Thinking about moving abroad — or already living overseas and feeling overwhelmed by taxes, visas, or financial planning? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, Founding Partner of Connected Financial Planning and host of the Passport to Wealth™ podcast, for a deeply insightful and surprisingly relatable conversation about what it really takes to build a financially sound life abroad.
Arielle specializes in cross-border financial and tax planning for U.S. expats, helping globally mobile families navigate residency rules, tax traps, retirement strategies, and international money decisions. Originally from upstate New York and now living outside Zurich with her husband and two children, she brings both technical expertise and over a decade of firsthand expat experience across Switzerland and Germany.
In this episode, we cover:
- Arielle’s personal journey abroad — from childhood dreams of escaping to boarding school to navigating culture shock, loneliness, and multiple international moves
- The most common tax and financial mistakes U.S. expats make (and how to avoid them)
- Why your first year abroad is the most important for getting your taxes right
- What “walking a tightrope with handcuffs” has to do with U.S. tax law
- How to build your expat “financial team” — who you really need, and in what order
- What to know about visas, work rights, and tax residency before you move
- How expat life shifts when you have kids — from schools to safety to daily rhythms
- Why nothing is permanent in expat life — and why that’s a good thing
Arielle also shares candid stories from her own journey: the early depressive fog of her first months in Switzerland, the unexpected career break that launched her into international tax, a pandemic-era move that forced a major life pivot, and the honest realities of raising kids in a culture that operates very differently than the U.S.
If you want a grounded, clear, honest look at how to manage your money, taxes, and long-term plans abroad — without panic or guesswork — this episode is for you.
Connect with Arielle Tucker
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielletucker/
- Passport to Wealth™ Podcast: passporttowealth.com
EPISODE SPONSOR: MONEYCORP
Don’t let bank fees eat into your move abroad. MoneyCorp offers competitive exchange rates and transparent, low-cost international transfers so more of your money gets where it needs to go. Opening an account is free and only takes minutes.
ABOUT ARMCHAIR EXPAT
Armchair Expat is hosted by Shannon Acton, founder and Chief Bargain Hunter of Bargain Homes Abroad
- Follow on Instagram @bargainhomesabroad
- Visit our Website: https://www.bargainhomesabroad.co
- Subscribe to our E-Mail Digest: https://www.bargainhomesabroad.co/subscribe
- VIP Access: https://www.bargainhomesabroad.co/membership
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a review. It helps us reach more future expats and keep these stories coming.
If you're interested in sponsoring or partnering with Armchair Expat, please reach out to Shannon at the following email: info AT bargain-homes DOT com
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