Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on November 7th, 2017
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA
In recent years, investors’ appetite for cheaper, passive ways to diversify has accelerated growth in the global exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry. According to industry data-provider ETFGI, total assets in ETF products surpassed $4 trillion as of May 2017 globally. Growth in ETF assets combined with frothy global markets has spawned an increasing amount of alarming press emerging over the safety of ETFs. The size of the industry, its largely passive investment style, lack of liquidity in underlying assets, uncertainty regarding how ETFs may perform in a market downturn, and even the potentiality of systemic risk have all been listed as reasons for concern. Investors are understandably nervous, and the obvious question is “Are ETFs safe investments?” The answer really depends on what type of ETF you own.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on September 27th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
For expats who are considering a home purchase, buying a less expensive house can be difficult—for most of us, costlier homes simply seem more desirable. But you should be aware of the trade-off: By sacrificing a little size and whatever other amenities the more expensive home has, you can add significantly to your retirement savings. As an example, in our case study below we show how additional retirement savings of almost USD 1.2 million may be possible.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on August 23rd, 2017
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA
This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as specific tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor for advice relevant to your situation.
Buying a home overseas is a significant financial decision for any expatriate. For American taxpayers who are taxed on their global income, it’s important to understand how foreign exchange movements can impact the U.S. tax you may owe when you sell an overseas property.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on August 14th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
When it comes to currency, there is no shortage of places for expats to hold their savings. Many offshore banks offer multicurrency accounts and market high-yielding forex or dual-currency deposits to their expat clients. Concerns regarding the viability of some currencies as well as recent government interventions can complicate the decision about which currency to hold. Since even a relatively small foreign exchange move can have a significant impact on expats' personal finances, it's important to choose wisely. In this article, we'll try to provide a framework to help make the decision about which currencies to hold easier.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on July 27th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
If you go to the airport with no tickets and no idea where you want to go, it goes without saying that you probably won’t be going anywhere. This sounds obvious, yet that is exactly what some expats are effectively doing with their finances―by failing to plan, effectively they’re planning to fail. Therefore, one of the most important steps in getting control of your finances is to draw up an initial financial plan. This includes a financial starting point, a set of long-term financial goals that you’d like to achieve, and short-term “stepping stones” to help you along the way.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on July 12th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
Creveling & Creveling protects its clients' privacy. The following is a fictitious example designed to demonstrate the type of financial decision-making required to achieve financial security and does not refer to any specific case.
The Situation
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on June 28th, 2017
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA
You hear it all the time: “My portfolio is up 15%!” or “My financial advisor is really clever—he’s getting me a 30% return!” Generally, this is harmless bragging, but it does tend to elicit envy and cause investors to question their own investment performance. Sometimes, it may lead someone to stray from a consistent, disciplined investment strategy appropriate for their unique situation.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on June 12th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
Creveling & Creveling protects its clients’ privacy. The following is a fictitious example designed to demonstrate the type of financial decision-making required to achieve financial security and does not refer to any specific case.
The Situation
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on May 26th, 2017
By Peggy Creveling, CFA, and Chad Creveling, CFA
Expatriate executives working for multinational corporations frequently receive part of their compensation in the form of long-term incentive (LTI) awards linked to their employer’s stock. Often, the expat executive has a choice of receiving restricted stock units (RSUs), nonqualified stock options (NQSOs), or a combination of the two.
Submitted by Creveling & Creveling Private Wealth Advisory on May 17th, 2017
By Chad Creveling, CFA, and Peggy Creveling, CFA
Many expatriates require some form of life insurance, especially those with either family members or other financial obligations that could outlive them. However, sorting through the countless options to determine the best policy for your situation can be time-consuming, and calculating the correct amount of insurance to purchase can be tricky. Insurance is a complex product, and many people don’t fully understand what they are buying or even if what they bought really meets their needs.
