Background: Single American, no kids, close to F.I.R.E retirement in east/southeast Asia in 2027. I'm ready to commit at least two years but might stay until medicare age if I really like it there. Not close to traditional retirement age and will be living off passive dividend income & maturing bond ladders in my traditional brokerage account (Schwab) to support myself.

At issue is learning how many American brokerage accounts don't like serving non-US resident clients and may even liquidate their holdings and close account. Since this isn't a permanent move I would like to keep my banks and brokerages open. I can use a relative's U.S address while away (though I also heard banks are getting as good as detecting logins from VPNs and catch you that way).

Or, I thought about just breaking clean, closing and moving all my assets to an expat-friendly firm like Interactive Brokers, and while I'm at it cut ties with my home state to avoid paying state taxes (which won't be too much, but why pay at all to a state where I'm no longer a resident?). With the relative address plan I will have to continue paying taxes to that state because I will be "domiciled" there.

The state is California; notorious sticky when it comes to becoming a non-resident. But I own no properties, am ready to close all bank accounts, cancel driver's license, cancel voter registration. Will have no CA sourced income. Will that be enough?

Between the two choices, what seems better to you? Or is there a third option I haven't considered?