Not Far From It Now

You can achieve greater profits in the offshore investment scenario, along with greater privacy, and better asset protection. In the last 10 years alone, the U.S. stock market was outdone by financial markets elsewhere in the world by more than nine times! In 1997, it was ranked at number 4. Germany, France, Australia, and Turkey have all done significantly better than the US in the last few years, giving investors profit margins that were as much as 200% higher than the U.S. market could provide.

Unfortunately, simply buying foreign stocks through a domestic broker provides no privacy and almost no asset protection. Foreign investments made through a financial institution in the US do not provide investment continuity if the US markets shut down. So how does the small investor get access to offshore markets? One option is to buy American Depository Receipts or ADR through a domestic broker, which are a great option for liquid foreign shares. However, this applies only to a handful of foreign shares. The trick is to find a full-service broker who can provide legal strategies to protect your wealth, and lower your taxes. Some banks and investment advisors can guide you regarding the establishment and operation of offshore accounts, trusts, business corporations and foundations.

The first step on the path to the offshore investment world is opening an offshore bank account. The offshore banks would then offer services of a full-service stockbroker, allowing you to buy into any security. The offshore bank purchases the securities in its name, freeing you from SEC regulations regarding limited access. Most offshore banks also provide professional research and buy/sell recommendations and you can issue limit and stop orders regarding your investment.

In recent years, the US dollar has lost a large part of its value against the euro and other world currencies. A handful of investors have made huge profits from the decline of the dollar, through foreign currency investments. It is quite easy for anyone, even you, to purchase foreign currencies through an offshore bank. In the current state of uncertain economic environment, it is sensible, and easy, to diversify your currency holdings internationally through foreign currency CDs. It is also possible to purchase foreign currency CDs domestically, from institutions like Everbank. However, offshore private banks give you the advantage of lower minimums and higher yields.

Offshore Investments remove the need for constant scrutiny of your wealth, investments and spending and other aspects of your financial life, something that happens within the US. The United States does not have a federal statute protecting banks or securities accounts from disclosure. As a consequence, moving your money to an offshore investment makes it invisible to the nosy information brokers and private investigators.

The right offshore investments can also help make you litigation proof. With the popularity of litigation in the US, accumulating wealth has become an invitation to legal predators. In most cases, the protection provided by domestic asset protection laws is a matter of state jurisdiction with variations from state to state. Offshore investments and asset protection programs offer wealth preservation barriers, often with no additional attorney fees.

2008 Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Anna D. Banks, a passionate advocate for baby boomers in exploring their priorities, planning and setting goals for the next stage of their lives. Assisting her clients to attract and build a professional and personal life consistent with their values is not just a goal of Anna's, it's her passion. Her diverse work experience in business, education and financial services enables her to help the diverse population of baby-boomers with their life, career, and personal finance coaching needs. Anna is currently Adjunct Faculty at Essex County College, where she teaches Career Development & Management.

Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please place a post on http://www.annabanks.com or email your questions to me at Anna@AnnaBanks.com

AFP - Canadian, French and US astronomers have found a strange asteroid with an odd orbit which could help explain the origin of comets, the National Research Council of Canada reported Thursday.

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