Welcome back to Abroad in America with host Jimmy Miller. If you’ve worked, saved, and invested in the United States, what happens when your time in America comes to an end? Should you move everything back to your home country, or can some of your money stay invested in the US? In this episode, Jimmy walks through one of the biggest financial questions expats face when leaving America: what to do with US-based accounts like 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, brokerage accounts, bank accounts, company stock,...
Jun 26
16 min
Many expats working in America contribute to a traditional 401(k) because it lowers their taxes today. But what happens if you later realize that decision could create tax complications when you leave the United States? In this episode of Abroad in America, we explore one of the most powerful retirement planning tools available to expats: the Roth conversion. A Roth conversion allows you to move money from a traditional pre-tax retirement account into a Roth account, potentially creating grea...
Jun 15
17 min
Most people automatically choose the traditional 401(k) when they start working in America. For expats and foreign nationals, that may be a very expensive mistake. In this episode of Abroad in America, we break down why many expats working in the U.S. should strongly consider using a Roth 401(k) instead of a traditional tax-deferred retirement account. While traditional 401(k)s offer an upfront tax deduction, that short-term tax savings can create major tax problems later, especially for peop...
May 28
10 min
Many people move to the United States expecting opportunity, higher income, and career growth. And while all of that is real, there is another side of the experience that rarely gets talked about. In this episode of Abroad in America, we unpack the hidden costs of being an expat in the U.S. The ones that don’t show up in your job offer, but quietly shape your financial and personal experience over time. From the excitement of exploring a massive country to the reality of expensive travel, we ...
May 11
7 min
Many expats move to the U.S. expecting to adjust to a new job. What they don’t expect is having to decode an entirely different workplace culture. In this episode of Abroad in America, we step away from taxes and investments to explore something that affects nearly every expat living and working in the U.S.: understanding how the American workplace actually works. From meetings that start with small talk instead of the agenda, to communication styles that are more indirect than they seem, man...
Apr 29
6 min
Many expats in the U.S. are told to focus on one thing when it comes to taxes: get the biggest refund possible. But what if that advice is actually working against you? In this episode of Abroad in America, we break down a critical misconception that impacts thousands of expats every year. While tax preparers play an important role in navigating a complex system, most are trained to think in short-term timeframes. Their goal is often to optimize your current-year return, not your long-term ta...
Apr 9
10 min
Moving to the United States can open the door to incredible opportunities—but it can also introduce a level of tax complexity many expats never expect. In this episode of Abroad in America, Jimmy Miller steps back from individual tax rules and looks at the bigger picture: the most common mistakes expats make during their first two years living and working in the U.S. Many newcomers assume the American tax system works like the one in their home country. Unfortunately, that assumption alone ca...
Mar 18
7 min
There’s an important reporting rule that affects many expats living or working in the United States — and it often shows up as a surprise. In this episode of Abroad in America, we break down FATCA and Form 8938, one of the most misunderstood parts of U.S. tax reporting for people with financial connections outside the country. While many expats are familiar with the FBAR requirement, Form 8938 operates under a different set of rules and applies to a broader range of foreign financial assets. ...
Mar 4
7 min
There’s an important rule that affects many expats working in the United States — and most people have never heard of it. In this episode of Abroad in America, we break down totalization agreements, the treaties between the U.S. and certain countries that coordinate Social Security systems. These agreements help prevent expats from paying Social Security taxes to two countries at the same time and can protect future retirement benefits. If you’re working in the U.S. on assignment, planning an...
Feb 17
8 min
If you’ve ever lived in the United States as an expat — or even just visited — you’ve probably had the same thought: Why are Americans like that? In this episode, we step away from technical expat topics and explore the cultural side of living in the U.S. From enthusiastic greetings to oversized everything, American behavior can feel confusing, amusing, or even overwhelming when you first arrive. But once you understand the values behind these habits, things start to make a lot more sense. We...
Feb 3
6 min
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