Invest savings but leaving Japan

[Herras]

Hi There! I am seeking for advice. I made some savings during my work time in Japan but plan to go back to Europe. Can’t tell yet if and when I will return to Japan but there is a high probability because my wife is Japanese. So, I was thinking what to do with my savings. Sending to Europe seems not really an option because due to the exchange rate I would lose a huge amount of money. My idea was to keep it in Japan because anyway I don’t need the money right now. My current plan is to open an Rakuten Securities / IBKR Japan account and let the funds work there while I am not in Japan. Important to say is that I do prefer a rather save way as I don’t have much time to check the funds.

1.) What is recommended to use, Rakuten or IBKR Japan? As I am the person who is mainly managing the account, I have the tendency towards IBKR due their full English service.

2.) Can I open the broker account under my name even though I will move to Europe? Or shall it open under my wife’s name?
We would use then her parents address as her residency.

3.) I was thinking to invest into ETF. Any other advice such as stock or mutual fund? Or a mix of those? And in which ETF / funds / stocks exactly you would recommend investing?

4.) Dividends can be reinvested as far as I understand. Is this done automatically or anything special to consider?

5.) Tax will become only relevant once the assets are paid out. Or did I miss anything?


Thank you in advance!

[zeroshiki]

Alot of people will give different answers especially with the tax stuff but I think if you can (and are willing) to open an account in your wife's name and get her a NISA (and surf the grey area of being or not being a resident of Japan), you could dump some of your money there in a low cost MF like emaxis slim and then just wait it out.

[JapaneseMike]

There may be a bunch of practicalities that become a hassle, like year end tax adjustment & potentially resident taxes but if you have PR, and don't plan to give it up, then just switch your address to your in-laws house, and leave the stuff in Japan. I don't think you'll be able to add new investments, but you should be able to keep your existing assets without selling them.

Open to corrections as always

[pfdsa]

I'm also interested in knowing more about this. Started my tsumitate Nisa this year and might be in a similar situation in a couple of years.

[Tkydon]

What is your Visa Status?
Work Visa? Spouse Visa? Permanent Resident?

How long have you been in Japan?

Do you plan to maintain Resident Status or submit your Zairyu Card on Exit?

[Herras]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Well, I don't have permanent residency. In the past were strict criteria in place but it seems to have changed. Anyway, now its too late. Always used the regular work visa.

I stayed for over over 6 years in Japan and plan to return my residence card. Anything else would be a violation of the immigration rules in my understanding.

[Herras]

Interactive Brokers Japan (IBSJ) do not offer the eMaxis slim series. Too bad, I will change to Rakuten then.

[beanhead]

Interactive Brokers Japan (IBSJ) do not offer the eMaxis slim series. Too bad, I will change to Rakuten then.

eMaxis Slim is a great series of products for those in Japan and subject to Japanese taxation. If you are leaving Japan, IBKR / IBSJ will be able to offer similarly-priced products as ETFs.