How to get money OUT of your country without an offshore bank account
People are getting their funds out of shaky banks with creativity. I've been called a fear-monger. But when I see news that Italy is launching a stimulus worth over 40% (!) of its GDP to attempt to revitalize the economy, I can't help but shiver. It's not...
9 Reasons why the economy in South Africa is on the verge of a crash
I absolutely hate having to write this report, as South Africa is close to my heart. I worked full time in South Africa for 4 years, made many friends, worked with lovely colleagues and absolutely fell in love with the country. This analysis will offer a macro...
A Surreal Youtube video by the FDIC
Last week I wrote about the very shaky position many banks are finding themselves in due to the trillions in derivatives they are sitting on. What can make such a situation worse? People starting to take their money out of the banking system. We haven't reached the...
The Friendly Nations Visa in Panama
Have you ever heard of the Friendly Nations Visa in Panama? Well, think of a place with the following advantages: Year long sunshine Sublime beaches Beautiful national parks A friendly, youthful and growing population A regional leader in terms of the Ease of Doing...
9 Reasons to Open an Offshore Bank Account
There are many reasons to open an offshore bank account and it is a good idea for anyone with even a little bit of money. No, offshore bank accounts are not just for criminals and to dodge taxes. In fact, it's increasingly hard to hide money with FATCA and CRS now in...
8 Ways to Invest in Gold
So you've decided to invest in gold? Great, but how do you go about it, and what are the different ways you can invest in gold? As a gentle reminder, my first article, which was published in June 2019, made the point that everyone should invest in gold. Since then,...
The Real Estate Investment Market in Tbilisi, Georgia
Making a real estate investment in Tbilisi, Georgia, is increasingly making headlines in the “offshore” world. Georgia is being sold as a great place to do business as well as being affordable and populated by friendly people making delicious wine. Guess what, this is...
14 reasons AGAINST a Real Estate Investment in Paris
One of the few, truly global cities, Paris has been the “capital” of Europe for centuries. Surely, making a real estate investment in Paris is wise and would count as a great store of value. Paris is beautiful and well connected. Paris is a center of culture and...
Is a real estate investment in Kiev, Ukraine, attractive?
My previous piece on the Ukrainian economy, which you should read, started with the insight that residential prices are down 75% from their peak in Kiev, Ukraine. Generally speaking, a 75% drop in prices in a capital city, with a few years of consolidation at the...
An ambiguous case – is now the time to invest in Ukraine?
I’m often asked if a real estate investment in Kiev, Ukraine, is a smart move. From a peak of over USD 3500 per m2 in 2007, prices dropped for over a decade to slightly over $1050 per m2 in Q2 2019. I’ll examine the Kiev real estate in a future article, but in the...
10 Learnings from a Real Estate Investment in the United States as a Non-Resident Foreigner
Non Americans are almost all familiar with scenes of people striking it rich in real estate in the United States. People speculate, flip, use credit, become rich and then sometimes lose it all. It’s a vast and attractive market, not just for the potential returns, but...
How to start a company in Uzbekistan as a non-resident foreigner
So you have a business idea for booming Uzbekistan (read this) that requires you to start a company locally? You might think it’s very Soviet, complicated, expensive, and that legal help is required. Some lawyers won’t hesitate to overcharge you. Guess what, it’s...