Despite what many people may think of us and the seemingly lavish lifestyles we are supposed to be living, we expats are a neglected lot, especially when it comes to obtaining good, relevant, and free (or cheap) advice on personal finance.

Performing a search for “personal finance for expats” online provides precious little that we can use. There is certainly not, at least that I have found, a knowledge base in a blog format where expatriates can go to read up on personal finance as it relates specifically to them.

Finally, advice such as “invest in an index fund” seems insulting to our intelligence, given that we probably could have figured that out by ourselves, and more importantly, because it ignores the array of investment options around the world. Indeed, there are numerous investments out there that many people have never heard of of, and we would be doing ourselves a disservice by not exploring and investigating what those options are. Because just as life as an expat requires flexibility, an open mind, courage, and an inquisitive mindset, investing as an expat requires those same qualities if one intends to be successful at developing a solid financial future.

Perhaps you work at an overseas office of your company, and are looking for ways to save for your retirement, as you are not very happy with the state pension plan of the country you live in.

Or perhaps you have started your own business and are now living overseas. You are excited but also apprehensive about this change in your life, and are worried about how you can invest money, now that you are living overseas.

Or maybe you are a perpetual traveler, sailing the seas of the world, climbing the tallest peaks known to humankind, or hopping from one island to another, taking in all that life has to offer.

Whatever your situation is as an expat, if you are interested in saving and investing, then this blog will be useful and applicable to you and your situation.

Many personal finance bloggers and experts seem to be writing from a position where they cannot truly understand the situation facing us expatriates. While I am not a financial planner and don’t claim to know everything, I am writing to you as a humble expat who has lived and worked on three different continents, and someone who has first-hand experience of the challenges faced by expats. Additionally, being a tax advisor specifically serving the expat market, I believe I am positioned to offer advice to other expatriates, especially as it relates to foreign taxation and its various implications.

Throughout my life and travels, I have found that many expatriates have little or no idea how or where they can save and invest money overseas. This blog is intended for them.