The Bougie Expats

How much money do you really need to retire abroad?

In this episode of The Bougie Expat Podcast, Sable sits down with Nakia Lawson, also known as The Tall Money Lady, to talk about retirement, relocation, savings, income, and what Black women over 40 need to think through before building a life outside the U.S.

Nakia shares why retirement planning should start with the life you want to feel, not just a number in your bank account. She and Sable talk about the real cost of retiring abroad, why your monthly budget depends on your lifestyle, and how savings, income streams, investments, pensions, Social Security, and emergency funds all work together.

They also discuss why moving abroad is not the same as going on vacation. Your relocation plan should include housing, healthcare, travel, family visits, savings, income, and a clear money plan that supports the life you want.

This episode is for Black women over 40 who are thinking about retiring overseas, moving abroad, or creating a more intentional next chapter with financial peace and freedom.

This episode is for education and conversation only. It is not personal financial advice.

In This Episode

•  How to think about retirement abroad after 40 
•  Why your retirement number depends on your lifestyle 
•  The difference between savings and income 
•  Why three to six months of expenses still matters abroad 
•  How to plan for healthcare, travel, and family visits 
•  Why Social Security, pensions, and retirement accounts need a clear plan 
•  How investments can support monthly income 
•  Why saving alone may not build long-term wealth 
•  The value of trade-offs when working toward a relocation goal 
•  Why self-prioritization matters for Black women planning retirement 
•  How your circle can support your financial goals 

Guest Info

Guest: Nikia Lawson
Known as: The Tall Money Lady
Focus: Retirement planning, money strategy, and financial education

Connect with Nikia on social media at The Tall Money Lady.

Thank you for listening to The Bougie Expat Podcast.

If this episode spoke to you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with another Black woman over 40 who has been thinking about relocating abroad, retiring overseas, or designing a new chapter with more freedom, peace, and intention.

Join Sable, your bougie girlfriend:

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572263316409

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thebougieexpats?igsh=MXc2d2FqdHA3MW42bw==

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sableryan/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thebougieexpat

If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, planning to move overseas, or thinking about retirement outside the United States, taxes still need to be part of your relocation plan.

In this episode of The Bougie Expat Podcast, Sable sits down with her friend Laura, an expat tax CPA with more than 20 years of experience in international taxes, for a clear conversation about what U.S. citizens need to understand before moving abroad.

Laura explains why the IRS still expects U.S. citizens to file taxes while living overseas, how tax residency works, what double taxation means, and why filing does not always mean you will owe. She also breaks down the foreign earned income exclusion, foreign tax credits, the 330-day physical presence test, and why retirement income, passive income, business income, and digital nomad income can all be treated differently.

This conversation is especially helpful for Black women over 40 who are planning to relocate abroad, retire overseas, work remotely, or build income streams while living outside the U.S.

This episode is not tax advice. It is an educational conversation to help you understand what questions to ask and why speaking with a qualified tax professional before moving abroad can save you stress, money, and major surprises later.

In This Episode

•  Why U.S. citizens still need to file taxes while living abroad 
•  What tax residency means for expats 
•  Why filing taxes does not always mean owing taxes 
•  How the foreign earned income exclusion works 
•  The 330-day physical presence test 
•  What double taxation means 
•  How foreign tax credits may reduce U.S. tax liability 
•  Why retirement income and earned income are treated differently 
•  Tax concerns for digital nomads and remote workers 
•  Why LLCs, S corps, and business income need planning before relocation 
•  How unpaid taxes can affect passport renewal or travel 
•  Why every relocation plan should include a tax plan 

Mentioned in This Episode

•  IRS filing obligations for U.S. citizens abroad 
•  Tax residency 
•  Foreign earned income exclusion 
•  Foreign tax credit 
•  Double taxation 
•  Digital nomad income 
•  Passive income 
•  Retirement income 
•  U.S. passport tax issues 
•  LLCs and S corporations 
•  Portugal 
•  Panama 
•  Laura, expat tax CPA 

Thank you for listening to The Bougie Expat Podcast.

If this episode spoke to you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with another Black woman over 40 who has been thinking about relocating abroad, retiring overseas, or designing a new chapter with more freedom, peace, and intention.

Join Sable, your bougie girlfriend:

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572263316409

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thebougieexpats?igsh=MXc2d2FqdHA3MW42bw==

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sableryan/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thebougieexpat

At 62, Sable found out she no longer had a job after the shutdown of a U.S. government agency. Instead of trying to rebuild her career in a difficult job market, she asked herself a different question: why not move to Panama now?

In this first episode of The Bougie Expat Podcast, Sable shares the real story behind her move from the U.S. to Panama City. What started as a five-year retirement idea quickly became a five-month relocation plan, complete with a one-way ticket, a packed-up home, and a decision to begin again abroad.

Sable talks about moving to Panama sight unseen, finding furnished apartments, adjusting to Spanish-speaking daily life, using U.S. dollars, connecting with Black expats, and learning what it really takes to settle into a new country. She also explains why cash flow, community, clarity, and confidence matter when thinking about relocating abroad.

This episode is for Black women over 40 who are thinking about moving abroad, retiring overseas, rebuilding after job loss, or creating a more intentional next chapter.

In This Episode

•  Why Sable moved to Panama at 62 
•  How job loss pushed her relocation timeline forward 
•  What it was like moving to Panama sight unseen 
•  First impressions of Panama City 
•  Finding furnished apartments abroad 
•  Adjusting to daily life in a Spanish-speaking country 
•  Why Black expat community matters 
•  How cash flow supports relocation 
•  Why clarity and confidence are needed before moving abroad 

Mentioned in This Episode

•  Panama City, Panama 
•  Black expat community in Panama 
•  Furnished apartments 
•  Uber in Panama 
•  Duolingo 
•  Passive income 
•  Investment income 
•  Retirement abroad

Thank you for listening to The Bougie Expat Podcast.

If this episode spoke to you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with another Black woman over 40 who has been thinking about relocating abroad, retiring overseas, or designing a new chapter with more freedom, peace, and intention.

Join Sable, your bougie girlfriend:

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572263316409

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thebougieexpats?igsh=MXc2d2FqdHA3MW42bw==

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sableryan/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thebougieexpat

This is the official music of the podcast The Bougie Expats.

Thank you for listening to The Bougie Expat Podcast.

If this episode spoke to you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with another Black woman over 40 who has been thinking about relocating abroad, retiring overseas, or designing a new chapter with more freedom, peace, and intention.

Join Sable, your bougie girlfriend:

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572263316409

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thebougieexpats?igsh=MXc2d2FqdHA3MW42bw==

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sableryan/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thebougieexpat