Service
US Pensions & 401(k).
For American expats: what to do with a 401(k) or IRA from Thailand.
Who Richard advises
Richard advises people from organisations like these.
Employer information is provided by clients during the consultation process and is not independently verified. Logos shown are trademarks of their respective owners and do not imply endorsement of Richard Knight or Business Class Asia.
Who this is for
Who this service is for.
- 01
Americans retiring in Thailand
Hold a 401(k) or IRA in the US, living or planning to live in Thailand, unsure how withdrawals interact with two tax systems.
- 02
US citizens with old employer plans
Have one or more 401(k)s left with former employers and want to know whether to consolidate, roll over, or leave them.
- 03
Dual-status and green-card holders
Carry US filing obligations alongside Thai residency and need the two positions reconciled before acting.
What's involved
What's actually involved.
US citizens and green-card holders are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, so an American in Thailand is planning inside two systems at once. The work is to make the 401(k) and IRA decisions with both the US and the Thai position in clear view, not one in isolation.
The two-system view
A withdrawal that is efficient under US rules can be assessable when remitted to Thailand by a Thai tax resident under the 2024 remittance position. The decision has to be made with both in view, alongside the US-Thai double tax treaty.
Roth conversions, the timing of distributions, and required minimum distributions each look different once Thai residency is part of the picture.
What I do and do not do
I provide the planning and the framework, with every cost set out in writing before you decide. I do not file US returns or act as your US tax preparer; where US tax filing is needed I work alongside a US-qualified preparer rather than pretending the line does not exist.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes to avoid.
- 01
Treating the 401(k) as a US-only decision.
The remittance of distributions into Thailand is part of the decision, not an afterthought. Planning the US side alone can create an avoidable Thai liability.
- 02
Cashing out early to simplify.
Collapsing a tax-deferred account for the sake of tidiness can trigger a large bracketed liability in a single year. The orderly path is almost always cheaper.
- 03
Assuming a UK-focused adviser understands the US system.
The US system is its own discipline. Ask directly whether the person advising you actually works with the US position or only the UK one.
How the practice works
Three conversations before any commitment.
A measured introduction, a written plan, and a clear engagement. No long sales process. No pressure on the first call. You leave the first meeting with a clearer view of what is in front of you, whether or not the work proceeds.
- 01
An introduction.
Thirty minutes by video, or in person at the Bangkok, Hua Hin or Pattaya office. A discussion of your situation, your concerns, and what the years ahead are intended to look like. Rough figures are sufficient. No documents required in advance.
- 02
A written plan.
A second meeting where the work is appropriate for both parties. A written summary of the plan, the moves in priority order, the realistic timeline, and the cost in plain numbers.
- 03
An engagement, in writing.
A written engagement letter that sets out how I am paid, commission on what is arranged and a fee on what is managed, with every figure and what it pays, before you proceed. Either party may end the engagement at any time. Custody arrangements remain in place regardless.
Free guide
US pensions & 401(k) for American expats.
The US tax system follows you across borders. What to do with a 401(k) or IRA from Thailand, how the US and Thai positions interact, and the reporting that catches people out.
What is inside
- A 401(k) or IRA left behind: leave it, roll it, or convert
- Roth conversions, and when they earn their place
- The US-Thai interaction on the same income
- Reporting, and the PFIC trap: FBAR, FATCA and pooled funds
Plain English, nothing to sign. Useful even if you never get in touch.
The advisor
Richard Knight.
Richard Knight is a British national with fifteen years' experience in private wealth management, advising internationally mobile clients across Asia, Europe and beyond. Based in Thailand, he works with expatriates and international families navigating the complexities of cross-border wealth, retirement and estate planning.
The practice is built on first-hand experience of international relocation and long-term expatriate life, rather than a purely theoretical understanding of it.
He is an Associate Member of the UK's Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (ACSI) and holds CISI qualifications in Financial Planning and Investments.
He also serves as Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand in Hua Hin, supporting the local business and expatriate community.
Richard maintains a deliberately limited client base, focusing on conservative, long-term planning for people who value clarity, stability and peace of mind over unnecessary risk.
“Richard works in finance business for many years and his recommendations are reliable and efficient. He is very attentive to the clients and help them to come to the most beneficial solution. Having Richard as your personal finance consultant you can feel secure for your future.”
“Richard is reliable person, with good knowledge of the products that he propose to clients. He want client to understand the process and he cares of the client future.”
“Richard is a great and reliable service provider.”
Fees and what to expect
What it costs, and how I'm paid.
I am paid through commission on the products arranged and an ongoing fee on the assets managed. Every cost, and what it pays, is set out in writing before you decide.
You may ask what any recommendation pays me, and the figures that apply are agreed in writing in the engagement letter before you proceed.
A first 30-minute consultation costs nothing and obliges you to nothing.
Client assets are held by an appointed trustee or a regulated platform, never by me.
Questions
Questions about this.
Go deeper
Try the tool.
Try the tool
A plain-English triage of which US reporting regimes, FBAR, FATCA and PFIC, your situation is likely to engage. A guide, not advice.
Begin a conversation.
Thirty minutes, by video or in person at the Bangkok, Hua Hin or Pattaya office. Free, and without obligation. You leave with a clearer view of what is in front of you, whether or not the work proceeds.
Book a meeting
Choose a time that suits you.
Thirty minutes with Richard Knight, ACSI directly. By video, phone, or in person. No obligation.