Jessica Govern and Claire Naughton have lived in Strasbourg, France for eight years. Both are American, both moved abroad in their early twenties with no financial plan, and both built self-employment careers in a country that makes that harder than it sounds. This episode is their unscripted accounting of what worked, what didn't, and what they would do differently.

Govern produces the Passport to Wealth podcast and runs a social media management business. Naughton works as a fractional CMO and marketing strategist. Together they cover French healthcare, self-employment taxes, Roth IRA contributions from abroad, cultural adjustment, and the financial moves that matter most before a US citizen changes tax residency.

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WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS
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0:00 - Introduction: Jessica Govern and Claire Naughton, US expats in France
05:38 - Maternity care in France as a US expat: daily midwife visits, hospital stay, total cost
7:49 - The benefits of being an employee vs. self-employed in France
8:37 - Impact of wider environmental and cultural factors on physical and mental health: weather, sense of community, and differences in culture.
10:18 - French perfectionism vs. US hustle culture: accepting limitations and finding motivation while maintaining work/life balance
13:55 - Healthcare as a preventative system and experience during intake and testing
17:12 - What to consider when moving abroad as a US citizen and what Jessica and Claire would do differently: Roth IRA contributions, financial and tax considerations, culture, and community
26:10 - Moving abroad as a US couple: alignment, scouting trips, and the two-year rule

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ABOUT THE GUESTS
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Jessica Govern is the podcast producer for Passport to Wealth and a US expat who has lived in Strasbourg, France for eight years. She runs a social media management and marketing business and has built her entire adult life in Europe.

Claire Naughton is a marketing strategist and fractional CMO based in Strasbourg, France. Originally from the Chicago area, she moved to France in 2018 and has built a successful self-employment career abroad.

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ABOUT PASSPORT TO WEALTH
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Passport to Wealth is the platform for current and aspiring US expats. We connect globally mobile Americans with vetted, licensed cross-border financial advisors, tax professionals, and relocation experts who understand the financial and legal complexities of life abroad.

Our podcast, directory, courses, and newsletter give you the trusted tools and connections to make informed decisions — wherever you live.

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RESOURCES & LINKS
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Find a vetted expat financial advisor or tax professional in France:
https://www.passporttowealth.com/directory

Subscribe for weekly US expat finance tips:
https://www.youtube.com/@PassportToWealthOfficial?sub_confirmation=1

Free resources and guides for US expats:
https://www.passporttowealth.com/

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STAY CONNECTED
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/connectedfp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passporttowealthofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passport-to-wealth/
Website: https://www.passporttowealth.com/

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOBBKbJSj8I

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