Blog

Gifting assets to a non-resident spouse: rules, limits, reporting, and cross-border planning opportunities for U.S. expats—clear guidance, fewer surprises. A practical guide to gifting assets to a non-U.S. citizen spouse, covering annual exclusion limits, estate tax implications, reporting requirements, foreign tax coordination, and when gifting supports long-term global family planning.
Read Article

Deciding to move abroad from the U.S. with your family is an exciting and life-changing decision, and, for high-earners, planning is especially critical. Citizenship-based taxation means that as long as you hold a U.S. passport, you are likely required to continue filing U.S. tax returns – even when you move abroad. What’s more, the strategies around everything, including how to file your tax return and financially plan for your future, change depending on the country you’re moving to.
Read Article

End-of-year tax planning is especially important for U.S. expats, as they have additional tax considerations to take into account. Here is a detailed checklist of what to review so you're set up for a successful tax season.
Read Article

Charitable giving tax strategies for 2025, plus what changes in 2026: bunching, DAFs, appreciated stock, QCDs, and cross-border tips—clear rules, fewer surprises. Article description for Zephyr: A practical 2025 guide to charitable giving tax strategies—bunching, donating appreciated assets, DAFs, QCDs, documentation—and how to coordinate them if you live abroad. Includes a concise “What’s new in 2026” overview (0.5% AGI floor for itemizers, small above-the-line cash deduction for non-itemizers) so you can plan gifts with confidence.
Read Article

US citizens residing in Europe must consider the potential for estate and inheritance tax exposure by both the European country as well as the United States. This means making a targeted evaluation between the US and the tax jurisdiction in which you reside, ideally hand-in-hand with a qualified professional who can help you design a custom plan for you and your future.
Read Article

Commonly cited advantages of moving to Germany include an affordable healthcare system, reliable public transportation, and strong protections for full-time employees—all of which are generally true compared to the U.S. However, Americans moving to Germany should be mindful of the financial implications of moving abroad. Here, we review several important questions Americans moving to Germany should seek to answer prior to their departure.
Read Article

Education is a core value at Connected Financial Planning. We are committed to creating opportunities for prospective clients, current clients, and industry professionals to deepen their understanding of the complexities of cross-border financial planning. As part of this mission, Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, regularly hosts and participates in events focused on financial education for U.S. expats and Americans living in Europe, covering topics from tax planning and investment strategy to retirement optimization and regulatory compliance.
Read Article

Navigating taxes in Switzerland as an American will feel different from taxes in the US, so we've compiled this guide full of the latest information. Think of it as your crash course in Swiss taxes, created by and for expats.
Read Article