
How Americans Build a Life Abroad: Carl Richards on Risk & Mindset
From Passport To Wealth™ by Passport To Wealth™
May 26, 2026 · 30 min · Season 3 · Episode 20
About this episode
Carl Richards discusses his family's move from the U.S. to New Zealand and the mindset shifts that accompany such a transition.
Carl Richards is a certified financial planner, the New York Times Sketch Guy , and the author of Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches . He moved from Utah to New Zealand with his family in a matter of weeks. His wife bought plane tickets ten days after hearing about a friend's available house. Ninety days later, they had moved. This episode covers: How Carl became the New York Times sketch guy (a desperate drawing on a whiteboard) Why showing up and being consistent matters more How Carl's wife pulled the rescue cord and moved the family to New Zealand The detox from US money and work culture that Carl did not see coming Moving teenagers abroad during a senior year of high school Why New Zealanders ask about holidays and weekends, not jobs The French cafe lesson: you think this is about money. It is about food. The worry list: a blank page. Nothing is helped by worrying. The cognitive load of a simple grocery store in a new country Carl's daughter's advice: you thought you were going to have an adventure without it being hard Why Carl would spend his savings again without thinking twice Carl and host Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA discuss why most of what we worry…
People in this episode
Host: Arielle Tucker
Guest: Carl Richards
Topics covered
- expat life
- financial planning
- cultural differences
- risk and mindset
- moving abroad
- family dynamics
Keywords
- expat
- financial planner
- New Zealand
- cultural adjustment
- risk
- mindset
- family relocation
- adventure
- money culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: New York Times
Books & works: Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches
Places: Utah, New Zealand
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- Cross-Border Investing: What Changes When US Expats Move Abroad · April 14, 2026 · 35 min
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