By Chad Creveling, CFA, & Peggy Creveling, CFA | As the year-end holidays approach, have a look through our annual list of good books from 2021.
You have to take more risk to get a higher return on your investment, or so the saying goes. The saying has its roots in the basic principles of modern portfolio theory and refers to the idea that investors should be willing to accept more short-term market volatility (risk) in order to receive a chance at a higher long-term investment return. Conversely, investors should accept lower long-term expected returns on their investments if they’re not...
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA Regular portfolio reviews are critical to investment success, especially after big moves in the equity, fixed income, and currency markets that can occur from time to time. Unfortunately, many expats never get around to reviewing their portfolios or if they do, don’t approach the process in an organized way that will get results over time. This is not about trying to time the markets or picking the...
By Chad Creveling, CFA and Peggy Creveling, CFA We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. - Anonymous saying The above often-repeated saying can be applied to many areas of life. When it comes to investing, we frequently see people overestimate what they can achieve in any given year and underestimate what they can achieve in the long term...
If you've already resolved to save more, then you're in luck: There's no better time than now to get serious about saving for your future. We've come up with the following five steps that can be followed by expatriates and their families alike. Many of us may have made the resolution to save more, and for good reason. Statistics show that most people don't save enough, and this may be especially the case for expatriates...
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA You're enjoying the change in scenery in a new country and wonder if it's time to take the plunge and purchase property while you're living overseas. Owning overseas property can be a rewarding experience, but it can also have a major impact on your finances. We've put together a list of some areas to consider: 1. How Long Will You Live There? Expatriates tend to lead transient...
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA Choosing a cross-border or offshore financial advisor carefully is as important as choosing a doctor or lawyer. You'll want to find someone who is competent and trustworthy and who works in your best interest. To help you find the financial advisor who may be right for you (as well as to protect you from those who could do harm), we've put together some characteristics to look for...
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA Which investment would you rather own? An investment in the market that has earned an average annual return of 6% for the past five years but has just plummeted by 20%. Or An equivalent investment in a property, 80% funded by a 30-year, 4% fixed-rate mortgage, which after five years is worth 20% more than you paid for it. If you’re like most people, you'd choose the...
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA It's not news that we're facing a retirement crisis. According to a recent U.S. study conducted by PWC : “There are too many signs suggesting the population is unprepared. A quarter of US adults have no retirement savings and only 36% feel their retirement planning is on track. Even for those who are saving, many will likely come up short.” PWC found that those immediately approaching retirement...
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as specific tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for advice relevant to your situation. It’s that time of year when many Americans living overseas are collecting the various documents needed to file their 2020 U.S. taxes. Below we’ve provided an updated checklist to help you with filing; this list should be used as a...
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA Many expats tend to lead event-filled lives driven by travel, new opportunities, increased social obligations, and managing the challenges of everyday expat life. This leaves little time and energy for the more mundane chores of everyday life, like managing an investment portfolio. Unfortunately, the complications of cross-border finances, multiple tax jurisdictions, currency choices, and planning for a retirement overseas require even more attention and involvement than they...
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA As you look for a holiday gift for your favorite expat or perhaps just for some interesting reading over the holidays, have a look through our annual list of good books. Although we’ve selected these with the expat reader in mind, in a year as challenging as 2020, we hope everyone can enjoy them. All can be easily purchased on the Internet, and while some are more...