I cannot answer the "institutional" part of your question -- I don't
know what equivalents other countries have, if any, to 401(k)'s and
Social Security in the U.S.

Regarding the investment angle, I recommend that you do NOT keep all
you money in U.S. dollar denominated assets such as bonds and even
domestic stocks. If you may retire in Europe, have some exposure to
the Euro currency, through Euro-denominated bonds and European stocks.
Maybe someone can recommend appropriate mutual funds.

Even for investors planning to live in the U.S. some exposure to
foreign currencies and commodities, including gold, is probably
desirable, to hedge against inflation.

I admire someone in his/her mid-twenties who is thinking seriously
about his/her retirement.

Greetings.

Any advice for how to save for one's retirement when one expects to move
around to a few different countries during one's career, and doesn't know
exactly where he'll end up in the end?

I'm in my mid-twenties and am pursuing an academic career. Therefore I
take employment wherever I can get the best research facilities. I've
held temporary jobs in four different countries, and have just started a
long-term full-time position at a German research institute. However, it
is conceivable that I may end up taking another research position or
professorship at a university or private company when my contract expires.
I will almost certainly stay in Europe, though I can't say whether or not
it will be in the EU, or in what country.

As someone who knows very little about financial planning, I am assuming
that this complicates my saving for retirement. I paid into a mandatory
superannuation fund in Australia, and have contributed to mandatory
government pension insurance schemes in Canada and Germany. I guess this
means I'll be filling out a lot of paperwork come retirement time.
However, I doubt the income from these three plans will be enough to
support me in my retirement.

I suppose it would be better to set up some sort of private retirement plan
where I pay in 10% (or whatever) of my salary. The problem is that I want
to make sure the payments are tax-free to the greatest extent permitted,
but because I don't know where I'll be living during my career and when I
retire, I don't know which taxes might be applicable, or how easy it would
be to transfer the retirement fund between countries if/when I move.

Are there any websites or books that address this situation?

Regards,
Tristan

--
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