Dien And All...What About Leveraging Through Asset Protection & Offshore Investments?

Hi Dien,

First, I want to thank you for all of your thoughts regarding leveraging through real estate and stock investments. I've saved your post and expect to refer to it often as I weigh my options in these areas.

I'd like to take a moment though to bring up a form of leverage with which I'm becoming increasingly intrigued...

Asset Protection (through the establishment of Pure Trust Organizations), and offshore investing, to shelter your tax obligations on the revenues you earn.

I am admittedly far from an expert on this topic, but my initial research has definitely prompted me to seek out more information!

Contrary to popular stereotypes and misconceptions, asset protection and offshore investing is completely legal, completely ethical, and from what I can see, completely intelligent! Several of my colleagues who utilize these methods say they would never even dream of going back to the 'normal way.'

Anyone have any knowledge, experience, or references in this area? I'd be most grateful.

Thanks, and best wishes!

-Jesse

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 it 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

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