PFICs and U.S. Taxation: What New U.S. Tax Residents Should Know
Why foreign mutual funds, ETFs and investment companies may become tax-inefficient and reporting-heavy after U.S. tax residency begins.
I’ve acquired a new skill!
This week, I made my first batch of biltong — and honestly, I’m not sure if I was more proud of the result or the fact that my whole house now smells like home.There’s something magical about the taste of biltong ❤️ — that unmistakable mix of coriander, vinegar and nostalgia that instantly transports you […]
You Can’t Put a Timer on Healing 🇿🇦 💔 🇺🇸
On the 15th of August, it will be three years since we boarded that flight to the USA — suitcases in hand, hearts in our throats, and hope tucked somewhere in between. In many ways, we’ve come a long way. We’ve built a new life from scratch. We’ve learned new systems, made friends, bought a […]
Across Oceans, Through Heartache ✈️ 💔 🌍
Emigration is full of layers — some expected, others impossible to prepare for. One of the hardest? Navigating grief across oceans. Just months after we arrived in the U.S., — my dearest high school friend and business partner — received a devastating diagnosis. Despite the odds, she fought courageously and never lost her passion or […]
Abandoners or Adaptors? 🇿🇦 🏉 ✈️ 🇺🇸 🏈
A personal reflection — and maybe a professional one too. My sons grew up playing rugby in South Africa — the kind of rugby that stitches itself into your weekends, your friendships, your childhood. It’s not just a sport back home… it’s a heartbeat. When we moved to the U.S., rugby wasn’t an option at […]
The yellow school bus. 🚌 Do you recognise these from the movies?
You grow up seeing them on TV, probably still do — part of every American childhood storyline — and then suddenly, it’s parked outside your house, and your kids are climbing aboard like it’s the most normal thing in the world. But for me? It still feels surreal. This big, bright, unapologetically yellow bus rolling […]
All the Firsts 🇺🇸✨….. they the things that stick with you
The firsts of any adventure become the stories you tell and the memories that stitch themselves into the fabric of your new life. They’re the building blocks, small moments that somehow hold up the whole house. The first time you experience something, taste something new, cheer with strangers, or feel, even for a moment, like […]
Finding My Tribe, Thousand of Kilometres from Home 🇿🇦 👭 🇺🇸
When we moved to the U.S., I thought: Well, at least we won’t have a language barrier. Turns out, I was wrong. Yes, we all technically speak English — but between the accents, the slang, and the “Sorry, are you British?” moments… it sometimes feels like we’re translating in real time. One of the greatest […]
We Were Nobodies
Or at least… that’s what it felt like when we arrived in the U.S. Despite our ages, having bought and sold property, built careers, paid off cars, managed businesses, and raised a family — when we landed here, we started at zero. – No credit score.– No local history.– No proof that we were anything […]
Understanding Medicare as a New Immigrant
An introduction to Medicare eligibility, Parts A through D, enrollment windows, costs and the planning issues that matter to later-life immigrants.
Understanding U.S. Social Security as a New Immigrant
A clear overview of Social Security numbers, payroll contributions, work credits, retirement benefits and planning limits for newcomers.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Emigrating from SA to USA 🇿🇦➡️🇺🇸
The Good: Amazon You cannot really compare Amazon and Takealot. Need a garlic press by tomorrow morning? Done. A weird charger for a toy dinosaur? Already en route. A dog Halloween costume at 9 p.m.? Of course. Same-day or next-day delivery is now a lifestyle. Sadly, it makes for a culture of consumerism and instant […]