American Expat Investing - Walkner Condon Financial Advisors

08/30/2026

Big news as we head into the last weekend of August. 👀

Our Managing Partners, Clint Walkner and Nate Condon, sat down to record the first episode in our brand-new podcast studio — a special episode of Gimme Some Truth looking back at some major milestones shaping the future of Walkner Condon:

➡️ One Roof — Unifying four offices into a single, state-of-the-art headquarters
➡️ $1.25 Billion — A major milestone in assets under management
➡️ Team Growth — Alicia's promotion to Partner, Evan's promotion, and Andy King's upcoming retirement
➡️ Our Approach — How we build redundant, collaborative advisory teams so clients are always supported for the long haul

None of this happens without the trust our clients have placed in us. Every milestone here traces back to relationships — and a team built to take care of people for the long term.

👇

Walkner Condon's Managing Partners, Clint Walkner and Nate Condon s...

07/29/2026

📈 Q2 2026 in the books: from crisis to comeback.

If Q1 was the shock, Q2 was the exhale. Markets staged one of the strongest quarters in recent memory, and it's worth looking back at how quickly things turned around:

✅ The S&P 500 gained ~15% for the quarter, hitting new all-time highs near 7,500
✅ Small caps led the charge — the Russell 2000 jumped ~21%, up over 22% YTD
✅ Oil made a full round trip: from over $100/barrel during the Strait of Hormuz crisis down to ~$70 by quarter's end
✅ The Fed held steady at 3.50%–3.75%, juggling sticky inflation against a shaky geopolitical backdrop
✅ The SpaceX IPO (~$2.3 trillion valuation!) headlined a wild quarter for capital markets

Here's the real takeaway though: investors who stayed the course through the Q1 selloff were rewarded. Those who sold during the dip likely missed a 15%+ rebound. 📊

Volatility isn't fun in the moment, but it's often the price of admission for long-term returns.

📖 Get our full Q2 breakdown — plus what we're watching next — on the blog: https://usexpatinvesting.com/blog/2026-q2-market-performance-summary/

Stocks recovered the Q1 decline and then some — small caps up 21%, oil back to $70, and new highs for the S&P 500. The Walkner Condon team on why the valuation reset thesis played out.

07/27/2026

⚽ The World Cup is over... but we've got one more bracket for you. 😉

While Spain celebrates their World Cup win, we couldn't help but notice something: they also came out on top in our own "expat bracket" — a ranking of the best Round of 16 countries to retire in! 🏆

We looked at cost of living, safety, healthcare, weather, and happiness across all 16 countries and crowned a winner (turns out we finished the ranking before Spain even won the real thing 👀).

We also took a closer look at the 5 countries our clients most often choose to retire to: 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇫🇷 France, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇬🇧 England, and 🇧🇪 Belgium — breaking down what U.S. expats should actually expect in terms of taxes and financial planning in each one.

Spoiler: almost everywhere you go, you'll likely pay higher taxes than in the U.S. — but with the right planning, that doesn't mean the move isn't worth it. 🌍

Oh, and one important question first: if you were moving abroad, what's the one thing you'd pack that reminds you of home? (For thousands of European fans this summer, apparently... it was ranch dressing. 🤷)

📖 Check out the full breakdown, rankings, and expat bracket on our blog: https://usexpatinvesting.com/blog/world-cup-expat-retirement-destination-ranking/

07/16/2026

🇯🇵 Retiring in Japan? Your IRA and 401(k) Might Work Better Than You Think

If you're an American living in (or considering a move to) Japan, understanding how your U.S. retirement accounts get taxed there is critical — and the news is better than most expats assume.

Under the U.S.-Japan tax treaty, your IRAs and 401(k)s are generally treated as "pension funds," meaning no Japanese tax on investment growth until you withdraw. Even better, distributions often qualify for generous Japanese deductions (like the public pension deduction or a 50% retirement income deduction) that can meaningfully soften your tax bill.

There are wrinkles, though — especially for Roth IRAs, which lose their tax-free status in Japan's eyes. 🧩

Our latest blog breaks down exactly how the two systems interact, what "lump sum" really means in Japanese tax law, and why planning ahead (not just at retirement) makes all the difference. Read the full post 👇

Navigating the complex world of IRAs and 401(k)s under Japanese tax law doesn't have to be a headache. The expat team at Walkner Condon breaks down what you need to know.

06/30/2026

Moving to Japan? 🇯🇵

Before you fall in love with Tokyo, know this: Japan's tax rules have a built-in cliff.

→ Your first 5 years, Japan only taxes Japan-source income.
→ Day one of year 6, Japan starts taxing your WORLDWIDE income — U.S. dividends, capital gains, rentals, all of it.
→ Stay past 5 years with $630K+ in assets, and Japan can tax you on unrealized gains just for leaving.

And remember, the U.S. still taxes your worldwide income the whole time too.

Bottom line: how long you plan to stay changes your tax picture completely. Plan ahead, not after.

Full breakdown here:
https://usexpatinvesting.com/blog/japan-us-expat-tax-five-year-rule/

04/27/2026

Nobody talks about the hard parts of retirement.

Not the money stuff — the "who am I now?" stuff.

The moment someone asks what you do and you don't have an answer. The friends you lose when you leave the office. The anxiety of watching your balance go down for the first time in your life.

In a recent episode of Gimme Some Truth, Nate Condon and Clint Walkner get into the retirement topics most financial advisors skip — the identity shifts, the emotional weight, and why the distribution phase is the most complex part of financial planning.

Whether you're 10 years out or stepping into retirement now, this one's worth a watch.

🎥 Watch now ⬇️

Why Retirement Is Harder Than You Think: Emotional & Financial Realities Explained

04/21/2026

Big Shifts in Portugal: NHR 2.0 Approvals & Citizenship Reform!

As we head into the weekend, there are big updates for the expat and investor community in Portugal! We finally have clarity on the "what’s next" for residency and tax optimization.

On March 31, the Portuguese tax authority released the first wave of NHR 2.0 approvals, confirming that the new merit-based tax exemptions for startup roles and certified activities are officially in motion.

However, Parliament also voted on a Nationality Reform Bill that could change the game for many:

➡️ Citizenship Timeline: Potential move from 5 years to 10 years.
➡️ The "Clock" Reset: Eligibility may now start from the date of your first residence card, rather than your Golden Visa application date, a major shift for 2021–2024 applicants.

In our most recent Gimme Some Truth podcast, Nate Condon and Stan Farmer, CFP® are joined by Zeev Fisher from Fresh Portugal for an in-depth breakdown. They dive into the merit-based requirements and exactly how to navigate these processing delays if you're planning a move in 2026.

https://youtu.be/fm8qlyfzeAU

🇵🇹 Portugal just made two major moves in one week — and if you're pursuing residency, a Golden Visa, NHR 2.0 tax status, or citizenship, you need to hear t...

03/27/2026

Moving to Japan as an American comes with some significant tax complexity — especially after year five.

We cover Japan's Non-Permanent Resident rule, the exit tax, brokerage limitations, and inheritance considerations on the latest Gimme Some Truth. https://youtu.be/Pt_w_72h73c

Moving to Japan as an American? The "Land of the Rising Sun" offers incredible culture and lifestyle, but for US citizens, it also brings a web of financial ...

03/25/2026

Moving abroad? Your U.S. brokerage account may not come with you.

On the latest Gimme Some Truth, we cover FATCA, account freezes, the risks of using a family address, and what to sort out before you relocate. Link in comments!