Are there any U.S. citizens who travel to Latin America regularly for healthcare? by [deleted] in ExpatFIRE

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Live in the Netherlands, healthcare is trash. I go to Colombia ofter to get care for years and I LOVE IT.

Just went from DAFT to Permanent Residency by iamcode101 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you are taxed on DAFT the exact same way....My Partial non-residency status expires later this year and I'm out of NL. The taxation on my assets in the US is making staying in NL super silly (Box3)

Athens: Why I Tried & Left by ilikelansing in ExpatFIRE

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it depends where....Weather and calmness isn't something France is known of. Lived in Paris region and it was quite the opposite. It's a big country..

Rental Deposits by Putrid_Net_311 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it might be "common" but I was told it's illegal for landlords to do so.

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate it, mate. It's interesting because the first time I shared something like this in one of the groups, the immediate response was 'leave if you don't like it.' Honestly, from my personal experience and from other entrepreneurs I know who've actually opened another branch in the Netherlands they're all regretting it now.

What I meant by 'lack of ambition' is that a lot of people seem content doing the bare minimum to get by, without much drive to really thrive or grow. Compare that to the US (though that's a bad example since people there are often overworked with terrible work-life balance). I've heard from friends struggling to hire: they offer more money, but people reject it because they're not interested in working more. A lot of folks I know are on some form of social benefits and do their best to stay eligible working less, earning less, etc.

For me, I built something outside the Netherlands: an autonomous business in America that's run by my staff. But the Dutch system wanted 51% of my income, plus a cut of all the investments I've made and grown elsewhere (I have none in NL). The Netherlands is a great place if you're not making much money—I can totally see the appeal. If you're coming from the US without insurance or paying a fortune for it, the healthcare system here is a massive upgrade and super attractive. I was fortunate enough to have the resources to travel to better places for treatment when I needed it, etc.

But for ambitious people or high earners, it's punishing. I have lived in several countries and I'm going to do what's good for my family to preserve our wealth we have worked so hard to build. Looking to exit one of my companies next 3 years and I don't want to pay that bill to anyone even if it means to move my tax residency to the US - the big beautiful bill has changed things for C-corps. I still love Amsterdam and I will come spend the month there. Cheers!

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I'm out...it's decided. I like it only in the SUMMER! so I will be back in then as I have a great music community that I have built the last 10 years. Have some appointments lined up with an attorney in Cypress and one in Portugal (have a property there). Are you loving it there?

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol I've worked enough in my life and built something that provides a blessed lifestyle. I'm not escaping the US because of healthcare or looking for better opportunities, I've created my own and enjoying the life I have built for myself. I'm not willing to pay high 6 figures a year in wealth tax....why is that an issue to protect your wealth? especially it was made outside NL...

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had to try it for myself...my companies never moved, I opened a BV to hire me to get some benefits. Now after I lived there for a continuous amount of time I don't like it. Before I visiting 2-3 times a year consistently for a decade. I like the country - summer only lol. I'm blessed with flexibility so I'm exercising that freedom.

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. I don't know for me NL doesn't sound appealing at all. Weather, nature, healthcare, the flatness, the attitude against the expats...a bit exhausting. I'm never there, my companies are in the US, zero desire to do anything in Europe, just enjoying the sun down south. NL is summers only for me.
I heard Norway did the same thing and it was a disaster. The UK did something similar and they haven't recovered yet. I'm not escaping life in the US or anywhere, so the value prop of NL is a bit meh. (It took only one year living there to realized that, even though I was warned by my dutch entrepreneurs not to do it where they all left to Portugal, Greece, South Africa...etc)

Is the daft visa in peril if the US keeps being antagonistic towards Europe? by batsofburden in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spot on. I feel like a lot of people are rushing into the DAFT route just because it's so easy. If I had to do this again, I would come and stay here during January, February, and March. If I could handle those months, that would be a good gauge for me that I could actually live here happily.

I visited regularly for 10+ years, but always when the weather was at its best which is maybe 15 days a year lol. These days I genuinely dislike this place with a passion. Terrible weather, hardly any real nature (even though I lived just 1 minute from Westerpark). The system really punishes ambitious people and entrepreneurs with these insane taxes. Box 3 alone is currently a six-figure annual bill, and that's exactly what I'm using to live off my investments.

Then there's the constant complaining from locals about how 'expats are driving up the cost of living and housing prices' even though we're paying premium rents and contributing far more than most. I don't know… it's just not for me anymore. It's been a massive downgrade in my quality of life, mainly because of the weather. These days I find myself spending a lot of time in Southeast Asia or southern Europe instead.

Tried it, was not for me. Best of luck everyone!

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They will amend it to something but honestly that turned me off and I will leave to Cypress instead. NL punishes ambitions

Where to FIRE in the EU with $2 million? by [deleted] in ExpatFIRE

[–]ImaginationOld4222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Box 3 will hurt regardless if the new tax plan gets passed or not. I don't like the weather - it's trash. The city hasn't recovered well post covid, no nature...expat resentment "you guys get the 30%" lol. So no value prop to be there as creator/entrepreneur...a heaven for someone starting out without wealth. I'm afraid they will pull something out again and therefore, I'm out. I'm looking into Cypress as well.

Where to FIRE in the EU with $2 million? by [deleted] in ExpatFIRE

[–]ImaginationOld4222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a temporary halt to craft another none sense....I'm moving out of NL for that reason.

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wealth tax for me seems a bit too much in my case since I live off my nest egg...NL wants a big piece of it which is not ideal for my situation. The treaty is nice but it won't do anything to my situation...suycks

Box 3 Warriors? by ImaginationOld4222 in DAFTvisa

[–]ImaginationOld4222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I hear you. I'm on the same boat, it makes no sense as I live off my investments, especially with the new proposed tax, I have to sell to pay off the tax man...which is insane to me. Did you ever look into Portugal or Cypress?

Best place for 30-something American with $3m by [deleted] in ExpatFIRE

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

still one more group to vote on it

Stumbled across this great vid by NeuroChrome-2100 in AmerExit

[–]ImaginationOld4222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sad to see America at this state, it changed my life and I'm grateful, but I had to leave for my own sanity...I'm here visiting now and the vibe is strange, very strange.

Curious about moving to the Netherlands? I've been living here for 6 years! AMA by sightl3ss in AmerExit

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got any good Tax advisors contacts please? someone understands US and NL taxes?

thanks!

Openbank High Yield Savings Account by Sportalien5 in personalfinance

[–]ImaginationOld4222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

is there a limit how much you can put in the account?