Now i need to begin working on asset allocation and I have to figure out who to do business with. I now have accounts with Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, T Rowe price. I am looking into how to minimize my expenses and be able to mange my accounts on the Internet. One important issue for me is to be able to transfer money to my account in Thailand with a minimum fee.
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Originally Posted by clifp
Hi Mike welcome back to the forums.
A couple of comments. It seems to me that in the year since you started this thread a number of things have happened all of which are bad.
The dollar has continued to fall, (I don't know how the Bhat has done vs other currencies). The value of your investments has likely dropped, as has the value of your house.
I have no idea what has happened with Thai real estate.
But if you were on the fence a year ago, I am pretty sure the situation for you is worse.
That said you have one huge advantage your wife is Thai, and presumably has family/friend connections back in Thailand. One of my strong impressions about living Asia is that there is a huge difference in the cost between living western style and local style. Folks like Billy & Akaisha have figured that out, but I suspect that it took them some time a $ do that. You'd presumably be able to learn faster thanks to your wife, but a lot of depends on your own preferences. Personally, I could eat Thai food 29 days a month (gladly), and live with eating steak 3-4/year, drive a econ box, use ceiling fans and not AC, never attend a western rock band concert, give up good wine etc. On the other hand I couldn't give up a good internet connection or live in typical 600-700 sq foot Thai house.
One thing that my be helpful is to find out the income of upper class Thai people. If your income is great than say 80-90% of the Thai population and you have modest taste... you probably could do ok.
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