Many people think of tax professionals as tax preparers, but tax professionals wear a lot of different hatsâsometimes all at once. Thatâs how you might describe Arielle Tucker, who is both a cross-border Certified Financial Plannerâą and Enrolled Agent, who helps U.S. expats build wealth while navigating the tax and financial complexities of life abroad.
Arielle lives just outside Zurich, Switzerland, with her husband and two children. Thatâs fitting as she has spent most of her career in Europe, with time in Berlin, Munich, and Zurich. When sheâs not guiding clients through cross-border planning, youâll find her exploring European cities, hiking in the Alps, or searching for Switzerlandâs best chocolate.
Here’s what else Arielle had to say:
Where are you now? I am currently based just outside Zurich, Switzerland. I am originally from Rochester, New York.
What’s your job title, and what does it mean? I am the Founder and Managing Partner of Connected Financial Planning, where I serve as the lead cross-border financial planner. That means I oversee everything from U.S. and foreign tax reviews to investment strategy and client data management. Iâm also building out training systems to support the next generation of cross-border planners, work that involves a deep dive into international tax planning. Outside of the firm, I host Passport To Wealthâą, a podcast thatâs truly a passion project. Itâs designed to help both current and aspiring U.S. expats navigate the financial and tax side of international life, but also the real-world logistics of how to actually make the move abroad.
Tax, law, and accounting are such broad topics. What’s your area of special interest? My special interest lies at the intersection of U.S. tax and international wealth planning, specifically supporting U.S. expats (U.S. citizens, U.S. green card holders & their families) living in or moving to Europe. I focus on cross-border tax planning, investment strategy, and financial decision-making for expats navigating two (or more) sets of tax rules. Iâm especially interested in how tax treaties, foreign retirement accounts, real estate, and foreign business ownership impact long-term wealth building and U.S. compliance.
Whatâs the first thing you typically do while at work? I start by checking my email to make sure nothing urgent came up overnight. Since we support globally mobile clients from Singapore to Seattle, Iâm always mindful that someone elseâs workday may be wrapping up just as mine is beginning.
If you had an extra couple of hours open up in your dayâoutside of workâwhat would you do? Iâd head outside, ideally for a long walk or hike in the Swiss countryside that surrounds my home. Being in nature helps me recharge, process and think more creatively. If the weather isnât cooperating, youâd probably find me curled up with a book or experimenting with a new baking recipe.
Whatâs one tool or resource that you couldnât live without at work? My team, both the one Iâve built and the broader team that surrounds each client. International planning is never done in a silo, and thatâs one of the things I love most about this work, each client is a unique puzzle. Itâs deeply collaborative, involving not just internal brainstorming but coordination with U.S. and foreign accountants, estate planners, and tax attorneys. That collective expertise enables us to deliver truly comprehensive advice.
If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? When I became an entrepreneur, I realized this is my dream job. After working at boutique firms and a startup, I discovered how much I love building, iterating, and creating solutions from the ground up. Iâll be an entrepreneur for life, and since there are so many problems to solve in the world of tax, Iâll probably always be tax-adjacent in some way. I thrive at the intersection of strategy, service, and innovation.
What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now. This isn’t just tax and financial advice; it applies to most aspects of life.
What books or magazines are on your nightstand? âYour Money or Your Lifeâ by Vicki Robin. I’ve read this twice before, but I keep coming back to it. Itâs a powerful reminder to live more deliberately and to make financial choices that support a meaningful life, not just a bigger bank balance.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career? Malissa Marshall, CFP Âź, EA. She was the first accountant at PwC I met who was also a CFPÂź, and until then, I had no idea how many career paths existed within the tax field. I thought working in tax meant preparing returns, but she introduced me to the world of tax planning as a key part of financial planning. That conversation completely changed the trajectory of my career. It helped me see how I could build a profession around strategy, relationships, and long-term impact.
What would I be surprised to know about you? I always knew I would move abroad. Even as a kid, long before Harry Potter made it cool, I had a strong pull to live in Europe. In college, I had dreamed of participating in a study abroad program, but when I realized the price tag was $30,000 for just one semester, I knew it wasnât worth it. Instead, I took a more unconventional route. I was ahead in my coursework, so I took the fall semester of my junior year off and backpacked through Europe before smartphones or international data plans were a thing. I printed out bus, train, ferry, and flight directions and navigated solo across the continent. It was everything I hoped for: a real adventure, and best of all, completely debt-free.
If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrowâan extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whateverâwhat would it be and why? I would change the U.S. tax system from citizenship-based taxation to residence-based taxation. Most people donât realize that the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that taxes its citizens no matter where they live. For Americans abroad, this often feels like wearing invisible financial shackles. Itâs not just unfair, itâs expensive and burdensome to navigate. It also limits access to local investment opportunities, makes it harder to save for retirement, and discourages entrepreneurship. Shifting to residence-based taxation would make a world of difference for millions of U.S. citizens building lives abroad.
What was the best tax conference, continuing education (CE), or continuing legal education (CLE) event that you ever attended? In 2019, I attended the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum in D.C. and had the opportunity to hear Charles Rettig, then Commissioner of the IRS, speak. It was a standout moment in my career. Hearing directly from someone at the helm of the agency gave me real insight into the IRSâs inner workings, priorities, and challenges. What struck me most, though, was how personal he made the conversation. He shared that his wife wasnât born in the U.S., and as a result, his family had firsthand experience navigating some of the same cross-border complexities that my clients deal with every day. Tax isnât just technical, itâs deeply personal.
What has been the biggest change that youâve seen in the tax profession in the last five years? The growing shortage of accountants has had a huge impact, especially in the international space. As demand for cross-border expertise rises, many clients who truly need support are priced out and left trying to navigate complex international filings on their own. Unfortunately, that often leads to costly mistakes that could have been avoided with the right guidance. The profession is in urgent need of more accessible, well-trained advisors who understand the nuances of global tax issues.
What are you most concerned about or excited about with respect to the profession moving forward? Artificial Intelligence (AI). Itâs an incredibly powerful tool, but weâre still in the early stages of understanding how to use it responsibly. Iâm concerned about undertrained professionals or individuals uploading sensitive personal data into public models without understanding the risks, or relying on AI-generated responses that may be incomplete or outright incorrect to make major financial decisions. That said, Iâm also genuinely excited about its potential. If used thoughtfully, AI can help demystify cross-border tax issues and make expert guidance more accessible to people who currently struggle to afford it.
If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it? Honestly, Iâd probably be beating myself up wondering why Iâm getting such a big refund, because that means I overpaid! But if itâs truly just a bonus, Iâd set it aside for our future home purchase. Real estate in Switzerland isnât exactly cheap, so every bit helps!
You can find Arielle at Connected Financial Planning and on Instagram at @passporttowealthofficial.
This article is part of our Getting To Know You Tuesday seriesâa chance to get to know all kinds of tax professionals and understand that the field of tax is bigger than April 15. If youâd like to nominate tax professional to be featured, send your suggestion to kerb@forbes.com with the subject: Getting To Know You Tuesday.