What does Selanis invest client money in?
Short answer: Selanis builds personalised portfolios exclusively from low-cost index and factor funds. For US persons, portfolios use US-domiciled funds to avoid PFIC treatment of foreign funds, and holdings are placed across taxable accounts, IRAs, Roths and foreign pensions for tax efficiency. There are no structured products, offshore bonds or commission-paying products.
Written and reviewed by Anthony Walsh, Selanis. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.
Why it works this way
Index funds capture market returns at very low cost. Factor funds tilt toward characteristics such as size, value and profitability that academic research links to higher expected returns.
For Americans abroad, fund domicile is critical: most European-domiciled funds are PFICs for US tax purposes, with punitive reporting and taxation.
Personalisation comes from the plan — spending needs, timeline, currencies and account types — not from picking stocks or timing markets.
The expensive mistake: Buying local funds abroad
Americans in Europe often buy the funds their local bank offers. For a US person these are usually PFICs, turning a sensible investment into a tax and reporting problem.
What to do
- List every fund you own — Note where each is domiciled and what it costs each year.
- Check PFIC exposure — Flag any non-US funds if you are a US citizen or green-card holder.
- Think in accounts, not just funds — Decide what belongs in taxable, retirement and pension accounts.