Hi Bogleheads!
I'm an international student from China, doing my PhD (first year) in CA. I'm new to the US and newer to investment. I have read some general advice on the Bogleheads Wiki, but I found my situation a bit too different from the general case for US citizens. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could give me some advice on my first steps to investing.
I earn $3200 after tax monthly from my fellowship, from which I managed to save about $1500 every month due to a (probably overly) thrifty lifestyle. I plan to start investing in August 2024, by which time I expect to get my SSN and about $15,000 cash to invest.
My biggest challenges are:
1. Tax. I am so confused about tax in the US. I'm on an F1 visa, and from my knowledge so far I will be considered a non-resident alien during my first five calendar years in the U.S. So I am subject to a 30% tax on my capital gains. I am still not sure how this should influence my investing strategy.
2. Time range. My PhD program will last for 5-6 years, and after that, I may work for another 2 years. Then comes the crossroads of my life: I may leave the US completely and start my career in my home country, or I will stay in the US and seek permanent residency. In short, I may need to liquidate (is this the right word for it?) all my investments in 7 years from now. Is this time range somewhat too short to bear higher risks?
Thank you for reading this and I appreciate any advice including portfolio choices, tax tips, specific stock/bond funds recommendations, etc!
I'm an international student from China, doing my PhD (first year) in CA. I'm new to the US and newer to investment. I have read some general advice on the Bogleheads Wiki, but I found my situation a bit too different from the general case for US citizens. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could give me some advice on my first steps to investing.
I earn $3200 after tax monthly from my fellowship, from which I managed to save about $1500 every month due to a (probably overly) thrifty lifestyle. I plan to start investing in August 2024, by which time I expect to get my SSN and about $15,000 cash to invest.
My biggest challenges are:
1. Tax. I am so confused about tax in the US. I'm on an F1 visa, and from my knowledge so far I will be considered a non-resident alien during my first five calendar years in the U.S. So I am subject to a 30% tax on my capital gains. I am still not sure how this should influence my investing strategy.
2. Time range. My PhD program will last for 5-6 years, and after that, I may work for another 2 years. Then comes the crossroads of my life: I may leave the US completely and start my career in my home country, or I will stay in the US and seek permanent residency. In short, I may need to liquidate (is this the right word for it?) all my investments in 7 years from now. Is this time range somewhat too short to bear higher risks?
Thank you for reading this and I appreciate any advice including portfolio choices, tax tips, specific stock/bond funds recommendations, etc!
Statistics: Posted by RabbitHu — Sat Jan 20, 2024 2:16 pm — Replies 0 — Views 102