Across the globe, interest in leaving the United States has surged — driven by political uncertainty, rising living costs, and the promise of a different lifestyle. Yet beneath the allure of life abroad lies a complex mix of financial, legal, and deeply personal challenges that can make or break the long-term success of an international move. Join Matt Goren, CFP®, PhD, Director of Curriculum for the Global Financial Planning Institute, to learn what truly determines whether clients thrive or struggle when they cross borders. Drawing on global data, cultural psychology, and real-world case studies, Dr. Goren reveals why the biggest risk in international relocation isn’t tax mistakes or a bad exchange rate — it’s the psychological shock that leads many Americans to move back home, often at tremendous financial cost.
What You’ll Learn
- The three types of expat clients — and why their intentions fundamentally shape planning strategies.
- Outbound, inbound, and cross-border planning differences: why the wrong approach can expose clients to financial pitfalls.
- How cultural distance, language, and “acculturation style” predict long-term adjustment abroad.
- Why 25% of Americans living overseas eventually return — and the financial shocks that follow them home.
- The skyrocketing interest in expatriation in 2025 and the social, cultural, and political trends driving it.
- Key financial risks: tax residency traps, FX volatility, healthcare uncertainty, property decisions, U.S. reporting requirements
- How advisors can help domicile-uncertain clients maintain flexibility without derailing their long-term goals.
- When a “permanent” move isn’t really permanent — and what causes even deeply rooted expats to reverse course.
*CE/CPE Eligible: 1.0 CE credit(s) is(are) available to FEN Members with these designations: CFP, CLU, CHFC, RICP. CPA and EA members will earn 1.0 CPE credit(s).
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
NASBA Approved
Financial Experts Network (Sponsor Id#: 145173) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
