Queer Money®: How Gay People Do Money

Ready for a fabulous gay retirement in Ecuador? Thinking about retiring abroad? You’re not alone. In Ep. 616 we break down Ecuador—a country that punches above its weight with year-round spring weather, U.S. dollar convenience, solid healthcare, and a much lower cost of living. We cover legal landscape (marriage since 2019; gender recognition 2024), where stigma still shows up, and our Top 5 Ecuador cities for gay retirees—Salinas, Cotacachi, Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca—with 2BR rent ranges, cost-of-living vs. U.S., and our Queer Money Retirement Rating for each. Key Takeaways Real savings:~50–70% cheaperClimate win:“eternal spring”Queer reality:visibility and safety varyTrade-offs: Chapters: SalinasRating 6/10CotacachiRating 7/10GuayaquilRating 7/10QuitoRating 8/10CuencaRating 9/10 Links referenced in this episode: queermoneypodcast.com/citiesqueermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Navigating Expat Taxes: Insights for Dream Retirees Snagged a dream place in Puerto Vallarta or Mykonos… and now the IRS is at the door? Today we’re joined by expat tax expert Michelle Miele (Director of Paperwork) to decode how U.S. taxes work when you retire abroad. We cover Social Security, IRA/401(k)/Roth distributions, self-employment/online business income, countries with and without U.S. tax treaties, foreign tax credits, and common traps (like selling your U.S. home after you change tax residency). Three real-world scenarios—Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand—show you how this plays out. Key Takeaways: Filing ≠ owing.Order matters:file where you live firstforeign tax creditsRoth alert:tax Roth distributionsEntity traps:LLC/S-corpReal estate timing:sell while still a U.S. tax residentBenefits trade-off:much lower healthcare and living costs Related Queer Money Episodes: Top 5 Cities for Gay Retirement in TaiwanBest LGBTQ+ Retirement Cities in GreeceThe $6,000 “Boomer Bonus” Deduction StrategiesAffordable Gay-Friendly Cities in PortugalGay Expats in Mexico: Pacific Coast Edition Chapters: Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here! Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Affordable Gay-Friendly Retirement in Taiwan: Top 5 Cities Ranked Thinking of retiring in Asia where gay rights have advanced and everyday life feels modern and livable? On episode 614 we head to Taiwan to explore one of the region’s most unexpected retirement gems for gay men: full same-sex marriage, vibrant queer culture, lower cost of living and global infrastructure. Hosts John & David walk you through the Top 5 Taiwanese cities for LGBTQ+ retirement, break down cost of living, queer infrastructure, and the trade-offs you’ll need to know. What you’ll get in this episode: Queer Money Retirement Rating Takeaways: can What to do next: If you’re ready to map out your path to gay-friendly early retirement abroad — whether Taiwan or elsewhere — grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator today at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc Join the conversation: comment, share your experience, or send us your questions about retiring abroad as gay men. Suggested other episodes you’ll love: Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:22 - Taichung 05:16 - Kaohsiung 07:09 - Tainan 09:10 - New Taipei (suburbs of Taipei) 11:23 - Taipei 15:14 - Outro Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here! Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

How to Retire in Portugal Picture it: retiring fabulously in Portugal with LGBTQ+ protections, world-class healthcare, and the freedom to split time between Europe and the U.S.—without uprooting your life today. In Queer Money® episode 613, we sit down with Pedro Lino, CEO of Optimize Investment Partners, to unpack the Portugal Golden Opportunities Fund—a SEC-registered, PFIC-compliant mutual fund designed to qualify investors for Portugal’s Golden Visa (residency now, citizenship later). We cover why a Golden Visa can be smart “life-hedging” in uncertain times, how the fund works (stocks/bonds, no real estate), what’s changing in Europe, using self-directed IRAs, costs, timelines, and how one investment can include your spouse, kids, and even parents through family reunification. Whether your dream is six months in Lisbon and six months stateside, a second passport for your kids’ future, or a values-aligned Plan B if U.S. politics keeps fraying your nerves, this episode gives you the details to decide with confidence. Takeaways optionalityconsistently LGBTQ+ friendlysignificantly lower healthcare costseligible investment fundsSelf-directed IRAsSEC-registeredPFIC-compliantspouse, kids, and parents Chapters Download your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here! Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Top 5 Cities for LGBTQ Expats Retiring Abroad in the Netherlands Looking for a country that practically wrote the handbook on LGBTQ acceptance and tops global happiness charts? 🇳🇱 This week on Queer Money, we’re off to the Netherlands — the land of bikes, canals, and unapologetic inclusivity — to uncover the top five Dutch cities for gay retirees. From Amsterdam’s canal-side rainbow hubs to Eindhoven’s tech-driven calm, we break down where your hard-earned retirement dollars (or euros) stretch farthest while keeping you close to culture, healthcare, and community. You’ll hear why Groningen, Leiden, and Nijmegen are quietly stealing the spotlight from Amsterdam — with lower costs, easy travel, and a “being gay is a non-issue” vibe that makes daily life beautifully ordinary. Whether you’re a gay expat looking to retire abroad or simply dreaming of a Plan B where equality is a given, this episode explores what makes the Netherlands one of the most LGBTQ-friendly countries on earth and what life can really look like after you hang up the briefcase and pick up a bike bell. Takeaways: Ready to map your own finish line? Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and see how close you are to your dream life abroad. Then explore data on every city we’ve covered so far — from Costa Rica to Portugal to the Netherlands — at QueerMoneyPodcast.com/cities. 💡 Catch past episodes: Costa Rica (#608) & Portugal Golden Visa (#611). Next up: Taiwan — the most surprisingly affordable LGBTQ haven in Asia! The Netherlands Chapters Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here! Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Portugal’s Golden Visa with Your IRA? David’s Path to Investing & Retiring Abroad What happens when a regular gay man says “enough” to U.S. chaos and starts building a fabulous Plan B abroad? Meet David Govacker, a medical professional who leveraged a self-directed IRA to invest in a diversified fund, qualify for Portugal’s Golden Visa, and set up a life with sunshine, safety, and equality—without Trump-era stress or American price tags. If you’re exploring investing for residency and retiring abroad, this episode is your blueprint. Top Takeaways: Why Portugal?Golden Visa 101:~14 days every 2 yearsInvesting via IRA:self-directed IRA rolloverFund choice matters:diversified, open-ended mutual fundLogistics made simple:Plan B → Peace of mind:Real talk for LGBTQ+ folks:law and lived Perfect for: LGBTQ+ professionals curious about Portugal, the Golden Visa, investing for residency, and retiring abroad—without giving up financial sanity or safety. Loved this? Share with a friend who’s Golden-Visa-curious, and subscribe for our Netherlands retirement countdown next week. Download: Get your Happy Gay Retirement Calculator Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here! Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

🌴 Costa Rica’s Top 5 LGBTQ+ Retirement Havens Sunset cocktails, rainbow macaws, and a budget that doesn’t need CPR—Costa Rica’s Pura Vida isn’t just a postcard; it can be your retirement reality. In this week’s Queer Money®, we’re counting down the Top 5 Costa Rican towns for LGBTQ+ retirees—from the surf vibes of Tamarindo to the gay beach haven of Manuel Antonio. We break down which areas offer the best mix of affordability, healthcare access, safety, and queer-friendly community, all while keeping the tropical dream alive. Whether you’re after cool mountain breezes or jungle-meets-ocean sunsets, Costa Rica has a place with your name (and rainbow flag) on it. Takeaways: Happy Gay Retirement Calculator Links referenced in this episode: queermoneypodcast.com/cities Mentioned in this episode: Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here! Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Playing the lottery is just a tax on the poor, right? Wrong—at least for us. 🎰 In this episode, we flip the “lottery tax” trope on its head. No, we didn’t win Powerball (unless you count $6 and a gas station coffee). But by treating the lottery as a game for our values, we got crystal clear on what mattered most—and that’s how we built our plan for early retirement. 💡 Takeaways from this episode: really 🎧 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator in the show notes and start designing your fabulous future—no lottery win required.

Greece for Gay Retirees: Beaches, baklava, and a big ol’ ✅ on marriage equality. Opa! We rank the Top 5 Greek cities/towns for gay retirement—balancing affordability with LGBTQ+ vibe—so you can swap doomscrolling for island sunsets without blowing the budget. Expect bars and beaches, Pride scenes, healthcare access, average 2-BR rent in USD, cost of living vs. the U.S., and our Queer Money Retirement Ratings (1–10). 💡 Takeaways: full marriage equality (2024)Crete = best valueAthensseasonal pricingrent + COL + community fitoverweight affordability 👉 Want your own Opa-moment? Grab the FREE Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and see if Greece fits your fabulous. 👉 For our running city cards, visit htps://queermoneypodcast.com/cities.

The $6,000 “Boomer Bonus” – fabulous tax break or political glitter bomb? Starting in 2025, Uncle Sam is dangling a shiny new $6,000 tax deduction for folks 65+, or $12,000 if you’re married. Sounds fabulous, right? Well… not so fast. In this episode, we unpack who actually benefits, how the phase-outs work, and why some in our community could see a nice boost—while others get stuck sipping house wine at The Abbey. 💡 Takeaways from this episode: 🎧 Whether you’d use $6,000 for bills, travel, or a new pair of red-bottoms, this episode breaks down what this boomer perk means for you. Grab your Happy Gay Retirement Calculator for help starting your fabulous retirement plan.

Pack your sarongs and sunscreen, hunty—Queer Money is headed to Thailand! 🌴💅 In this episode, we spill the (Thai iced) tea on the top 5 cities where gay retirees can stretch their dollars, enjoy top-notch healthcare, and live fabulously ever after. From Phuket’s beaches and Bangkok’s big-city energy to Chiang Mai’s cultural calm, we’re serving the Queer Money Retirement Ratings you’ve been waiting for. And honey—did we mention Thailand is now the first country in Southeast Asia with marriage equality? ✨ That’s not just fabulous, that’s historic. Whether you want island vibes, royal golf resorts, or drag queens at The Stranger Bar, there’s a Thai city with your name on it. ✨ Takeaways from this episode: 👉 Which Thai city would you choose? Tell us in the comments! 👉 Want to see more of the cities and countries we've covered? Find details here: https://queerMoneyPodcast.com/cities 🌈 Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start mapping your fabulous plan.

We're Retired Girls! Kinda... We did it, queens—we retired early! 💅 At 51 and 54, we’re not sipping martinis on a trust fund (spoiler: one of us was disowned and disinherited 👀). We didn’t have cushy six-figure salaries either. Nope, we made some smart (and sometimes messy) money moves, and now those IRA checks are rolling in. In this episode, we spill the nitty gritty on how we turned basement living, pigeon-poop cleaning, and a Mini Cooper obsession into a million-dollar retirement portfolio. From avoiding the 2008 housing disaster to buying Apple stock when everyone else was just buying iPods, we’re breaking down the real tea on what worked—and what didn’t. If you’ve ever thought early retirement was only for the ultra-rich, think again. Tune in, laugh with us, and maybe pick up a few fabulous strategies for your own retirement journey. Top Takeaways Buy the right sizeandKill lifestyle creepInvest consistentlyComplete the pyramidUse a cash buffer72(t) strategy 👇 Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start mapping your fabulous plan.

Best Places in Malta for LGBTQ+ Retirement Palm Springs is cute, but what if your retirement backdrop was honey-colored cliffs, café culture, and 300 days of Mediterranean sunshine? By popular demand, we’re spilling the limoncello on Malta—a tiny archipelago that’s big on LGBTQ+ rights (ranked #1 in Europe!) and just might be your queer retirement fantasy. From Pride parades in Valletta to drag brunches at Café del Mar, Malta offers more than just Game of Thrones vibes and tax shelters for Crypto Bros. In this episode, we: 🌈 Count down the Top 5 cities & towns in Malta for LGBTQ+ retirees. 🌈 Reveal the Queer Money Retirement Rating for each spot. 🌈 Dish the perks, downsides, and local gay flavor you need to know before booking that one-way ticket. 💎 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start plotting your sunny, queer Mediterranean escape here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc 🎉 Takeaways from this episode: 20–35% cheaperQueer Money Retirement Rating of 8–9/10. 👉 Share in the comments: Which Maltese city feels like your retirement vibe? 👉 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and ring the bell—Thailand is up next in our international gay retirement series!

Why Hasn’t the Economy Crashed Yet? The U.S. stock market is still tossing confetti like it’s Pride, despite Trump’s tariff tantrums and everyone waiting for the other (designer) shoe to drop. GDP’s up, inflation’s creeping, and the consumer is “resilient” (aka drowning in credit). So what gives? We’re diving into: 💸 Don’t get blinded by the glitter—learn what’s really fueling this market and what it means for your wallet and your retirement plans. 👉 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator today and start planning your fabulous future here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc 🎉 Takeaways for you:

Ireland’s Top 5 LGBTQ+ Retirement Hotspots From drag brunches in Galway to seaside strolls in Wexford, we’re serving up Ireland’s Top 5 LGBTQ+ Retirement Hotspots—ranked by affordability, community, and those oh-so-important queer perks. 🇮🇪✨ This isn’t just a travel fantasy; it’s the gay retiree’s cheat sheet to stretching your pot of gold without sacrificing charm, safety, or a dash of fabulousness. Whether you want artsy coastal vibes, Dublin-adjacent nightlife without Dublin’s rainbow-rent, or a laid-back West Cork foodie scene, we’ve got the tea. And yes, we’re weighing cost of living more than clubbing, because at this stage, your bank account deserves as much love as your social calendar. Grab a Guinness, pull up your wellies, and let’s find your Irish happily-ever-after (rainy days included). 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: five 💡 Takeaways: LimerickClonakiltyWexfordHowthGreater Galway Bay

Thinking of say "Bye Gurl" the U.S.? Madonna’s divorce was expensive—but renouncing your U.S. citizenship could cost you even more 💸. In this episode of Queer Money®, we’re spilling the tea on the exit tax—what it is, who gets smacked, and how to not get wrecked by it. So before you grab your passport and peace out to Portugal, know what Uncle Sam (aka Daddy Taxman) wants from you first. Because freedom ain’t free, darling—especially when the IRS is involved. ✅ Key Takeaways Checklist: The Exit Tax Is RealExpatriation Tax ⚠️ You may be a "covered expatriate" if: net worth$2 million+average income tax$206,000+haven’t filed or paid taxesGreen card holders 🏡 What gets taxed: pretends you sold it all2024 exemption$821,000Even in retirement (or death)gift or estate taxForeign Investment in Real Property Tax Act 🧠 Ways to plan ahead: Donate appreciated assetsMax Roth conversions nowRelocate abroad earlyReview international tax treatiesMust file IRS Form 8854Talk to a prointernational tax strategy Start here: 🎁 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Can we get a Kia Ora, darling? New Zealand isn’t just Lord of the Rings scenery and sheep. It’s got gorgeous queer vibes, strong legal protections, and cities that range from cozy and artsy to full-blown fab with ferry rides to wine islands. We break down the top 5 cities for LGBTQ+ retirement in NZ with real costs, real vibes, and real queer perks. Ready to float through Middle Earth in style? Let’s go global gay with this week’s Queer Money®! Takeaways: 🌍 New Zealand ranks in the top 10 on the Spartacus Gay Travel Index—but is still underrated for LGBTQ+ retirees 🏙️ Top 5 cities ranked from fab to MOST fab: #5 Christchurch#4 Queenstown#3 Dunedin#2 Wellington#1 Auckland 💰 Rents range from ~$1,000–$1,900/month for 2-bedroom homes 📉 Cost of living is generally 7–25% lower than the U.S. average 🏳️‍🌈 Strong LGBTQ+ protections and community support across the country 💃 Lesbian balls, Winter Pride, & gayborhoods galore 💡 Wellington & Auckland boast the most vibrant queer infrastructure ✈️ Auckland wins for lifestyle + international access—but Wellington gets the highest rating for vibe and livability Start here: 🎁 Grab your free Happy Gay Retirement Calculator here: https://queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc Chapters:

Episode 599: 3 Big Early Retirement Mistakes We Made (So You Don’t Have To) Everyone makes early retirement look like beaches and banana hammocks—especially the gays. But behind the glam is the grit. In this week’s episode, we’re getting brutally honest about the three biggest mistakes we made on our path to early retirement. From missing Roth conversions to underfunding HSAs and after-tax accounts, we’re sharing what we wish we had done differently—so you don’t make the same missteps. We also open up about the hard truths: losing 70–80% of our income, getting ghosted by potential employers, and why we're being pushed into early retirement (spoiler: America kind of gave up on us first). If you're thinking about retiring early—whether by choice or circumstance—this is your roadmap to avoid regret and build a fabulous future on your own terms. 🎯 Grab the Happy Gay Retirement Calculator to start planning your exit strategy today. Chapters:

Top 5 Cities for Gay Retirement in Uruguay Progressive laws. High safety ratings. A warm, welcoming culture. Uruguay may be South America's best-kept secret for LGBTQ+ retirement—and in this episode, we reveal the top 5 cities for gay retirees looking for affordability, inclusion, and sunshine. We explore everything from charming riverside towns like Paysandú to the chic beachside enclaves of José Ignacio, with deep dives into rent prices, cost of living, queer scenes, and legal protections. Uruguay may not have a massive gay expat community yet—but that might just be what makes it so special. 🧭 Whether you’re dreaming of rustic charm or cosmopolitan culture, this episode will help you decide if Uruguay deserves a spot on your fabulous retirement shortlist. Takeaways: 🎯 Grab your Happy Gay Retirement Calculator and start planning your next chapter!

Are Gay Men Really Broke? It’s no secret: gay men are some of the biggest spenders in the economy. From fashion to travel to gourmet coffee, we love to live well. But here’s the paradox—so many of us still feel financially strapped. On this episode of Queer Money®, we’re unpacking why gay men often earn more yet save less—and how cultural pressures, internalized shame, and a desire to prove our worth can sabotage financial security. Takeaways: look