges are pretty broad and unique, very often revolviing around tax complexities of having income and assets in multiple countries, as well as real estate, immigration issues, estate planning among a number of other things. We help by helping clients organize all of their worldwide financial assets and evaluating their goals and helping them organize their assets to optimize for tax and otherwise to optimize for returns. I hope to talk with you soon. Thank you.

Integrated Wealth Planning. Simplified Financial Management.

We first spend the time to learn about you and your financial priorities. Then we build a complete picture of your worldwide assets, providing a comprehensive view of your financial landscape. We’ll serve as your partner in helping you reach your goals.