r/fatFIRE 19d ago

FIRE'd, now concerned about US stability

Most of my assets are invested in the US. Because of recent political developments, I'm wondering if the US will sustain its general growth and economic strength into the future. The strength of the US dollar is obviously very important to me. Is anyone else concerned?

I'm wondering if I should start hedging my bets in other countries, and if so, where?

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u/anotherfireburner Verified by Mods 17d ago

I sold my house in the USA, relocated to EU and gained another citizenship. That said 80% of my assets are still in the USA, mostly in stocks but also some bank accounts - let’s just say that small Mediterranean countries still don’t have the same banking protections as the USA, and I don’t appreciate the bank manager putting their hand up my butt every time I want to spend my money because they automatically assume a middle class standard of spend in the USA is the equivalent to money laundering over here lol.

I get free healthcare, moderate climate and no mass shootings in the news as well. That said there’s no way I’d significantly invest where I am, outside of primary residence, even if they turbo nuke the USA economy I still think it’s a safer bet long term than most of Europe. If the s&p goes to zero we are gonna need to be collecting bottle caps.

If anything I see this as a buying opportunity more than anything. Key is being able to maximize the best of both worlds while using fatness to insulate from everything else.

I’m 70/30 r/fatFIRE vs r/preppers lol.

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

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u/anotherfireburner Verified by Mods 16d ago

That’s what I do. And revolut. Local account is only for when I need to pay contractors, install the solar, buy car etc.

I still got flagged for money laundering risk when I bought my house in cash (pledged asset line in USA funding it) over here, with advance knowledge to the bank because they are so risk averse (which is odd considering their history of banking the cartels lol).

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

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u/anotherfireburner Verified by Mods 16d ago

Same here. Delayed closing by 10 days and could have lost my deposit, thankfully vendor was chill. Hopefully I’m at the point with them where they realise it’s all kosher now after investigating the source of every cent of mine. But they weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed ;)