Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
How to Invest Your Dollars When You Live in Israel
“I’m making aliya next month, Doug,” a soon-to-be-retired doctor called from New York to tell me. “Now that I’ll be living in Jerusalem, should I move my investments to Israel and transfer all my brokerage and bank accounts to one of the Israeli banks?”
Look at each part individually
Moving yourself and your family to Israel,… Read more
Did You Get the “Dear Client, We Can’t Help You Letter”?
Many American brokerage companies have stopped servicing their clients who have foreign addresses, including those who made aliya. These firms have decided that government regulations have simply made the job of maintaining clients overseas too complex. For some people, it may seem like bad news when their broker sends them a letter saying,… Read more
What American Expats Need to Know About Foreign Mutual Funds
If you’re an oleh from the United States and you’re considering putting your money into an Israeli or other foreign mutual fund, think again.
Here’s why:
Owning a foreign mutual fund may cause increased U.S. taxes
If you have money in a teudat sal,… Read more
Want Help Understanding and Organizing your Money?
I recently met with a woman who wanted help understanding and organizing her money, specifically her U.S. dollar investments.
“I’m totally overwhelmed with statements,” she told me as she emptied envelope after envelope onto my desk. “I have no idea what I own and I don’t know how to read all this stuff.”
By the time our meeting ended,… Read more
Expecting an Inheritance? Here’s What You Need to Know
Expecting an inheritance?
Here are 5 of the toughest questions you will likely have when receiving an inheritance:
- What paperwork do you need so that you won’t suffer problems and delays in getting your inheritance?
- What’s the quickest way to transfer inherited brokerage and retirement accounts to your name?
Will You Spend all Your Money or Leave Your Kids an Inheritance?
If you leave your children an inheritance, what will your kids do with your money one day? Often, people I meet who receive an inheritance manage the cash influx well. Together, we create a financial plan and then invest according to the plan, in an effort to meet their financial goals…. Read more
Why Receiving an Inheritance is Difficult: It’s not “free” money
Two years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my father passed away. He left his daughters a houseful of memorabilia and his investment accounts.
Along with the emotional turmoil, I was faced with the task of processing the estate. I learned a few valuable lessons that I hope you can use to organize your own finances to make it easier for your heirs (in 120 years…)…. Read more
Is it Hard Not to Worry About Your Stocks?
Are you finding it hard not to worry about your stocks? Even experienced investors tremble when the market goes crazy. Here’s what you can do now to minimize your worries:
Ignore the news.
Avoid the “hot” tips that you hear from friends or read about on the internet…. Read more
JPMorgan Foreign Retail Clients Are Getting Their Accounts Shut Down
If you have an investment account at JPMorgan, you might soon get a “Dear John” letter from them. According to a Bloomberg article, in order to focus more on their domestic business, JPMorgan has decided to close the accounts of clients in more than 50 countries.
These clients,… Read more
Can Mutual Funds or ETFs Improve Your Portfolio’s Performance?
Myth: Americans living in Israel can’t buy mutual funds.
Fact: Americans in Israel can buy mutual funds, but read carefully….
On last week’s The Goldstein On Gelt Show, I offered a free download of a 7-step list for investing in mutual funds…. Read more