2011年,從事計算機科學工作的艾倫·福西特決定退休。當時,他確信自己希望至少拿出幾年時間去旅行,尤其是環游歐洲。正如他所說的那樣,在科技行業工作了數十年之后,他已經準備讓自己的大腦放松一下。他對《財富》雜志表示:“計算機編程毀了我的大腦。我需要逃離這種生活?!?/p>
他沒想到的是,這次逃離變成了永久的離開。他退休后不久就遇到了現在的妻子伊麗莎白,并最終與妻子一起定居西班牙。
現年67歲的福西特通過結婚獲得了西班牙居民身份。他對自己的決定感到無比開心。雖然妻子仍在工作,但他每天都與巴塞羅那的外國朋友一起打網球、讀書、去海灘或咖啡館。他和妻子可以在歐洲大陸旅行,甚至計劃今年去巴黎觀看奧運會。
福西特表示,在美國不可能過上這種生活。西班牙的房價更低,食物不貴,而且葡萄酒更便宜。西班牙的公共交通系統簡直是天賜之物;福西特沒有汽車,而且出行也不需要開車。步行便利性是一個重要的好處。
福西特表示:“在這里生活很幸福。你在任何地方都能戶外用餐,這里氣候宜人,而且所有商品都很便宜?!备N魈卦?019年獲得居民身份。
福西特代表了美國退休人群在退休危機刺激下出現的一種日益流行的趨勢,這些退休人員搬到海外生活,而不是在美國度過晚年。根據美國社會保障局(Social Security Administration)最近公開的數據,2022年12月,在海外領取社會保障金的人數超過700,800人。2000年,這個數字還不足400,000人。
一些人搬到海外的原因是,美國的住房和醫療成本變得越來越令人難以承受,因此依靠固定退休收入無法過上舒適的生活。在美國,有大批退休人員幾乎完全依賴社會保障金維持生計,每個月的平均社會保障金約為1,900美元。越來越多的美國老年人生活貧困,即使他們能獲得社會服務,這類服務也少之又少。
有人一直夢想去旅行,沉浸式體驗其他文化。還有人雖然有能力繼續留在美國生活,但他們意識到如果在海外生活,他們的錢更有購買力。
“不必付出什么代價”
蘇珊·基南·斯威尼和丈夫喬就屬于后者。他們在2015年搬到了匈牙利(喬出生在匈牙利,但童年時就搬離了這個國家)。69歲的斯威尼在美國從事銀行業軟件工作,成績斐然,她甚至在佛羅里達州提前退休。但日益升高的住宅和醫療成本,讓她推遲了退休時間。
在搬到匈牙利之前,她和丈夫曾游覽過這個國家。在看到當地的低生活成本和更緩慢的生活節奏后,他們幾乎“沖動地”決定搬家?,F在他們有一套在鄉村的房子,距離布達佩斯約兩個小時車程,房子周圍是葡萄園。斯威尼在這里從事園藝,在附近的市場購買時令新鮮農產品,在家里制作果醬和果凍;夫妻二人會到西班牙過冬,其他時間則周游歐洲。
斯威尼還提到四通八達的公共交通系統是匈牙利的一大優勢——65歲以上可免費乘坐公共交通,而且在他們生活的山腳下就有一座火車站。此外,他們在這里有安全感和社區感。斯威尼表示,與佛羅里達相比,他們在這里每年可以節省數千美元房產稅,而且外籍人士醫療保險遠低于美國的醫療保險成本。他們每個月最大的一筆支出是美國Hulu訂閱費。他們通過VPN可以觀看Hulu的節目。
斯威尼說道:“在退休地點方面,我想我已經走在了最前沿。我們在這里生活不必付出什么代價?!?/p>
在海外生活的權衡
當然,在海外生活也有一些缺點。斯威尼的其他家人都在美國,因此他們需要計劃探望家人的旅行。至少在最初很難克服文化差異,而且斯威尼仍在學習一些基礎的匈牙利語。福西特指出,西班牙人的個人財富水平不及美國;西班牙普遍的工資水平遠低于在美國能找到的六位數薪酬。當然,西班牙的所得稅率更高。
斯威尼和福西特如果是在歐洲工作,他們可能無法攢到在美國從事高薪職業所攢下的財富。他們的大多數投資依舊在美國的金融機構,因為這些資金很難轉移。搬到海外還有其他官僚手續和繁文縟節。斯威尼和丈夫聘請了一位律師幫助他們買房。
福西特表示:“我們在前兩年主要是處理官僚手續。在西班牙,你做任何事情都要面對大量文書工作?!?/p>
但福西特表示,更多人在西班牙的生活水準高于在美國的生活。在西班牙生活的好處體現在一些小的地方。例如在西班牙更容易買到更新鮮、更便宜的食品雜貨和音樂會門票。還有一些更大的福利,例如長達數月的帶薪產假、廉價的中等教育和經濟實惠的醫療成本等。
斯威尼表示:“這里與美國截然不同。人們的行事方式截然不同,所以我們才會搬到這里?!?/p>
雖然匈牙利和西班牙的全民醫療保健系統因為漫長的等待時間而遭到詬病,而且與美國相比醫療水平可能較低,但福西特和斯威尼對他們接受的醫療服務標準感到滿意,包括外科手術和結腸鏡檢查等大型手術。有一個缺點是,許多醫療服務人員不會說英語;斯威尼表示由于語言障礙,如果有重大疾病,他們會考慮飛回美國接受治療。
說到文化沖擊,斯威尼表示:“如果你作為美國人走進當地醫生的診所,你可能大感意外。在這里不必跟保險公司打交道。你走進診所,看醫生,然后離開?!?/p>
Betterment公司的投資總監明迪·于提醒那些有意在海外退休的人們,要拿出時間制定計劃,以應對在財務、法律和后勤方面的巨大隱患。
于表示:“關鍵是要避免將海外退休視為成本更低的選擇,而是盡早開始儲蓄,同時分散投資組合以規避風險。咨詢具有國際專業知識的稅務專家至關重要,因為在國外生活也可能讓你在美國和新的居住國承擔新的稅務義務?!?/p>
福西特計劃與妻子留在西班牙,特別是因為妻子要照顧91歲的母親,她的子女也在當地長大成人。斯威尼也表示,她和丈夫長期住在匈牙利,但他們最終可能從葡萄園搬到布達佩斯。
斯威尼表示:“我建議任何人搬到國外前,去國外度假,租一套房子,四處游覽一番。你會發現自己來到了一些做夢都想不到的地方。如果你已經退休,又有幾個月的時間,為什么不嘗試一下?”(財富中文網)
翻譯:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
2011年,從事計算機科學工作的艾倫·福西特決定退休。當時,他確信自己希望至少拿出幾年時間去旅行,尤其是環游歐洲。正如他所說的那樣,在科技行業工作了數十年之后,他已經準備讓自己的大腦放松一下。他對《財富》雜志表示:“計算機編程毀了我的大腦。我需要逃離這種生活?!?/p>
他沒想到的是,這次逃離變成了永久的離開。他退休后不久就遇到了現在的妻子伊麗莎白,并最終與妻子一起定居西班牙。
現年67歲的福西特通過結婚獲得了西班牙居民身份。他對自己的決定感到無比開心。雖然妻子仍在工作,但他每天都與巴塞羅那的外國朋友一起打網球、讀書、去海灘或咖啡館。他和妻子可以在歐洲大陸旅行,甚至計劃今年去巴黎觀看奧運會。
福西特表示,在美國不可能過上這種生活。西班牙的房價更低,食物不貴,而且葡萄酒更便宜。西班牙的公共交通系統簡直是天賜之物;福西特沒有汽車,而且出行也不需要開車。步行便利性是一個重要的好處。
福西特表示:“在這里生活很幸福。你在任何地方都能戶外用餐,這里氣候宜人,而且所有商品都很便宜。”福西特在2019年獲得居民身份。
福西特代表了美國退休人群在退休危機刺激下出現的一種日益流行的趨勢,這些退休人員搬到海外生活,而不是在美國度過晚年。根據美國社會保障局(Social Security Administration)最近公開的數據,2022年12月,在海外領取社會保障金的人數超過700,800人。2000年,這個數字還不足400,000人。
一些人搬到海外的原因是,美國的住房和醫療成本變得越來越令人難以承受,因此依靠固定退休收入無法過上舒適的生活。在美國,有大批退休人員幾乎完全依賴社會保障金維持生計,每個月的平均社會保障金約為1,900美元。越來越多的美國老年人生活貧困,即使他們能獲得社會服務,這類服務也少之又少。
有人一直夢想去旅行,沉浸式體驗其他文化。還有人雖然有能力繼續留在美國生活,但他們意識到如果在海外生活,他們的錢更有購買力。
“不必付出什么代價”
蘇珊·基南·斯威尼和丈夫喬就屬于后者。他們在2015年搬到了匈牙利(喬出生在匈牙利,但童年時就搬離了這個國家)。69歲的斯威尼在美國從事銀行業軟件工作,成績斐然,她甚至在佛羅里達州提前退休。但日益升高的住宅和醫療成本,讓她推遲了退休時間。
在搬到匈牙利之前,她和丈夫曾游覽過這個國家。在看到當地的低生活成本和更緩慢的生活節奏后,他們幾乎“沖動地”決定搬家?,F在他們有一套在鄉村的房子,距離布達佩斯約兩個小時車程,房子周圍是葡萄園。斯威尼在這里從事園藝,在附近的市場購買時令新鮮農產品,在家里制作果醬和果凍;夫妻二人會到西班牙過冬,其他時間則周游歐洲。
斯威尼還提到四通八達的公共交通系統是匈牙利的一大優勢——65歲以上可免費乘坐公共交通,而且在他們生活的山腳下就有一座火車站。此外,他們在這里有安全感和社區感。斯威尼表示,與佛羅里達相比,他們在這里每年可以節省數千美元房產稅,而且外籍人士醫療保險遠低于美國的醫療保險成本。他們每個月最大的一筆支出是美國Hulu訂閱費。他們通過VPN可以觀看Hulu的節目。
斯威尼說道:“在退休地點方面,我想我已經走在了最前沿。我們在這里生活不必付出什么代價?!?/p>
在海外生活的權衡
當然,在海外生活也有一些缺點。斯威尼的其他家人都在美國,因此他們需要計劃探望家人的旅行。至少在最初很難克服文化差異,而且斯威尼仍在學習一些基礎的匈牙利語。福西特指出,西班牙人的個人財富水平不及美國;西班牙普遍的工資水平遠低于在美國能找到的六位數薪酬。當然,西班牙的所得稅率更高。
斯威尼和福西特如果是在歐洲工作,他們可能無法攢到在美國從事高薪職業所攢下的財富。他們的大多數投資依舊在美國的金融機構,因為這些資金很難轉移。搬到海外還有其他官僚手續和繁文縟節。斯威尼和丈夫聘請了一位律師幫助他們買房。
福西特表示:“我們在前兩年主要是處理官僚手續。在西班牙,你做任何事情都要面對大量文書工作?!?/p>
但福西特表示,更多人在西班牙的生活水準高于在美國的生活。在西班牙生活的好處體現在一些小的地方。例如在西班牙更容易買到更新鮮、更便宜的食品雜貨和音樂會門票。還有一些更大的福利,例如長達數月的帶薪產假、廉價的中等教育和經濟實惠的醫療成本等。
斯威尼表示:“這里與美國截然不同。人們的行事方式截然不同,所以我們才會搬到這里?!?/p>
雖然匈牙利和西班牙的全民醫療保健系統因為漫長的等待時間而遭到詬病,而且與美國相比醫療水平可能較低,但福西特和斯威尼對他們接受的醫療服務標準感到滿意,包括外科手術和結腸鏡檢查等大型手術。有一個缺點是,許多醫療服務人員不會說英語;斯威尼表示由于語言障礙,如果有重大疾病,他們會考慮飛回美國接受治療。
說到文化沖擊,斯威尼表示:“如果你作為美國人走進當地醫生的診所,你可能大感意外。在這里不必跟保險公司打交道。你走進診所,看醫生,然后離開。”
Betterment公司的投資總監明迪·于提醒那些有意在海外退休的人們,要拿出時間制定計劃,以應對在財務、法律和后勤方面的巨大隱患。
于表示:“關鍵是要避免將海外退休視為成本更低的選擇,而是盡早開始儲蓄,同時分散投資組合以規避風險。咨詢具有國際專業知識的稅務專家至關重要,因為在國外生活也可能讓你在美國和新的居住國承擔新的稅務義務?!?/p>
福西特計劃與妻子留在西班牙,特別是因為妻子要照顧91歲的母親,她的子女也在當地長大成人。斯威尼也表示,她和丈夫長期住在匈牙利,但他們最終可能從葡萄園搬到布達佩斯。
斯威尼表示:“我建議任何人搬到國外前,去國外度假,租一套房子,四處游覽一番。你會發現自己來到了一些做夢都想不到的地方。如果你已經退休,又有幾個月的時間,為什么不嘗試一下?”(財富中文網)
翻譯:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
When Allan Fawcett decided to retire from his career in computer science in 2011, he knew he wanted to spend at least a few years traveling, particularly around Europe. After decades working in tech, he was ready, as he says, to give his mind a rest. “Computer programming destroyed my brain,” he tells Fortune. “I needed an escape.”
What he didn’t know is that that escape would become permanent. He met his now-wife, Elisabeth, shortly after he retired, and eventually took the leap to move permanently to Spain with her.
Fawcett, now 67 and a Spanish resident through marriage, couldn’t be happier about his decision. Though his wife still works, he spends his days playing tennis, reading, and going to the beach or cafés with expat friends in Barcelona. He and his wife are able to travel around the continent, even planning a trip to Paris for the Olympics this year.
The same lifestyle wouldn’t be possible in the U.S., Fawcett says. Housing is much more affordable, food is inexpensive, and the wine is even less so. The mass transit system is a godsend; Fawcett doesn’t have a car and doesn’t need one to get around. Walkability is also a major benefit.
“It’s a good life here,” says Fawcett, who became a resident in 2019. “Outdoor dining is everywhere, the weather is amazing. Everything is very cheap.”
Fawcett is part of a growing trend of retirees, spurred by America’s retirement crisis, who are moving abroad instead of spending their golden years in the U.S. In December 2022, there were over 700,800 people receiving Social Security payments abroad, according to the most recently available data from the Social Security Administration. In 2000, that figure was less than 400,000.
Some move abroad because they simply cannot comfortably live on a fixed retirement income in the U.S., where the costs of housing and healthcare, especially, are becoming increasingly unaffordable. A substantial number of retirees rely almost completely on Social Security payments to make ends meet in the U.S., which average around $1,900 per month. A growing portion of elderly Americans live in poverty, with social services few and far between, if they are accessible at all.
Others always dreamed of travel and immersing themselves in other cultures. And still others could afford to stay in the U.S. but realized how much more they could get for their money abroad.
‘It costs us next to nothing’
The latter is true for Susan Keenan Sweeney and her husband, Joe, who moved to Hungary in 2015 (Joe was born in Hungary, but moved away as a child). Though Sweeney, 69, had done well for herself in a career in banking software in the states and even retired early in Florida, she was put off by the increasingly high costs of housing and health care.
When she and her husband visited Hungary before the move, they looked at the affordable cost of living and slower pace of life and decided, almost “on a whim,” to move. They now own a home in the countryside, about two hours outside of Budapest, surrounded by vineyards. Sweeney gardens and revels in the seasonal fresh produce that’s available at the nearby market, making jams and jellies at home; the couple spends their winters in Spain, and travels extensively around Europe the rest of the year.
Susan Keenan Sweeney and her husband, Joe Horvath, in Budapest.
Sweeney also points to the extensive public transit system as a major plus—it is free to use for those over 65, and there is a train station at the base of the hill they live on—as is the sense of safety and community they feel. They save thousands a year in property taxes compared to Florida, and expat health insurance is a fraction of the cost of American health insurance, she says. One of their biggest monthly expenses is their U.S. Hulu subscription, which they watch via VPN.
“I’d like to think I’m on the cutting edge of where to retire,” says Sweeney. “It costs us next to nothing to live here.”
The trade-offs of living abroad
There are drawbacks, of course. The rest of Sweeney’s family is in the states, so they need to plan trips to see each other. The cultural differences can be difficult to manage, at least at first, and Sweeney is still learning the basics of Hungarian. There’s not the same level of individual wealth in Spain as in the U.S., Fawcett points out; the typical salary is far lower than the six-figure jobs you can find in the states. And of course, the income tax burden is much higher.
Sweeney and Fawcett wouldn’t have been able to save the amount of money they did throughout their high-paying careers in the U.S. had they spent their careers in Europe. Most of their investments are still in U.S. financial institutions because of the difficulty to move them. And there is plenty of other bureaucracy and red tape to move through to move abroad. Sweeney and her husband enlisted a lawyer to help them buy their home;
“The first couple of years are taking care of bureaucracy more than anything,” says Fawcett. “Anything you want in Spain requires a ton of paperwork.”
But the standard of living is much better for a wider swath of the population than it is in the U.S., Fawcett contends. There are the small things, like fresher, less expensive groceries and concert tickets being much more affordable and accessible. And then there are the larger benefits, like months of paid maternity leave, inexpensive secondary education, and affordable health care.
On the road to Susan Keenan Sweeney’s home in Hungary.
“It’s not the U.S.,” says Sweeney. “They do things differently here, and that’s why we’re here.”
And while universal health care systems like those in Hungary and Spain are often criticized for long waiting times and the potential for subpar care compared to the U.S., both Fawcett and Sweeney are satisfied with the standard of care they’ve received, including through surgeries and major procedures like colonoscopies. One drawback is that many providers don’t necessarily speak English; Sweeney says if something major happened, they’d consider flying back to the U.S. for care because of the language barrier.
“If you walked in here as an American and went to a doctor’s office, I’d have to pick you up off the floor,” says Sweeney of the culture shock. “There’s none of the dealing with the insurance. It’s walk in, see the doctor, walk out.”
Mindy Yu, director of investing at Betterment, warns those interested in retiring abroad to take the time to plan for the considerable financial, legal, and logistical pitfalls.
“It’s crucial to avoid seeing retiring abroad as the cheaper option and instead begin saving as early as possible, while diversifying your portfolio to avoid risk,” says Yu. “Consulting a tax professional with international expertise is crucial, as living abroad may also come with new tax obligations, both to the U.S. and your new country of residence.”
Fawcett plans to remain in Spain with his wife, especially as she is the caretaker for her 91-year-old mother and has grown children in the area. Sweeney, too, says she and her husband are in Hungary for the long haul, though they may eventually move from the vineyards to Budapest.
“I would urge anybody who is going to do it, go on vacation and rent a house and look around. You find yourself in some places where you never would have dreamed you’d be,” says Sweeney. “If you’re retired and you have a few months, what the hell?”