A Life Abroad: Retiring Overseas with Jennifer Harper

What if your retirement dollars could stretch further and your days could slow down, without shrinking your life? In this episode, Ruth sits down with certified financial planner and expat Jennifer Harper, who now lives and works in Portugal, to unpack what living abroad really looks like beyond the glossy highlight reels: visas, housing requirements, healthcare, taxes, currency swings, travel costs, and the patience it takes when the process does not move on your timeline. Together, they talk through the human side too, what you miss, what you gain, how to build community, and the questions to ask before you leap, including how to plan for emergencies and protect your loved ones with the right documents. You will walk away with a clearer view of the tradeoffs, and a grounded sense of what it takes to design a life you enjoy, not just a budget you can afford.About the Guest: Jennifer HarperJennifer Harper is a Certified Financial Planner and the founder, principal, and chief compliance officer of A Bridge Financial Planning. She began her career in financial services in 2000, earned her CFP designation in 2006, completed advanced training through the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, and has taught small business finance as an adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. With a deep commitment to financial education and advocacy for women, Jennifer brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation, having relocated to Portugal and navigated the practical realities of working, building community, and planning across borders.