A Quick Solution for Non-Americans Investing in the U.S.

Non-Americans who want to invest internationally often use U.S. brokerage accounts. While it may seem counter-intuitive for a non-American to open an American brokerage account from overseas, there are several reasons why this is a good move.

2 reasons why non-U.S. folks use American accounts

• Efficiency – U.S. securities markets may be the most efficient and individual-investor friendly in the world. American regulations place customer protection and transparency at the top of their concerns. You can have a diversified basket of global assets within a “regular” U.S. brokerage account, and do it cost effectively.
• Diversification – A U.S. brokerage account can host a variety of investment vehicles, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and bank deposits (CDs). American brokerage portfolios can hold investments in both American and global companies.

Do non-American heirs need to pay U.S. Inheritance Tax?

One of the issues that non-Americans face by opening an American brokerage account is the possibility of their estate having to pay an inheritance tax to the United States when they die. There are a few solutions to this problem; the most common of which is to buy “offshore” mutual funds in an American brokerage account. Those mutual funds are not considered “U.S. assets” when determining U.S. estate tax, even if the funds themselves invest in U.S. stocks. So if a non-American buys an offshore mutual fund with a name like, “ABC Offshore U.S. Equity Fund,” or the “XYZ Offshore European Bond Fund,” and then passes away, that fund will not be subject to U.S. estate tax.

In order to prevent tax bills, the account needs to be set up and handled properly. There are many details related to opening a U.S. brokerage account, so make sure you work with a company that is experienced in handling cross-border investments for both American and non-American citizens. To learn more watch the ten-minute video that over 3,000 people have viewed, “U.S. Brokerage Accounts for Non U.S. Residents” at www.Profile-Financial.com/videos. If you have other questions, call 02-624-2788.

Douglas Goldstein, CFP®, is the director of Profile Investment Services, Ltd. He is a licensed financial professional both in the U.S. and Israel. His best-selling book, Rich As A King: How the Wisdom of Chess Can Make You a Grandmaster of Investing, is available at online, at bookstores, and at www.RichAsAKing.com. Call [phone] for a consultation about handling your U.S. investments from Israel. Securities offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. Accounts carried by Pershing LLC., Member NYSE/SIPC, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not those of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.