US Expats in France: Real Life After 8 Years and What to Expect

About this episode

Jessica Govern and Claire Naughton share their experiences of living as US expats in France for eight years, discussing the financial and personal realities of long-term expat life.

What does it really take to build a life in France as an American expat? In this episode of Passport to Wealth™, we explore the practical and personal side of moving abroad, from navigating French visa requirements to finding meaningful work, building a career, and creating a sustainable long-term lifestyle in Europe. Our guests share their journey from the U.S. to France, including the realities of adapting to a new culture, launching a consulting business abroad, and finding professional purpose while living internationally. We also discuss the growing trend of younger Americans and aspiring expats looking beyond traditional career paths and exploring entrepreneurship as a way to create more flexibility, freedom, and stability overseas. Whether you’re dreaming of moving to France, already living abroad, or wondering how to turn a love of travel into a real life and career, this conversation offers practical insight, encouragement, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make expat life work. Resources Find a vetted cross-border financial advisor or tax professional at the Passport To Wealth Directory Are you a qualified professional serving US expats in France or…

People in this episode

Host: Jessica Govern

Guest: Claire Naughton

Topics covered

• expat life
• financial planning
• living abroad
• personal experiences
• professional challenges

Keywords

• expats
• France
• financial planning
• living abroad
• personal experiences
• Chicago
• long-term residency

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Passport to Wealth, SwissCast Network

Places: France, Chicago

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