Hi Dien,

Thanks for recommending the Starchild web site! At first glance, it looks like there's a wealth of information to explore.

Anyway, I can't add too much intelligence to this discussion until I dig in and do some more research. But I'm sure I'll unearth some more questions, and request the wisdom of you and the other fine participants on this board!

On a final note, I'm currently reading "Rich Dad's Guide to Investing," and it's every bit as good as the first two. I'd definitely recommend reading them in sequence though...

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to all of these posts with such insight.

Best,

Jesse

P.S. I sure agree about taking numerous tax-deductible trips to tropical locations!

> Hi Jesse!

> I agree with you, these are all fascinating
> (and profitable) topics to know about.... :)

> I'm not an expert in offshore trusts and
> investments, but like you, it's something
> I'm interested in....

> Several years ago I found these online
> excerpts from a book by Adam Starchild, The
> Offshore Entrepreneur . It contains a lot of
> interesting introductory information, which
> I found fascinating.... You can find at
> this web page , then click on "Table of
> Contents" to get to the articles and
> excerpts....

> I agree with you, many of the wealthy take
> advantage of offshore tax havens to help
> protect their assets, and an increasing
> number of the "middle class" seem
> to be looking into it too.... I guess one of
> the main benefits of certain offshore tax
> havens is that they provide a lot of privacy
> regarding your financial assets.

> However, I'm not really an expert here
> myself.... Anyone else found anything else
> regarding these kinds of opportunities?

> Oh, another thing I read recently --
> apparently some offshore
> "opportunities" are scams, Ponzi
> schemes, and the like. So it pays to be
> cautious.... I believe there is a legitimate
> opportunity here, however, it seems best to
> take a little extra time to be cautious, and
> to research the people or companies you deal
> with....

> Also, some of the world's tax havens seem
> like great places to live or visit! I
> wouldn't mind taking the occasional trip to
> the tropical Carribean for business
> purposes.... ;)

> Some places like the Bahamas, Nevis and St.
> Kitts (in the Carribean), or the Cook
> Islands (if you prefer Polynesia) are not
> only tax havens but also tourist
> destinations....

> Costa Rica is not only lush and beautiful,
> but many consider it a tax haven too.... :)

> Or you might insist on a place where
> everyone speaks English, which you can drive
> to in your car.... In this case, you could
> pick Belize (right on the other side of
> Mexico). (From Los Angeles, it'd be a
> similar distance as driving to Miami --
> long, but doable!). The choices are
> mind-boggling.... :)

> Thanks for bringing this subject up, Jesse!
> It's also something I have a lot of interest
> in too, but I know I have a lot of research
> ahead of me here.... :)

> - Dien