Can you keep your 401k when you move abroad? What happens to your Roth IRA if you live in France? And is a baby registry company really worth watching as an IPO?

In Episode 184 of The Liquidity Event, Shane and AJ tackle one of the most common questions they get from American expats and dual citizens: how do you build a retirement plan when you're living abroad, paying taxes in another country, and still filing as a US person? Shane breaks down how income tax treaties work, what expats need to know about 401k and Roth IRA distributions overseas, the real cost of moving money between countries, and why accidental Americans can face some surprising IRS consequences.

Then they dig into Babylist, the baby registry platform approaching $1 billion in sales and eyeing a 2027 IPO. It's been profitable for eight straight years, raised only $40 million in outside capital, and sat out the 2021 IPO rush entirely. AJ and Shane break down why the asset-light model works, what it has in common with Etsy, and why babies aren't going anywhere.

Topics covered:

• Expat retirement planning and 401k rules for Americans living abroad
• Dual citizenship tax strategy and income tax treaties
• Roth IRA distributions for US citizens overseas
• Currency hedging and moving money internationally
• Babylist IPO outlook and what makes it different
• Financial planning for Americans with dual citizenship in Europe

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro and AJ's desk flooding incident
• 01:55 Iran ceasefire reaction and NYC nuclear anxiety
• 07:45 The Brooklyn of New Delhi and global culture
• 12:20 Listener question: retirement planning as an American abroad
• 13:58 How income tax treaties protect expat 401k holders
• 18:24 Moving money internationally and currency hedging
• 21:17 Why financial planning abroad is uniquely complex
• 24:28 Babylist approaches $1B in sales and eyes 2027 IPO

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🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com

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Q1 started strong and then the final stretch changed everything.

In Episode 183 of The Liquidity Event, AJ and John break down what actually happened in the markets this quarter, from oil's sharp rise and renewed inflation concerns to why both stocks and bonds felt pressure. They walk through how global conflict impacts commodities, rate cut expectations, and what investors should really be paying attention to as we move into Q2.

The conversation also covers the growing world of advanced tax strategies for high net worth investors, including direct indexing, 351 exchanges, and exchange funds. These tools are becoming more accessible, but they are not one size fits all. AJ and John explain how they work, who they are actually for, and why complexity does not always mean better outcomes.

They also unpack a headline making the rounds about a major league baseball player suing his parents over alleged financial mismanagement, and what it reveals about family dynamics and sudden wealth. Finally, they explore the new Bitcoin backed mortgage structure entering the market and whether it is financial innovation or leverage risk in disguise.

2:05 – Q1 Market Recap and the Oil Spike
4:10 – Inflation Concerns and Shifting Rate Cut Expectations
6:30 – How Gas Prices Hit Everyday Investors
9:00 – MLB Player Sues Parents Over Millions
12:15 – NIL Deals and Young Athletes Managing Wealth
16:05 – The One Trillion Dollar Industry of Tax Reduction
18:40 – Direct Indexing and When It Makes Sense
21:30 – 351 Exchanges and Exchange Funds Explained
25:10 – Tax Aware Long Short Strategies and the Risks
29:45 – Bitcoin Backed Mortgages and Leverage Concerns

In Episode 182 of The Liquidity Event, Shane and Kody break down a week of major financial headlines that highlight just how fast markets and technology are shifting.

They discuss BuzzFeed's dramatic fall after its aggressive AI pivot, why Coinbase's push into stablecoin yields has traditional banks on edge, and what SpaceX's potential record-breaking IPO could mean for employees and investors alike.

They also answer a listener question on how to invest $10,000 per month over a 20-year horizon without trying to time the market.

If you work in tech, hold equity, or are building long-term wealth, this episode is for you.

Key Time Stamps:

0:00 – Intro and hockey injuries
3:10 – BuzzFeed's AI pivot and stock collapse
6:45 – Why employees need a trading plan
9:30 – Coinbase vs. traditional banks at Davos
12:15 – Stablecoins and 3.5% yield controversy
15:40 – Is crypto still mostly speculation?
18:20 – SpaceX IPO targeting June
21:05 – Lockups, insider selling, and IPO risk
24:10 – What to do if you hold SpaceX shares
27:45 – How to invest $10K per month long term

🔔 Subscribe to The Liquidity Event on YouTube: YouTube Channel

🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com

✍️ Leave us a voicemail question for a future episode: memo.fm/theliquidityevent

📱 Follow Brooklyn FI:

LinkedIn: / brooklyn-fi

Instagram: / brooklyn_f.i