The Fear: Big moves are for twenty-somethings. At 42, 52, or 62, the window has closed.

The Reality: The data suggests this stage of life is actually one of the best times to make a move. One study of expat retirees found that 81% reported being happier in their new country than they were back home. And research on entrepreneurship shows people in their 40s and 50s are 2.2x more likely to succeed in new ventures than younger counterparts – greater life experience, clearer priorities, and stronger resources make a real difference.

The Reframe: Age isn’t a barrier – it’s leverage. More experience means better planning, stronger networks, greater financial stability, and clearer priorities. The things that made early-twenties moves chaotic are exactly what midlife solves.

The Fear: Leaving an established path means becoming professionally invisible. The “golden handcuffs” are real.

The Reality: In today’s global economy, international experience is often a competitive advantage, not a gap. According to an Economist Intelligence Unit study, almost 90% of executives view global mindset skills – adaptability, cross-cultural communication, the exact proficiencies you develop overseas – as critical for leadership success. The skills that feel risky to acquire are often precisely what global employers deeply value.

The Reframe: The skills you develop navigating foreign systems, cultures, and markets are exactly what global employers value. Cross-cultural competence, adaptability, and international networks are increasingly prized.

The Fear: Moving abroad is financially reckless – a fast track to depleted savings.

The Reality: Moving abroad often improves financial position rather than destroying it. Nearly 60% of expats saw their disposable income increase after relocating – through some combination of lower cost of living, favorable exchange rates, and lifestyle optimization. Geographic arbitrage (earning in stronger currencies, spending in weaker ones) can dramatically improve quality of life per dollar when approached strategically.

An important note: This isn’t about exploiting lower-cost destinations. In places like Lisbon or Mexico City, incoming foreign wealth can strain local housing markets. The goal is being a “value-add” expat – contributing to communities, shopping locally, engaging genuinely – not just extracting arbitrage.

The Fear: Quality healthcare won’t be accessible, or will be prohibitively expensive.

The Reality: For many destinations, healthcare is actually better and cheaper than the U.S. system. In Portugal, for example, you can get excellent private health insurance for around $50 a month – less than many of us pay for streaming subscriptions. And according to the Commonwealth Fund, the U.S. ranks last among wealthy nations in healthcare access, affordability, and outcomes. The assumption that “abroad = medical risk” often has it backwards.

The Reframe: The assumption that “abroad = medical risk” often has it backwards. Western Europe, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore all offer high-quality, accessible care.

The Fear: You’ll end up lonely. Relationships will wither. Kids will struggle and resent you.

The Reality: A home abroad often becomes a magnet for connection, not a barrier to it. A recent study found that 57% of aspiring second-home owners believe their extended family would be more interested in visiting them abroad. And for children, the outcomes are consistently positive: nearly 70% of expat parents report their kids are more open to new cultures and experiences, and multiple studies link bilingual upbringings to stronger cognitive development and executive function skills.

The Reframe: For children, what feels like sacrifice often turns out to be a gift – resilience, adaptability, global perspective. And for relationships, intentional quality time during visits often surpasses scattered interactions at home.

That said: Those first weeks in a new city can feel isolating. Starting fresh is real. But in every place I’ve lived, I found my people – through a neighborhood bakery in Beijing, a local restaurant in Buenos Aires, friends-of-friends across Europe. It takes openness and patience, but it happens.