Navigating Estate Planning in Blended Families
Navigating Estate Planning in Blended Families

Worried about your spouse’s financial security after you’re gone? You’re not alone. Many share this concern but don’t know how to translate their concern to action. A well-crafted estate plan offers peace of mind and stability for your loved ones. While an updated will guides asset distribution after your death (until 120!),… Read more

What Happens When Siblings Disagree about their Elderly Parents’ Finances
Elderly Parents’ Finances

Sibling relationships can be complicated… even among adult siblings. As a financial planner working primarily with American olim, I often encounter families at crossroads dealing with the complexities of both finances and family relationships. A recent case involving five siblings managing their aging parents’ U.S. investment portfolio exemplifies both the challenges and triumphs of family financial planning. … Read more

How to Strengthen Your Financial Future as a Couple

Why do so many couples struggle with managing their finances together? The answer is straightforward: they’re not aligned. As a cross-border financial planner, I’ve observed that couples who collaborate on their financial goals often succeed, while those who don’t frequently struggle. Look at these practical steps to get on the same financial page… and secure your future together. … Read more

How to Avoid Surprises on Capital Gains in Your U.S. Investments
How to Avoid Surprises on Capital Gains in Your U.S. Investments

Navigating U.S. tax obligations from Israel can overwhelm many olim, especially when faced with unexpected tax bills. A common source of surprise is the difference between realized and unrealized gains. Realized gains occur when you sell an investment for a profit and are taxable in the year of the sale…. Read more

Financial Resilience Post-Divorce: How to Create a New Investment Strategy
Financial Resilience Post-Divorce

Divorce is more than just the beginning of a new chapter; it’s the start of a new financial journey. Navigating this transition involves careful reallocation of joint assets and crafting investment, saving, and spending plans that align with your evolving goals.  
Post-divorce, your financial goals undergo a profound transformation as what once was a shared vision is now your own path,… Read more

Navigating Cross-Border Finance: Strategies for Family CFOs
navigating cross-border finances for family CFOs

Managing family finances goes beyond just dealing with local banks, paying bills, and filing taxes. When family members live in different countries, each with its own rules and financial systems, things get complicated. This complexity can cause the family’s CFO (the person in charge of the family’s money) stress when he needs to navigate different financial systems and tax codes…. Read more

Why U.S. Brokerage Firms Drop Clients Living Abroad
Protecting your overseas investments

Are you an overwhelmed CFO of your family, juggling the financial responsibilities of loved ones across borders? If so, you’re not alone. In my years as a financial planner, I’ve encountered many individuals exhausted by the complexities of managing investments for family members, especially when it involves cross-border regulations.  
The challenge often begins when family members move abroad (hooray for aliya!) only to discover their U.S…. Read more

Health Crisis: A Brief Financial Guide for Olim

What do your overseas investments have to do with medical care and family dynamics? 
Picture this: A couple in their seventies who have invested a substantial portion of their wealth in U.S. assets. They are comfortably retired in Israel and have Israeli grandchildren. Unfortunately, some of these grandchildren face health challenges that require financial assistance beyond what their kupat holim (HMO) provides.   … Read more

Your U.S. Broker Doesn’t Support Overseas Clients. Now What?

We recently onboarded a client whose U.S.-based broker dropped her after she moved to Israel, despite her being a loyal customer for 20+ years. In recent years, American brokerage firms have ended their financial relationship with clients living overseas, meaning someday you could find yourself in a similar situation. If so,… Read more

The Smart Couple’s Guide to Financially Surviving Illness

When you come home from the doctor with a major diagnosis, after you call your family members, consider calling your financial advisor. 
Why? Because changes in physical health can also affect your fiscal health. It’s better to plan for a worst-case scenario which never happens than to struggle with the financial ramifications of illness.   … Read more