Navigating the financial landscape as a US expatriate in Europe presents unique challenges. Financial advisors who specialize in serving US expats living in Europe can help.
Living as a US expat in Europe offers opportunities to explore new cultures and embrace diverse lifestyles. However, expats often encounter a unique set of financial challenges.
Unlike many countries that employ a residence-based taxation system, the United States adheres to a citizenship-based taxation model. This means that regardless of where you reside, American expatriates are required to report their worldwide income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and comply with US tax laws. Negotiating the intricacies of dual taxation can be daunting, often resulting in confusion and potential penalties for non-compliance.
US Expats must also consider the impact of currency fluctuations and exchange rates. Income earned in euros, pounds, or other foreign currencies can fluctuate in value when converted back into US dollars. Such volatility poses challenges in budgeting, saving, and investment decisions, requiring expats to employ strategies to mitigate currency risk and preserve the value of their assets.
Beyond taxes and currency fluctuations, other matters impacting US expats in Europe mean you’ll benefit by hiring a financial advisor who specializes in understanding your unique circumstances.
You’ll likely find dozens of financial advisors back home who are well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving US expats in Europe.
Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live. This means you can choose to hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds or even thousands of miles away if you decide their knowledge and experience working with US expats in Europe is a better fit to help with your unique financial planning needs.
Financial Planning for US Expats in Europe
💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with US expats living in Europe to help them make smart decisions to enjoy life more today while preparing for a comfortable retirement in the future.
🙋♀️ Do you have questions not answered below? Use the form on this page to submit your questions, and we’ll update this article with answers from the financial professionals and educators in the Wealthtender community. You can also contact the financial advisors featured in this article directly to set up an introductory call or ask your questions by email.
💸 Smart Money Insights for US Expats in Europe
This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:
- Q&A with Financial Advisors Who Serve US Expats in Europe
- Get Answers to Your Questions About Living as a US Expat in Europe
- Browse Related Articles
Q&A: Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving US Expats in Europe
Three Questions with Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA
We asked Arielle Tucker, a financial advisor and American citizen who lives in Zurich, Switzerland, to answer three questions helpful to the types of clients she serves – US expats living in Europe, like herself.
Q: What is a common financial planning challenge unique to US expats who live in Europe that you frequently encounter when working with your clients? How do you work with them to overcome this challenge?
Arielle: In a word: taxes. This isn’t meant to be an oversimplification of the problem. But almost all of the issues that an American living abroad may face financially relate to not being able to remove the burden of U.S. taxes thanks to the country’s citizenship-based taxation system.
The way I’ve addressed this challenge directly is through my background as both an Enrolled Agent and Certified Financial Planner™. Having knowledge of how taxes and finances speak to each other and work together is critical to shaping a strong cross-border financial plan.
Additionally, I’ve intentionally built up my team to reflect the unique blend of tax and financial planning expertise that is necessary to properly support Americans living abroad.
Q: How do the services you offer US expats living in Europe distinguish your firm from other advisory firms?
Arielle: Unlike the larger U.S. firms that offer an array of services to many kinds of clients, Connected Financial Planning is focused solely on financial planning for Americans living in Europe.
U.S. expats are a group of people who have very specific financial needs, so it takes living and working in this space every day to be a true fiduciary for my clients.
As an expat based in Switzerland, I’m living the same journey as many of my clients, which adds a subtle, but important, layer to my expertise.
Get to Know Arielle Tucker, Financial Advisor for US Expats in Europe:
View Arielle’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit her website to learn more.
Q: For US expats living in Europe or Americans thinking about relocating to Europe, are there groups or online resources you recommend people consider?
Arielle: In our digital age, there are many resources available to Americans thinking about making a move abroad.
You can find communities on places like Reddit and groups on Facebook or LinkedIn that talk about all the various aspects of life abroad—things like renting and owning, visas, culture, and so on.
Unfortunately, I haven’t found there to be a lot of trustworthy resources specific to the financial sphere of life abroad.
That’s why I created a LinkedIn group, Americans Working in Switzerland, for those living and working in Switzerland and why I’m personally committed to building a library of educational content on the Connected Financial Planning website for U.S. expats and Americans abroad.
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About the Author
About the Author
Brian Thorp
Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian