Serge Ministries
Financial Education for Serge Families
It has been my honor to have one-on-one conversations with many Serge families. What I’ve been doing — and will continue to do — is something we call financial education.
If you're not currently a client of our firm, it’s important to note that as a CFP® regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, I must avoid offering personal advice to non-clients. Instead, we focus on providing financial education and guiding you to resources that help you make informed decisions about your money.
Six Key Areas from Serge Conversations
In my conversations with Serge families, six recurring themes have emerged. These touch on major areas of financial planning.
1. Retirement Planning
You have access to a robust, low-cost retirement plan through Serge. For those with additional accounts (like Fidelity), there may be missed opportunities — especially when considering marginal tax brackets and how to minimize taxes over your lifetime.
2. Emergency Planning & Repatriation
Many in your field maintain low cash reserves. We like to say: "You're flying 600 mph at 50 feet off the ground."
That’s risky. We recommend:
Building a larger emergency fund
Planning for a costly return (repatriation) to the U.S.
Expats face unique challenges here — and we can help you navigate them.
3. College Planning
Your tax status may allow for need-based aid. If you plan strategically, your FAFSA Expected Family Contribution (EFC) could be lower than expected. However, too much cash on hand may reduce aid eligibility. This creates a balancing act between college savings and emergency planning — especially as kids enter their teenage years.
4. Tax Compliance
This can be a major source of stress. Some of you manage well with TurboTax, while others face complicated questions about:
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Reporting U.S.-based income
State residency complications
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but we’re here to help you sort through it.
5. Tax Planning (Now & Future)
Many Serge families aren’t maximizing their low current tax brackets to reduce future tax burdens in retirement or when returning to the U.S. Remember, Finance is 80% personal and 20% financial. We can help you assess tax-saving strategies tailored to your specific situation.
6. Managing U.S.-Based Assets
Some families we’ve met hold:
Investment accounts
Real estate
Inheritances
Trust distributions or family wealth
Some manage these assets well, but others may not be taking full advantage of them. We’re here to help you make the most of what you have.
Let’s Connect
Most of these conversations started in early 2020, around the time I had planned to attend the Spain meeting (which was later canceled). I've continued meeting with Serge families into 2021 and beyond.
If any of these topics resonate with you — or if you have other financial questions — I’d love to connect.