Your Comprehensive Guide to the Best Investments for Expats
If you have any questions or want to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, you can email me (advice@adamfayed.com) or use these contact options.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The world of finance can be a confusing place. Even if all you want is to find the best investments for expats like yourself, it’s easy to get lost in all the jargon, tax laws and investment strategies.
However, if you know what kind of investments are right for your situation, it’s easier to make informed decisions about your money.
In this article we’ll explain why expats should invest differently than their home country counterparts and give some examples of good options for them to consider when deciding on an investment strategy.
While there are many ways to invest internationally, choosing the right fund or mutual fund is key.
In a nutshell, the best investments for expats are those who give exposure to international markets but also provide the convenience of being able to invest in stocks or bonds anywhere on Earth. They also provide some protection from currency fluctuations and political upheaval.
It should also be noted that a personal financial advisor can make this process easier, as they are obligated to give you financial guidance that is well-suited for your needs.
What are the best investments for expats?
First of all, any expat’s first step into making investments abroad is getting a local bank account.
Relying on a bank account from your home country will come with high transaction costs, especially if you discover that the bank in your home country does not have a corresponding bank branch in your new location.
For expats, opening a bank account overseas is a prudent financial move. The process, while quite complicated, particularly if there are local, tax, and regulatory compliance obligations to meet, will be worthwhile in the long run.
Moving abroad has significant financial ramifications. The challenge of understanding new tax regulations and adjusting to higher living expenses can be made easier by seeking professional counsel from a financial planning advisor.
Not every financial planning expert will, however, be a good fit for you. Making the appropriate choice is crucial, particularly if you want to build a strong working relationship that can endure over time.
If you’re moving to another country, be sure to do your research on how to invest your money in your new home. That’s where an expat-friendly financial advisor can help.
The first thing you should look for is someone who has experience with moving abroad and helping expats make the most of their savings.
The best advisors will have extensive knowledge about different regions and cultures around the world, so they can provide guidance on what type of investments are best suited for the local market (like stocks or bonds).
They’ll also be able to advise against certain types of investments—like real estate—because they know how risky those purchases could be when living abroad as a foreigner without legal status.
A local bank account that is suited for your needs and a good working relationship with a financial advisor are two of some of the best investments for expats simply because of how much easier they will make your investing journey.
Next, you will want to accrue passive income. Passive income is a great way to build wealth. It’s money you make while you sleep!
Active income is typically earned by working for an employer or running your own business, like an online store or blog. Passive income can come in many forms and comes from sources like real estate, stocks, bonds and other investments.
Any expat’s long-term financial plan should include savings and investing. With so many chances for offshore investment, making sure that your hard-earned money is working for you can help you reach your long-term objectives.
For an expat in a foreign country, though, this might be challenging. Expats incur the risk of being taxed unintentionally due to the wide range of investing possibilities available worldwide.
Consequently, the main elements in creating a successful saving and investing plan are choosing the best investments for expats, coming up with a plan, and reducing currency risk.
There are many financial choices available to expatriates—many of which can be considered the best investments for expats—but it is imperative that they make informed decisions. Remember that depending on your home country, you can earn lower income due to the making needed tax returns.
Foreign investment bonds, managed futures funds, commodities, and other choices are available to expats. If you have enough money, you might also think about buying real estate in your new nation of residency and using it as an AirBnB or your permanent house.
You can resort to expat-specific products from foreign banks if you are unsure or do not feel confidence in your investment abilities. Several money management products from certain banks are made exclusively for foreigners, offering some of the best investments for expats.
ETFs and mutual funds
Expat-targeted exchange-traded funds and mutual funds offer similar benefits with even greater flexibility: they allow you access to entire markets rather than just specific countries, which makes them more relevant for investors who desire diversification across multiple markets around the world.
If you’re considering investing in the stock market, there are a few things that need to be considered before diving in.
First and foremost, if you have any concerns about the security of your investments or their ability to grow over time, then it’s important that you choose an advisor who specializes in international investments.
This can help ensure that your money is protected from risks associated with foreign markets and currencies.
Another thing worth considering is whether or not brokerages offer additional services for expats living abroad. Some brokers may offer special tools such as home ownership calculators or tax minimization strategies that can make life easier for those who live overseas but want access to good financial advice without having to move back home every few years (or more).
If you’re looking for a way to get started investing in U.S.-based investment funds, there are several options available.
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are two of the most popular types of these investments, but there are also other options such as hedge funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
You might also want to consider investing in U.K.-based investment funds. Investing in U.K.-based investment funds is one of the best ways to get exposure to the British economy and its companies.
The FCA regulates these types of investments so it’s important that you check whether your chosen fund is regulated by them before investing with them.
Investing in these funds gives you access to all types of securities, including stocks, bonds and property investment trusts.
Remember that the best investments for expats are the ones that are best for you and are best suited for your particular needs.
If your goal is simply to build an emergency fund or retirement fund, then mutual funds may be all you need—and even then it could be better if you invested in one with low fees and high returns over time instead of taking on more riskier investments with higher fees or no guarantee at all on future returns.
If you’re looking for an option that will help develop your financial portfolio while providing an extra layer of security against market fluctuations or political uncertainty then ETFs might be right for you.
ETFs are cheaper than buying individual shares but still offer great returns over time due to their low costs compared with other forms of investing such as unit trusts or open-ended funds, making them one of the best investments for expats.
Real estate
Renting out property can be a great way to build wealth, especially if you own property in an expensive city like London or New York.
Property is often one of the best investments for expats and even regular investors. Since the rental market is already established, it’s easier than starting from scratch and building up equity over time.
If you are moving abroad, but have property in your home country you can rent out, investing on it could give you one of the best ways to make passive income!
Investing in the local real estate market and then renting out your property could also help diversify your portfolio by allowing you access to different markets with varying levels of risk and return potentials.
This way you can best gauge which ones are right for each part of your portfolio—and which ones might not work at all.
Short-term investments, like certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts
Short-term investments, like CDs and savings accounts, are a great choice for expats who want to refinance at a later date.
Often you might have to reassess and reevaluate your investment portfolio as an expat, and having short term vehicles for your wealth are needed. As such, they are the best investments for expats looking to quickly restructure their assets.
CDs earn little interest and tend to be low risk. They’re also perfect if you want quick access to cash while saving up for something larger like buying property.
Similarly, do not forget to look into high-yield savings accounts. High-yield savings accounts allow you to withdraw funds at any time without penalties.
They also offer easier access to other financial products like the aforementioned certificates of deposit, which are great ways of saving up for big purchases like buying a home or car down payment or tuition payments for school kids who will go off to college soon.
That said: they generally don’t offer as high returns as other types of investments do—so they are best used only for the short term. This is worth considering whether or not this type of investment will work best for your situation.
What should I know before investing as an expat?
Even if you don’t know where you will be living next year, there are many opportunities to grow wealth now.
Figure out how to diversify your investments. Diversification is a strategy that involves investing in different assets and markets, as well as sectors and asset classes.
It’s important to diversify because it helps you avoid major losses, which can be devastating if they occur at the wrong time.
Diversifying your portfolio also helps keep costs low by spreading out your investment costs across many different investments instead of having one large investment account with lots of fees attached to it (like an ETF).
Diversification is a strategy that involves investing in different assets and markets, as well as sectors and asset classes. It’s important to diversify because it helps you avoid major losses, which can be devastating if they occur at the wrong time.
Remember to avoid extreme risks, and instead, look for sustainable ways to grow your money over time.
Being an expat exposes you to a lot of risk already. The best investments for expats are those that allow you to manage risk while still growing your wealth.
Avoiding extreme risks is a good way to grow your money over time. If you’re investing in companies, look for sustainable ways to grow your money by diversifying it, or using index funds (which track an index).
You can’t afford to lose money. You need to be patient enough with the market and wait for things like inflation and interest rates rising before making investments.
The average person shouldn’t try their hand at stock trading unless they have access to professional advice from someone who knows what they are doing. Especially so if they are an expat.
Remember that there are no guarantees when it comes down to investing in stocks or real estate. Even the best investments for expats can lose you money.
It’s possible to invest responsibly as an expat, but there are risks specific to being overseas that you’ll need to keep in mind like tax laws, currency fluctuations, and even international politics.
We hope this article has given you some helpful tips on the best investments for expats.
Remember, the best way to do so is to start with a diversified portfolio and then adjust your investments as necessary. We recommend a personal financial advisor as the best way you can meet all your financial needs easily and safely.
Pained by financial indecision? Want to invest with Adam?
Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters, with over 760.2 million answer views on Quora.com, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.
