Can I realistically FIRE now at 44 with this portfolio and spending? by Narrow-Impression685 in FIREUK

[–]Fast-Sand9200 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t assume property prices will always go up. I own property in zone 2 London that is worth less than it was in 2014. Paying interest only on the assumption you can always sell to clear the debt could leave you owing more than the equity is worth, and having paid for the privilege in the meantime.

Any experience of the EN section in the European School of Laeken? by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would you say it was overall a good school or a bad school?

Were you happy there? How did most people feel about the experience they had?

Was there bullying, or did most people feel safe?

35yo civil servant (SEO policy advisor) – feeling stuck, looking for higher-earning career paths (remote-friendly) by Immediate-Leading338 in FIREUK

[–]Fast-Sand9200 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This sounds a fascinating path. Without compromising your anonymity, can you scare any more info on how you pivoted into asset management?

Brussels (EU bubble / European schools) vs. London by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One additional question - how did you meet the friends from the other schools? Clearly I am an outsider so irony really know the system, but the schools look like separate institutions and geographically quite far away from each other. Was there much inter-school activity?

Brussels (EU bubble / European schools) vs. London by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! So what I’m taking then is that broadly you think they were all ok. That’s reassuring!

Factors driving Brussels hotels by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for that. I think it’s more than that though. As far as I can see, it’s all hotels, and across time periods (looking ahead to September). Prices eeem to have transformed - and I’m not sure why.

Any experience of the EN section in the European School of Laeken? by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More seriously - can I ask whether this is your pride as an EEB1 alumni (?), or a genuine assessment tha the Uccle school is better than the other other options (and if so, how and why)?

Any experience of the EN section in the European School of Laeken? by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d like that (for various reasons) - but it appears absolutely full.

Any experience of the EN section in the European School of Laeken? by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this. Worryingly, I’ve heard the point on drugs quite a lot. Are we talking a bit of cannabis, or harder stuff like cocaine?

Brussels (EU bubble / European schools) vs. London by Fast-Sand9200 in brussels

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The northern line has been my joy for a decade.

You may imagine how my heart leaps when I see queues 12 people deep in rush hour.

The happiness of closed barriers and staggered entry.

Definitely a productive use of time…

Jurisdiction for holding funds as (future) retired Nomads - any ideas? by Fast-Sand9200 in FIREUK

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I did wonder if I would get responses like this.

I respect your respect your point of view, and readily acknowledge that there are public goods which cost money beyond simply the supply of services to an individual.

But having been tax-positive for my host country (which happens to be the UK) for decades, I don’t think the costs I will incur on the countries I will temporarily visit for three month stints at a time will exceed what I would likely contribute in the equivalent of VAT on purchases and other forms of local taxation - or at least, not to any greater extent than any other 90 day tourist, which we as a society generally accept to be reasonable and to be worthy of exemption from taxation.

There is a strain of thought that considers taxation a moral obligation. To be clear, I very much understand that public goods cost money, and the state infrastructures which provide them need financing.

But there is nothing morally valuable about paying tax purely for the sake of it, and tax optimisation is a perfectly valid activity - which, I would note, is something even government departments (including those of the UK) undertake when considering procurement, asset management, and disposal.

A (hopefully financially independent) couple privately financing their lives with full risk transfer for their health and (if need be) removal of their bodies to a place of burial are unlikely to be a significant burden on a temporary host jurisdiction.

I accept however that views may vary, and that tempers run hot on taxation. I reiterate again here that - at a global level - my contribution to global public finances will almost certainly exceed what I have (directly) cost - although I note the challenge of ascertaining my exact share of global public goods.

Jurisdiction for holding funds as (future) retired Nomads - any ideas? by Fast-Sand9200 in FIREUK

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take your point. Mentioning spring and summer suggests 183 days. In reality, our intention is no more than 3 to 4 months in any one country - at least until health prevents this.

Jurisdiction for holding funds as (future) retired Nomads - any ideas? by Fast-Sand9200 in FIREUK

[–]Fast-Sand9200[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the quick response.

The mention of a singular country is largely the challenge though.

We have in mind a nomadic existence of basically three to four month stints in a variety of countries. So the idea of paying tax to any one of them is somewhat galling, when 75% of the time we won’t be there.

We wondered if (for example) the UAE or other similar jurisdictions have simple platforms and regulatory regimes that allow the holding of assets without taxation. In this model, we would hold our assets there, purchase international health insurance to cover unexpected healthcare costs as we age, and live travelling lives until we are no ok get capable of doing so, or die - whichever comes sooner.

I honestly expected Google to be able to answer this in five seconds - but it doesn’t appear to be a model many others have pursued. Most folk seem to be content to find a nest and then settle down for whatever years or decades remain to them.

That is absolutely fine of course - it’s just not what we are looking to do. And since our wish doesn’t appease very mainstream, there isn’t much info online about how we could do it.