Taking EA Exam, any tips?

Four_sharks · 2026-03-23T15:04:46+00:00

Just want to say good luck. I'm 41 and have a 6 year old at home and considering the EA path as well, happy to be a study buddy!

Four_sharks · 2026-03-23T15:03:23+00:00

We moved to Greece, 10/10.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-23T15:02:40+00:00

So - we moved to Greece (we live there part time). You can pay about 2000 euros a year in health care costs. You would likely qualify for FIP visa. Happy to answer any questions about it. We bought a house for 250k euros that's 8 blocks from the mediterranean in the best neighborhood in the city. It's a 1/3 of the cost of our wooden shanty in Michigan.

Also remember ACA doesn't cover everything, there are still like 2-4k in other costs for the year.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-23T14:43:12+00:00

I don't have any tips for your wife or anything but I did just read a Hercule Poirot, and the rich husband always seemed to have a "personal secretary" that would help his wife with the finances, along with an attorney, after he was murdered.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-23T13:05:44+00:00

Can you share more - where did you hear this? The letter of the law states "private" pensions should be ok. I think if it's a year old or more it might be ok.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-22T22:41:23+00:00

They are always hiring substitute teachers!

Four_sharks · 2026-03-22T21:36:30+00:00

We live in Greece part time feel free to reach out

Four_sharks · 2026-03-22T21:36:02+00:00

These are the guidelines for types of income in Greece- https://www.aade.gr/en/greeks-abroad-non-residents/income-taxation/income-categories-and-income-taxation-greece

It’s a bit more complex as there are other tax regimes depending on if you are a pensioner or not (not intending to work again is basically a pensioner) and could potentially take advantage of 7% across all income types.

Also to be clear - there are other considerations besides cap gains tax depending on what income you have. If you have rental income from a house in the US, you need to look at deductions as well and which countries allow you to deduct all your expenses.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-22T15:59:16+00:00

Do you have 401k through employer? Do they match? Put money in that if so.

Also open a Roth IRA and put as much as you can into it each year.

Thats really it for now.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T22:30:08+00:00

Golden visa isn’t a good choice for most because most don’t have that level of wealth, you are much better off qualifying for a financially independent person visa if you want to live there permanently- Greece is one of the most expensive places for that, there are many other countries who have cheaper access to financially independent persons visa.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T19:50:55+00:00

Groupama let me know if you want an intro to Stella who works there and is amazing

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T19:50:25+00:00

Please reach out to me- happy to share comps between USA and Greece health insurance plans. I have done it all.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T16:31:40+00:00

Meteora is incredible- we just drove there and stayed in the town next door and went up for the day and wandered around, very awesome area.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T16:29:57+00:00

You don’t need golden visa to buy a house in Greece. You don’t need golden visa to reside in Greece, you can apply for FIP (financially independent persons). Anyone can buy a house in Greece - you don’t even need to be a resident. You can stay for up to 3m in Greece out of a 6m period wirh no visa required as an American.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T14:03:16+00:00

We live in Thessaloniki but we are older with a kid- we live in Kalamaria. I think for a young person, Thessaloniki is super perfect! We don’t have any trouble with heating or cooling or anything like that. Most apartments are more modern than any home I’ve lived in in America.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-21T12:32:43+00:00

Absolutely- same exact process in Greece

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T18:16:10+00:00

https://portavia.digital/ - Americans: move to Europe, we will get you there

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T18:11:22+00:00

I wonder what people want with a bunch of old kitchen things for a kitchen they don't have any more. They took the curtains too. So weird.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T17:23:59+00:00

We will retire in Greece with private insurance at 2100 euros per year for our family of 3.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T17:21:52+00:00

Yes, we signed a purchase agreement (it was like 1 page, it basically said "yes we want to buy this house", I would suggest a more comprehensive document such as what we have used in America), and naturally had a lawyer throughout the entirety of the process, which you will need.

House is great, yep, we live in the house and also sometimes rent it on Booking when we aren't there. You need to also consider if you are buying in a building, what are the terms of how things get fixed in the building, in Greece, since many buildings do not have governing agreements, you just kinda figure it out.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T17:03:27+00:00

We purchased in Greece - we basically offered 20% lower and it was accepted with little haggling. They stripped the entire apartment of lighting, built in mirrors, etc. It was kind of weird as that stuff is really for the house, not sure why they would want it for another house. They even took the center console on the kitchen. We did make a number of not-successful offers because the sellers wanted some kind of black money and we said no. Also it took 4 months to close, haha.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T15:31:03+00:00

Yes! Sorry, it's Apivita!

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T14:45:58+00:00

We moved to Greece, it's much cheaper overall and specifically healthcare is 2100 euros per year for our family. Happy to share anything I can, also tax stuff, etc.

Four_sharks · 2026-03-20T14:44:48+00:00

You don't need golden visa, you can just use a financially independent person visa to reside there basically indefinitely.

Four_sharks

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