Customer Reviews

Personal Finance for Overseas Americans: How to direct your own financial future while living abroad

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(4)

 

 

I couldn't have been more disappointed by this book. It was 95% basic finance topics and 5% dealing with finances for living abroad. And the 5% was so basic that it was barely worthwhile. Not only was the book mistitled for it's content, but the style was condescending and repetitive. It's the first time that I'll be returning a book to Amazon.com

I found this book heavy on the basics of financial investing, planning, and taxation and very light on specific financial information relevant to overseas living and American expats. I think the author would be well-served to assume most expats have some basic knowledge about finances (i.e., what is a stock, etc.) and dig much deeper into the complex world of expat finances.

I am seconding the earlier review posted which made the point that this book contains largely generic financial advice, with almost nothing related to living overseas. A _big_ disappointment.

I have lived abroad since 1992, and published Overseas Digest since 1996. I have seen many books for Americans abroad, but this one offers a long-needed way to understand the many financial problems specific to working and living overseas. Especially helpful are the many charts and worksheets which make the book very easy to use.

For those of you who live abroad but often times find yourselves too busy to pay close enough attention to your finances, this compact book is for you. I've lived overseas for over 15 years, and Ms. Frew's book helped me better grasp not only the basics I needed to better understand my investments, but also more advanced taxation and retirement issues. I found the worksheets particularly useful. Bottom line is that if you live abroad and don't have time to take a seminar in personal finance, you'll find this book to be a great primer, and a useful resource.

Barbara Frew covers all the fundamental points and strategies for managing your finances - whether abroad or in the U.S. The distinction between the two is increasingly that, while abroad, you cannot go to see your bank manager and must rely on other resources for advice. Personal Finance for Overseas Americans is that other resource. Ms. Frew covers the big picture - putting first things first - without forgetting to plan for retirement and unexpected events that may happen when you are away from your hometown. The expertly designed book takes you through all the steps from getting your life in order to planning your future in terms that do not assume anything about the reader. Readers with some background in the field will read the book for the expert advice while novices will learn the basics of their own financial health, how the worlds of banks and insurance work and how to review your own financial situation. After reading this book you will be ready to plan and monitor your financial health and to enjoy living overseas without wondering how you will fare when you come home.

In Personal Finance For Overseas Americans, Barbara Frew offers the reader insightful, effective strategies that American expatriates can employ to successfully manage their complex financial affairs abroad. Frew covers all aspects of financial planning from setting goals to achieving them, as well as offering invaluable and practical advice for managing cash, debt, financial risk, investments, and taxes. Highly recommended for anyone living and working out of the country, Personal Finance For Overseas Americans is an ideal "how to" manual enhanced with step-by-step examples and easy-to-use financial worksheets.

A better title might be: Basics of Personal Finance

I did not find this book helpful at all with regards to the financial considerations of moving and living abroad.