FarAngMoh

Most non-US investors I know who live outside the US invest in ETFs traded on the London Stock Exchange, and most use Interactive Brokers which usually has the best pricing. These London traded ETFs are typically domiciled in Ireland and have lower 15% treaty rate of withholding on US stocks. For example, CSPX is the symbol for iShares S&P 500 ETF traded on the LSE. VWRA is another popular one on the LSE that includes the entire world’s stocks (US+Int’l) in one simple investment.

I use Google Voice for 2FA on many US based accounts and it works well. The only issue I’ve ever had was with Citibank, but they also had an option for call back with a code, and that worked with Google Voice. To set up Google Voice from outside the US, you need a US VPN to sign up, and someone in the US ready to pick up their phone and message you the code to activate it. Once activated, Google Voice works without a VPN from then onwards. It’s well worth the effort to get it set up, have been using it for the last 8 years or so… haven’t paid a single cent. I have logged countless hours of free US talk time (both in and outbound calls), thousands of texts, hundreds of voice mails. Of all the things a US expat should have, this should be right at the top of the list.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are actually mutual funds that are traded on the stock exchange. Other than being exchange traded, they are basically one in the same. You can buy ETFs like shares of stock, and you can hold onto them as long as you like. The expenses on ETFs are usually as low or lower than traditional mutual funds. VTI is probably the most widely held ETF on the planet and for good reason. It is the Vanguard Total Market Index, the annual expenses are almost nothing, and you get the entire US stock market in one easy investment. Over half of my portfolio is in VTI.

I have been with TD Ameritrade since it was TD Waterhouse. Moved overseas in 1996 and kept my parent’s US address on record ever since. Never had a problem. I don’t use a VPN most of the time, but I only log in once or twice a year. I have only ever bought ETFs and individual shares. A couple years back I opened custodial accounts with Schwab for my two kids, and used my parent’s address for them too. I didn’t use VPN for any of it and had no issues. It was a relatively quick and painless process. I then pulled money into their account from my credit union in the US via ACH and have bought ETFs and individual shares. No issues at all. I really think it depends on the broker in terms of how fussy they are. I believe Schwab (who recently bought TD) is less fussy. As long as you keep it all US, you don’t need to go to Schwab International. That has been my experience. Keep it simple, keep only US indicia on the account. I believe the broker can then use that to protect themselves legally from claims from your jurisdiction of residence about not complying with foreign consumer protection, tax laws, etc….

PromptPay has started to establish links to payment systems in other countries. For example, with PayNow in Singapore, I can transfer from my Singapore bank seamlessly to Thailand via PromptPay. However, the last time I checked the exchange rate, Wise was still better. In general, it’s best to use local transfer methods for local transfers and Wise once you cross borders.

Well, I stand corrected. I have never attempted GBP-THB currency pair and after trying, sure enough, only a 2h lock in. I’ve always gotten at least 48h minimum with my currency pair and wrongly assumed GBP-THB was similar. My bad.

As a non-Asian minority who has lived in Asia for over half of my life, I have had plenty of opportunities to be offended, but always chose not to. Thank you for calling me a newbie, I see you are just calling it like it is… I am new to this forum and take no offense to it. Since the woke thing happened long after I left the Western world, I probably have more of an Asian view. No offense intended.

The difference is, in Asia there is no PC culture… no shame to call it like they see it. You can’t take the prejudice out of the world, so it’s better to work on not being offended. But to do that we’ll have to move past this woke nonsense.

If a Thai moved to a Western country, I’m sure they hear themselves being referred to as Asian (or worse) all of the time.

Don’t forget Mat Salleh in Malaysia and Kano in the Philippines. Both have historical connotations.

Just like ‘chao ang moh’ is more derogatory version of ‘ang moh’ in Singapore. Literally “smelly red haired one” — but it always depends how it is said too.

You can lock in the rate by initiating a transfer, without giving them a single quid. Then, you can then take your sweet time to fund the transfer because the rate is already locked and guaranteed, usually for days. It’s your prerogative of course, but I fail to see a benefit to keeping any funds in Wise.

What is even more telling is the fact that most of the Chinese who emigrated from the mainland were not the cream of the crop, and yet today are the largest economic force in many countries, especially around Southeast Asia, despite being a small minority. Indonesia is a good example, but even the average Chinese in the US earns more than the average white person.

The CCP can’t lay claim to China’s history of non-invasion, but it sure makes great propaganda for those naive enough to believe it. In the brief history of the CCP, they have never had the means to invade other countries until now. America, on the other hand, allowed the Philippines to gain independence after decades as a U.S. territory. Do you really believe China would do such a thing? Subic is an important counter-balance China’s territorial ambitions.

I think most Americans support some form of gun control, just like most Americans don’t support late stage abortions. But how much and to what extent will always be hotly debated, especially by the fringe on both sides.

That’s just it - nobody fights so hard unless there is something really incriminating. I have to believe most voters already know that and have factored it in. Some might even idolize him for it.

Trump should just make it public on his own. As Trump once said, he could take a gun out and shoot someone in broad daylight in Manhattan and still get elected. He should have nothing to worry about.

Or the other extreme… those who believe that the ACA is the best thing since sliced bread… and the election was won without a single fraudulent vote.

Have you ever considered that maybe they only cite objectively confirmable facts that support their biased view? The definition of partisan is to be a strong supporter of a party. I did not vote Rep or Dem in the last two presidential elections. Neither party offered an acceptable candidate in my opinion.

CBPP bills itself as nonpartisan, but a look at the center's stance on issues indicates a left-of-center view.

My security guard brother was on ACA for years — it was a complete train wreck for him. Even Medicare for all would have been a far better.

Both sides make me sick. Both are part of the problem. There has never been so much divisiveness, but I blame the media more than anything else. Americans actually have way more in common than different, but everyone is being brainwashed to think otherwise.

Was it anything more than a political stunt? If she (or the Dems) wanted to do something meaningful, they would amend the Taiwan Relations Act along the lines of the US-Japan security alliance.

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

Mark Twain had a similar quote.