The Tools I Actually Use
These are the exact tools, services, and platforms I use to manage my finances, run my business, and stay protected while living abroad. I only recommend things I personally use or have thoroughly vetted. Some links below are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help support this site.
🏦 Banking & Money
Mercury — US Business Banking
The best US business bank account for expats and remote business owners. No monthly fees, excellent UI, and they don’t care that you live abroad. I use Mercury for all my US business banking.
SoFi — Personal Banking & Investing
High-yield savings, no-fee checking, and investment accounts all in one place. Great for keeping your US personal finances organized while abroad.
Cash App — Quick Transfers
Simple peer-to-peer payments and a backup US debit card. Useful for quick transfers between friends and family back home.
Remitly — International Money Transfers
The cheapest way to send money from the US to most countries. I use Remitly to transfer USD to Colombian pesos at better rates than any bank offers.
👉 Try Remitly (get a bonus on first transfer)
📈 Investing & Trading
tastytrade — Options & Stock Trading
My go-to brokerage for trading stocks, options, and futures from abroad. Expat-friendly, low commissions, and a fantastic platform for active traders.
Kraken — Crypto Exchange
The most reliable crypto exchange for US expats. Solid security, good coin selection, and they actually work with US persons (unlike many exchanges).
ARQ Finance — International Investment Advisory
If you want professional help managing investments as an expat, ARQ specializes in cross-border financial planning. Worth a conversation if your situation is complex.
👉 Get a free consultation with ARQ
🛡️ Insurance & Security
SafetyWing — Expat Health Insurance
Affordable international health insurance designed for nomads and expats. I pay ~$120/month for global coverage that’s better than most US plans. Subscription-based (no annual lock-in), covers you in 175+ countries, and includes a US safety net.
NordVPN — VPN for Expats
Essential for accessing US banking sites, streaming services, and protecting your data on foreign WiFi networks. I’ve used NordVPN for years — fast, reliable, and works in every country I’ve lived in.
🧳 Relocation Resources
Colombia Relocation Kit — Complete Moving Guide
My comprehensive digital guide to moving to Colombia — covers visas, banking, healthcare, neighborhoods, cost of living, and everything you need to hit the ground running. Built from years of personal experience living in Medellín.
👉 Get the Colombia Relocation Kit
ColombiaMove.com — Colombia Expat Resource Site
My dedicated Colombia site with in-depth guides on everything you need to know about relocating to Colombia.
- Digital Nomad Visa Guide
- Cost of Living in Medellín
- Best Banks for Foreigners
- Healthcare for Expats
- Moving to Colombia Checklist
Have a question about any of these tools? Drop me a line — happy to share my experience using any of them.