Retiring Outside of the United States? Factors to Consider

Retiring Out of the States - What to Consider, Ep #58

Last episode we discussed the implications of where you choose to retire in the United States. In this episode, we will dive into what to consider when retiring internationally. Retiring outside of the United States is not a simple decision but one we hope to offer guidance on today.

In this episode...

Top countries for Americans to retire to [03:12]
Factors to Consider when retiring out of the states [8:47]
How to “test drive” international retirement [10:45]

For those that want to retire internationally, you are not alone. Global Citizens Solutions is a firm that helps Americans retire abroad. They have listed the top 10 countries to retire by considering criteria such as housing, benefits and low-cost perks, Visas and residency ease, cost of living, cultural assimilation, quality and accessibility of healthcare, development, climate, government stability, and the opportunity to semi-retire.

The number one country to retire to as ranked by the Global Citizens Solutions is Portugal followed by Mexico and Panama. You may be considering retiring out of the States to pursue a happier life and an adventure, you will also be able to take advantage of stretching your funds through a lower cost of living and meeting financial goals that wouldn’t be possible to achieve by staying in the United States.

My practice helps take clients to and through early retirement and retiring in a country with a lower cost of living makes early retirement much more feasible. Take Portugal for example, the number one country for Americans to retire to offering beautiful beaches, a warm climate, and a rich culture. Portugal offers programs to help Americans retire to Portugal.

Most obvious factors to consider when moving to another country in retirement:

Cost of Living - This is a significant factor to consider when choosing to retire abroad. Retiring to a country with a significantly lower cost of living can change lifestyle during retirement.

Climate —It is important to consider what climate you want to retire to. Why make such a massive move to only have to endure winter?

Healthcare Access and Expenses— This is one of the top considerations with international retirees. The average married couple in America spends over $250k during retirement on healthcare alone. There are countries where your health care dollars can go further and you will be surprised how good the healthcare you receive will be.

Housing— will be a significant factor to consider, for example, some of the houses in Costa Rica are gorgeous but they come at a steep price. You may want to consider the cost of buying a home outside of the States.

Culture— There may be significant cultural differences as well as language barriers to consider.

In short, if you are looking to retire outside of the States some of the factors you will want to consider are Cost of living, Climate, Healthcare Access, Housing, and Culture. There are a host of other factors as well such as tax and legal factors and proximity to family.

My practice helps take clients to and through early retirement, one strategy to consider is to spend the first few years of retirement in an international location with a lower cost of living.

The idea of living internationally might sound exciting but, you might still have some hesitation. A great way to temporarily test drive a retirement out of the country is doing a home swap. There are websites that provide a platform where you can exchange homes with other international travelers.

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.