Expat Academy

Courses

The Core: retiring abroad on US income

What changes for any American who retires abroad on Social Security, IRAs, a 401(k), an HSA and a brokerage account, whichever country and path you choose: the four kinds of residence, what the IRS and your state still expect, your accounts and benefits, money across the border, paperwork, two homes on one budget, healthcare and estate basics.

Lessons marked "Free preview" are open to everyone. Enroll in Explore retiring to France to open the rest.

Module 1: Residence, and what the US keeps

The tests that decide where you're resident, and the US obligations that never go away.

  1. C1 The four kinds of "residence" · 6 min · calculator Free preview
  2. C2 What the IRS never lets go of · 3 min
  3. C3 Your US state after you leave · 3 min

Module 2: Your income and your accounts

How each kind of US income behaves abroad, keeping accounts open, Social Security and Medicare, and currency.

  1. C4 Your income, source by source · 3 min
  2. C5 Keeping your US accounts open · 3 min
  3. C6 Social Security and Medicare abroad · 3 min
  4. C7 Money across the border · 3 min

Module 3: Setting up

Identity numbers, documents, and a local bank account that stays open.

  1. C8 Identity numbers and paperwork · 3 min
  2. C9 Opening and keeping a local bank account · 3 min

Module 4: Living in two places

Two homes on one budget, healthcare choices and estate basics.

  1. C10 Running two homes on one budget · 5 min · calculator
  2. C11 Healthcare models compared · 3 min
  3. C12 Estate basics across borders · 3 min