Finally, Plan your Dream Retirement Abroad with Guidance from the Clever Expat!
Achieve your retirement dreams abroad… even if you don’t know where to begin!
Course Enrollments close on May 5, 2023
A person on a videocall
Eliminate the expense and confusion around planning your retirement abroad!
“I don’t know where to start!”
Many people share the goal to retire abroad, but only a few succeed. Sorting through all of the retirement choices is difficult enough, but when you add your dream of living part of the year or full-time abroad, retirement planning becomes even more challenging.
Could this be you? A true story:
I was recently in a Spanish consulate office in the United States to pick up my visa. I wasn’t alone. There was another couple there and a single lady, all of retirement age when I arrived. They were having a conversation about their experiences and plans after getting their visas.
The couple said that they had spent $15,000 to have their goods shipped to their Spanish destination. They planned to buy a home when they arrived. The other lady said that she had moved to Miami to be closer to the consulate. She said she planned to perhaps buy a home, but she was going to hire a full-time driver in Spain. She wasn’t sure what her final shipping costs would be, but she also expected between $15,000 and $20,000 to transport her items to her new home. None of them spoke Spanish. All of them had made significant life changes to become expat retirees. When the visa official arrived to complete the visa process, the couple received their visas and passports and left. Then the remaining lady started a conversation with the visa official. “I brought my paperwork that the consulate requested.” (She had a large bundle of papers, along with a box of additional documents.) The official stated bluntly, “You need to mail those documents in. That’s what the directions said in our communication. I can’t take your documents.” The woman was shocked. “But I have the documents right here. I can’t give them to you?” “No, you have to mail them in,” stated the official. “But I moved to Miami specifically to take care of tasks like this in person!” She was clearly surprised that the official was not going to budge. “The directions in the letter we sent to you were clear,” said the official. “Mail the documents in.” The lady, defeated and clearly unhappy, left the office.
Learn how to avoid this type of stress… keep reading!
If you’re like most future expats, you need an expat roadmap to get started. With a roadmap, you can successfully navigate a number of crucial questions:
- How do you choose a place to live?
- How do you plan a life now that work has ended or is reduced?
- What are the things that will make you happy as an expat?
- What are you hoping to experience in another country?
- How will you determine how much money you will need to live?
Each of these questions indicates a topic that often creates a stumbling block for retirees who want to want to become expats. Your answers (or lack of answers) can either derail your expat planning process. In the worst cases, your answers can stop your dreams in their tracks. It’s heartbreaking when people have to change their goals of living in another country because they can’t figure out all of the details.
When I first moved to Spain from 2013-2015, I was in a completely different place in my life. (Here’s a link to my story.) When I returned to Spain in 2021, the world had changed, and so had Spain. The experience took me by surprise. I thought I knew what to expect, but I was wrong.
Navigating healthcare, paperwork, and financial matters was almost impossible without help.
I mean, I had already done this once. I foolishly thought that my previous experience was sufficient. I knew people already, I had experienced many of the processes before, spoke some Spanish, and I knew the area pretty well. Over and over again, I learned that I was less prepared than I thought. I needed a lot of help to complete all of the steps to set up a life in Spain, from telephones to internet to healthcare.
However, with perseverance, patience, and a whole lot of language learning, I have been able to overcome many of the challenges and learned what other expats have faced. There are some common factors in every expat’s story as they look for retirement abroad.
- Finances. Crafting a new spending and financial plan for another country takes time and experience.
- Healthcare. Staying healthy in body and mind is important as you get older. Navigating a new health system requires different expectations and some new skills.
- Paperwork.From passports to bank statements to healthcare letters, the paperwork requirements seem endless!
- Arriving smarter. Building a new community and connecting with locals is a difficult challenge, but not impossible.
Looking back on my first year living in Spain, I learned so much. Not every “lesson” was pleasant, and there were many hard decisions as I became more success as an expat. I’ve also been able to help others learn about being an expat.
The CleverExpat.com website began with a meetup group in mind, but has grown to so much more. More and more people want to live abroad, and are looking for reliable sources of information to make the transition to living as expats.
Introducing The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad is a three-session live, interactive, and online course for people interested in retiring abroad, either full- or part-time. The course will cover finances, healthcare, and expat paperwork, the three most critical components of retiring abroad.
Each 90-minute session will be a guided exploration of topics and tools to help you plan and make decisions about your future.
Here’s What You’ll Get When You Sign Up
If you are like most adult learners, you attend a course and then revisit it days, weeks, or months later to review the topics as you think about changes you want to make. I’ve designed this course to be a deep dive into retiring abroad. See below for some of the details for each module.
When will the sessions be held?
- The course is divided into three sessions, every other week, over a five-week period.
- Each session will be held on a Saturday, from 10:00AM to 11:30AM Eastern Time.
- All sessions will be recorded, and the recordings will be available for class members for one week (or longer if special arrangements are made with the instructor).
- Sessions will be conducted via a state-of-the-art videoconferencing system.
Upcoming Course Dates:
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad
Module 1
Saturday
06 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 2
Saturday
20 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 3
Saturday
03 June 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
How many people can be enrolled in the class?
- Each class will be limited to 10 video call seats for the live events.
- Participants can attend individually, or with a partner, spouse, or family member.
Will there be homework for the class?
- There will be several assignments throughout the course to help participants capture their thoughts and participate in the class discussions. Some of these assignments will be emailed between class sessions.
- Resources will be delivered via email and through password-protected links on the course website.
- Some of the homework will directly inform the upcoming class session.
- The homework is not meant to take more than 30 minutes to complete, but participants may wish to “dig in” an spend more time on the assignments as part of their own preparation.
What happens once I sign up?
- Each registrant will receive notification that they are enrolled in the course.
- There will be a course entrance survey to help the instructor prepare for the group.
- Specific information for each event will be emailed to the participants.
How is each session organized? Each of the three class sessions will include:
- Session welcome and orientation
- Connection to the previous communications and sessions
- Overview of the session topics
- Topic presentation and discussions
- Bio break (5-10 minutes)
- Topic presentation and discussions
- Goal development for the upcoming sessions
- Topic review
- Session close
Since each group of participants is different, the flow may be modified to fit the specific discussions and interests of the group!
Small Group = Personal Attention
This is the perfect opportunity to ask questions about your own personal expat plans and journey! In larger meetup events, interactivity is limited. During the Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad sessions, you are encouraged to ask your questions and reflect on the different topics from your own perspective.
Useful Tools for Self-Study
Planning for retirement abroad takes time and effort! You’ll need several iterations to establish and refine your goals. With the Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad resources, you’ll be able to think through work through prompts and questions that help you distill your ideas. You’re not doing this alone!
Meeting Others on the Same Journey
Being an expat or retiree focused on living abroad sometimes feels like being in middle school again! If you ever feel like you are the only one who wants to retire abroad, then this course is for you! You’ll meet other engaged participants who have similar dreams and goals. The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad activities are designed to foster interaction and collaboration for each participant.
“Forever Access” to New Resources
Once you complete the course, you may want to go back and revisit some of the topics or the tools. With Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad resources, you will always have access to download the latest versions of this course’s resources, even if they are improved or updated over time!
Here’s what people are saying about the course materials
People have already learned so much through the Clever Expat meetups and online resources. After attending, participants feel much more confident in their knowledge and pursuit of the dreams to live abroad. Most frequently, participants indicate that they were able to save money and focus their efforts to make retiring abroad a success!
Maurice F.
Traveler
Excellent materials
Engaging instructor
Dr. Wells provides excellent materials that clearly and thoroughly explain topics. Dr. Wells is an engaging instructor and the expat guide is an essential resource.
John C.
Future Expat, World Traveler
Save time
Avoid barriers
Increase confidence
Dr. Christopher Wells provides expert insights into the expat transition process. The information helps to save time, avoid barriers, and increase confidence prior to my expat journey.
Dave T.
Retired Traveler
High quality
Excellent content
High quality and worth archiving. Dr. Wells’ time management is unreal. Content is excellent to get the attendees kickstarted on our own detail!
What’s in the course?
Each module has been carefully developed to reflect the major interests of retirees abroad and future retirees. Each 90-minute class provides “deep learning” instruction on multiple topics, plenty of time for questions and answers, and resources for planning.
1
Module 1: Money changes everything
Whether you are retiring on a shoestring or getting a significant financial boost from your retirement planning, there are some common themes around money topics. In this session, we will explore some of the money-related topics that accompany expat retirement, both full- and part-time.
- Compare cost-of-living characteristics in your dream location
- Develop an expat budget
- Financially plan for unexpected expat costs
- Design a strategy for taxes as an retiree abroad
- Plan for having more than one home
2
Module 2: Staying healthy, staying sharp
Healthcare and healthy living takes on a new dimension when you move abroad. In this session, we will discuss a number of strong strategies for staying healthy, both physically and mentally. Additionally, we will consider some of the lessons that other expats have shared about health care do’s and don’ts.
- Consider healthcare insurance options
- Find information about personal safety and protection
- Support your mental health as an expat
- Learn more from expats already in the area
- Prepare for expected and unexpected medical experiences
3
Module 3: Paperwork is a lot of work
Yes, paperwork is part of the expat experience, but it doesn’t have to be huge challenge. In this module, we will discuss the types of documents you will need as a retiree abroad, and how to organize them to prevent processing delays.
- Determine whether you need a visa or not
- Find visa requirements that suit your retirement abroad
- Get help completing your visa paperwork, both in the US and abroad
- Prevent paperwork delays with organizational strategies
- How to define your residency goals (part-time, full-time, periodic long trips)
Bonus
There’s more in every module!
This course has been in development in one form or another since 2018.
Bonus 1
Comprehensive workbook
Every lesson is complemented by a comprehensive workbook that can be printed or completed online.
Filled with cheat sheets, guided reflections, and collections of tips and tricks, the workbook will be your guide after the session is completed.
Bonus 2
Focused question-and-answer sessions
While the course content is designed with expat retirees in mind, there are topic-specific Q&A sessions built into every session.
During Q&A sessions, you can ask all of those questions about the topic at hand. Since it will be a small group of people, asking your questions becomes a source of meaningful, and productive, conversations!
Bonus 3
Assignments to extend your learning and knowledge
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retirement Abroad sessions occur every other week. Between sessions, there are essential assignments to extend your learning and prepare you for the upcoming session.
Assignments will be emailed to participants and can be printed out or completed online. Additionally, these assignments can be revisited periodically to support participant learning after the course has concluded.
Meet the Instructor,Dr. Christopher Wells
Dr. Wells is an expat and is currently living in Valencia, Spain. As an American citizen, Dr. Wells has experienced the ins and outs of visa applications, settling in a new country, and overcoming many of the challenges that face new and experienced expats alike. He has a passion for helping others become expats and has developed multiple research-based planning tools. He also runs a future expats meetup group that has grown to over 1,300 members since 2018. As a career educator, Dr. Wells has developed multiple curriculums and instructional methods. Most recently, he worked for a global educational publishing company. He has worked with teams in multiple countries, including Switzerland, Great Britain, France, and Dubai. He has a deep passion for encouraging future expats and designing strategies to help others achieve their expat goals.
Dr. Christopher Wells in Finestrat, near Benidorm, Spain. More about My Story.
Here’s what people are saying about the course instructor
Sharon B.
World Traveler
Future Expat
Expat himself
Insight is a tremendous guide
The information Dr. Wells provides is very helpful and informative. Being an expat himself, his firsthand experience and knowledge is super beneficial. I look forward to hearing more from him! I have known Dr. Wells for many years and have seen and heard what roadblocks and challenges he has had (and continues to have) to jump over, go through and stumble through!! Therefore, his insight is a tremendous guide for future expats.
Jennifer C.
Future Expat
Current Traveler
Always prepared
Kind and patient group leader
Dr. Wells is always prepared. He is also a kind and patient group leader/manager. Our group is international, so people are logging in from multiple locations and time zones. We are very fortunate to have him leading the way for us!
Adrienne H.
Future Expat
Engaging, effective, and passionate
Dr. Wells’ experience as a teacher and trainer – as well as an expat – shines brightly through as he guides us through discussions of each session’s topic. He’s engaging, effective, and passionate about the expat journey and helping us to plan then experience our best possible journey.
The Cost of Becoming a Retiree Abroad
Before moving abroad
Many expats retiring abroad will find and hire a whole team to help them plan for their move to a new home:
- Immigration lawyers to help prepare the paperwork in the US (5 hours x $300 = $1,500)
- Relocation experts to prepare for move (10 hours x $150 = $1,500)
- Financial planner specifically to prepare for expat retirement (10 hours x $250 = $2,500)
- Tax advisor for simple tax preparations ($250 planning session + 5 hours x $200 = $1,250)
Total before moving: $6,750
After MOVING ABROAD
There’s another risk, too: overpaying for help when you arrive at your destination. Without a crystal-clear plan for your move, you may end up spending much more than you should for substandard help:
- Hiring a rental agent to help you identify neighborhoods, homes, and desired living arrangements (Estimated at $2,000)
- Storage for items that will need to be replaced in your new home, such as appliances and large artwork (annually) (12 months x $200 = $2,400)
- Hiring a local immigration lawyer to help you complete your immigration process in your new country (5 hours x $300 = $1,500)
- Private tutoring to learn basic language skills in your new country (20 hours x $75 = $1,500)
Total after moving: $7,400
Grand total: $14,150
All of these estimates are conservative, and based on real companies offering real services. In many cases, expats spend in excess of $20,000!
How can you save yourself from a “expat sticker shock” AND still move to your dream retirement location?
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retirement Abroad offers tips and resources for every part of the planning and moving process. Think of this course as your “secret code” to unlock your new life and your new dreams abroad.
Full course
All materials and three 90-minute online class sessions.
$247
- Attendance for all three modules
- Handouts and guidebooks
- Lifetime access to materials*
*Please see the Terms and Conditions for more details. All coaching services subject to verification prior to final approval.
Coaching for course members
Two 45-minute personal coaching videocalls, priced at a discount for course participants.
$97
- Handouts and resources based on individual discussions.
- Two 45-minute videocalls for private coaching and consultation
Upcoming Course Dates:
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad
Module 1
Saturday
06 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 2
Saturday
20 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 3
Saturday
03 June 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Course Enrollments close on May 5, 2023
100% Satisfaction Guarantee for 30 Days following the course
Choosing an expat lifestyle can be a difficult decision. We’ve designed this course to make those decisions simpler, and you more successful as you pursue your dreams.
However, we also know that not every course is for every person, and you may not find the value that you expected.
That’s why we are offering a no-questions-asked refund policy. If you are not satisfied with the materials, the presentations, or the overall experience, contact Clever Expat for a 100% refund for up to 30 days following the last course session. It’s that simple.
Don’t wait! Look at what past learners have to say after connecting with the Clever Expat!
- This topic came at the perfect time for me. I literally had a mental ‘crisis’ about moving last night, and this discussion helped calm me down.
- I love that there are other expats to connect with before and after your relocation so you don’t have to do this alone!
- Combined with the well-presented info and thought exercises during the presentation, as well as the above-and-beyond resources available on the website, I appreciate every time someone simply reminds me that this is possible! I’d like to think I’m beyond needing it, but nope – pep talks keep my motivation steady towards the goal of expat/remote work life!
- Dr. Wells, I feel so very lucky to have met you. You have helped me so much in this journey and I can’t thank you enough. Doing my best to pay it forward!
- I like that that there is plenty of time provided for people to chat as after complete topics.
- You have broadened my view of moving to another country! I was in fairytale land before viewing this meetup. Dr. Wells, you have given a lot of information I haven’t considered.
- Thank you very much, you have shared excellent ideas & I’m impressed you have actually DONE IT and made your expat life a reality!
- One of the key ingredients for this group is Dr. Wells’ enthusiasm and willingness to entertain conversation.
- I like the introspective questions that are part of the discussions. I like that relevant information and stories!
- Hearing from other people, getting tips, the always excellent moderating skills of Dr. Wells.
- The Visa information was extremely useful and easy to put into practice for my own expat journey.
- I really appreciated the discussion of the research necessary before making any decisions. Key lesson: Don’t wing it.
- Yes! This was fantastic. Just what I was looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Course Enrollments close on May 5, 2023
Full course
All materials and three 90-minute online class sessions.
$247
- Attendance for all three modules
- Handouts and guidebooks
- Lifetime access to materials*
*Please see the Terms and Conditions for more details. All coaching services subject to verification prior to final approval.
Coaching for course members
Two 45-minute personal coaching videocalls, priced at a discount for course participants.
$97
- Handouts and resources based on individual discussions.
- Two 45-minute videocalls for private coaching and consultation
Upcoming Course Dates:
The Clever Expat’s Guide to Retiring Abroad
Module 1
Saturday
06 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 2
Saturday
20 May 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
Module 3
Saturday
03 June 2023
10:00AM – 11:30AM ET
I’m glad you’re here!
I developed this course based on my years of experience as an expat and world traveler. Retiring abroad is a very realistic goal for many people, and I have spent years developing tools and teaching others how to live overseas. Whether your move is for work, personal reasons, or retirement, living abroad is a powerful opportunity to live your own dream.
I admit that I am very proud of this course and so thankful for the community that supports me. I hope you will join me and the others who are on the journey to retirement abroad!
See you in class!
CleverExpat.com
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