Edd and Cynthia Staton’s retirement plans were on track. Then, the 2008 Financial Crisis hit. Their careers disappeared, their home lost its value, and their savings plummeted. Realizing recovery was unlikely, they needed to come up with a Plan B.

And boy, did they ever.

In 2010, they moved to Cuenca, Ecuador. Don’t worry, they didn’t know where that was, either. But now they love it! They live in a 3,000-square-foot penthouse apartment, have a housekeeper, eat out frequently, never worry about health care costs, and walk to their favorite yoga studio.

And they aren’t the only ones. According to the Social Security Administration, the number of retirees drawing Social Security outside of the U.S. surged 40% between 2007 and 2017.

Edd and Cynthia are now seen as expat experts in retirement, traveling, and health and wellness. They’ve authored three Amazon #1 best-selling books, are regularly featured in major media, and run their own online program called Retirement Reimagined!

They believe the key to finding retirement happiness is not having to worry about money. As that becomes more challenging in the U.S., they may be saying hello to a lot more expat neighbors.

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