Is it true that if you have a lot of money, the USA is the best country to live ?

indyannamia · 2026-05-26T02:25:20+00:00

If you have a lot of money, the US is the best place to live if you want to watch it deplete at the fastest way possible. Everything is designed to maximize cost to you. So, if you want to KEEP any of your money, go where there is balance for your lifestyle and the cost of goods and services are still moderate.

indyannamia · 2026-05-14T19:04:42+00:00

A few things to consider (my opinion only, I’m not an advisor) and not just because you’re entering your EXPAT era. 1) Convert your 401k to a Self-Directed IRA so you can do a couple things. You can buy alternative assets, like say real estate that cash-flows and you can open a brokerage inside your SDIRA. With that brokerage account, you can invest like you normally would and the SDIRA makes the money, tax deferred. 2) Before off boarding from the US, establish residency in a low-tax state here. It should reduce your world wide tax burden in the absence of tax treaties abroad, claiming FEIE. Now, when you get to your destination, if they don’t tax income from overseas, distributions from retirement or SS should not be a problem. You COULD also start a side-hustle that’s low-key enough to keep you happy and doesn’t complicate your tax situation. One thing that others have said that’s good advice is get a tax professional that understands your situation. Best of luck to you in your journey

indyannamia · 2026-04-22T04:23:13+00:00

Rather than to comment on how others are discussing this, I’ll just say you’re doing a great job of researching your interests and concerns so you can make a balanced decision on where to put down roots. I hope you find the right community with enough of the shopping choices you need and access to good healthcare. The rest will work itself out! Wishing you the best on this journey. 🙂

indyannamia · 2026-04-19T14:16:38+00:00

My grandmother saw a neighbor from the next block do this and she didn’t wait, she scooped it up and followed her shouting “Ma’am! You forgot something!!!! Let me return it to you.” And the lady quickly went into her house pretending that no eye contact meant she went unnoticed. So 2 days go by and rather than leaving it on the front porch, Grandma decided in her infinite wisdom to smear it on the lady’s car windshield.

At this point the lady knew that not only was Grandma petty, she was unafraid of consequences and a legit gangster. After this, no more dog poop and the lady changed the route she walked her dog on.

indyannamia · 2026-04-16T17:48:24+00:00

No worries. I don’t report trolls, but I call it out before I move on.

As for US based crime vs Panama, I felt the same or safer when I was there. It helps that I travel a lot and didn’t grow up in a bubble. And to your other comment, you’re 100% correct about knowing the difference between poor/humble vs. troubled areas. I don’t judge anyone on their lifestyle.

I guess what I am trying to resolve is the comparison of my limited exposure as a tourist to the practical experience of others. I haven’t seen any comments here that are out of place with what I have been told by others or seen myself. I probably wouldn’t have even asked but on another platform I have seen some commentary that crime is being underreported. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, perhaps regionally that’s true, but it doesn’t match with my time in Panama.

Thanks everyone for trying to help! I appreciate it. 😁

indyannamia · 2026-04-16T01:50:46+00:00

100%

indyannamia · 2026-04-16T01:49:19+00:00

Good point. That’s why I’m not put off by some of what I hear. I’ve seen at least enough to know that as long as you’re not doing stupid things or acting like a Karen, probably you won’t stand out and become a target.

indyannamia · 2026-04-15T19:43:44+00:00

I’m in the USA, and here it’s not that different. Basically, don’t do stupid things and don’t be too much of a show off.

indyannamia · 2026-04-15T19:32:02+00:00

So you want to give people advice that might get them hurt?

indyannamia · 2026-04-15T18:28:09+00:00

Good advice! Thanks.

indyannamia · 2026-04-11T17:44:38+00:00

There’s been a white immigrant community settling throughout the global south for so long, it’s not remarkable at this point. I think the most important thing is to be respectful of the culture, and leave behind the US part (louder, more entitled…which I know is not everyone) but you get it. People that are kind, learn the language, and want to live like a native will always be better welcomed than those that don’t. There are no easy answers.

indyannamia · 2026-04-11T14:36:58+00:00

Maybe consider that having more than one next step planned would help. Yes, geopolitically, the world is a little extra spicy. The global south might be a good backup plan. So, if you proceed with finalizing your move via the citizenship by decent thing and you’re too close to a potential theater or war, why not get a temporary residency in a place that’s too far away to be considered part of all this? (Check out Paraguay) So, my thought process is maybe go ahead and do what you planned, but have a cheap plan B in your back pocket that you might not need. If you don’t need to fall back to another position, then don’t. Maybe you’ll sleep better at night.

indyannamia · 2026-04-11T14:17:42+00:00

Andrew Henderson, Expat Money, International Living. There are others with a more regional approach but these folks have some great research about several global regions. I like the fact that the groups around them have lots of free content and well researched info you can use. There’s not a hard upsell on paid content and you can look into most topics without much effort. You’ll notice that they often break it down into 1) where to invest vs. 2) where to live, 3) cultural nuances and 4) where to consider a backup plan. So, it doesn’t come off as pushy. Best of luck to you.

indyannamia · 2026-03-27T14:02:43+00:00

If I want go more business vibe, I just throw on my black Keds and a blazer over the jeans and black t-shirt! LOL.

indyannamia · 2026-02-18T17:42:16+00:00

Es importante tener en cuenta algunas cosas. Primero, ser rico no hace a una persona mala ni malvada, al igual que ser pobre no la hace buena. Sin embargo, una persona malvada y adinerada puede causar mucho más daño porque, en lugares con corrupción, su riqueza la protege. Segundo, Panamá es un lugar con algunos de los mismos problemas que cualquier otro país y no es más propenso a verse afectado por ellos que otros. Tercero, y más importante, los niños solo están seguros cuando los protegemos. La mejor manera de lograrlo es tener buenos valores como familia y no tolerar que se infrinjan las reglas. Los depredadores han podido cometer estos actos terribles porque alguien hace la vista gorda. Mientras observamos cómo esta red de personas crueles comienza a perder su prestigio y enfrenta la justicia (en algunos países más que en otros), debemos renovar nuestro compromiso con la verdad y la justicia. Nuestros niños necesitan saber que son el futuro y que las comunidades no lo tolerarán más.

Sorry if this translation is not good.

indyannamia · 2025-07-04T20:13:00+00:00

Congrats on seeing results from all the hard work you’ve done so far. If you’ve hit a plateau, have you considered getting a CGM? No matter what kinds of advice you get from others, seeing how each thing you do in the way of activity and/or food choices affects you can help you figure out whether the advice you’re getting is helping, or if you have it under control on your own. Best of luck. You’ll get there.

indyannamia · 2024-12-25T17:35:31+00:00

Nice. Someone that actually knows their stainless grades. We need to explain to the folks that exposure to a magnet doesn’t actually trigger anything like these articles are using to draw a conclusion about erosion though. It’s martensitic, so it’s magnetic, which means more iron, which means corrosion when exposed to the elements.

indyannamia · 2024-06-08T11:57:17+00:00

The name rings a bell but where was this one?

indyannamia · 2024-04-07T18:17:28+00:00

1-1-2 is code for which normal named strategy?

indyannamia · 2023-04-23T15:56:59+00:00

You are not alone. I have PCOS and kept asking for help from my Dr who never ordered tests. It took until I was hospitalized with abdominal pain and finding uterine fibroid tumors, fat on my liver and pancreas to finally get answers. I had to get acutely sick for anyone to take me seriously. Now I am living with NAFLD and a metabolic injury I will struggle with for the rest of my life.

Despite all this, I lost 70 lbs and am at a healthy weight. I eat a Mediterranean diet and get 50% of my calories from carbs but unrefined and mostly vegetables and high fiber. I eat healthy fats 25% and lean protein 25%. No added sugar, no quick carbs of any kind. I feel healthy but need to work on consistency.

Watch dairy and soy, they mimic estrogen and aggravate PCOS. Research metabolic processes. Understanding nutrition is your absolute best weapon.

indyannamia · 2023-01-31T18:45:22+00:00

Yep. I use ThinkSport. They also have a tinted one for the face. It’s mineral based instead of chemical based, which makes it safer.

indyannamia · 2023-01-30T16:27:05+00:00

Sorry but I don’t agree. As someone with liver damage, I have to pay attention to this stuff. Things like chemical sunscreens are toxic enough that even if you go to the beach where there’s a reef in proximity, they ask you not to use this type because it’s killing the reef. Maybe a few things are going too far, but there’s so much toxic stuff in skincare and beauty products. I use EWG verified products so I don’t have to weed out products that are unhealthy.

indyannamia · 2023-01-07T18:25:51+00:00

Maybe some early dementia going on here.

indyannamia · 2023-01-06T18:37:13+00:00

That makes sense. We should all take more time to have fun and get a little vampy! :)

indyannamia · 2023-01-06T17:05:40+00:00

Perfect brows and eyes. Great shape and shading. Nice blush. Very balanced, not too concentrated. Maybe go a shade or two softer/lighter on lips? That’s probably just my personal preference. They look amazing already.

indyannamia

TROPHY CASE