International Privacy and Security for 21st Century Global Citizens

by the InvestorsOffshore Editorial Team, September 2010

In a world in which privacy and security, whether personal or financial, are under ever greater threat, expatriates and globetrotters face major challenges in the 21st century. Although international mobility brings unique opportunities, it can also sometimes bring unique problems, and in this month's special feature we will be looking at services which can help you to protect your privacy both online and off, and measures that you can take to protect yourself against the multiplicity of threats to your security.

Jurisdiction Special Focus: Antigua and Barbuda

by the InvestorsOffshore Editorial Team, August 2010

In common with many of its Caribbean neighbours, Antigua & Barbuda, the subject of this Investors Offshore jurisdiction focus, is probably a location more synonymous with the upmarket end of the tourist trade than as a place in which to invest. Whilst tourism is indeed an important part of the nation's economy, a notable offshore financial industry has in fact been developed by government over the last two decades, helped along by some generous business and personal tax incentives, the major aspects of which we will attempt to cover here.

Islamic Finance - The New Mainstream Alternative

by the InvestorsOffshore Editorial Team, August 2010

Although the Islamic finance sector suffered along with other investment sectors during the credit crunch of 2008 and 2009, its long-term future seems assured. Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Thomson Reuters, told participants at the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENESA) Forum on ‘The Challenges Ahead for Islamic Finance’ in May that Islamic Finance is on a firm footing to become a USD2 trillion industry in the next half decade. “It took the Islamic Finance industry 40 years to become a USD1 trillion industry. It will take another two to five years to become a USD2 trillion industry,” he said.

St Vincent & The Grenadines

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, July 2010

Whilst the Caribbean state of St Vincent and the Grenadines is probably best known as a tourist destination and hideaway for the well-heeled (Princess Margaret had a holiday home on Mustique for many years and Mick Jagger, who still has a home there, is a regular visitor), the former British colony is also emerging as a well governed and regulated financial jurisdiction to rival the more prominent offshore finance centres in the region.

Online Trading For Expats

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, July 2010

For the domestic investor, the choice of online brokers seems almost endless; for the expat, whose somewhat unusual situation allows for a greater flexibility of investment choice and possible advantages in terms of taxation, the choice seems to be less broad, but is growing by the minute, as onshore brokerages recognise the potential of the expanding 'globetrotting' mass affluent market, and offshore brokers recognise the need to provide their clients with up-to-the-minute facilities.

Singapore - Another Hong Kong?

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, June 2010

Located in South East Asia, Singapore is a highly developed and successful free market economy which enjoys an open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, a low tax regime and a per capita GDP equal to that of most parts of Western Europe.

International Retirement Planning

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, June 2010

Survey after survey shows that ever-increasing numbers of people have active plans to leave their home countries either to work or to retire abroad. A survey carried out by Currency UK shortly before the May, 2010 election found that an astonishing 75% of people had considered or were considering a move abroad. Year on year, therefore, the total global population of expatriates goes up by leaps and bounds, and one of their major preoccupations is of course the question of retirement provision. HSBC's Expat Explorer 2009 survey found that expats are tending to save more, perhaps in response to uncertain economic conditions.

Barbados

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, May 2010

This feature focuses on the Caribbean island of Barbados. More famous for its beaches and as a destination for millions of tourists than as a location for offshore business, Barbados has nonetheless developed a well regulated financial services industry offering a surprisingly wide array of offshore products from banking to trusts to insurance. Whilst the island is not quite on a par with the higher profile offshore centres in the region, such as Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, for the investor, Barbados offers economic and political stability along with a number of tax and investment incentives, and close economic ties with the United States.

House Prices: What Next?

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, May 2010

Three years ago, as the house price boom continued in many countries across the world, we asked whether the laws of economics had been repealed. Now, we can see that they remain as true as ever. The air leaked rapidly from the global housing bubble. Beginning with the US, as has been demonstrated time and again with deflating asset bubbles, a wave of price falls spread around the world, attacking in turn each of the countries which had seen particularly aggressive house price rises.

Panama - Not Just A Pretty Canal!

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, April 2010

Ask most people around the world their thoughts on Panama and you would probably be met with the same one word reply: canal. However, after a small amount of further investigation you would find that this country at the gateway of Central and South America certainly isn't as one dimensional as that. Aided by more stable, pro-business governments using the invaluable canal as a catalyst, Panama's friendly tax and regulation system has helped to established the country as one of the most modern and respectable business and financial centres outside the established 'onshore' countries, and ranks as probably the most important trading and business hub in the region.

Alternative Investment:
Non-Financial Alternative Investments

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, April 2010

The ideal tax shelter traditionally turned income into capital without taxation. Such mythical beasts used to exist in no-tax offshore jurisdictions, but they were not usually to be found in high-tax countries, and when sighted were rapidly hunted down by heavily armed tax inspectors.

Jurisdiction Special Focus: Hong Kong

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, March 2010

In geographical terms, the peninsula and collection of islands in south eastern China which make up the territory of Hong Kong are a little over 400 square miles in size, but in economic terms, the former British colony, which in 1997 was handed back to greater China, packs a serious punch on the world stage and can claim to be the globe’s third largest financial centre after New York and London, and the ninth largest economy in the world.

Personal Equity Investment In 2010: Not Just For Expats...

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, March 2010

Under this particular heading of equity investment we will deal with direct, personal investment into publicly-quoted equities, other than through conventional stock exchanges, whether from an onshore or offshore base, and whether by an individual, or through a corporate vehicle or a trust. We will cover direct equity purchase through a dealer, spread betting, contracts for differences, and hedge funds insofar as they specialize in very directed equity investment.

Dubai - A Stately Business Dome Decreed

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, February 2010

Although the Islamic finance sector suffered along with other investment sectors during the credit crunch of 2008 and 2009, its long-term future seems assured. Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Thomson Reuters, told participants at the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENESA) Forum on ‘The Challenges Ahead for Islamic Finance’ in May that Islamic Finance is on a firm footing to become a USD2 trillion industry in the next half decade. “It took the Islamic Finance industry 40 years to become a USD1 trillion industry. It will take another two to five years to become a USD2 trillion industry,” he said.

Hedge Funds Resurgent

by Jeremy Hetherington-Gore, February 2010

Hedge funds often boast that their investment strategies flatten out the more extreme gyrations of the markets; but they weren't proof to the financial tempests of 2008 and 2009, although recent figures for 2009 show that the industry as a whole has largely recovered its poise.

Being An Expat In 2010 - A Financial Primer

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, January 2010

As you'll see from our guide, the offshore options for you as an expatriate are many and varied, and there is something for any situation and pocket.

Jurisdiction Special Focus: Cyprus

by Lorys Charalambous, January 2010

In this feature we take a fresh look at Cyprus and whether it is a good destination for your assets, career expats and Retirees.

Health & Life... Worldwide - Global Insurance For Expats

by Philip Morton, InvestorsOffshore, January 2010

Insurance is one of those things that everyone hopes they'll never need, and as a result, a frightening number choose to bury their heads in the sand, hoping that their luck will hold. However, by far the most sensible solution for those not willing to trust to fate, is to take out some form of insurance, to protect themselves and their dependants should the worst happen.

Choosing Your Jurisdiction

by Caroline Maxwell and Jeremy Hetherington-Gore, January 2010

So you have decided that offshore is the way forward. The three most pressing concerns, then, are what type of investment you feel is right for you, where you choose to invest or bank, and how involved you are prepared to be in offshore life.

The EU Savings Tax Directive: Cometh The Hour, Cometh The Man?

The now notorious European Union Savings Tax Directive - which came into force in July 2005 - in fact formed merely one part of a major tax reform package launched by the European Commission in 1997. They certainly didn't expect their proposals to lead to an 8-year battle involving Switzerland, the USA and twenty or more offshore financial centres, only eventually resolved by one of the stickiest fudges ever cooked up in Europe's capital city.

QROPS - Qualified Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes

by Jeremy Hetherington-Gore, November, 2009

Find out if you can benefit from a QROPS, where can you take a QROPS, and what the mechanics are...

Emerging Market Investments - Weathering The Storm?

by Carla Johnson, October, 2009

Many international agencies consider all non-high income countries to be "Emerging Markets", stressing the potential of all nations to develop. Others include only those countries that meet certain levels of economic development and in which local equity and debt markets are operating. In general, Emerging Markets countries are characterized by an underdeveloped or developing commercial and financial infrastructure, with significant potential for economic growth and eased capital market participation by foreign investors...

Labuan

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, September 2009

Situated in the heart of the fast growing South Eastern Asian region, and close to a number of major cities and economic hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, Labaun benefits from a benign income tax regime, a well regulated financial regime, a deep water port and a well developed supporting infrastructure, including internet communications, and could well soon be giving other more established financial jurisdictions a run for their money, particularly in the field of Islamic finance...

International Privacy and Security for 21st Century Global Citizens

by the Investors Offshore Editorial Team, August 2009

Privacy, both financial and personal, is an issue of growing concern for expatriates and globetrotters. Although international mobility brings unique opportunities, it can also sometimes bring unique problems, and in this special feature we will be looking at services which can help you to protect your privacy both online and off, and measures that you can take to protect yourself...

Being An Expat In 2009 - A Financial Primer

by Lowtax Network editorial staff

Nowadays, expatriates - whether working or retired - may regard their status as an escape from over-crowded, cold, northern cities, but no longer does the tax inspector forget about them when they leave. Americans have it worse than anyone else, because they continue to be taxed as if they are resident, with a few minor concessions; but everyone else has to think about their residential situation and taxation of current income both while they are overseas and afterwards...

LIVING AND WORKING ABROAD?
A Financial Primer

by Caroline Maxwell

International Property Investment - Are REITs Right For You?

by Jeremy Hetherington-Gore and Caroline Maxwell

If you are in the right place at the right time, investing in real estate can be one of the most profitable and enjoyable forms of medium to long term investment there is...