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Vagabond Finances

Vagabond Finances

Making Money Work for US Expat Missionaries and Limited-Income Workers

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Warnings for Expats!

ACT is money
Savings Warnings for Expats! 

When is 1 point worth $22,000?

16 July 20199 August 2019 Michael A. Carlson College, Michael A. Carlson

The difference between a 33 on the ACT and a 34 on the ACT is worth $22,000.

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Questions
Taxation Warnings for Expats! 

Where’s my income tax residence?

9 January 20199 August 2019 Mark Mason Faber Tax, Foreign Tax, Thun Financial

If you are a teacher in the USA, you know where you pay income tax because it is seamlessly deducted

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Investments Warnings for Expats! 

Why Americans Should Never Own Shares in a Non-US Mutual Fund (PFIC)

4 October 20189 August 2019 David Kuenzi Thun Financial, US tax

If you are investing your savings through a non-US financial institution, you need to learn what a Passive Foreign Investment Company is very quickly. Why?

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Warnings for Expats! 

How to get around 2-step verification

19 August 20189 August 2019 Mark Mason

I fired up the computer this morning to login to my brokerage account only to discover that my username and

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Open door slowly
Investments Retirement Warnings for Expats! 

How to open a US brokerage account while abroad

27 May 20189 August 2019 Mark Mason IRA, Mark Zoril

They chuckled and hung up the phone, didn’t they? Yep, you called XYZ Brokerage of St. Louis, Missouri to open

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Oops!
Investments Retirement Taxation Warnings for Expats! Winning Financial Freedom 

10 Investment Mistakes Made By Americans Abroad

24 May 20189 August 2019 David Kuenzi 403b (401k), Foreign Tax, IRA, Thun Financial, US tax

10, 12 or 200 mistakes. Each one weighs heavily on the limited-income, US expatriate. So, while a few of these

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Rejected
Investments Savings Warnings for Expats! 

No expats allowed!

22 May 20189 August 2019 Mark Mason US tax

My US brokerage account was frozen as a result of one stray comment. As I was chatting online about a

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Tools
Earnings Investments Retirement Savings Taxation Warnings for Expats! Winning Financial Freedom 

Favorite Resources

Disclosure: We may receive compensation from ads or affiliated companies. This doesn’t add to your costs, doesn’t influence our opinions/reviews,

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Where to give
Retirement Taxation Warnings for Expats! Winning Financial Freedom 

Where to give to charity?

6 May 20189 August 2019 Mark Mason Reckless Generosity

One of our main goals in Winning our Financial Freedom is to be able to give with Reckless Generosity. Whether

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We've got questions!
Earnings Investments Retirement Taxation Warnings for Expats! 

Top expat questions

20 April 201822 November 2019 Mark Mason 403b (401k), 529 College Account, College, Foreign Tax, IRA, US tax

A well-meaning friend recently told me that US expat missionaries and nonprofit workers have basically the same personal finance issues

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9 Steps 403b (401k) 529 College Account Amy Young Andrew Hallam Best in Class Budgeting College Credit and Debit Cards Debt Faber Tax Foreign Tax Foreign Tax Treaties Home-ownership HSA Insurance IRA Josh Johansen Living Like a Local Low-cost diversified funds Mark Zoril Michael A. Carlson Missionary Corner Modest Lifestyle Paul Merriman Personal Capital Reckless Generosity Ron Blue Institute Thun Financial Travel US tax Vagabond Path Videos (Webinars) Zach Holz

Recent posts

No more donations? Self-funding!
Savings Winning Financial Freedom 

No more donations? Self-funding!

21 November 201922 November 2019 Mark Mason

When your employment income wanes but your passion for ministry doesn’t, you’ll be glad you planned for self-funding.

Smart Tips for Making the Most of a Fixed Income
Retirement 

Smart Tips for Making the Most of a Fixed Income

1 October 201920 September 2019 Karen Weeks
Free Webinar by Thun Financial!!!
Investments Retirement Taxation 

Free Webinar by Thun Financial!!!

20 September 201920 September 2019 David Kuenzi
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Savings 

Brigada features Vagabond Finances

17 September 201917 September 2019 Mark Mason

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Longest Disclaimer Ever!

I am not a financial, tax or legal professional, have not taken into consideration your personal circumstances and am not offering personal advice. I’m just a US expat nonprofit worker pointing out some of the mistakes I’ve made and lessons I’ve learned. See full disclaimer for specifics. – Mark

Vagabonds Rooted in Christ

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”
Proverbs 11:28 [ESV]

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