Domain Query: Goldbugging

The Domain Query series is back, with a new episode inspired by a (lengthy) request from LRFotS Randale6, about how to achieve some degree of fiscal and geographical independence from the long, and increasingly corrupt and decrepit, arm of Uncle Shmuel:

By misfortune of my nationality (American) I am faced with a bit of an investment problem, the IRS has a complete and utter hatred of Americans investing in foreign stock markets (to the tune of taxing any capital gains from them at 40%, obliterating any gains from compound interest).

Once my English teaching stint is over and I transition over to international/bilingual schools I will be making enough money to begin serious investing, but the dollar is something I need to either escape or somehow make up for.

I see the following options but am open to more.

Moving to Russia: Owing to the west's sanctioning of Russia international schools in Russia seem to be having great difficulty with recruiting western teachers (from what I hear at any rate), this means that a less than ideal candidate (such as myself) will be considered, particularly by less than top notch schools.

I am lukewarm to Russia but...a pathway to citizenship that doesn't involve marriage is offered there (I will be blunt, no Natashas, they are not worth the headache), it won't give a flying fuck about the dollar collapsing and with Russian citizenship I can safely invest in their stock market (so long as i don't travel anywhere that has an extradition treaty with the USA).

Option 2 is betting against the USA...with dollars.

Simply put it would be putting money into such things as vanguard index funds that target overseas investments and betting that even if the dollar goes to hell that those investments will skyrocket enough to make up for the difference. I have no clue if this would work at all.

I am of course open to other options, but I am not sure if they even exist or what they are.

I answer this set of questions as follows:

1. First, I note the availability of the Foreign Earned Income Exemption, which provides for at least a modicum of tax relief for American citizens living abroad;
2. Then, I discuss what it is like to live in Russia, and in other locations outside the West - it is NOT easy, at all, and those who do it, need to understand what they are getting into;
3. I talk about the challenges, and opportunities, involved in opening up investment accounts in foreign lands, such as Russia - while it is possible, one needs to be careful about the bureaucracy involved, and be realistic about the challenges as well;
4. I talk about the interesting and exciting world of emerging alternative investments, such as digital currencies and stablecoins, and traditional ways of diversifying your currency exposure, like precious metals and cash;

One point I should have mentioned, but forgot, is that the demand for foreign English-speaking teachers in Russia is actually rapidly declining - while interest in those speaking Chinese or Asian languages, is spiking. This is because of Russia's rapid shift toward a true Eurasian posture. It is worth keeping this in mind - Russia is not an easy country to live in, even at the best of times, and nowadays, for foreigners, it is becoming substantially more difficult to enter.

However, I will say this - once you get past a few irritating hurdles, and you bother to take the time and learn the language, life in Russia can be quite pleasant, even wonderful, because of the advanced civilisation, culture, and humanity of its people.

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I make some pretty incendiary statements in this podcast, and in most of my podcasts. I can only do so because I take steps to protect myself from the Big Tech companies, and preserve my identity. You need to do the same – this is no longer optional, because if you don’t, the gatekeepers WILL come for your head.

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