Resources
Here are some useful resources for things I used and liked myself. I don’t earn any commission on links to investment-related items. That way there’s no conflict of interest. I may earn commission on other links if you click on them and buy things, which helps pay for this site etc. Those links are marked with a *.
Tracking, Planning & Saving
Net Worth Calculator
Tracking your Net Worth every month or quarter is one of the most poweful ways you can transform your finances. I’ve developed this Excel tracker so you can keep an eye on your assets and liabilities across multiple currencies.
You’ll find instructions and examples in there. Make sure you update the blue cells and clear all the example yellow cells once you’re ready to calculate your own Net Worth.
Click here to download the tracker in a zip file, guaranteed no macros or viruses!
Investing
Vanguard
Vanguard is one of the world’s largest investment management companies. They are also issuers of ETFs which are the main investing vehicles for expats. One of the reasons we love Vanguard is that they are owned by their clients and not by external stakeholders, meaning that they always put the good (and the wealth) of their clients first!
Take a look at it here.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers are one of the preferred discount online brokerage platforms used by expats. They are low cost, they work with expats from many countries and they give access to some of the best ETFs available out there.
Take a look at it here.
CurrencyFair
Fully online platform, good exchange rates, fair fees, regulated in Ireland, good customer service.
Take a look at it here.
Top 3 Investing Books
Millionaire Expat by Andrew Hallam
If there is one book you read on expat investing, this is it. Clear, entertaining and comprehensive. It will help you avoid scammy advisors too. Andrew Hallam used to be an international teacher, saved a huge amount of money through index investing and now travels the world. Don’t miss one of his talks if he’s in your area!
Take a look at it here.
Unshakeable by Tony Robbins & Peter Mallouk
Tony Robbins is an expert in understanding people fears and motivations. Peter Mallouk is an expert in sensible investing. Together they’ve written a great book for anyone wanting to start investing, especially if you’re nervous about it. Tony jumps straight into the psychology so you can find your financial mojo.
Take a look at it here.
The Simple Path to Wealth by JLCollins
JL Collins is the godfather of Financial Independence. Before most of us were born, he was saving 50% of his monthly income and investing it carefully. Here he explains his philosophy on life, saving and investing, with some memorable stories and a good dose of humour. You can get some advice in person if you go to a Chautauqua.
Also worth a read: The Coffee House Investor by Bill Schultheis, Investing Demystified by Lars Kroijer, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle.
Top 3 Investing Podcasts
ChooseFI
ChooseFI is hosted by the founders Brad and Jonathan. Expect to learn life-changing secrets that will help you rethink how to pay off your debt, crush your grocery bill and living expenses, and travel the world for free. ChooseFI is released on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Take a look at it here.
Afford Anything is a movement rooted in one idea: You can afford anything, but not everything. The podcast is hosted by the founder Paula Pant who had built her freedom by real estate investing.
Take a look at it here.
Canadian Couch Potato is a blog designed for Canadians who want to learn more about investing using index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
Take a look at it here.
SimplyFI Common Sense Personal Finance and Investing is a UAE based community of personal finance enthusiasts.
Make sure you join their Facebook group. Loads of good advice there.
Take a look at it here.
Andrew Hallam doesn’t pull his punches when warning you about financial advisors and insurance providers. His blog posts always have colourful examples illustrating some sage advice. There’s a very busy comments section too if you have a burning question.
Take a look at it here.
Investing advice inspired by John Bogle. The Bogleheads® emphasize starting early, living below one’s means, regular saving, broad diversification, simplicity, and sticking to one’s investment plan regardless of market conditions. The site is composed of two primary resources: our Wiki and our Forum. The Wiki is a comprehensive investing and personal finance reference that was built and is maintained by members of the Bogleheads® community. On the Forum, members discuss financial news and theory.
Take a look at it here.