Family Wealth Foundation — Build Your Financial Life in the U.S.

Why the Foundation Matters / 为什么财富基础规划很重要

The U.S. financial system operates differently from many other countries. For new immigrants, understanding how banking, credit, taxation, and insurance work can prevent costly mistakes and unlock long-term advantages.
美国的金融体系与许多国家不同。新移民若能理解银行、信用、税务、保险等基础制度的运作方式， 不仅能避免代价高昂的误区，还能提前布局长期利益。

• How to build a U.S. credit score and why it matters / 如何建立美国信用分数及其重要性
• Choosing the right bank accounts and understanding FDIC protection / 如何选银行账户与理解存款保险制度
• Basic tax concepts: residency vs. domicile, and global taxation / 税务基础概念：税务居民、身份与全球征税
• Insurance as a financial safety net / 保险作为金融安全网的作用
• How to set up family trusts and joint ownership structures / 如何设立家庭信托与共同产权架构

U.S. Banking System / 美国银行体系

The U.S. banking system is decentralized — each bank operates independently and is insured by the FDIC (up to USD 250,000 per depositor, per bank).
美国银行体系是分散的，每家银行独立运营，受 FDIC（联邦存款保险公司）保障， 每位存户每家银行最高受保额度为 25 万美元。

Accounts you should open early / 新移民应尽早开立的账户：

• Checking Account 支票账户： 用于日常收支与转账，是生活必备账户。
• Savings Account 储蓄账户： 用于短期存款与紧急备用金，通常利率较低。
• Brokerage Account 投资账户： 可购买股票、ETF、债券等理财工具。

👉 Tip: New immigrants may start with ITIN (Individual Tax ID) if they don’t have SSN yet; some banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi support ITIN account openings.
提示：尚未拿到 SSN 的新移民可先用 ITIN 开户，一些银行如 Chase、Wells Fargo、Citi 等支持 ITIN 客户。

Credit System & Score / 信用体系与信用分数

Unlike China, the U.S. relies heavily on personal credit scores (FICO) to evaluate financial trustworthiness. Credit history affects your ability to rent housing, get mortgages, and even apply for jobs.
不同于中国，美国极度重视个人信用分数（FICO），它影响租房、贷款甚至就业。

• Start with secured credit cards or co-signed loans / 从担保信用卡或联名贷款开始建立信用
• Keep utilization below 30% and always pay on time / 控制使用率在 30% 以下并按时还款
• Monitor credit reports from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion / 定期查看三大信用局报告

Key difference: In the U.S., creditworthiness matters more than income proof.
关键区别： 在美国，信用记录往往比收入证明更重要。

Understanding U.S. Tax Basics / 了解美国税务基础

The U.S. taxes citizens and residents on worldwide income. Residency for tax purposes is determined by the “Substantial Presence Test”, not just visa type.
美国对公民与税务居民征收全球收入税，是否为税务居民取决于“实质居留测试”，而非签证种类。

• Learn the difference between Resident Alien and Non-Resident Alien
• Understand FATCA / FBAR reporting obligations for overseas assets
• Plan before status changes (Green Card or substantial presence) to avoid double taxation

税务规划应在身份变化前进行，以避免双重征税并优化全球资产结构。

Insurance & Risk Management / 保险与风险管理

In the U.S., insurance plays a critical role in financial stability. Health insurance, liability coverage, and life insurance all protect families from unexpected losses.
在美国，保险体系是财富安全的核心组成部分。医疗险、责任险与寿险帮助家庭应对突发风险。

• Health Insurance 健康险： 医疗费用昂贵，是家庭首要保障。
• Auto & Home Insurance 车险/房屋险： 涵盖财产与责任风险。
• Life Insurance 寿险： 税务友好、可用于传承与现金价值积累。

专业建议： 新移民家庭应尽早建立基础保障，并了解寿险与信托结合的税务优势。

Investment Accounts & Building Assets / 投资账户与资产增长

U.S. financial markets offer diverse tools for long-term growth — from IRAs and 401(k)s to brokerage accounts. Understanding tax-deferred and taxable accounts helps maximize efficiency.
美国市场拥有丰富的长期理财工具，如 IRA、401(k)、券商账户等。了解税延账户与普通账户的差异有助于提高收益效率。

• Retirement Accounts: 401(k), Traditional & Roth IRA — tax-deferred or tax-free growth
• Brokerage Accounts: Flexible investment access for stocks, ETFs, bonds
• College Savings: 529 plans for children’s education funding

Family Trust & Estate Preparation / 家庭信托与遗产规划

For families planning to stay long-term in the U.S., setting up basic estate structures early can save future tax and legal costs.
计划长期居留的家庭，应尽早搭建基本遗产与信托架构，降低未来税务与法律风险。

• Revocable Living Trust / 可撤销信托： 避免遗产认证（probate），提高隐私与效率。
• Joint Ownership / 共同产权： 明确家庭资产分配与继承权。
• Beneficiary Designations / 受益人指定： 确保保险与账户收益直达指定家庭成员。