Connected Financial Planning

15/07/2026

🎙️ Why Can't Americans in Europe Buy U.S. ETFs?

It's one of the most common questions we hear from U.S.-connected families living in Europe. "Why can't I buy the same investments I had before I moved?"

In this week's episode of Passport To Wealth™, our founder and host, Arielle Tucker CFP®, EA, explores one of the most misunderstood aspects of cross-border investing.

The answer isn't that U.S. ETFs are "bad." It's that U.S. and European regulations were designed with different investor protection frameworks in mind, creating challenges for Americans living abroad.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why many European brokers won't allow Americans to purchase U.S.-domiciled ETFs
✅ How PRIIPs and Key Information Documents (KIDs) affect investment access
✅ Why investment decisions become more complex once you cross borders
✅ Why your country of residence can significantly impact your investment options

For globally mobile families, investment planning is about much more than choosing the "best" fund. It's about understanding how tax rules, regulations, and long-term goals fit together across multiple jurisdictions.

🎧 Listen to this week's Passport To Wealth™ episode:

https://www.passporttowealth.com/why-americans-in-europe-cant-buy-us-etfs

MiFID II and PFIC rules block Americans in Europe from buying US ETFs. Here's why, and the workaround to keep investing.

13/07/2026

Could U.S. tax forms soon ask about citizenship status?

According to Reuters, IRS officials are considering whether to require taxpayers to disclose their citizenship status on future U.S. tax forms. The reported discussion is still under consideration, and it is not yet clear whether this question will actually appear on Form 1040.

For Americans abroad, though, the story is worth paying attention to.

U.S. citizens and green card holders are already subject to U.S. tax filing obligations even when they live outside the United States. Your tax life does not automatically end when you move abroad, earn income overseas, marry a non-U.S. spouse, open foreign accounts, or build assets in another country.

For U.S.-connected families, citizenship is not just a passport issue. It can affect:
✅ annual U.S. tax filing
✅ foreign account reporting
✅ investment account access
✅ estate and inheritance planning
✅ retirement planning
✅ children born abroad
✅ long-term decisions about residency, citizenship, and mobility

If you are a U.S. citizen, green card holder, dual citizen, accidental American, or the parent of a U.S. citizen child living abroad, make sure you understand how your U.S. status affects your financial life before a form, bank, broker, or tax authority forces the conversation.

Cross-border planning is not only about where you live today. It is about which systems still consider you connected.

Source: Reuters, “U.S. tax officials consider adding citizenship question to tax forms,” May 22, 2026.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-tax-officials-consider-adding-citizenship-question-tax-forms-2026-05-22/

IRS officials ​are considering two versions of Form 1040, the primary ​paperwork individuals use to report earnings and claim tax ⁠benefits, sources say.

10/07/2026

How do you interview a cross-border financial planner?

When you're looking for a cross-border financial planner, start by verifying their credentials, experience, and the countries they serve. Those qualifications matter. But they're only the beginning.

You're not hiring someone to answer a few tax questions.

You're choosing a long-term partner to help you navigate complex financial decisions, major life transitions, and sometimes the conversations you've been putting off.

As you interview advisors, ask yourself:
✅ Do they understand the countries, tax systems, and planning issues relevant to my situation?
✅ Do they ask thoughtful questions before offering solutions?
✅ Do they explain complex topics in a way I can actually understand?
✅ Do I feel comfortable discussing difficult subjects like family dynamics, estate planning, career changes, retirement, or financial mistakes?
✅ Are they comfortable saying, "It depends," or "Let's research that," when appropriate?

Cross-border financial planning is rarely about finding the one "right" answer. It's about making informed decisions while balancing tax, legal, financial, and personal considerations across multiple jurisdictions, and recognizing that your goals may evolve over time.

The strongest planning relationships are built on trust.

Because at some point, you'll probably need to have conversations like:
• "Should we move back?"
• "How will this decision affect our children?"
• "What happens if one spouse wants to return home?"
• "Are we actually saving enough?"
• "What if our priorities change?"

Those conversations are easier when your advisor offers more than technical expertise. They create an environment where you can ask difficult questions, explore uncertainty, and make decisions with confidence.

The best cross-border financial planners become trusted thought partners for one of the most important journeys you'll ever take.

As an American living in Europe, you face unique challenges when it comes to managing your money. You need an experienced financial partner with the expertise to help you navigate the complexities of living and working abroad.

08/07/2026

We're excited to announce the launch of Season 4 of the Passport To Wealth™ podcast, hosted by our founder, Arielle Tucker CFP®, EA.

Each week, Passport To Wealth™ explores the financial, tax, and life decisions that shape the cross-border journeys of U.S.-connected, globally mobile individuals.

Our Season 4 premiere tackles a timely topic: Can AI help with cross-border financial planning?

AI has become an incredibly powerful research tool, but successful cross-border planning isn't just about getting answers. It's about asking the right questions.

For Americans abroad, one overlooked consideration can change an entire financial strategy. Tax residency, retirement accounts, investments, immigration, estate planning, and long-term family goals are all interconnected.

That's why technology is most valuable when it's paired with thoughtful planning and experienced guidance. If you're an American abroad or advise globally mobile families, this episode is a great place to start Season 4.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube:
https://www.passporttowealth.com/ai-cross-border-financial-planning

AI is now right most of the time on cross-border financial questions. Aditi Kapadia, CFA, CFP®, explains what it still gets dangerously wrong.

07/07/2026

A new account type is here for U.S. families abroad: Trump Accounts.

Despite the political name, these accounts are essentially a new type of traditional IRA for children under 18.

Under current IRS guidance, Trump Accounts are now available with contributions opening up on July 4, 2026. During the child’s “growth period,” before the year they turn 18, the account has special rules around contributions, investments, and distributions.

A few key details for U.S. expat families:
• The child needs a valid Social Security number
• Contributions during the growth period do not require the child to have earned income
• Certain children born between 2025 and 2028 may be eligible for a one-time $1,000 federal pilot contribution
• Annual family and other non-pilot contributions are generally limited to $5,000, indexed after 2027
• During the growth period, investments are generally limited to eligible low-cost U.S. index mutual funds or ETFs
• Distributions are highly restricted before age 18
• After the growth period, the account is generally treated more like a traditional IRA

For US-connected, globally mobile families, the question is not simply “Can we open one?”

The better question is:

How does this account fit into our broader cross-border plan? How will your current country of residence view this new account type?

That means considering U.S. tax treatment, future residency, education funding, retirement planning, reporting obligations, and how this account coordinates with other assets held for a child.

📩 Want more cross-border tax and financial planning insights? Join our free email course: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/615896/119620427794351122/share

https://trumpaccounts.gov/

Trump Accounts provide eligible American children with tax-advantaged investment accounts courtesy of President Donald J. Trump.

06/07/2026

We're proud to see Arielle Tucker CFP®, EA, featured in the Financial Times.

Cross-border financial planning is becoming increasingly important as more Americans build lives, careers, and wealth internationally.

As Arielle shares in the article:

"People talk less about trying Europe for a year and more about feeling genuinely grateful, lucky, and relieved to be raising kids in a place that feels stable.'

At Connected Financial Planning, we believe thoughtful planning goes beyond compliance. It means understanding how taxes, investments, retirement planning, and long-term goals work together across jurisdictions so clients can make informed decisions with confidence.

Thank you to the Financial Times for including Arielle's perspective in this important conversation.

📖 Read the article here: https://www.ft.com/content/e45f2d6a-c1b1-475f-890d-50d95257eb2f

Drivers of interest in relocation include political instability, scientific funding and quality of life

01/07/2026

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision involving birthright citizenship. While much of the public discussion has focused on immigration and constitutional law, the decision also highlights an often-overlooked reality: U.S. citizenship carries significant financial and wealth-planning implications that can last a lifetime.

Unlike most countries, the United States taxes its citizens on their worldwide income, regardless of where they live. Citizenship can also affect estate and gift tax planning, foreign financial account reporting, investment strategies, business ownership, and succession planning.

For global families, citizenship isn't simply a legal status; it can shape financial decisions across generations.

Whether a family is planning where to live, where to invest, how to structure a business, or how to transfer wealth to the next generation, U.S. citizenship can influence those decisions in meaningful ways. The implications often extend beyond the individual, affecting spouses, children, family offices, and multinational businesses.

As the legal landscape around birthright citizenship continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: families with cross-border connections need to understand how U.S. law may reach into their financial lives and long-term planning.

For wealth advisors, tax professionals, attorneys, and family offices, this serves as a reminder that citizenship is can be both an immigration and wealth planning issue.

The intersection of citizenship, taxation, and global mobility will continue to shape how international families preserve wealth, manage risk, and plan for future generations.

President Trump tried to ban birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and some temporary foreign visitors.

25/06/2026

Are you feeling the heat?

From Spain and France to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK, much of the continent is experiencing an early-season heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some regions and breaking June records. Authorities have issued health warnings, transportation has been disrupted in some areas, and many people are adjusting work and travel plans to stay safe.

For Americans living in or traveling to Europe, this is a good reminder that relocating abroad isn't just about visas, taxes, or investments; it's also about adapting to a different environment.

A few practical reminders during periods of extreme heat:
☀️ Stay hydrated and avoid prolonged outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
🚆 Check local transportation updates before traveling, as rail services and other infrastructure can be affected by extreme temperatures.
🏥 Know where to access healthcare if you or a family member becomes ill.
🏠 If you're relocating, don't assume every home has air conditioning. In many parts of Europe, especially in older buildings, it is still relatively uncommon.

Cross-border planning is about preparing for the expected and the unexpected.

Whether you're moving abroad or have been living in Europe for years, understanding local conditions is part of building a successful life overseas.

📩 For more practical insights on life, taxes, and financial planning abroad, sign up for our newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/615896/119620427794351122/share



https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/24/weather/live-news/europe-heatwave-temperatures-news

Punishing temperatures are scorching Europe as it swelters under a fierce heat dome, bringing dangerous conditions to swaths of the fastest-warming continent. Follow for live updates.

22/06/2026

Last week, the Connected Financial Planning team spent time in , and it reminded us of one of our favorite parts of serving globally mobile families:

The relationships.

We had the opportunity to catch up with clients, friends, and professional colleagues from across our cross-border community. Some conversations happened over coffee, some over dinner, and some while exploring one of Europe's most dynamic cities.

While much of our work happens virtually, there is something special about connecting in person. The conversations are deeper. The ideas flow more freely. And the relationships that support globally mobile families become even stronger.

One of the things we appreciate most about the international community is how interconnected it is. Financial planning, tax, legal, immigration, and career decisions rarely happen in isolation. Helping clients navigate life across borders often means collaborating with an incredible network of professionals who bring different expertise and perspectives to the table.

Of course, we also made time to enjoy some of the best of Berlin, from its history and culture to its food, neighborhoods, and summer energy.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet with us. We left inspired, energized, and grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an incredible international community.

🌍 We build meaningful connections across borders.

📩 Want more cross-border financial planning insights for globally mobile Americans? Sign up for our newsletter here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/615896/119620427794351122/share

15/06/2026

It's June 15th.

For many Americans living abroad, that means today is an important U.S. tax filing deadline.

It's also a good moment to give a shout-out to the tax professionals working behind the scenes to help clients navigate another filing season.

If you're still waiting on documents, sorting through a complicated situation, or feeling stressed about your return, remember:

✅ Communicate with your accountant.
✅ Ask questions if you're unsure.
✅ Confirm whether an extension is needed.
✅ Be kind to yourself and your tax professional.

Cross-border tax filings are rarely simple. Many accountants are juggling hundreds of returns, multiple tax systems, changing regulations, and client questions all at once.

A little patience and kindness go a long way.

To all of the tax professionals helping globally mobile families navigate filing season: thank you. We appreciate you.