Financial planning for Americans in Kerry.

Kerry is rarely a career decision. It is usually made by people who already have enough, and are trying to work out whether they're allowed to believe it. The planning question isn't whether you can afford the house — it's what the whole life costs, which accounts fund which decade, and how much you can spend without ever worrying again.

Cross-border financial planning and US investment management for Americans living abroad, typically with $1M+. Most clients have $1M+ in investable assets; we also work with selected households from $500K.

Written and reviewed by Anthony Walsh, Selanis. Last reviewed 2026-08-24.

Key issues

Retiring earlier than planned
Buying without wrecking your US return
401(k), IRA and Roth drawdown order
Social Security across two systems
Inheritance taxed on both sides

Buying in euro with dollars

A cash purchase in Kenmare or Dingle funded by selling US investments is three decisions at once: a currency decision, a capital gains decision on your 1040, and an estate decision, because Irish property is inside the Irish tax net regardless of where you file. Sequenced properly, the same purchase can cost meaningfully less tax.

Drawing income in the wrong order

Most retirees default to drawing from whatever is easiest to reach. Which account you draw from first — taxable, traditional, Roth, or Social Security — changes your lifetime tax bill across two systems, often by six figures. It's the single highest-value decision of the first retirement decade.

Being pushed into local funds

Irish-domiciled funds are the default recommendation from any Irish bank or broker, and they are precisely the funds the US tax code treats worst for American citizens. There is a US-domiciled way to hold the same exposure, and it usually requires a custodian who is comfortable with an Irish address.

One family, two inheritance systems

The US taxes estates. Ireland taxes the person receiving the inheritance, with thresholds and definitions of family that don't match. Add a non-US spouse and the default American will may not do what you assume. This is fixable — but only in advance.

Having enough and not spending it

The most common problem we see in this group isn't running out of money. It's a lifetime of saving habits making it genuinely difficult to spend on the life you moved here for. A plan with guardrails is what turns a balance into permission.

Frequently asked questions

Can I retire to Kerry from the US?

Yes. Americans typically enter on a Stamp 0 permission for people of independent means, which requires evidence of income and private health insurance, or live here freely if they hold Irish or EU citizenship. The financial questions — where your income comes from, in what order, and how it's taxed by both countries — matter more than the visa route.

How much does it cost to retire in Kerry?

Far less than most US retirement markets. Housing outside Killarney and Kenmare is a fraction of coastal US prices, and healthcare is not a plan-destroying risk. The honest answer only comes from costing your specific life: the house, travel, helping family and the years before pensions unlock. That's what the plan does.

Should I buy a house in Kerry with cash from my US investments?

Often yes, but how you fund it changes the tax cost. Liquidating a large taxable position in one year can push you into higher US brackets unnecessarily. Spreading the sale, using high-basis lots and coordinating with any Roth conversion strategy can save a meaningful amount on the same purchase.

What happens to my 401(k) and IRA if I live in Ireland?

They remain valid and are recognised under the US–Ireland treaty, but the treatment of withdrawals depends on the account type and your residence. Roth treatment in particular needs care. We model the drawdown order across both systems years before you start.

Will I still get Social Security in Ireland?

Yes, Social Security is payable to US citizens living in Ireland, and the totalisation agreement between the two countries can help if you have credits in both systems. When you claim, and how it interacts with your other income, is a planning decision worth several years of spending.

Can I keep my US brokerage account with an Irish address?

Some custodians allow it, many don't, and a number will restrict or close accounts once your address changes. Moving on your own terms — rather than being force-liquidated — avoids an unplanned tax bill. We handle the transition.

How does inheritance work between Ireland and the US?

Differently, in both directions. The US taxes the estate; Ireland taxes the recipient through Capital Acquisitions Tax, with its own thresholds. If your spouse isn't a US citizen, the usual American assumptions about spousal transfers don't hold. This is planned in advance or paid for later.

What does Selanis cost?

Life-led financial plans start at a fixed $3,000, agreed in writing before we begin. If you'd like us to implement and manage the plan, ongoing management uses a tiered fee starting at 1.00% on the first $1M and falling to 0.30% above $10M. Most clients have $1M+ in investable assets; we also work with selected households from $500K. We're fee-only: no commissions, no product revenue.

Fees

Blueprint $3,000 and Life $8,000 (flat planning fees). Private Wealth Management on a tiered, blended schedule starting at 1.00% on the first $1M and declining to 0.30% above $10M. Fee-only: no commissions, no product payments, no lock-in. All fees

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