Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
How to Know When You Have Enough Money in Retirement
After decades of working with American retirees living in Israel, I’ve found that the hardest financial lesson isn’t about investing or taxes. It’s knowing when you have enough. Too many people move the goalpost just when they’re about to reach it. When expectations continually change, what defines financial success? … Read more
Retired, Recovered, and Rebalancing
“Does This Still Make Sense?”
That was the question a retired client in Israel recently asked me, not about a specific stock or fund, but about his entire financial setup.
He’d had a health scare, the kind that makes you pause and take stock. Like many American retirees doing legacy planning from Israel,… Read more
What If Retirement Isn’t About Slowing Down?
For some people, retirement is less about stopping and more about starting something new. After decades in education, one man moved to Israel. Not to relax, but to give back. He now spends his days volunteering and exploring, filling his schedule with purpose.
His story isn’t unusual. More and more retirees are seeking meaning—not just rest. … Read more
When the Market Shifts, Stay Focused on the Plan
A longtime client called me recently after seeing a dip in his portfolio. Over the years, he’d done very well, patiently riding the ups and downs by following a solid market volatility plan. But this shift caught his attention.
“There wasn’t any big news,” he said. “So why the drop?”
He wasn’t upset—just curious…. Read more
Struggling to Manage U.S. Investments from Israel?
Struggling to manage your U.S. investments from Israel? That’s understandable, since you’re not just dealing with numbers. You’re navigating a financial maze spanning two continents. A question I hear all the time is: “How can I simplify my U.S. accounts now that I live in Israel?”
For Americans abroad,… Read more
Investment Anxiety: What to Do When Your Portfolio Drops
Ever check your portfolio before breakfast and lose your appetite?
If you’ve experienced cross-border investment anxiety, you’re not alone. One minute you’re thinking about coffee, the next you’re staring at a red number that wasn’t there yesterday. For Americans living in Israel, investing across time zones adds a layer of uncertainty…. Read more
When Buying Real Estate Is the Wrong Investment
Is real estate the wrong investment for cross-border retirees? Real estate can be an attractive investment, tangible, familiar, and emotionally satisfying. But too often, investors overlook the true costs and limitations that come with owning property. Especially in retirement, locking up your money in bricks and mortar might create more problems than it solves. … Read more
High Dividend, High Stress
“Is the risk really worth it?”
That was the question a retired professor asked after a dividend-paying stock he picked dropped nearly 8% in just a few weeks.
He had researched it carefully, attracted by a 15% yield. He wasn’t chasing quick wins, he simply wanted steady income from his U.S…. Read more
Financial Peace Comes from Preparation, Not Prediction
What’s the secret to financial confidence through preparation? It’s not luck. It’s the cushion that comes from planning ahead.
A client I recently spoke with illustrated this perfectly. Her calendar was packed: a nephew’s bar mitzvah, a family reunion, summer plans in New York. Her husband, a tech executive, was traveling across the U.S…. Read more
Retiring Soon? Don’t Let the Fear of Taxes Freeze Your Strategy
Many investors near retirement fear making the wrong move—but few realize that maintaining the status quo might be the most dangerous decision of all.
A potential client walked into my office with a solid plan. He had carefully arranged his accounts, set a conservative pension strategy to protect his spouse, and built a lifestyle that fit his values…. Read more