Frequently Asked Questions
Retiring abroad sounds romantic until you hit the paperwork. We get the questions. All of them. Here's what folks actually want to know about moving their retirement overseas without losing sleep (or their savings). So grab coffee and find what you're looking for.
We help expats figure out the money stuff when they're retiring outside their home country. Think visa requirements, tax implications, pension transfers, healthcare coverage across borders. We don't manage your investments — that's a different beast. We make sure you're not accidentally breaking laws or leaving money on the table. Basically, we're your retirement GPS when the map looks confusing.
Our fee depends on your situation's complexity. Simple cases run around $2,400. More tangled ones (multiple countries, business interests, specific residency requirements) might hit $7,500. We quote upfront. No surprises later. Some folks pay monthly over 6 months instead. Payment plans exist. We take cards, bank transfers, you name it. Call us and we'll tell you exactly what your specific situation costs.
Usually between 8-14 weeks from your first call to final plan. Depends on how responsive you're (no judgment) and which countries you're targeting. Some visa applications move fast. Others don't. We'll give you a timeline within the first week so you're not wondering. Expedited options exist if you're on a deadline. Just costs more because bureaucracies don't care about our stress levels.
We work with 31 countries actively. But honestly? We've got relationships with retirement consultants in another 47. If your dream retirement spot isn't one we work in regularly, we partner with someone who knows it backwards. You still work with us — we just bring in the local expert. Your cost doesn't change. Same coordinator handles everything so you're not juggling multiple contacts.
We can't guarantee governments won't change visa rules (they do, annoyingly). We can guarantee we've done this correctly based on current regulations. That's what our review process covers. If we miss something critical during our research phase, we fix it for free. Otherwise? No crystal ball exists. What we promise is thorough work and honest advice about risks. Some expat situations are riskier than others. We'll tell you which.
Call +1 (247) 418-7572. Email info@meridianfutureplanning.ca. Come by 114 King Street in Ottawa if you're local. Someone picks up phones during business hours. Not a robot. An actual person. We respond to emails within 24 hours. You get assigned a specific coordinator who you work with the whole time — not a different person each call. Consistency matters when we're handling your retirement.
Yes, but within limits. We identify what healthcare coverage you actually need based on your destination and age. We explain which insurances work where. We don't sell insurance (we're not licensed for that). But we'll point you toward brokers who specialize in expat coverage — the good ones who don't overcharge. Medicare doesn't follow you everywhere, and that surprises people. We make sure you understand what does and doesn't transfer.
Depends on treaties, citizenship, income sources, and where you're moving. America taxes citizens globally (brutal, we know). Other countries don't. We map out your specific tax situation and identify what you'll owe where. We work with tax accountants who handle expat returns. We're not tax preparers ourselves. But we make sure your retirement plan doesn't accidentally create a nightmare tax bill. That's how people end up upset.