Yannou, what currency do you get paid in? And is living and spending money in Thailand going to be for a long time, or are you going back to Europe eventually? Your savings is in Euros. When do you want to spend your portfolio money? In a few years to buy an apartment or a car? Or for when you are old?Kriegsspiel wrote:That would probably depend on what kind of bonds he's holding?ochotona wrote: People, shouldn't a European living in Asia really be in VT, and not VTI? VTI is not even close to being home country. VT is global, like his life.
These are the three essential activities, are they not? (1) Earning money, (2) spending money, and (3) saving money. I think for most of us on this forum it's easy, because 1-2-3 are all in the same currency. Is your situation more complex than this? If so, I think it's a more complicated matter.
If I was going back to Europe in a few years, I'd have a Eurozone PP, and I don't know how to do that. VT is 50% USA, and 50% everywhere else, and it is sold in US Dollars. There must be funds in UK / Europe that have a heavy UK / Europe focus, sold in Euros, with minority USA exposure. But it's like European Airlines, we go to UK / Europe and we see airlines we have never seen in America like EasyJet.
If I was going to stay in Thailand a long time, or SE Asia, I would probably make a Singapore PP, or Aussie or New Zealand. Again, I don't know how to do that, but there is a Singapore blog.
If Thailand were to get very difficult, and you had to leave, where would you go? The place you would go to live might be the place you have your Portfolio, but only if it's a developed economy.
The problem with not having the Portfolio in the currency where is it going to be spent is that if you need to use it, and it devalues, then you will have less to spend. It could go the other way of course, too. But the point is there is added risk.
If you don't know where you will go, then maybe 1/2 European PP and 1/2 Singapore PP. Something like that. But I think you do have to be careful about the currency. Here is a dark thought, but if you died, who would get the money? Maybe it would matter to have the money closer to your family, and in the same currency.