Read Doug’s articles originally printed in The Jerusalem Post.
Profile Perspectives
Proper financial planning can change your relationship with money.
An Alternative to Mutual Funds
Since Americans living abroad are frequently denied the opportunity to buy mutual funds, how can investors diversify their portfolios without being responsible for the day-to-day management of dozens of individual stocks and bonds?
One possible answer is a separately managed account, or SMA. An SMA is a customized portfolio offered by a brokerage firm and managed by an independent investment management firm or money manager…. Read more
An Investment in Israeli Transportation
The last time you drove in Tel Aviv, did you wish there was a more efficient transportation system that’s clean, fast, and comfortable?
As traffic and levels of air pollution rise in the world’s major cities, the need to find an effective system is becoming more pressing than ever. Tel Aviv is the site of an interesting transportation experiment – the SkyTran…. Read more
Is Your Home Your Retirement Nest Egg?
Many people consider their home to be their best investment because they get to live in what they hope is a one-way street to real estate appreciation. People’s homes are often the largest percentage of their net worth. However, as I often remind clients, it may be fine to enjoy living in a nice house,… Read more
The Not-So-Secret Secret Tool I Use to Help Clients Make Money
When I recently offered a client the services of a money manager, he was surprised and asked, “You’re my financial guy, so why don’t you trade my account? Do you have some secret tool in your back pocket?”
I’ve heard this question quite often, and the answer is that having a third-party money manager alongside a financial planner can help clients get the best of both worlds…. Read more
Why We Need Residence-Based Taxation
Is the U.S. taxation system unfair to American citizens living abroad?
If you are a U.S. expat who earns all your income overseas and even pays taxes to your new country of residence, you still have to report your earnings to Uncle Sam. You need to provide this information by filing U.S…. Read more
Have You Filed Your FBAR Yet?
If you’re an American citizen, filing your FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) is even more important than planning your summer vacation. The FBAR deadline was changed for 2016, and is now due on April 15 2017.
The FBAR form is a report of any financial account,… Read more
Would Rosa Parks file her FATCA forms or move to the back of the bus?
America’s greatness is her policy of equality to all and nondiscrimination. Rosa Parks is famous for her stance on refusing to give in to racial discrimination. Who will be the Rosa Parks and stand up against America’s policy of geographic discrimination?
FATCA discriminates against American citizens living offshore since these expats (who by and large file and/or pay taxes without having direct representation) are required to file the form,… Read more
Is Currency Diversification Important?
A dual citizen, residing in one country and keeping assets in another, should consider currency diversification.
Currency exposure isn’t only about which currency (USD, EUR,NIS, GBP, etc.) your assets are in, but currency diversification is also determined by the underlying investments in your account.
Mutual funds are generally considered good diversification tools as they are built so that the movement of any one security in the fund won’t dramatically affect the product’s value…. Read more
Why Retirement May Cost More than You Think
The typical image of retirement used to be of Grandma sitting on her rocking chair knitting, supporting herself with the sizeable pension checks Grandpa received in the mail. However, this picture no longer represents today’s retirees.
While life expectancy has steadily grown longer, people often continue to retire at the same age that they did decades ago…. Read more
Is America Investing the Right Way?
Countries reduce their deficit by cutting spending and raising taxes. Neither move is very popular. On The Goldstein on Gelt Show I spoke with David Leonhardt, Washington Bureau Chief of The New York Times, about possible solutions to governments’ deficits. Leonhardt noted that despite cuts in spending and raising taxes America still has a deficit problem…. Read more