A potential client came to me after years of managing his own portfolio. He wasn’t in crisis—far from it. His accounts were healthy, his retirement on track. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. “I feel like I’m coasting,” he told me. “I’m not losing, but I’m definitely not growing the way I could be.”
Like many Americans who made aliya, his investments were scattered. A brokerage account in the U.S., some savings in Israel, old retirement plans he hadn’t touched in years. Each account made sense when he reviewed it individually. But together? His different accounts lacked a cohesive strategy.
Even Growing Portfolios May Need Tweaking
Most people assume that as long as their accounts’ values are increasing everything is fine. But this man realized something important. True success isn’t just about growth. It’s about making sure your investments are aligned with your goals, values, and future plans.
Were his investments aligned with the life he actually wanted—structured in a way that was tax-efficient both in the U.S. and Israel, and positioned not just to avoid risk, but to capture opportunity?
When we talked it through together, the gaps became obvious: cash sitting idle, investments exposed to unnecessary risk, and no clear tax strategy in either country.
That’s when I shared The 2026 Financial Survival Guide. It’s about protecting what you have and unlocking what your money could be doing for you.
Turning Scattered Savings into a Growth Strategy
Together, we restructured his accounts to work together. U.S. assets stayed in the U.S. for simplicity and tax clarity. Israeli withdrawals were driven by purpose, not panic. He implemented several of The Guide’s strategies: adjusting for inflation risk, rebalancing for long-term growth, and streamlining his reporting obligations.
A few weeks later, he could already see some improvement in returns. But even better, he was making confident decisions again. “I always thought I was doing okay,” he told me. “But now I know this is how wealth is supposed to work.”
If you want your money to work harder in 2026, start with a coordinated plan. Get your copy of The 2026 Financial Survival Guide by clicking here.
Douglas Goldstein, CFP® is the director of Profile Investment Services, Ltd. www.Profile-Financial.com. He is a licensed financial professional both in the U.S. and Israel. Call (02) 624-2788 for a consultation on how to set up your American assets to meet your financial goals. Securities offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not those of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates. Neither PRG nor its affiliates provide tax or legal advice.
Published December 10, 2025.