Core Planning Worksheets
Monthly Retirement Budget
U S Banking Comparison
Texas and Florida Domicile Comparison
Question | Texas | Florida |
Individual state income tax | Texas does not impose individual personal income tax. | Florida does not impose individual personal income tax. |
Why it may fit | Often the simplest choice when your existing home base, records, trusted people, and professional relationships are already in Texas. | Worth considering if you genuinely establish Florida as the state you intend to return to and can support that choice with real ties. |
What matters more than tax rate | Consistent evidence: actual residence, driver license or ID, voter registration, vehicle and insurance records, banking records, estate documents, and your stated intent. | The same principle applies. A mailing address alone does not create reliable domicile. |
Decision test | Choose it if it is the honest, administratively simple home base you can document. | Choose it only if you are truly changing your home base, not merely shopping for a convenient address. |
Question | Charles Schwab Investor Checking | Fidelity Cash Management Account |
What it is | A Schwab Bank checking account linked to a Schwab One brokerage account. | A brokerage cash management account. Uninvested cash is generally swept to program banks for FDIC eligibility, subject to its terms. |
Monthly account fee | No monthly service fee. | No account fee or minimum balance for the retail cash management account. |
ATM withdrawals abroad | Unlimited eligible ATM cash-withdrawal fee rebates worldwide. No Schwab foreign transaction fee. | Eligible ATM fees reimbursed globally. No Fidelity foreign debit transaction fee. |
When ATM fees come back | As a lump-sum credit at the end of the same statement month. | Automatically credited the same day the ATM fee is debited. |
Best fit | A strong choice if you want a true checking account linked directly to Schwab brokerage and can float ATM fees until month end. | A strong choice if you want the ATM reimbursement returned immediately and prefer Fidelity cash-management tools. |
Budget category | What it covers | Monthly amount |
Housing | Rent, association or building fees, parking, and routine repairs | |
Utilities and connectivity | Electricity, water, internet, mobile service, and backup data | |
Food and household | Groceries, markets, restaurants, cleaning supplies, and imported favorites | |
Health care | Routine care, medicines, dental and vision care, insurance, and reserve contributions | |
Transport | Rides, taxis, fuel, vehicle costs, or a driver when appropriate | |
Visa and administration | Extensions, reporting, documents, banking fees, and renewals | |
Personal life | Clothing, gifts, hobbies, household help, and ordinary fun | |
Travel and family | Trips within the Philippines and visits to the United States | |
Margin | A monthly amount left unassigned for price changes and surprises |
- Retirement Planning Checklists
Printable Retirement Scouting-Trip Checklist
Use this printable version during a scouting trip to compare cities, neighborhoods, or individual rental options. Print multiple copies and rate each location separately so you can compare your impressions side by side after the visit.
Location | ||
Dates Visited | ||
Item to Test | Notes | Score (1–5) |
Hospital access | ||
Neighborhood feel | ||
Housing options | ||
Internet and mobile service | ||
Groceries and pharmacies | ||
Transportation | ||
Climate comfort | ||
Noise and sleep quality | ||
Safety and security | ||
Social fit | ||
Budget realism | ||
Long-term aging fit | ||
Overall Impression |
Side-by-Side City Comparison Worksheet
Use this worksheet after your scouting trip to compare up to three cities or neighborhoods at a glance. Fill in short notes for each category, then mark which location feels strongest overall for your retirement needs.
Category | City / Area 1 | City / Area 2 | City / Area 3 |
Name of location | |||
Healthcare access | |||
Cost of living | |||
Climate comfort | |||
Transportation and airport access | |||
Walkability and daily convenience | |||
Housing options | |||
Internet and utilities | |||
Safety and security | |||
Shopping and services | |||
Social fit and community | |||
Long-term aging fit | |||
Overall strengths | |||
Main concerns | |||
Final score / choice |
Appendices
Appendix A: Retirement Readiness Checklist
Use this checklist before making any final retirement or relocation decisions.
Task | Complete |
Defined retirement lifestyle goals | ☐ |
Estimated retirement expenses | ☐ |
Created conservative budget scenario | ☐ |
Created moderate budget scenario | ☐ |
Created optimistic budget scenario | ☐ |
Reviewed Social Security benefits | ☐ |
Reviewed pension options | ☐ |
Evaluated investment income strategy | ☐ |
Established emergency fund | ☐ |
Paid off high-interest debt | ☐ |
Updated will and estate documents | ☐ |
Updated beneficiary designations | ☐ |
Established powers of attorney | ☐ |
Evaluated healthcare needs | ☐ |
Researched healthcare options in the Philippines | ☐ |
Obtained passport with adequate validity | ☐ |
Researched visa options | ☐ |
Conducted exploratory trip | ☐ |
Selected preferred retirement location | ☐ |
Developed relocation timeline | ☐ |
Established banking strategy | ☐ |
Prepared emergency contingency plan | ☐ |
Appendix B: Sample Retirement Budgets
Single Retiree – Comfortable Lifestyle
Expense Category | Monthly Cost (USD) |
Rent | $500 |
Utilities | $100 |
Internet & Mobile | $35 |
Food | $300 |
Healthcare | $150 |
Transportation | $75 |
Entertainment | $150 |
Miscellaneous | $190 |
Total | $1,500 |
Couple – Comfortable Lifestyle
Expense Category | Monthly Cost (USD) |
Rent | $700 |
Utilities | $150 |
Internet & Mobile | $50 |
Food | $500 |
Healthcare | $250 |
Transportation | $150 |
Entertainment | $250 |
Miscellaneous | $450 |
Total | $2,500 |
Couple – Premium Lifestyle
Expense Category | Monthly Cost (USD) |
Premium Housing | $1,500 |
Utilities | $200 |
Internet & Mobile | $75 |
Food & Dining | $800 |
Healthcare | $400 |
Transportation | $300 |
Travel Fund | $500 |
Entertainment | $400 |
Miscellaneous | $825 |
Total | $5,000 |
Appendix C: Visa Research Checklist
Item | Complete |
Determined preferred visa type | ☐ |
Reviewed latest visa requirements | ☐ |
Verified passport validity | ☐ |
Obtained certified copies of documents | ☐ |
Prepared proof of income | ☐ |
Prepared proof of assets | ☐ |
Confirmed healthcare requirements | ☐ |
Verified renewal requirements | ☐ |
Created digital backups | ☐ |
Appendix D: Healthcare Planning Checklist
Item | Complete |
Completed medical examination | ☐ |
Obtained medical records | ☐ |
Created medication list | ☐ |
Identified local hospitals | ☐ |
Identified specialists if needed | ☐ |
Evaluated insurance options | ☐ |
Prepared emergency medical contacts | ☐ |
Established healthcare budget | ☐ |
Planned long-term care strategy | ☐ |
Appendix E: Banking and Financial Setup Checklist
Item | Complete |
Maintained home-country bank account | ☐ |
Opened secondary bank account | ☐ |
Established international transfer method | ☐ |
Reviewed ATM access options | ☐ |
Enabled online banking security | ☐ |
Updated beneficiary information | ☐ |
Reviewed investment allocations | ☐ |
Created emergency cash reserve | ☐ |
Developed currency diversification strategy | ☐ |
Appendix F: Emergency Information Sheet
Complete and keep both printed and digital copies.
Information | Details |
Full Legal Name | __________ |
Passport Number | __________ |
Blood Type | __________ |
Primary Physician | __________ |
Health Insurance Provider | __________ |
Emergency Contact #1 | __________ |
Emergency Contact #2 | __________ |
Local Hospital | __________ |
Local Police Contact | __________ |
Embassy/Consulate Contact | __________ |
Current Medications | __________ |
Appendix G: Recommended Reading
Topic | Resource |
Retirement Planning | The Simple Path to Wealth |
Retirement Income | Die With Zero |
Expat Living | The Expert Expat |
Investing | The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning |
Behavioral Finance | The Psychology of Money |
International Living | International Living Magazine |
Appendix H: Recommended YouTube Channels
Channel Type | Notes |
Philippines Retirement Channels | Local expat experiences and updates |
Expat Financial Planning Channels | International retirement strategies |
International Living | Global retirement destination coverage |
Healthcare Abroad Channels | Medical system comparisons |
Travel Vloggers Living in the Philippines | Lifestyle and regional insights |
Immigration and Visa Channels | Current visa updates |
Readers should always verify information independently since visa rules and regulations can change.
Appendix I: Useful Websites and Online Communities
Government Resources
Purpose | Website |
Immigration | Bureau of Immigration |
Tourism | Department of Tourism |
Healthcare | Department of Health |
Social Security | Social Security Administration |
U.S. State Department | Travel Advisories |
Expat Communities
Resource | Purpose |
Facebook Expat Groups | Local discussions |
Reddit Expat Communities | Peer advice |
Philippines Living Forums | Lifestyle discussions |
City-Specific Expat Groups | Regional information |
Financial Resources
Resource | Purpose |
Currency Exchange Sites | Exchange-rate tracking |
International Banking Resources | Banking comparisons |
Expat Tax Resources | Tax planning information |
Investment Research Platforms | Portfolio management |
Relocation Research Checklist
Before moving, verify all information from at least three independent sources and confirm that regulations have not changed.
☐ Visa requirements verified
☐ Healthcare information verified
☐ Housing information verified
☐ Banking information verified
☐ Tax implications reviewed
☐ Emergency plans established
☐ Exploratory trip completed
☐ Family informed of plans
☐ Financial reserves established
☐ Backup plans documented
Practical Move and First-Year Playbook
The earlier chapters help you make the big decisions with your eyes open. This playbook is where that advice becomes a sequence of ordinary, manageable jobs: what to set up before the flight, what to test when you land, and what not to rush during the first year.
Do not try to complete it in one heroic burst. Work through the next useful task, write down dates and contacts, and keep a record of what you learn. A move this large becomes much less frightening when it is handled as a series of small, reversible decisions.
How to use the timeline
Read this guide by the clock, not by chapter number. The same subject can appear in more than one phase because what you do with it changes: before the flight you set up the safety net; in the first month you test it; by ninety days you compare real evidence; in the first year you decide what has earned a longer commitment.
Before the Philippines: build the escape hatch. Set up money access, records, health and medication continuity, visa and tax questions, a working phone and mail system, and a realistic budget. Research places, but do not make an irreversible commitment from the United States.
First 30 days: land light. Use temporary housing, learn the hospital and pharmacy routes, test water, power, internet, transport, bank access, and neighborhood reality. Keep your possessions, lease, and promises easy to unwind.
First 90 days: compare ordinary life. If you are not already certain of the right city, spend roughly thirty days in more than one area. Choose the city first; then test neighborhoods, buildings, and the actual monthly cost of living there.
First year: settle only where the proof is good. A longer lease, a deeper social life, and better local routines can come after the earlier tests. Property, major family obligations, business arrangements, and large financial promises still deserve slow thinking and independent advice.
At every phase, ask three plain questions: What must I do now? What can wait? What would be hard to undo? That is the spine of this guide.
Four hard boundaries for the first year
Do not buy land, rush into a condo, or use a nominee arrangement because somebody says it is normal or easy. Independent Philippine legal advice comes before a deposit, contract, or title question.
Do not let one bank, one debit card, one phone, one email address, or one mailbox become the single point of failure for your money or identity.
Do not sign a six- or twelve-month lease simply because you are exhausted by moving or seduced by a nice view. Let the city, neighborhood, building, utilities, and hospital route prove themselves first.
Do not let romance, family pressure, loneliness, or a supposedly urgent opportunity turn into a hidden payroll, cohabitation arrangement, business partnership, or large money transfer. Be kind, but keep retirement money and legal commitments deliberately slow.