CALLING ALL BRITS! Updates on International Tax & Estate Planning, UK Pensions, Immigration and More! - Everything Expats Need to Know

Whether you are new to the Bay Area or have been here a while, there are things you need to know to ensure success with your tax and estate planning, immigration status and current and future finances.  Navigating the immigration laws, establishing your credit history, understanding the taxation system, and oh, what to do with that UK pension you left behind? While these issues may seem separate, your decisions about one issue, may negatively, or positively, impact one of the other areas.

This is your chance to get your questions answered from a panel of experts in tax, immigration law, estate planning and UK pensions.  You will also get a chance to connect with people who are in the same situation as yourself.

Join us for some in-person networking at 6.00pm. The panel session will start at 6.30pm. Hor d'oeuvres and wine included.

Some of the questions you will have answered:

• Do I have to declare my worldwide assets and/or worldwide income when I file my tax return?
• I will only stay in the US for a short period of time; can I claim some tax back when I leave?
• I want to transfer some money from Europe to my US bank account; do I have to declare something?

• Now that I'm here, how quickly can I get a Green Card?
• How difficult is it to change employers?

• Can I transfer a UK pension plan to the United States?
• What can I do with my UK Pension now I have moved?
• What are the new UK pension flexibilities introduced in 2015 and how do they affect me?
• What is the UK's Lifetime Allowance Tax?

Jason Kumpf, Rapyd - MODERATOR
Global Head of Partnerships & Ecosystems

Anthony Amodei is a Tax Manager at Spott, Lucey & Wall, Inc. CPAs in San Francisco, California. Since 2012, Anthony's work has focused on accounting and tax compliance services for individuals and businesses with international complexities.  

Anthony is a certified public accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Marquette University, a Master of Science in Accounting degree from Marquette University, and is currently completing a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Anthony is an active member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and regularly attends various international business events around the Bay Area.
 

Marsha Dungog, Withers Worldwide
Partner



Marsha provides US international income, trusts and estate tax planning for high net worth individuals, and family businesses based in the US and abroad with respect to their cross-border assets, investments and activities. She also advises trustees, executors and fiduciaries as well as financial, tax and legal advisors on international tax exposures and reporting obligations for beneficiaries and heirs of trusts and estates with US connections.
 

Marsha's practice includes US tax planning for foreign investors, founders and entrepreneurs deriving income from US-based sources and operations, as well as tax advisory services for foreign legal, financial and tax advisors on the US taxation of foreign pensions and retirement arrangements, US-based investments and exit strategies for corporate executives, global employees and US persons living abroad.

She is an author and frequent speaker on international tax issues. Marsha has published tax technical papers that have been presented to the tax-writing committees of the US Congress and the US Treasury Department on the US taxation of Australian Superannuation Funds, Mexican AFOREs and Canadian registered plans (RESPs and RDSPs).

She has also spoken at international conferences and seminars in the US, Canada and Australia on the US taxation of foreign pensions and retirement, cross-border estates and trusts, international withholding and compliance enforcement initiatives, IRS voluntary disclosure programs and U.S. expatriation and green card termination alternatives.

Prior to joining Withers, Marsha was a director at a large accounting firm in San Francisco providing international tax consulting and compliance services to high net worth clients with a global footprint, businesses and entrepreneurs. She also worked in Canada providing US tax advisory and compliance services for global high net worth individuals, cross-border families and businesses.

Emma Cockerton, Florin Pensions LLC
Co-Founder and CEO

Emma Cockerton is co-founder and CEO of Florin Pensions LLC, a US based investment advisory firm specialising in advising expatriates on UK pension transfers. With only British expatriate advisers working at Florin, Florin is well placed to help its clients make sense of their UK pensions and provide local advice on how to manage them before and during retirement.

Florin is headquartered in San Francisco, but has advisers also located in New York and Florida. Prior to Florin, Emma worked in London as an Executive Director in the risk management function of GE Capital EMEA. She started her career as an UK attorney/solicitor working as a Senior Associate with Ashurst LLP, a multinational law firm based in London.
 

Melissa Jaffar, Erickson Immigration
Managing Attorney






Melissa Jaffar is a Managing Attorney at Erickson Immigration Group?s San Francisco, CA office. She has extensive immigration program management and practice experience. Partnering with stakeholders with a strategic focus on managing high-volume immigration programs, Melissa oversees performance management, stakeholder education, consultation, advising, and implementation, maintenance, and reporting on immigration matters and compliance.  She provides strategic counsel to clients on all aspects of corporate and business immigration, working with Fortune 500 companies as well as with small and medium-sized businesses, and startups. Melissa takes a hands-on approach with clients and strives to provide a best-in-class experience for employees. Melissa has served as a speaker for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
 
Education:
Texas A & M School of Law (f/k/a Texas Wesleyan School of Law), Juris Doctor
Vanderbilt University, Bachelor of Arts
 
Admitted to:
State Bar of Texas