236: Debunking Expat Myths: Mikkel Thorup Sets the Record Straight on The Tom Woods Show

Today, I am going to share a conversation I had on The Tom Woods Show. This interview has gotten such a great response since it first aired that I wanted to share it here with you to make sure you didn't miss it. Tom didn't let me off easy and really put me on the hot seat, bringing up a ton of objections that many who are first hearing about the expat lifestyle tend to come up with.  

Answering Common Expat Objections

• In this discussion, I respond to some common “black pilled" takes that Tom has heard about the negative side of expatriation, dispelling the notion that the advantages you can achieve outside your country of birth aren’t all that great when you break it down.
• There is no Shangri-La - no perfect libertarian country in the world. It does not exist. But that's not to be said that we can't get more freedom in our lives by being overseas or by jurisdiction shopping.
• I explain to Tom exactly what FATCA - the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act -  is and how it works, and why it’s even caused some Americans to go as far as to renounce their U.S. citizenship!
• I address Tom’s concern that whatever problems you have in the U.S., they may very well be worse outside the U.S., as was the case in certain countries when it came to COVID restrictions.
• Tom and I talk about how Americans can utilize the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion to greatly reduce their tax burden while living overseas.
• I break down the concept of citizenship by investment and how the process typically unfolds for those with substantial funds to invest overseas.
• I lay out the many reasons to have a second passport, even if you do not plan to live outside your home country!
• I provide some definitive first steps to take for those that have caught the expat bug and are ready to take their expat journey to the next level.

 

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PURCHASE THE EXPATS GUIDE TO MOVING TO MEXICO

Get your own copy of the Expats Guide on Moving to Mexico and after you read the book, do us a HUGE favour and leave us a great review on Amazon! This is a huge help in getting the book in front of more people.  

THE EXPAT MONEY SUMMIT

We also discussed the Expat Money Summit a bit, and even though this was from last year, we will be doing another summit this year, so you can head to this link and grab a FREE ticket to the largest expat event of the year.  

CONCLUSION

I hope you enjoyed today's conversation on The Tom Woods Show. Tom is an excellent interviewer, and I loved how he pressed me on some of the common objections people who are first learning about the expat lifestyle often hold. These are questions that don't often come up here on the Expat Money Show, where I primarily interview those who are already on the expat journey, so it was a great change of pace. This is the perfect episode to share with a friend or family member who has expressed interest in the expat lifestyle but has been hesitant to pursue it further due to many of the objections addressed in this conversation. See you all next Wednesday on the podcast!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join Me In Panama For Our Next Tour

I have great news. After many meetings and explanations, the Panamanian government has agreed to keep the Investors Visa at a $300k Real Estate investment instead of nearly doubling the amount required, as they said they would. This is a massive win for our community who wants to move to or invest in Panama, but I am not sure how long this will last… If you have been thinking about Panama, then I want to make an invitation to you today. Come join me for a special four-day tour to see if the country I call home is right for you and your family. We have just released the next set of trip dates. You can find out more at ExpatMoney.com/fly. Come visit me and the Expat Money team, get a feel for the country and see if Panama makes sense for investment or as a new home.

Panama Fly'n Buy Real Estate Tour

No Plan-B Without the Language

If you’re planning to move overseas—or even just set up your offshore Plan-B—learning the local language isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s access. It’s power. StoryLearning makes it easy to start today, from home, by immersing you in real stories—not grammar drills. Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more—learn the language the smart way before you land. Go to StoryLearningCourses.com.

Story Learning Courses

Gold in the Caribbean—No Bank Can Touch It

Fiat is failing. Banks are cracking. And smart investors are moving their gold offshore—outside the system. I’ve partnered with a fully insured private vault in the Caribbean where you can buy, store, and protect physical gold… legally and securely. The entire account opening is done online—fast, private, and no nonsense. If you’re serious about protecting your wealth, get the details now at ExpatMoney.com/gold

Offshore Gold & Silver

Gold in the Caribbean—No Bank Can Touch It

Fiat is failing. Banks are cracking. And smart investors are moving their gold offshore—outside the system. I’ve partnered with a fully insured private vault in the Caribbean where you can buy, store, and protect physical gold… legally and securely. The entire account opening is done online—fast, private, and no nonsense. If you’re serious about protecting your wealth, get the details now at ExpatMoney.com/gold

Offshore Gold & Silver

No Plan-B Without the Language

If you’re planning to move overseas—or even just set up your offshore Plan-B—learning the local language isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s access. It’s power. StoryLearning makes it easy to start today, from home, by immersing you in real stories—not grammar drills. Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more—learn the language the smart way before you land. Go to StoryLearningCourses.com.

Story Learning Courses