Lead Advisors
Who leads this service.
Bray Zhang
MBA · CFP®
Lead Advisor — bilingual (EN/ZH)
Shirley Nelson
JD · CFP®
Lead Advisor — Estate & Tax
US-China financial complexity — from FBAR compliance to cross-border estate planning — handled bilingually with precision.
中英双语服务
Most wealth advisors understand either the US system or the Chinese system. Few understand both well enough to plan across them.
For Chinese-American families, the interactions between US and PRC tax obligations are rarely simple. A gift from parents abroad may trigger US reporting requirements. A PRC pension account may create unexpected US tax exposure. An estate that looks straightforward in one country may be deeply complicated in the other.
At Youya Wealth, cross-border planning is a core competency — not an afterthought. Bray Zhang and Shirley Nelson work together to ensure that every element of your financial life is coordinated across both jurisdictions, from annual compliance filings to long-term estate structures.
We serve clients who are US citizens or permanent residents with ties to China — whether that means bank accounts, property, a pension, family members, or business interests. We provide integrated planning in both Mandarin and English, so nothing is lost in translation.
"Are you certain your cross-border holdings are fully reported and optimally structured?"
Schedule a ConsultationYou hold bank accounts, real estate, or investment accounts in China. You may receive income from PRC sources, or you own a stake in a Chinese business. US reporting obligations — FBAR, FATCA, Form 8938 — apply, and the penalties for non-compliance are severe.
You have a PRC pension, social insurance balance, or employer retirement account. These assets create complex US tax questions: when are they taxable, how are they treated under the US-China tax treaty, and do they affect your Form 8938 filing obligations?
Your assets are in the US but some of your heirs are in China — or vice versa. Cross-border estate planning requires careful coordination to ensure assets can be transferred efficiently across jurisdictions, and that your wishes are legally honored in both countries.
We begin with a complete inventory of your assets and income sources in both countries — bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate, business interests, pension balances, and any pending gifts or inheritances. We assess current compliance status before making any recommendations.
We review your filing history and identify any gaps. For clients with previously unreported assets, we work with tax counsel to evaluate voluntary disclosure options. Going forward, we coordinate all required US informational filings — FinCEN 114, Form 8938, Form 3520 — alongside your annual tax return.
We analyze your situation under the US-China tax treaty, identify treaty positions that minimize double-taxation, and coordinate your US tax strategy with any PRC obligations. For dual-status taxpayers and recent immigrants, we model the transition period carefully to avoid unexpected tax exposure.
Cross-border planning is not a one-time event. We provide ongoing oversight as your situation evolves — new assets acquired abroad, changes in residency status, family members immigrating or departing — and coordinate all required filings on a consistent annual cycle.
The first conversation is always about the full picture — both countries, all assets, no pressure.
Request a Consultation