40
votes
Accepted
What is the data before 1999 for EUR to USD on Google?
The same wiki page says EUR replaced ECU with 1:1 rate. So history before 1999 likely represents ECU/USD rate.
However, I'm not sure why is starts in 1982 then, as ECU was introduced in 1979.
- 446
31
votes
How can a resident of the European Union (not from UK) practically buy stocks?
If you're just planning to buy-and-hold, it is worth considering whether the value of the time you spend on searching for a cheap brokerage will not dwarf the savings.
Around here (Denmark) banks don'...
12
votes
I still have my German bank account, but I'm not residing within the EU anymore. Can I use it to receive EU income?
There is no reason why that wouldn’t work, and there should be no additional cost just for living abroad. However, the bank may bill you more for actions that actually cost more, such as sending ...
- 372
12
votes
Buying an US ETF from Europe using Interactive Brokers
If you have only EU/UK tax residency, you can buy any ETF with "UCITS" in the name - those conform to the new consumer information regulations. I gather that the expense ratios often aren't quite as ...
- 436
10
votes
Accepted
If I carry a lot of money from Germany to Spain, what can go wrong?
I'd worry about being robbed or losing the money en-route. Is it likely? Probably not. But wow, I wouldn't want to lose serious money in one shot. I have fond memories of the time I was serving as ...
- 22.9k
9
votes
Opening account for family in my name
You edited out the part of you assisting your sister in hiding money from the court.
Read your original post out loud to yourself three times. Now what do you think? Of course it is a bad idea, ...
- 79.6k
9
votes
How can a resident of the European Union (not from UK) practically buy stocks?
Banks that offer brokerage services tend to charge high commissions and some charge additional account maintenance fees. Therefore, it's possible that your bank may not be the best choice.
Best ...
- 77k
9
votes
How can a resident of the European Union (not from UK) practically buy stocks?
(All slightly guessing: this is how things are in one or two European countries I know, and chances are your European country works similarly - but things do differ between countries - so please ...
- 3,004
9
votes
Accepted
How can a resident of the European Union (not from UK) practically buy stocks?
What you want is a simple discount brokerage. Brand names here in the US include ETrade, Vanguard, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and others. Some of them do business in Europe (though Fidelity US split ...
8
votes
Why do companies pay salaries rather than donations?
I think you mean a "gift".
Clearly pay for work is not a gift. It's a payment for consideration (consideration means your work). Gifts don't have consideration. Passing it off as such is fraud.
It's ...
- 183
7
votes
If I carry a lot of money from Germany to Spain, what can go wrong?
A quick search shows that https://www.westernunion.com/de/en/send-money/start.html says they will transfer €5,000 for a cost of €2.90. Assuming you can do a transfer every week, that would be six ...
- 23.9k
7
votes
How to know which companies enter the stock market?
Market Watch has an IPO calender with details of upcoming IPOs that should provide most of the information you need.
- 5,768
7
votes
Is it possible to get a big personal loan for foreign investment?
It can be very difficult, but not impossible. It will depend on :
your working contract (fixed or permanent?).
your bank policy (there is huge difference between banks).
you relation with your ...
- 302
7
votes
Accepted
Will I need to worry about "structuring" with wire transfers?
In the US, currency transactions of more than $10,000 require a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) to be filled out and submitted to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Note than FinCEN ...
- 47.3k
7
votes
Accepted
What happens to those huge company fines?
In the U.S, it depends on the nature of the fraud. In general, civic penalties go to the victims or the U.S. Treasury but other government agencies or states may get part of them as well.
When ...
- 77k
7
votes
Accepted
With constant travel, is it possible to not have a tax residence?
No.
All tax treaties (which
allow personal/investment income paid in one country to get shifted to another country)
require you to claim (at least in your mind; paperwork might not be needed)
an ...
- 500
7
votes
Why does the Fed change rates in quarter points rounding?
I'm pretty sure it's just a policy that the Fed seems to follow. I know of no mechanical reason why they couldn't use more precise increments, but possibly for simplicity (or tradition) they choose to ...
- 142k
7
votes
Is it more financially sound to own 100% of one property or 50% of two properties?
As nearly everything, it has pros and contras.
The benefit of having two assets is to be more diversified. If you have a tenant which ruins your property, and it is your only property, you are in a ...
- 5,460
6
votes
Can I force companies to accept a SEPA bank account?
This is not allowed, and there is a name for it: IBAN discrimination. Searching for that term will give you some pointers what to do about it.
The EU regulation that prohibits this is 260/2012, ...
- 161
6
votes
I need a car for 2 years. Buy or lease (or something else)?
Speaking only for life in Germany - it would be helpful to know which European country you're moving to, as car-buying in Denmark is very different from Germany, as is car-buying in the Czech Republic ...
- 436
6
votes
Will I need to worry about "structuring" with wire transfers?
The law in the United States is related to cash transactions. It doesn't include those transactions done electronically, by wire transfer, or by check. The structuring part of the law applies to those ...
- 145k
6
votes
Accepted
What effect will Brexit have on EU-wide Deposit Guarantee Schemes (e.g. FSCS)?
Disclaimer: This is neither financial nor legal advice. This answer reflects my reading of pertinent information as at February 2020. Reality's reading may be different.
February 2020 Update: No ...
- 9,600
6
votes
Accepted
Opening account for family in my name
There are several risks to you.
Depending on the details of the arrangement, you might be liable for income tax on the money apparently "given" to you, and your sibling might be liable for income tax ...
- 25.2k
6
votes
Is Amex not welcome or it's only my idea
I'm not sure about EU laws specifically, but as far as I know merchants can definitely discriminate between credit card issuers.
I also do not see any official way to have AMEX contact a merchant to ...
- 10.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Is there a currency risk in UCITS ETFs?
If there is a major downturn in EUR, your asset would actually appreciate in EUR even if the index does not move, because US stocks are traded in USD and Unhedged ETF has USD as Base Currency. An ...
- 10.5k
5
votes
When can a personal maestro prepaid debit card process payments without the owner entering the PIN number?
I thought the CVV2 or the PIN were required for a payment to be authorized in case the physical card is not detected by a payment device.
It's not. Depending on the size of the merchant it's their ...
- 49.1k
5
votes
EU Merchant asking credit card details on paper form, violation of GDPR?
GDPR is quite irrelevant here. What matters much more is best practices that credit card processor demand from the merchants. Storing the CVV, for example on paper as they ask for, will get their ...
- 23.9k
5
votes
I still have my German bank account, but I'm not residing within the EU anymore. Can I use it to receive EU income?
You are required to inform your bank about any change in address. Foreign addresses may or may not be a problem, but you will likely have to provide additional documentation.
Personal checking ...
- 2,457
5
votes
How can a resident of the European Union (not from UK) practically buy stocks?
I can only answer from a US perspective, and you need to check if it is different in your country. You can find a traditional brokerage firm and develop a relationship with a broker in the firm, or ...
- 1,900
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible