Retirement Without Borders

Barry Golson knows all about retiring abroad -- he and his wife, Thia, have lived in six different countries. Now they choose expatriate-friendly locales around the world for their low cost and their high quality of living and explain how to investigate and settle in each country with minimum hassle and maximum pleasure. Taking you step-by-step through the process of researching, testing, and finally living abroad, the Golsons' practical how-to guide covers all the major issues, including health care, finances, real estate, taxes, and immigration. Each location is profiled by an expatriate writer who has made that country his or her home and who knows how to answer all the questions about living richly and economically in some of the world's most beautiful places.

This intriguing book shows how to successfully expatriate one's funds, assets, and even oneself and one's family, for safety, profit, privacy, and an inexpensive, better life. The idea of moving to a new country has always been of interest to adventurous beings who relish the notion of basking in a beautiful place where one can live like a king for dimes on the dollar. The dream is achievable, but only if you first safely move your assets. That is what Freedom Without Borders: How to Invest, Expatriate, and Retire Overseas for Personal and Financial Success is all about. Written for anyone seriously concerned about strategies for protecting assets, as well as lifestyle, this comprehensive guide covers everything one needs to know to do that successfully outside of the United States. The book focuses on personal finance considerations for those contemplating moving or investing abroad, rather than on culture aspects of such a decision. It presents specific alternatives for finding—and shifting assets to—an ideal haven, showing readers how to protect personal wealth even as they discover a freer, more peaceful way to live, invest, and/or retire.

A Year in Provence meets Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House in this lively and entertaining account of a couple's year building their dream house in Mexico. In 2004, Barry Golson wrote an award-winning article for AARP magazine about Mexican hot spots for retirees longing for a lifestyle they couldn't afford in the United States. A year later, he and his wife Thia were taking part in the growing trend of retiring abroad. They sold their Manhattan apartment, packed up their SUV, and moved to one of those idyllic hot spots, the surfing and fishing village of Sayulita on Mexico's Pacific coast. With humor and charm, Golson details the year he and his wife spent settling into their new life and planning and building their dream home. Sayulita -- population 1,500, not including stray dogs or pelicans -- is a never-dull mixture of traditional Mexican customs and new, gringo-influenced change. Before long, the Golsons had been absorbed into the rhythms and routines of village life: they adopted a pair of iguanas named Iggy Pop and Iggy Mom, got sick and got cured by a doctor who charged them sixteen dollars a visit, made lasting friends with Mexicans and fellow expatriates, and discovered the skill and artistry of local craftsmen. But their daily lives were mostly dedicated to the difficult yet satisfying process of building their house. It took them almost six months to begin building -- nothing is simple (or speedy) in Mexico -- and incredibly, they completed construction in another six. They engaged a Mexican architect, builder, and landscape designer who not only built their home but also changed their lives; encountered uproariously odd bureaucracy; and ultimately experienced a lifetime's worth of education about the challenges and advantages of living in Mexico. The Golsons lived (and are still living) the dream of many -- not only of going off to a tropical paradise but also of building something beautiful, becoming a part of a new world, making lasting friends, and transforming their lives. As much about family and friendship as about house-building, Gringos in Paradise is an immensely readable and illuminating book about finding a personal paradise and making it a home.

The definitive guide for anyone dreaming of living in paradise when they retire. Whether motivated by a desire for adventure, or the need to make the most of a diminished nest egg, more and more Americans are considering an overseas retirement. Drawing on her more than three decades of experience helping people relocate happily and successfully, Kathleen Peddicord shows how living in an unconventional retirement destination can cost less than a traditional home in Florida or Arizona. Peddicord addresses all of the essential issues, including: • Finding a home to own or rent • Researching and understanding your tax liability • Obtaining health insurance and medical care • Avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls • Opening a bank account Whether readers are interested in relatively unknown havens like Nicaragua, well-traveled areas in Italy, or need some help deciding, How to Retire Overseas is the ultimate guide to making retirement dreams come true.

Are you thinking about retiring overseas, but can't find a book that goes into great detail about the financial aspects of such a move? The Financial Guide to Retiring Abroad was written specifically for you. Retiring abroad can be difficult. You'll need to buy health insurance, open new bank accounts, and apply for special retirement visas. All of these things require research and effort. This book aims to help guide a would-be retiree in overcoming many of the pitfalls that can challenge a successful retirement abroad.At the end of the day, for most people retiring overseas is about money. You do it because you want to maintain or improve your standard of living. In order to maximize your savings and your pension, you may move to a poorer country in Asia, Latin America, maybe even Africa. This book will advise you on the wisest course of action, how to invest properly so you avoid getting caught up in local risky ventures, and how to make sure the country you are moving to is both economically and politically stable. What about buying property? This will be the biggest temptation you will face in your move abroad. This guide has an in-depth discussion on the wisdom of such a purpose, and whether it really is as promising an "investment" as you've been told.No matter in what country you decide to spend your retirement, this book is for you. Whether you want to move to the beautiful farmland of rural France, or are budget-minded and want a sophisticated urban setting in downtown Buenos Aires, The Financial Guide to Retiring Abroad was written with you in mind. Don't retire overseas without reading it!

The Second Edition of the The Financial Guide to Retiring Abroad gives you the crucial information you need to make sure your life overseas is not one of poverty and regret. It includes more retirement visa information, and discussions on how the world has changed since the first edition in regards to the risks of living overseas in an age of terrorist activity and financial instability. Whether you are extraordinarily wealthy, or just struggling to get by, The Financial Guide to Retiring Abroad gives you basic and simple investment advice backed by academic studies. Most retirement guides will try and convince you to buy property, invest all your hard earned money locally, and assure you it's safe. The Financial Guide to Retiring Abroad explains the best way to actually reside abroad, and enjoy yourself without having to worry about crime, poverty and shaky governance.

Make sense of international personal finance with expat-specific expert advice The Cross-Border Family Wealth Guide is the long-awaited financial handbook for cross border families, with expert insight from a financial advisor who specializes in expat issues. Whether you're an American living abroad, or foreign-born and living in the U.S., this book demystifies the complex issues surrounding the worldwide tax system, international information reporting, sensible investments, international real estate, and retirement planning. When your wealth crosses international borders, managing even the most mundane financial affairs can become wrought with time-consuming complexity; moving money, opening accounts, dealing with currency risks and translation, and setting up investments suddenly involves a whole new set of rules and regulations. Your 401(k), IRA, or annuity must be handled properly to retain certain tax benefits, and retirement planning takes on a brand new dimension of difficulty. This book shows you how to navigate the maze to make sure your money keeps working for you. Real world examples illustrate solutions to common problems, and real, actionable advice gives you a solid plan for your next steps. While personal finance management is rarely simple, the recent crackdown on tax havens and increased tax collection vigilance has made things even more difficult for cross border families. This book answers your questions, and shines a light on the way forward to long-term financial security for international families. Navigate the complexities of international taxation Get specific guidance on retirement planning Make sense of how real estate fits into your financial picture Invest appropriately to maximize growth for the future Manage your assets and tax benefits across borders With the right know-how, cross border professionals can make sensible investment and financial planning decisions, but credible guidance is rare and difficult to find. Simple and practical, with targeted advice, The Cross-Border Family Wealth Guide is the international family's solution for avoiding financial confusion.

Across half a century, from the division of Germany through the end of the Cold War, a cohort of thirty women from the small German town of Schönebeck in what used to be the GDR circulated among themselves a remarkable collective archive of their lives: a Rundbrief, or bulletin, containing hundreds of letters and photographs. This book draws on that unprecedented resource, complemented by a set of interviews, to paint a rich portrait of “ordinary” life in postwar Germany. It shows how these women—whether reflecting on their experiences as Nazi-era schoolchildren or witnessing reunification—were united by their complex interactions with official power and their commitment to sustaining a shared German identity as they made the most of their everyday lives in both the GDR and the Federal Republic.