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The information contained in this article is for general educational purposes and should never be viewed as specific investment, tax, or legal advice. In January 2017 the Israeli government opened an account for every Israeli child under 18 (“חיסכון לכל ילד“). Since then, money has been deposited in to these accounts each month and all … Read more
The year was 2018. I was working in hi-tech and earning well. My wife and I smartly decided to open an Israeli investment account. I had recently learned about a new product called Kupat Gemel Lehashkaa (KGL). It sounded incredible (hindsight: it isn’t ideal for most): tax-free investing, deposits of up to 70,000 ₪ per … Read more
Is my money safe in Israel? Is the best place to keep my savings in Israel or elsewhere? If I am making Aliyah, should my money be making Aliyah with me or stay right where it is? It is important to point out that making big financial decisions simply based on what is going on … Read more
Welcome to your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Keren Hishtalmut. Keren Hishtalmut (KH) is a great tax-free investment account, available to many employees (at the employer’s discretion) and to all self-employed individuals. Contribute the maximum you can to it (though read on for self-employed US citizens). Optimize your fees, think carefully … Read more
The information contained in this article is for general educational purposes and should never be viewed as specific investment, tax, or legal advice. So you have some savings that have just been sitting around in the bank and you’re ready to put them to work – where do you even begin? Say you already have … Read more
This article is based on a paper by Nick Maggiulli of Virtus Investment Partners. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This is not investment advice, is for general purposes only, and does not take into account your individual needs, investment objectives and specific financial circumstances. Let’s say you want to invest and can … Read more
Navigating multiple financial systems effectively has always been a challenge to contend with for those of us who move to Israel. The good news is that innovation and competition are leading to simpler and more cost-effective solutions to some of the common money-management obstacles many of us Olim face. Advancements in financial technology are making … Read more
Since starting this blog, I’ve received many thoughtful questions about the financial challenges Olim face. One topic that comes up repeatedly is how to think about bonds within an investment portfolio. Should Israelis be buying shekel-denominated bonds or U.S. dollar bonds? And how should Americans in Israel approach Israeli bonds while avoiding the PFIC tax … Read more
I often hear from Olim and prospective Olim who are eager to move their investments quickly out of the U.S. and into what they think of as the “Israeli markets.” For many, there’s a strong and understandable desire to participate in the miracle of the “Start-Up Nation.” Others want their investments better aligned with the … Read more
Many Americans living in Israel want a better understanding of the investment options available to them beyond employer-sponsored retirement and pension plans. Confusion around this topic is compounded by the PFIC issue—discussed in more detail below—which makes many Israeli investment and savings vehicles poor choices for Americans. This article focuses specifically on the relatively limited … Read more