by Jacob George
For the uninitiated, HDB stands for the Housing & Development Board and is the public housing authority in Singapore. This authority was set up to resolve a severe housing shortage that arose in the years preceding the countrys independence from Britain in 1965 and they oversaw the erection of mainly blocks of flats that were intended to be used as rented accommodation by families on low incomes.
In todays Singapore, HDB properties have become highly sought after as they are still fairly affordable as compared to some of the other buildings. The fact that these HDB estates are almost self sufficient has added to their popularity, with most comprising of facilities that include shopping centers, medical centers, schools, recreational facilities and good public transport routes. It is not hard to see, therefore, why millions of people over the years have coveted an HDB flat at some stage or another.
People who are interested in purchasing a Singapore HDB property would do well to pay heed to some of the useful information that abounds which is related to HDB flat purchasing and which will put them in a much better position to make a more informed choice.
Singapore HDB flats can actually be broken down into six distinct categories: two, three, four and five roomed units, as well as studio apartments and so-called executive units. Obviously the smallest type is the studio apartment, which also happens to be low maintenance, and is therefore ideal for elderly or infirm individuals. Next up in step is the two bedroom HDB units which are designed to house very small families of two or three persons who are usually at or near the bottom of the income scale.
Families who are classed in the middle income group are usually targeted toward the three and four room units, which obviously afford a bit more room for larger families. At the top end of Singapore HDB property ladder are the five room and executive units which are intended to accommodate those larger or extended families. These top end flats usually have additional rooms such as extra bathrooms or living rooms, which ensure that these larger families can live more comfortably. These flats can also vary in size and design depending on the owners personal tastes or the layout of the particular state the HDB is located.
People that want to apply to become a tenant of one of these HDB properties have first got to fulfill certain criteria. These people should be able to satisfy the respective regulations set aside for the particular units they require and should be able to take part in either a built-to-order process (BTO) or a balloting exercise (BE). Built-to-order processes involve submitting a tender for construction of the particular estate they are interested in and a balloting exercise means vying for existing units with other interested parties, much like an auction.
Jacob George is an Internet Enthusiast. Find Realestate agency with highly professionals at http://www.Singapore-HDB.com
Home Business Opportunity
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Buy A Piece Of Caribbean Land
by Simon Skinner
Some people vacation in paradise. Some dream of living in paradise. And then there are some people who make their dream of living in paradise come true. When people think about Caribbean islands, they generally think of tourists and places that people visit during the summer months when the kids are out of school. But there is much more to places such as Antigua than that. You can skip reserving an Antigua rental and cut right to the chase and simply purchase property in Antigua.
But purchase Caribbean land? Is that even allowed? The answer is surprising to many people as the answer is yes, you really can purchase you own piece of Caribbean land. You can make your dream vacation spot your dream home spot. Or you could simply purchase property in Antigua so that you have a place to vacation to that is all your own. You can visit whenever you want and even have a place for your friends and family to enjoy when they want to check out paradise.
The weather in Antigua is calm and peaceful just about every day of the year. The winters are nice and warm and the summers are a little warmer than the winters but still extremely reasonable in temperature. There will hardly ever be a day where the weather is unbearable unless something extreme takes place in the world. There is not a lot of rainfall either which means that there is low humidity and that your planned outings and events will hardly ever be spoiled.
But is purchasing property in Antigua hard, especially if you are not a native of the Caribbean land? Not at all. There may be a few pieces of paperwork that will need to be worked out but in the end, it is all worth it. If the process of purchasing foreign land intimidates you, you can always hire an international property manager to handle the business for you.
Once the process is complete you will be able to say that you own your own little piece of island paradise, in the form of property in Antigua. You will finally have the place that all of your friends and family want to flock to. A villa Antigua is something that many people dream about but few put into action. Will you put it into action? Will you finally make your dreams of owning a piece of the Caribbean come true?
If you answer is yes then now is the time to start searching for the perfect property in Antigua. You will be surprised how easy it will be and in no time at all you will have the deed to your own private vacation getaway.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. has comprehensive Antigua real estate listings. Properties and villas for sale, land for sale and luxury villa rentals are available across the entire island of Antigua.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
Some people vacation in paradise. Some dream of living in paradise. And then there are some people who make their dream of living in paradise come true. When people think about Caribbean islands, they generally think of tourists and places that people visit during the summer months when the kids are out of school. But there is much more to places such as Antigua than that. You can skip reserving an Antigua rental and cut right to the chase and simply purchase property in Antigua.
But purchase Caribbean land? Is that even allowed? The answer is surprising to many people as the answer is yes, you really can purchase you own piece of Caribbean land. You can make your dream vacation spot your dream home spot. Or you could simply purchase property in Antigua so that you have a place to vacation to that is all your own. You can visit whenever you want and even have a place for your friends and family to enjoy when they want to check out paradise.
The weather in Antigua is calm and peaceful just about every day of the year. The winters are nice and warm and the summers are a little warmer than the winters but still extremely reasonable in temperature. There will hardly ever be a day where the weather is unbearable unless something extreme takes place in the world. There is not a lot of rainfall either which means that there is low humidity and that your planned outings and events will hardly ever be spoiled.
But is purchasing property in Antigua hard, especially if you are not a native of the Caribbean land? Not at all. There may be a few pieces of paperwork that will need to be worked out but in the end, it is all worth it. If the process of purchasing foreign land intimidates you, you can always hire an international property manager to handle the business for you.
Once the process is complete you will be able to say that you own your own little piece of island paradise, in the form of property in Antigua. You will finally have the place that all of your friends and family want to flock to. A villa Antigua is something that many people dream about but few put into action. Will you put it into action? Will you finally make your dreams of owning a piece of the Caribbean come true?
If you answer is yes then now is the time to start searching for the perfect property in Antigua. You will be surprised how easy it will be and in no time at all you will have the deed to your own private vacation getaway.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. has comprehensive Antigua real estate listings. Properties and villas for sale, land for sale and luxury villa rentals are available across the entire island of Antigua.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
Houses In Italy Are An Ideal Investment Opportunity
by Dominic Donaldson
The Italian property market was enjoying its eighth year of growth when the global economic crisis hit and trends started to change. Many other European countries were already suffering from falling house prices, but houses in Italy continued to increase in value. At the start of this year, house prices in Italian cities started to fall, presenting a great opportunity for investors, whereas countryside dwellings continued to fetch a stable price.
There are many reasons for purchasing houses in Italy, some people do so for investment purposes and others like to purchase a property as a second home. People planning to buy for investment are currently better off purchasing a property in an Italian city as the prices are currently lower than usual and yet many people still want to rent holiday homes and apartments in cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice.
Renting out houses in Italy to tourists is a superb way to bring in additional income, or to pay off money borrowed to purchase a property. However, the purchasing process in Italy is conducive to buying a home outright quickly and easily. This is ideal for investors wanting a second home or for relocation.
Houses in Italy are paid for in advance in a series of lump sums paid directly to the property owner. The amounts and frequency of payments is negotiated between the seller and buyer, and upon the completion of the final payment the official documents and deeds are handed over to the new owner.
This process is open to negotiation, but there are set time limits and restrictions between putting in an offer, placing a deposit and making the initial payment to the owner. As the process varies across Italy, and agents may have differing terms of contract with clients, it is recommended that the advice of a property professional in Italy is obtained.
There are many agents that specialise in securing properties for foreign investors, some of which are able to sign deeds on the behalf of a client. Alternatively, investors who are interested in buying houses in Italy can seek the guidance of a solicitor who specialises in securing property deals.
Italian agents and solicitors may also be able to advise on current trends in property prices to ensure that a sensible purchase is made. However, it is predicted that house prices are beginning to stabilise, which means that they will inevitably start to increase soon; great news for investors, as long as they are quick off the mark.
Dom Donaldson is a property expert.
Find out more about Houses In Italy at http://www.realitalia.co.uk
The Italian property market was enjoying its eighth year of growth when the global economic crisis hit and trends started to change. Many other European countries were already suffering from falling house prices, but houses in Italy continued to increase in value. At the start of this year, house prices in Italian cities started to fall, presenting a great opportunity for investors, whereas countryside dwellings continued to fetch a stable price.
There are many reasons for purchasing houses in Italy, some people do so for investment purposes and others like to purchase a property as a second home. People planning to buy for investment are currently better off purchasing a property in an Italian city as the prices are currently lower than usual and yet many people still want to rent holiday homes and apartments in cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice.
Renting out houses in Italy to tourists is a superb way to bring in additional income, or to pay off money borrowed to purchase a property. However, the purchasing process in Italy is conducive to buying a home outright quickly and easily. This is ideal for investors wanting a second home or for relocation.
Houses in Italy are paid for in advance in a series of lump sums paid directly to the property owner. The amounts and frequency of payments is negotiated between the seller and buyer, and upon the completion of the final payment the official documents and deeds are handed over to the new owner.
This process is open to negotiation, but there are set time limits and restrictions between putting in an offer, placing a deposit and making the initial payment to the owner. As the process varies across Italy, and agents may have differing terms of contract with clients, it is recommended that the advice of a property professional in Italy is obtained.
There are many agents that specialise in securing properties for foreign investors, some of which are able to sign deeds on the behalf of a client. Alternatively, investors who are interested in buying houses in Italy can seek the guidance of a solicitor who specialises in securing property deals.
Italian agents and solicitors may also be able to advise on current trends in property prices to ensure that a sensible purchase is made. However, it is predicted that house prices are beginning to stabilise, which means that they will inevitably start to increase soon; great news for investors, as long as they are quick off the mark.
Dom Donaldson is a property expert.
Find out more about Houses In Italy at http://www.realitalia.co.uk
A Guide To Shelf Companies
by Dominic Donaldson
If you are looking into purchasing a shelf company then it is important that you understand what benefits you will have and the difference between shelf companies and new incorporations. If you decide to incorporate your business in an offshore jurisdiction such as Cyprus, you will quickly find yourself asked if you are a new offshore company incorporation or a shelf company. Not many people know what this question actually entails and what options they have so here in this article we shall look at the differences and what shelf companies can offer you.
A shelf company is a company or corporation that has had no previous activity; it has simply been created and left to mature. Or metaphorically been simply left on the 'shelf' to age, these shelf companies are created so that individuals can start their own company without going through all of the procedures of buying a brand new company. A shelf company has many benefits compared to a new incorporated company and here we will look at what those are.
One of the main benefits of shelf companies is that they often encourage lenders to give you funding for your new business. You are able to use the date that the shelf company started as the date your business did, these days in a recession many companies that are starting out find getting credit really difficult. With using this date business owners get a helping hand toward receiving financial help than a company that has just started out.
Another benefit of shelf companies is that they are not difficult to purchase and you do not have to do very much. The important part is ensuring that you invest your money into a good company; unfortunately there are some scams that can occur through this industry so it is important to check any company you decide to go with. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting for your money and there aren't any negative ties and credit associated with the shelf company you wish to purchase.
The process itself is very direct these days; you will find that the amount of paperwork in purchasing shelf companies has dramatically decreased. Most of the paperwork can actually be done via the computer which saves both time and money, if you want to use a shelf company broker they can assist you every step of the way. They do charge fees for doing this but if it is the first time you have brought a company then it can be very helpful. Getting a shelf company may be just what you need to get your new business off the ground, as it will help you with establishing history with creditors and the public.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in offshore companies.
Find out more about Shelf Companies at http://www.readymadecompaniesworldwide.com
If you are looking into purchasing a shelf company then it is important that you understand what benefits you will have and the difference between shelf companies and new incorporations. If you decide to incorporate your business in an offshore jurisdiction such as Cyprus, you will quickly find yourself asked if you are a new offshore company incorporation or a shelf company. Not many people know what this question actually entails and what options they have so here in this article we shall look at the differences and what shelf companies can offer you.
A shelf company is a company or corporation that has had no previous activity; it has simply been created and left to mature. Or metaphorically been simply left on the 'shelf' to age, these shelf companies are created so that individuals can start their own company without going through all of the procedures of buying a brand new company. A shelf company has many benefits compared to a new incorporated company and here we will look at what those are.
One of the main benefits of shelf companies is that they often encourage lenders to give you funding for your new business. You are able to use the date that the shelf company started as the date your business did, these days in a recession many companies that are starting out find getting credit really difficult. With using this date business owners get a helping hand toward receiving financial help than a company that has just started out.
Another benefit of shelf companies is that they are not difficult to purchase and you do not have to do very much. The important part is ensuring that you invest your money into a good company; unfortunately there are some scams that can occur through this industry so it is important to check any company you decide to go with. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting for your money and there aren't any negative ties and credit associated with the shelf company you wish to purchase.
The process itself is very direct these days; you will find that the amount of paperwork in purchasing shelf companies has dramatically decreased. Most of the paperwork can actually be done via the computer which saves both time and money, if you want to use a shelf company broker they can assist you every step of the way. They do charge fees for doing this but if it is the first time you have brought a company then it can be very helpful. Getting a shelf company may be just what you need to get your new business off the ground, as it will help you with establishing history with creditors and the public.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in offshore companies.
Find out more about Shelf Companies at http://www.readymadecompaniesworldwide.com
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Why You Should Invest In Antigua
If you have even visited Antigua once and staying in an Antigua rental once, you know that there is an incredible amount of things to love about this Caribbean island. Many people find that once they first try out this popular island vacation destination that they want to keep going back.
So time and time again they will pay out their money for an Antigua rental. But why keep putting money into someone else's pocket time and time again? Why not make an investment for yourself and purchase a villa Antigua.
Property in Antigua is not just reserved for the people that are native to the island. Foreigners are able and encouraged to purchase property in Antigua. The government wants you to purchase property as they want their island to be invested in. Real estate Antigua is actually a lot easier to find than you might think. There are many property management companies that are familiar with the island because of this and you should have no problem being directed to some of the best property in Antigua that you could ever want.
Once you have invested in real estate Antigua you will be able to visit the island whenever you want for as long as you would like. Stay for a week. You could stay for a few weeks. You could even stay for a few months and then go back home. Many people invest in property in Antigua as their winter home. This way they have a place to go during the cold winter months.
You might even find that the property in Antigua, along with the entire area, is so perfect that you simply never want to leave. And you really do not have to if you do not want to. Antigua is one of the few places in the world that has comfortable weather all year round with low humidity. There is not a battle with the rain storms either so you really can take in all of the beauty and attractions that this Caribbean island has to offer.
For those who could never see themselves living on an island but like to vacation there, investing in real estate Antigua is still a great idea. Over time, the real estate purchase will have paid for itself. If you want to make the most out of your investment, you could always rent out your newly gained property to other vacationers. This will ensure that your property is being looked after while you are not using it. By turning it into an Antigua rental you will be able to make your money back and then some.
So no matter what you would end up during with your property in Antigua, it is important to see that it is worth it. Jump out of what is ordinary. Wouldn't it be interesting to go back to work on Monday and tell everyone that you have purchased a piece of paradise?
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
So time and time again they will pay out their money for an Antigua rental. But why keep putting money into someone else's pocket time and time again? Why not make an investment for yourself and purchase a villa Antigua.
Property in Antigua is not just reserved for the people that are native to the island. Foreigners are able and encouraged to purchase property in Antigua. The government wants you to purchase property as they want their island to be invested in. Real estate Antigua is actually a lot easier to find than you might think. There are many property management companies that are familiar with the island because of this and you should have no problem being directed to some of the best property in Antigua that you could ever want.
Once you have invested in real estate Antigua you will be able to visit the island whenever you want for as long as you would like. Stay for a week. You could stay for a few weeks. You could even stay for a few months and then go back home. Many people invest in property in Antigua as their winter home. This way they have a place to go during the cold winter months.
You might even find that the property in Antigua, along with the entire area, is so perfect that you simply never want to leave. And you really do not have to if you do not want to. Antigua is one of the few places in the world that has comfortable weather all year round with low humidity. There is not a battle with the rain storms either so you really can take in all of the beauty and attractions that this Caribbean island has to offer.
For those who could never see themselves living on an island but like to vacation there, investing in real estate Antigua is still a great idea. Over time, the real estate purchase will have paid for itself. If you want to make the most out of your investment, you could always rent out your newly gained property to other vacationers. This will ensure that your property is being looked after while you are not using it. By turning it into an Antigua rental you will be able to make your money back and then some.
So no matter what you would end up during with your property in Antigua, it is important to see that it is worth it. Jump out of what is ordinary. Wouldn't it be interesting to go back to work on Monday and tell everyone that you have purchased a piece of paradise?
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
The Beauty Of Living In Antigua
by Simon Skinner
If you really want to live in a place that has amazing beauty then Antigua is the place for you. By investing in property in Antigua, your own little piece of paradise, you will be able to be on vacation every day of your life. Once you find a place that cannot be beat by any other place in the world, why would you leave it?
Would you not like to wake up every morning and know that you are in an island paradise and you do not have to worry about when you have to leave it because you never do? Would is not be nice to have the home that all of your friends and family want to travel to on vacation? You would have the place that everyone you know and love would want to be at. How nice would that feel?
And above and beyond all of those points, living in Antigua means that you get to experience paradise and not have to deal with too many people while you do it. Antigua itself is the largest of the Leeward Islands that are English-speaking. And yet, it is only about fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide which mean that there is a certain amount of privacy.
There are also breathtaking views from just about any point on the island. A big factor that brings people to Antigua, and what keeps them there, is the climate. It is comfortable all year round. The temperatures do not change by too much as the winter is generally in the mid-seventies and the summer months are normally in the mid-eighties.
There is also very low humidity all year round which is great for those with breathing problems. And when it comes to rain, there is typically only forty-five inches of rainfall a year which means that there are going to be plenty of sunny and warm days to enjoy everything that Antigua has to offer.
Because of all of these positive points, many people find that property in Antigua is something that they are highly interested in, even though they would have never thought that they would be moving to a Caribbean island. But then again, the but things in life are generally unexpected and come as complete surprises.
If you know that you love the island but are unsure about purchasing real estate just yet, you might want to consider an Antigua rental. This way, you can stay on the island for a while a truly experience what it is all about, without making a huge real estate purchase. Most likely though, you will find that purchasing property in Antigua is the best thing to do. And even if you decided on leaving, which you most likely won't, you will always have a home away from home.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. is a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
If you really want to live in a place that has amazing beauty then Antigua is the place for you. By investing in property in Antigua, your own little piece of paradise, you will be able to be on vacation every day of your life. Once you find a place that cannot be beat by any other place in the world, why would you leave it?
Would you not like to wake up every morning and know that you are in an island paradise and you do not have to worry about when you have to leave it because you never do? Would is not be nice to have the home that all of your friends and family want to travel to on vacation? You would have the place that everyone you know and love would want to be at. How nice would that feel?
And above and beyond all of those points, living in Antigua means that you get to experience paradise and not have to deal with too many people while you do it. Antigua itself is the largest of the Leeward Islands that are English-speaking. And yet, it is only about fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide which mean that there is a certain amount of privacy.
There are also breathtaking views from just about any point on the island. A big factor that brings people to Antigua, and what keeps them there, is the climate. It is comfortable all year round. The temperatures do not change by too much as the winter is generally in the mid-seventies and the summer months are normally in the mid-eighties.
There is also very low humidity all year round which is great for those with breathing problems. And when it comes to rain, there is typically only forty-five inches of rainfall a year which means that there are going to be plenty of sunny and warm days to enjoy everything that Antigua has to offer.
Because of all of these positive points, many people find that property in Antigua is something that they are highly interested in, even though they would have never thought that they would be moving to a Caribbean island. But then again, the but things in life are generally unexpected and come as complete surprises.
If you know that you love the island but are unsure about purchasing real estate just yet, you might want to consider an Antigua rental. This way, you can stay on the island for a while a truly experience what it is all about, without making a huge real estate purchase. Most likely though, you will find that purchasing property in Antigua is the best thing to do. And even if you decided on leaving, which you most likely won't, you will always have a home away from home.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. is a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
Why Investing In Property In Antigua Is Popular
by Simon Skinner
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a highly desirable vacation spot? Would it still be one of the most beautiful and exciting places on earth or would it lose its appeal once you move there?
Those who live in some of the most amazing places in the world, such as Antigua, will tell you that every day is like waking up in the middle of a dream. It is almost as though you have to convince yourself that you are really staying in one of the world's most popular destinations.
Looking into real estate Antigua is most likely something that you are already thinking about. Are you wondering whether or not it would be a wise investment? If so, you will want to think over several factors that could come as a result of owning property in Antigua. Do you want to live there? Do you just want the property as a vacation home? Does it really matter?
You should make sure that you are purchasing property while you still can and then you can worry about all of the details later. Antigua is currently a very easy place to purchase property in, even as a foreigner. Not all places of island paradise are so welcoming. Purchase real estate Antigua while you can.
With the property in Antigua you will be able to live there, use it as a vacation home for yourself, your extended family, and all of your closet friends, or you can rent it out to people who already live on the island. Even if you are sure of the exact direction you would go with the property in Antigua, you need to remember that it is worth the investment.
The year round temperature is almost perfect. It is never too cold and it is never too hot. There is not a tremendous amount of rain that will spoil your days. And just about anywhere you look, turn, or visit you will find picture perfect views. Whatever the angle is, it is most likely a vision of perfection, if there ever was such a thing.
And since living in Antigua is such a desirable thing, your property value is likely to continue to grow. Besides being a place that you can take off to whenever the mood strikes you, it is a place that can bring you a handsome return on your investment property if you ever wanted to sell it later down the line.
Whatever it is that you end up doing with your property in Antigua, you are at least now aware that it is a great move to make. You can truly understand and appreciate why so many people decide to invest their hard earned money into real estate Antigua.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. is a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a highly desirable vacation spot? Would it still be one of the most beautiful and exciting places on earth or would it lose its appeal once you move there?
Those who live in some of the most amazing places in the world, such as Antigua, will tell you that every day is like waking up in the middle of a dream. It is almost as though you have to convince yourself that you are really staying in one of the world's most popular destinations.
Looking into real estate Antigua is most likely something that you are already thinking about. Are you wondering whether or not it would be a wise investment? If so, you will want to think over several factors that could come as a result of owning property in Antigua. Do you want to live there? Do you just want the property as a vacation home? Does it really matter?
You should make sure that you are purchasing property while you still can and then you can worry about all of the details later. Antigua is currently a very easy place to purchase property in, even as a foreigner. Not all places of island paradise are so welcoming. Purchase real estate Antigua while you can.
With the property in Antigua you will be able to live there, use it as a vacation home for yourself, your extended family, and all of your closet friends, or you can rent it out to people who already live on the island. Even if you are sure of the exact direction you would go with the property in Antigua, you need to remember that it is worth the investment.
The year round temperature is almost perfect. It is never too cold and it is never too hot. There is not a tremendous amount of rain that will spoil your days. And just about anywhere you look, turn, or visit you will find picture perfect views. Whatever the angle is, it is most likely a vision of perfection, if there ever was such a thing.
And since living in Antigua is such a desirable thing, your property value is likely to continue to grow. Besides being a place that you can take off to whenever the mood strikes you, it is a place that can bring you a handsome return on your investment property if you ever wanted to sell it later down the line.
Whatever it is that you end up doing with your property in Antigua, you are at least now aware that it is a great move to make. You can truly understand and appreciate why so many people decide to invest their hard earned money into real estate Antigua.
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. is a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years dealing on a one-to-one basis with exclusive clients.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey
By Joel Gonzaga
At the urging of a man wiser than me, I picked up Stephen R. Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." This book hardly needs a plug, as it is already famous. So rather than simply praising the book, I thought that I should offer a philosopher's spin on the subject. The first habit, being proactive, is remarkably similar to part of a philosophical school commonly called "existentialism" specifically that of Jean Paul Sartre. If you read on, you'll see why.
Being proactive, as Covey explains it, begins with choosing in areas when we normally do not think we choose. Humans are reactive animals, so much so that many think that is all we are. There is stimulus that happens to us and then -like a rat pulling a lever- we predictably react out of habit and instinct. Most of these habits were ingrained us by our cultures and our upbringings. Because of that, it seems we are determined by them.
But Covey explains this is not true. Between "stimulus" and "response" there is a choice of how to react. To illustrate this point, Covey relates the story of Viktor Frankl. Frankl was a Jewish psychologist imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII. While imprisoned, he realized that though the Nazis had power over him, they still could not take away his freedom. Yes, the Nazis could control his environment, but they could never control how he would react or the choices he could make. Yes, they could limit his power to do things (move around, sleep in a bed, eat, etc), but they still could not take away his freedom to choose his reactions.
Jean-Paul Sartre also makes this point equally dramatically (interestingly enough, he was also imprisoned by the Nazis). One of Sartre's most controversial statements was that the French people never knew their freedom more than when they were occupied by the Nazis. He also dramatized this theme in a play called "The Wall" in which a group of prisoners await execution, but discover how much freedom they have in the process.
Both Covey and Sartre both draw out one other important consequence of our freedom: there is no such thing as a must do or a have to. Think about going to work on a particular day. When you go to work you act a certain way (say, like a friendly but perhaps reluctant, barista), and the human tendency is it say, "well I have to do this."
"No!" reply people like Sartre. What is really going on is that the consequences of not going to work are worse (to you) than going to work. However, this is still a free choice. To believe otherwise - to use the must do and have to - language is what Sartre called "bad faith." It is an intentional self-deception. We try to convince ourselves that we do not choose.
The connection between existentialism and Stephen Covey's first habit are hopefully clear. If not, I am sure that it is because I chose to make them unclear, and not the result of my upbringing, parents etc. I do not know if Covey was directly influenced by Sartre on this point, but I suspect he may have been. In any case, Sartre's influence is likely in there somewhere.
For my own part, I can only agree strongly with both Covey and Sartre. The beginning of good life, of pursuing excellence, and effectiveness and productivity, begins with recognizing our freedom to choose. True though, this "freedom to choose" is only the beginning of "freedom for excellence."
But that's another article entirely. Thanks for reading.
The author is a graduate in theology and currently pursing a master's in philosophy. His blog can be found at http://somekindofchristian.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Gonzaga
http://EzineArticles.com/?Being-Existentially-Proactive---Thoughts-on-Seven-Habits&id=2603535
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss - An Unbiased Review
By Jonathan Hunter
Since being published in 2007, and hitting #1 on the most prestigious business sales rankings, The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss has gotten a lot of mixed reviews. Obviously since it has done so well in its sales numbers, people like something about it.
I have seen and heard that many people do not want to even open the cover because of the title. Whether this fact is because the title seems so out-of-the-box thinking, or people are scared to think of such a lifestyle, they should truly not judge a book by its cover. This review will give you an unbiased view of the book so you can have a little more insight about it.
First a little bit about the author. Timothy Ferriss is a learning and experience-gaining-addict. As you can see by his personal blog (named experiments in lifestyle design), his life goal is to gain as much time flexibility as possible in order to have self-fulfilling experiences throughout his entire life (what he calls mini-retirements).
He explains in his book that during and just after his time at Princeton University, he began his life in business and as a business owner. Through experience with his software and nutritional supplement business working 50+ hours a week while constantly being chained to his computer screen, he decided to make a change in his life. This is how the ideas for The Four Hour Work Week arose.
He learned and practiced Pareto's 80/20 rule (a rule every business owner should live by), automated his business with virtual assistants and more efficient practices, and was able to take a year-long hiatus from his companies. He traveled the world for the year, only to come back to find that his companies had made more money while he was gone than the previous year while he had been working his butt off!
After settling back into the United States, he continued to use many outsourcing practices which were very successful while he was gone, and was able to free up a lot of his time in order to pursue other ventures which were truly important to him. He has now been able to publish a #1 selling book, give a TED.com talk, start an educational charity (which I think is awesome), and enjoy the finer things in life a whole lot more.
Making more money without putting any hours into his business is what most people find hard to believe, or they also think that they would not be able to do as he did, but it truly is possible. In the book Timothy explains in detail exactly how he was able to outsource his life and companies while gone, and there is definitely at least a couple things any business can benefit from by reading his book.
There is also a lot of hoopla about people saying 'I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had a four-hour work week!' Unfortunately these people are missing the big picture. The book is ultimately not advocating a 4-hour workweek, it is only titled that in order to gain curiosity and exposure.
The book should be looked at like a tool to increase profit and quality of life for anyone who would like such a thing (and possibly a mini-retirement here in there instead of staying in the rat race the rest of your life while looking forward to a retirement when you are too old to enjoy it!) Tim defines 'work' as something we truly would rather not do in order to gain income. You are definitely encouraged to spend as many hours on things you enjoy and which bring happiness to your life and those around you.
Technology and the internet has allowed those who want to take control of their lives an unprecedented segue into an ideal lifestyle of happiness and financial freedom. I have learned from Timothy Ferriss and thank him heavily for sharing his experiences and wisdom with me. I enjoy incorporating many of his ideas into my life and teaching them to others.
Jonathan Hunter is a successful internet marketer with a passion for helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. Currently, he is working with other top marketers teaching others how to implement tried, tested and proven systems. To learn more about Jonathan Hunter and the team he works with, Click Here
This article was written by Jonathan Hunter - First a Child of the Earth, a Loving Son, a health-nut and a born Entrepreneur.
http://www.internetwealthfortheworld.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Hunter
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-4-Hour-Workweek-by-Timothy-Ferriss---An-Unbiased-Review&id=2597695
Company Formation Services Warning - When Going Offshore Could Cost You Money
by Gregory Smyth
Offshore companies have some substantial benefits associated with them. Some companies are able to erase their entire tax bill; others have survived potentially business-ending occurrences because of their investment diversity and the remoteness of assets from the legal system in their own country.
However, there are positive and negative aspects to consider with every business decision - going offshore is no exception. We look at the expert advice of company formation services and business consultancy managers on going offshore, with a complete appraisal of the potential pitfalls.
The first thing your offshore investment business consultant will look at is whether your particular company type and cash flow patterns will be eligible for the full range of offshore benefits.
For example, if you currently reside in the UK, and have a certain portion of control of the company from your position in the UK, tax authorities may consider that your offshore investment business is simply an overseas arm of a UK company, and tax you accordingly. Corporations tax on worldwide profits would be levied, wiping out most of your potential benefits.
Even for companies that are not considered tax-resident in their owner's home countries, if there is an office in that country which derives a portion of its profits from the overseas operation, it is possible that UK tax will have to be paid on the entire amount of profits. There are some exceptions, where the UK has negotiated taxation treaties with other countries, and your investment management services will have the entire details of these.
A worst-case scenario for those thinking of offshore bank account opening and company incorporation is that you are liable for taxation on profits derived by an overseas company you transfer capital to ... even if you never see those profits yourself. Your tax liability would eventually be increased, rather than decreased. This is why professional advice is absolutely essential.
Even if your particular type of company is suitable for offshore incorporation, there are several business issues that company formation services will need to ensure won't impact on your day-to-day running for you.
In many jurisdictions, offshore investment businesses are prohibited from (or penalized for) conducting business or retaining employees from this jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions require a license to carry out certain types of trade, and due diligence on bank account opening tends to be stricter.
If your business requires loans for start-up, equipment, or to cover business expenses in the future, certain types of companies will be recommended over others by your investment management services. The privacy that offshore company formation affords you can also make it difficult for potential lenders to determine your net worth, and they may refuse loans on this basis.
Since the seizing of assets will be legally much more difficult in the case of offshore companies, even secured loan applications may be consistently rejected.
Many of these drawbacks are easily avoided by seeking expert advice before incorporation - go for a full service business consultancy management firm, rather than cheaper, quicker options to avoid wasting money, rather than saving it.
Zetland Fiduciary Group provides the offshore investor with investment management,corporate advisory services and Financial consultancy in Hong Kong,check out our website at http://www.zetland.biz.
Offshore companies have some substantial benefits associated with them. Some companies are able to erase their entire tax bill; others have survived potentially business-ending occurrences because of their investment diversity and the remoteness of assets from the legal system in their own country.
However, there are positive and negative aspects to consider with every business decision - going offshore is no exception. We look at the expert advice of company formation services and business consultancy managers on going offshore, with a complete appraisal of the potential pitfalls.
The first thing your offshore investment business consultant will look at is whether your particular company type and cash flow patterns will be eligible for the full range of offshore benefits.
For example, if you currently reside in the UK, and have a certain portion of control of the company from your position in the UK, tax authorities may consider that your offshore investment business is simply an overseas arm of a UK company, and tax you accordingly. Corporations tax on worldwide profits would be levied, wiping out most of your potential benefits.
Even for companies that are not considered tax-resident in their owner's home countries, if there is an office in that country which derives a portion of its profits from the overseas operation, it is possible that UK tax will have to be paid on the entire amount of profits. There are some exceptions, where the UK has negotiated taxation treaties with other countries, and your investment management services will have the entire details of these.
A worst-case scenario for those thinking of offshore bank account opening and company incorporation is that you are liable for taxation on profits derived by an overseas company you transfer capital to ... even if you never see those profits yourself. Your tax liability would eventually be increased, rather than decreased. This is why professional advice is absolutely essential.
Even if your particular type of company is suitable for offshore incorporation, there are several business issues that company formation services will need to ensure won't impact on your day-to-day running for you.
In many jurisdictions, offshore investment businesses are prohibited from (or penalized for) conducting business or retaining employees from this jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions require a license to carry out certain types of trade, and due diligence on bank account opening tends to be stricter.
If your business requires loans for start-up, equipment, or to cover business expenses in the future, certain types of companies will be recommended over others by your investment management services. The privacy that offshore company formation affords you can also make it difficult for potential lenders to determine your net worth, and they may refuse loans on this basis.
Since the seizing of assets will be legally much more difficult in the case of offshore companies, even secured loan applications may be consistently rejected.
Many of these drawbacks are easily avoided by seeking expert advice before incorporation - go for a full service business consultancy management firm, rather than cheaper, quicker options to avoid wasting money, rather than saving it.
Zetland Fiduciary Group provides the offshore investor with investment management,corporate advisory services and Financial consultancy in Hong Kong,check out our website at http://www.zetland.biz.
EU Regulations Set to Boost Business for Offshore Company Formation Services
by Gregory Smyth
The European Union was created back in 1992 to go some way towards combating the confusion and intricacy of doing business within Europe. Dozens of different countries are all located within a half-day's drive of each other, but each has different laws and business requirements.
However, it seems that 'equality' is not all it is cracked up to be, with debate raging about how fair it can be to levy the same rate of business taxation on all member states, when clearly there are different economic conditions in each.
Some larger, developed nations benefited, but many smaller nations have been hit with taxes that seem beyond reason to pay. It is this dilemma which is behind an increasing number of offshore investment businesses being incorporated by European residents. Company formation services have seen a boom recently - we look at why EU companies can benefit from going offshore.
Although the EU has been in existence since 1992, with visible signs of the alliance now commonplace worldwide (the acceptance of the Euro currency, for example), the common business taxation system is a relatively recent development. Even back in
2004, bank account opening in Switzerland and using company formation services in nil-tax jurisdictions like Estonia was commonplace. Many countries still had control over their own taxation rates, however, the larger players in the EU were grossly dissatisfied with this 'competition'.
Germany, in particular, under the direction of Gerhard Schroder, pushed for the common business taxation regime that we now see, which is encouraging corporate offshore banking and business consultancy managers' engagement offshore. In 2004, Schroder threatened smaller EU countries with much stricter financial controls if they continued their 'unfair' tax competition. At the time, Germany's business taxation rate was 38%, while Poland was offering 22%, Hungary's rate was 16% and Estonia's was nil.
Now, Germany has recently issued a draft paper which stated that the entire EU will stand a better chance of economic improvement if they act as whole - common business taxation is among the recommended measures.
However, Denmark, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have all vociferously opposed the paper, recognizing that tax competition is part of a healthy free market economy. The EU's finance minister, though, seems to align with Germany's view. He is currently pushing his own agenda for tax harmonization, and company formation services overseas are benefiting.
There are plenty of overseas jurisdictions that are OECD-compliant, but levy much lower rates of tax than it is proposed the EU will. Singapore financial services and China financial services are two of the sectors benefiting most from the debate. Companies are opting for low-tax, private and safe jurisdictions like Singapore and Hong Kong, and even Belize and Dubai instead of the possibility of large tax hikes in their home states. Get expert advice from business consultancy services, to increase your profits and provide business stability.
Zetland Fiduciary Group provides the offshore investor with investment management,corporate advisory services and Financial consultancy in Hong Kong,check out our website at http://www.zetland.biz.
The European Union was created back in 1992 to go some way towards combating the confusion and intricacy of doing business within Europe. Dozens of different countries are all located within a half-day's drive of each other, but each has different laws and business requirements.
However, it seems that 'equality' is not all it is cracked up to be, with debate raging about how fair it can be to levy the same rate of business taxation on all member states, when clearly there are different economic conditions in each.
Some larger, developed nations benefited, but many smaller nations have been hit with taxes that seem beyond reason to pay. It is this dilemma which is behind an increasing number of offshore investment businesses being incorporated by European residents. Company formation services have seen a boom recently - we look at why EU companies can benefit from going offshore.
Although the EU has been in existence since 1992, with visible signs of the alliance now commonplace worldwide (the acceptance of the Euro currency, for example), the common business taxation system is a relatively recent development. Even back in
2004, bank account opening in Switzerland and using company formation services in nil-tax jurisdictions like Estonia was commonplace. Many countries still had control over their own taxation rates, however, the larger players in the EU were grossly dissatisfied with this 'competition'.
Germany, in particular, under the direction of Gerhard Schroder, pushed for the common business taxation regime that we now see, which is encouraging corporate offshore banking and business consultancy managers' engagement offshore. In 2004, Schroder threatened smaller EU countries with much stricter financial controls if they continued their 'unfair' tax competition. At the time, Germany's business taxation rate was 38%, while Poland was offering 22%, Hungary's rate was 16% and Estonia's was nil.
Now, Germany has recently issued a draft paper which stated that the entire EU will stand a better chance of economic improvement if they act as whole - common business taxation is among the recommended measures.
However, Denmark, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have all vociferously opposed the paper, recognizing that tax competition is part of a healthy free market economy. The EU's finance minister, though, seems to align with Germany's view. He is currently pushing his own agenda for tax harmonization, and company formation services overseas are benefiting.
There are plenty of overseas jurisdictions that are OECD-compliant, but levy much lower rates of tax than it is proposed the EU will. Singapore financial services and China financial services are two of the sectors benefiting most from the debate. Companies are opting for low-tax, private and safe jurisdictions like Singapore and Hong Kong, and even Belize and Dubai instead of the possibility of large tax hikes in their home states. Get expert advice from business consultancy services, to increase your profits and provide business stability.
Zetland Fiduciary Group provides the offshore investor with investment management,corporate advisory services and Financial consultancy in Hong Kong,check out our website at http://www.zetland.biz.
Do You Want a Private Offshore Bank Account?
By Patrick Winters
Private offshore banking can open up a world of opportunity for the private investor. Although you don't have to be super-rich there's no denying that private offshore banking only makes sense for those with substantial sums to invest. A guideline could be U$S250,000-1,000,000 as the minimum you need to get a private banking account with your personal wealth adviser, although each bank will have its own criteria.
Here are just some of the benefits you can expect from a private bank account.
- A direct line to a private wealth manager (no waiting in line).
- No tax or a deferred tax on interest-bearing instruments.
- Access to trading facilities from a confidential, tax-free base and the ability to purchase financial instruments normally only available to "institutional" investors.
- Privileged access to the best resources of the bank and (often) a wealth manager who can draw up long-term plan for your finances.
- The better private offshore accounts will offer enhanced privacy for those private clients who desire it. This may include limiting access to financial records to a select group of employees, the use of trusts and companies to restrict knowledge of the account to bank, client and other persons the client chooses to advise.
Private banking clients may often need more than your average banking services. Some may have their wealth spread over different countries and multiple sources of income. They need one account that will be able to integrate all these income streams so that they are allocated in the correct manner, and not subjected to double taxation or other needless expenses. A good private banking service will let you hold accounts in all the major world currencies through one master account so that you can make payments or receive them with maximum efficiency.
Furthermore an excellent private banking account will ensure that your account remains confidential between you and the bank regardless of changes in bank secrecy and geo-political maneuvering. This has become all the more important as high-tax countries set their sights on removing bank secrecy in "traditional" offshore jurisdictions.
What will a private bank account cost?
While you don't have to be fantastically rich to benefit from Private Banking, fees are higher than those for a "standard" domestic account. For an all inclusive "wealth management" service including a hotline to your private banker, you can count of fees of around 1% of the account balance per year. If private banking is right for you, the personal service, tax benefits and enhanced confidentiality of private bank accounts easily outweigh these fees many times over.
The author writes in a promotional capacity for Offshore Banking House Capital Conservator. Get a private bank account with Capital Conservator protected by bank secrecy and a dedicated wealth manager. http://www.capitalconservator.com/private-banking/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Winters
http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Want-a-Private-Offshore-Bank-Account?&id=2649586
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wealth Management Resources Must Include Offshore Incorporation
by Ramapati Singhania
Of course the steps are numerous and will depend on your individual circumstances. However, one of the key benefits of a well-laid out financial plan that is implemented and monitored is that it will generally allow you to reach financial independence sooner than if you had not formulated a plan of action.
Financial independence can mean different things for different people but for many it means the ability to cease regular employment. Wealth management resources, astutely deployed, can help you to have enough assets and retirement income to maintain a certain lifestyle for the rest of your life and provide for your beneficiaries after death.
Everyone has different goals and objectives, and everyone has different financial conditions and circumstances. It is conceivable that your current financial decisions are not compatible with your true goals and objectives. And that you have not deployed the wealth management resources available to you because of the current timing.
Financial decisions are strongly influenced by emotions. According to medical studies, we all make decisions in the emotional part of our brains, and tap into the rational side of our brains to justify them. Unfortunately, emotions can overwhelm our capacity to reason rationally and objectively. This severely limits our ability to make logical investment decisions. This is not to say that emotional decisions are a bad thing! Only, sometimes we are unable to see clearly our alternatives, in the heat of the moment.
But what kind of wealth management resources would have helped in the current financial meltdown? One analogy that is making rounds recently, is that when a fire is raging your first priority has to be to put it out! There will undoubtedly is water damage subsequently but hopefully you will have time to rectify that.
It is doubtful that any one will come out unscathed, and this meltdown is a rare occurrence! Until the fire (in this case the under capitalization of the banks) is put out, the banks will not feel able to make capital available to businesses and the economy is unable to get going. There is a raging debate on what the various governments should do to get their countries out of the crisis, and the answer is best left to them or other pundits.
The question we need to look at is how we are going to deploy our wealth management resources in this era of high taxes, to deal with our finances in this environment. Incorporation offshore is an absolutely doable action that you can take. In the meantime the headlong drive to reduce interest rates is having little effect simply because, although money is cheap, the banks are reluctant to lend. And as financial results are released by companies, banks will find that their balance sheets do not warrant additional credit risks!
Most of us buy and keep personal assets, not trade them regularly. Whether it is real estate or stock & shares in our own companies, or jewelry. Many times are assets are illiquid and are rarely bought and sold and therefore rarely valued. And we are only looking for a way to own them without having everyone eye them! The real value of these assets in many cases is far greater than their monetary value. So you do not really know the value of what you have until you sell it. And this in most cases is only when you pass it on to your heirs.
The wealth management resource that is most helpful in such a case is of course an offshore incorporation with perhaps a trust registered in a tax haven such as Mauritius. Possibly, you are invested in hedge or mutual funds. Of course, the more sophisticated the fund manager appears to be, and the more complex the model. And it is harder for the client to tell what type of returns the strategy will produce.
As a consequence of market turbulence over the last 5 years, the private client has realized that a traditional core domestic equity/bond portfolio is incapable of delivering consistent returns in all market circumstances.
Wealth management resources will of course ensure that the client is not invested in these funds only. Wealth management resources professionals are keen to deliver a suitable response to the client, and to demonstrate how performance volatility can be managed through a wider set of market conditions.
Many wealth managers' current investment proposition and existing investment expertise, has been focused specifically on their domestic markets, and so they are unlikely to use offshore incorporation as the inexpensive tool that it is.
There are a variety of options readily available to support the investment open architecture models through use of fund vehicles. Wealth management is an advanced type of financial planning that benefits not only high net worth individuals and families, but also middle income ones.
Private banking, estate planning, asset management, legal resources, and investment management are resources offered, with the goal of sustaining and growing long-term wealth. Due to their higher value accounts, banks create separate branches, services and other 'benefits' to retain or attract these high net worth customers who are typically more profitable than other retail banking customers.
But families recognize that when the concentration of knowledge and experience resides with a patriarch or office executive, it can prevent other family members from fully assuming responsibility for wealth management. Few resources have been available to help families meet the complex challenge of wealth management education. Now, due to the accessibly enabled by the internet, anyone can take financial matters into their hands.
Wealth management resources are available easily, not only in the hallowed halls of expensive firms. The internet will give you easy and affordable alternatives, including starting with offshore incorporation in Seychelles, Mauritius, British Virgin Islands or Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website
http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com/ focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius, BVI, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
Of course the steps are numerous and will depend on your individual circumstances. However, one of the key benefits of a well-laid out financial plan that is implemented and monitored is that it will generally allow you to reach financial independence sooner than if you had not formulated a plan of action.
Financial independence can mean different things for different people but for many it means the ability to cease regular employment. Wealth management resources, astutely deployed, can help you to have enough assets and retirement income to maintain a certain lifestyle for the rest of your life and provide for your beneficiaries after death.
Everyone has different goals and objectives, and everyone has different financial conditions and circumstances. It is conceivable that your current financial decisions are not compatible with your true goals and objectives. And that you have not deployed the wealth management resources available to you because of the current timing.
Financial decisions are strongly influenced by emotions. According to medical studies, we all make decisions in the emotional part of our brains, and tap into the rational side of our brains to justify them. Unfortunately, emotions can overwhelm our capacity to reason rationally and objectively. This severely limits our ability to make logical investment decisions. This is not to say that emotional decisions are a bad thing! Only, sometimes we are unable to see clearly our alternatives, in the heat of the moment.
But what kind of wealth management resources would have helped in the current financial meltdown? One analogy that is making rounds recently, is that when a fire is raging your first priority has to be to put it out! There will undoubtedly is water damage subsequently but hopefully you will have time to rectify that.
It is doubtful that any one will come out unscathed, and this meltdown is a rare occurrence! Until the fire (in this case the under capitalization of the banks) is put out, the banks will not feel able to make capital available to businesses and the economy is unable to get going. There is a raging debate on what the various governments should do to get their countries out of the crisis, and the answer is best left to them or other pundits.
The question we need to look at is how we are going to deploy our wealth management resources in this era of high taxes, to deal with our finances in this environment. Incorporation offshore is an absolutely doable action that you can take. In the meantime the headlong drive to reduce interest rates is having little effect simply because, although money is cheap, the banks are reluctant to lend. And as financial results are released by companies, banks will find that their balance sheets do not warrant additional credit risks!
Most of us buy and keep personal assets, not trade them regularly. Whether it is real estate or stock & shares in our own companies, or jewelry. Many times are assets are illiquid and are rarely bought and sold and therefore rarely valued. And we are only looking for a way to own them without having everyone eye them! The real value of these assets in many cases is far greater than their monetary value. So you do not really know the value of what you have until you sell it. And this in most cases is only when you pass it on to your heirs.
The wealth management resource that is most helpful in such a case is of course an offshore incorporation with perhaps a trust registered in a tax haven such as Mauritius. Possibly, you are invested in hedge or mutual funds. Of course, the more sophisticated the fund manager appears to be, and the more complex the model. And it is harder for the client to tell what type of returns the strategy will produce.
As a consequence of market turbulence over the last 5 years, the private client has realized that a traditional core domestic equity/bond portfolio is incapable of delivering consistent returns in all market circumstances.
Wealth management resources will of course ensure that the client is not invested in these funds only. Wealth management resources professionals are keen to deliver a suitable response to the client, and to demonstrate how performance volatility can be managed through a wider set of market conditions.
Many wealth managers' current investment proposition and existing investment expertise, has been focused specifically on their domestic markets, and so they are unlikely to use offshore incorporation as the inexpensive tool that it is.
There are a variety of options readily available to support the investment open architecture models through use of fund vehicles. Wealth management is an advanced type of financial planning that benefits not only high net worth individuals and families, but also middle income ones.
Private banking, estate planning, asset management, legal resources, and investment management are resources offered, with the goal of sustaining and growing long-term wealth. Due to their higher value accounts, banks create separate branches, services and other 'benefits' to retain or attract these high net worth customers who are typically more profitable than other retail banking customers.
But families recognize that when the concentration of knowledge and experience resides with a patriarch or office executive, it can prevent other family members from fully assuming responsibility for wealth management. Few resources have been available to help families meet the complex challenge of wealth management education. Now, due to the accessibly enabled by the internet, anyone can take financial matters into their hands.
Wealth management resources are available easily, not only in the hallowed halls of expensive firms. The internet will give you easy and affordable alternatives, including starting with offshore incorporation in Seychelles, Mauritius, British Virgin Islands or Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His latest website
http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com/ focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius, BVI, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
Business Incorporation Formation: The Process By Which A Business Comes Into Legal Existence
by Ramapati Singhania
A 'corporation' is also known as a 'company' in many jurisdictions. Both words have the same implications and represent a body incorporated under the relevant company laws.
Incorporation is abbreviated as Inc. and company is abbreviated as Co. Business incorporation formation can be of many types. The depend on the jurisdiction in which you are incorporating your business. Some of the most common forms of incorporation are listed below:
* Business
* Non profit organization
* Sports club
* A corporation owned by the government
* A Foreign corporation
* Public corporation
* Offshore Incorporation e.g in Seychelles
If you are a novice and are looking for information about business incorporation formation you should not worry. Abundant resources are available both on and off the net. They will help you out in the process of business incorporation formation, including for a registration offshore company.
Books entitled as 'incorporation how to', or 'how to incorporate your business' are also available. They throw light on the process of incorporation for different jurisdictions. The incorporation how to books can be very handy. All the requirements of law for best incorporation are consolidated in one place. Your work is easy and the books clarify all aspects of the company incorporation procedure.
These books also enumerate the documents which should be prepared. Filing for incorporation with the regulatory authorities requires strict documentation. The documents prepared, whether locally or offshore, are important in the business incorporation formation process.
Correctly prepared and filed documents ensure smooth and timely incorporation of your business with a minimal cost incurred. To obtain the best incorporation services you can locate resources for incorporation around the world.
Many individuals, firms and companies have specialized in the process of company formation for many decades. These entities and individuals are professionally trained and authorized to provide advice and services.
These individuals, firms or companies guiding you in the incorporation process of your business usually also undertake the entire process themselves. They fulfill all the legal requirements for incorporating your business.
Where they do not have there own offices, they usually have an associate. They are also known as incorporation agents or company incorporation agents in some parts of the world. The company incorporation agent is generally a useful person. He can guide you throughout the process of incorporation of your business in his jurisdiction. He will be able to advise you of the various legal issues involved and complete all documentation and for the incorporation process. He will also be able to file the documentation with the appropriate regulatory agency on your behalf.
Incorporation agents for both local and offshore companies are found in every part of the world. Some have global expertise whereas others are limited to a specific jurisdiction or a couple of jurisdictions. These agents will continue to guide you even after the incorporation of your business. If you like they can also, help you with the legal requirements about the running of your business. Some will also help in filing of legal reports to the government.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to choose a competent agent for incorporating your business via the internet alone. You don't always know much about him / her. However, the internet is a fabulous place to obtain appropriate business incorporation information!
Ramapati Singhania's website
http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com/business-incorporation-formation.html focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius, BVI, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
A 'corporation' is also known as a 'company' in many jurisdictions. Both words have the same implications and represent a body incorporated under the relevant company laws.
Incorporation is abbreviated as Inc. and company is abbreviated as Co. Business incorporation formation can be of many types. The depend on the jurisdiction in which you are incorporating your business. Some of the most common forms of incorporation are listed below:
* Business
* Non profit organization
* Sports club
* A corporation owned by the government
* A Foreign corporation
* Public corporation
* Offshore Incorporation e.g in Seychelles
If you are a novice and are looking for information about business incorporation formation you should not worry. Abundant resources are available both on and off the net. They will help you out in the process of business incorporation formation, including for a registration offshore company.
Books entitled as 'incorporation how to', or 'how to incorporate your business' are also available. They throw light on the process of incorporation for different jurisdictions. The incorporation how to books can be very handy. All the requirements of law for best incorporation are consolidated in one place. Your work is easy and the books clarify all aspects of the company incorporation procedure.
These books also enumerate the documents which should be prepared. Filing for incorporation with the regulatory authorities requires strict documentation. The documents prepared, whether locally or offshore, are important in the business incorporation formation process.
Correctly prepared and filed documents ensure smooth and timely incorporation of your business with a minimal cost incurred. To obtain the best incorporation services you can locate resources for incorporation around the world.
Many individuals, firms and companies have specialized in the process of company formation for many decades. These entities and individuals are professionally trained and authorized to provide advice and services.
These individuals, firms or companies guiding you in the incorporation process of your business usually also undertake the entire process themselves. They fulfill all the legal requirements for incorporating your business.
Where they do not have there own offices, they usually have an associate. They are also known as incorporation agents or company incorporation agents in some parts of the world. The company incorporation agent is generally a useful person. He can guide you throughout the process of incorporation of your business in his jurisdiction. He will be able to advise you of the various legal issues involved and complete all documentation and for the incorporation process. He will also be able to file the documentation with the appropriate regulatory agency on your behalf.
Incorporation agents for both local and offshore companies are found in every part of the world. Some have global expertise whereas others are limited to a specific jurisdiction or a couple of jurisdictions. These agents will continue to guide you even after the incorporation of your business. If you like they can also, help you with the legal requirements about the running of your business. Some will also help in filing of legal reports to the government.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to choose a competent agent for incorporating your business via the internet alone. You don't always know much about him / her. However, the internet is a fabulous place to obtain appropriate business incorporation information!
Ramapati Singhania's website
http://www.incorporation-offshore-saves-wealth.com/business-incorporation-formation.html focuses on helping you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius, BVI, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
BOOK REVIEW: Rich Dad, Poor Dad - An Introduction - There is a Need!
By Hayley Keen
First printed in 1998 this book continues to be relevant today. The introduction "There Is A Need" refers to the outdated cultural habit still evident today by the financial struggles many are facing largely caused by the attitudes still commonly held.
Written by Robert T. Kiyosaki; Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator. Robert tells his story of being raised by two fathers; his rich dad and his poor (educated) dad; both men guiding Robert through their teachings and importantly their life experiences. Co Author, Sharon L. Lechter Investor, Business Executive and C.P.A. greatly inspired and motivated by Robert has helped make this an encouraging book and so simple to read.
Today's professionals, go to school, get good grades, get a good job, a good salary (however considerably less then they use to) a grand house, a great car, a fast boat, a lavish lifestyle and with that a massive load of debt, a huge tax liability! Having not learnt how to manage their finances!
Get good grades and get a good job was great advice for someone born before 1945, but today this is simply poor advice. People can no longer rely on government pensions and even job security. We must change our cultural habit and attitudes.
Robert talks about the statement "I can't afford it" being an example of mental laziness. In contrast the question "How can I afford it" stimulates the brain to think. Robert believes laziness decreases both health and wealth.
- Play it safe, don't take risks needs to become play it smart, learn to manage risks.
- The mentality of financial entitlement needs to become that of financial self reliance.
- Robert's poor (educated) dad advised him to get a good job, working for a good corporation, his rich dad advised him to own a good corporation and create jobs.
There is a need for more education, for better education, for different education. We must change our cultural habits and attitudes to meet the global and technological changes. We were not taught finance at school and our kids aren't learning it at school today. Finance needs to be taught at home.
"Financial intelligence is the mental process via which we solve our financial problems." Robert T. Kiyosaki
"Money is one form of power BUT what is more powerful is financial education. Money comes and goes but if you have the education about how money works, you gain power over it and can begin building wealth." Robert T. Kiyosaki
Hayley is a successful online marketing entrepreneur, committed to sharing her knowledge. "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." B.R. Hayden. Hayley's mission is to inspire others on their journey to success.
Hayley works with an amazing group of entrepreneurs with an incredibly powerful system in place you can check it out here!
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BOOK REVIEW: "Think and Grow Rich" - By Napoleon Hill
By Matt Lehr
I am not sure how I first came to hear about this book, but I quickly discovered that it is well recognized as one of the all time greats for examining the psychology of people in terms of obtaining riches in the material, educational, and emotional sense of the word. After just one time reading the book it was clear why this book has lasted the test of time since being released during the Great Depression in 1937.
Mr. Napoleon Hill wrote this book based on his life followings as an associate and biographer of Andrew Carnegie. The book contains timeless advice and insight to understanding human emotion and thought, straight from one of America's most successful entrepreneurs. I strongly suggest anyone interested in the philosophy of what drives human actions read this book and take note of its primary message.
To open the book, Napoleon Hill outlines that there are 12 areas of real riches, nearly all of which cannot be quantified in a material sense:
1) A Positive Mental Attitude - (NOTE - Positive attitude comes first)
2) Sound Physical Health
3) Harmony in Human Relations
4) Freedom from Fear
5) Hope of Future Achievement
6) Capacity for Applied Faith
7) Willingness to Share Ones Blessings with Others
8) To Be Engaged in Labor of Love
9) Open Mind to All Subjects and All People
10) Complete Self Discipline
11) Wisdom to Understand People
12) Financial Security - (NOTE - Money comes last)
Immediately following this introduction of key areas, Napoleon Hill challenges his readers that throughout the book there is one central theme throughout each chapter that has helped to create many successful and rich men and women. Hill explains that this theme is crucial to fully understanding how to grow rich in life and that it is made mention to quite often. He teases that he will not explain exactly what that idea is, as it becomes much more powerful when you read between the lines and discover it for yourself. I will highlight this theme later in the review, but first I think it is important to look at the main area Napoleon Hill feels we must grow rich:
Positive Mental Attitude
A positive Mental Attitude heads the list of items needed for a person to grow rich. The reason being is that every single other item included in the twelve is virtually impossible to attain without the positive mental attitude to start. There is no way to be free from fear in life, when you let negativity and self doubts overcome you thoughts. There is no way to be fully engaged in love when have no self confidence or lack the ability to make another feel good.
There is no way to be open to a new person or idea if unwilling to accept the potential benefits to be gained. There is no way to advance your financial situation if you subscribe to notion that you are victim and a change cannot be made. It all of these situations you must possess the positive self image, hope, and foresight for the future that is needed to grow rich in any situation.
A positive mental attitude and the understanding that can you achieve, instills the new perspective and level of confidence needed to take on mastery of all riches. A positive mental attitude in turn creates hope for the future. When you have hope for the future, anything is possible. So focus your mental attitude, build your hope, and then work on mastery of the remaining riches. I have worked constantly on my mastery of a positive mental attitude and can proudly say that is the fuel behind much of my fire. When you start to cut out the negativity and start to be solution oriented, the world has amazing possibilities.
What It Takes To Grow Rich (According to Napoleon Hill)
As mentioned, I have pinpointed the principles and theme presented in the book that Mr. Hill refers, but will not implicitly say. I call them the 4 D's. Essentially, these D's provide what it is needed to be successful and grow rich:
1) DEVELOPING A DEFINITE PURPOSE - Once you identify your purpose, everything takes a new level of significance. Wandering in the dark will only get you so far and will leave you with some bumps and bruises. Set your goals and purpose and once the target is marked, proceed forward with a lighted path.
2) DESIRE - Once you have defined your purpose, there is still no guarantee you will act on it. Hill infers that deep desire for what you want and passion in the pursuit of it is a must. As Tony Robbins would say, make it feel like achieving your purpose will create ultimate pleasure.
3) DEDICATION - Hill speaks to levels of maturity and understanding that commitment, dedication, and sacrifices are needed to obtain riches. In Hill's personal example, Andrew Carnegie asked Hill to work for him for years without pay, with the agreement that Hill would someday be able to chronicle his experiences. This required years of sacrifice, but ultimately this dedication was the determining factor in the success of Hill.
4) DETERMINATION - I understand this to be the overcoming of obstacles. Things will inevitable stand in your way in quest of your purpose. You must use your desire and dedications to stay determined and let persistence carry you through challenges. Often times financial struggles will act as a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, use your resources to work past this.
Hill refers to all of these throughout his book and tells countless stories when all of the four are applied. Overall he suggests that to think and grow rich we must apply ourselves passionately and use these four D's. Hill also goes in much more depth about attaining riches in each of the highlighted 12 areas that are most important.
As I stated, I believe his in depth analysis on the psychology of people is dead on. As an entrepreneur I have found countless ways to apply his methods and have proceeded to re-read his book twice over.
This article is available at: http://www.mattlehr.com
Reviewer Name: Matt Lehr
Reviewer Blog: http://www.mattlehr.com
Book Author: Napoleon Hill
Book Title: "Think and Grow Rich"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Lehr
http://EzineArticles.com/?Think-and-Grow-Rich---By-Napoleon-Hill---Book-Review&id=2551960
BOOK REVIEW: The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
By Christopher Castillo
Who is Tim Ferris and What Is The 4-Hour Workweek?
The 4-Hour Workweek is a book written by renaissance man, Timothy Ferris. Mr. Ferris comes from a broad intellectual background, and is not just a successful entrepreneur and business mentor, but is also active in the performing arts and in fighting. The 4-Hour Workweek is a fascinating piece that, in my opinion, does not fall short of the expectations one may have as a result of its intriguing title.
The book is basically a compilation of strategies created by Ferris that are all focused on one end result, one being able to have enough money to enjoy their ideal lifestyle while working only a few hours each week. Moreover, Ferris explains how working more than even a part time job can actually hinder someone from creating wealth because of the valuable time and consequently, productivity that is lost by working hours upon hours at a job that has little chance of providing an ideal lifestyle. He presents unique and insightful views of the most efficient ways to make money.
What Exactly Is The Concept Discussed In The Book The 4-Hour Workweek?
Ferris explains how to become a member of the "New Rich" as he refers to it. The "New Rich" are basically people who have found ways to automate the way they make money, and thus have almost all of their time freed up to do the things they really want to do in life. The model that is introduced in the book breaks down the process of achieving the above mentioned lifestyle into four main areas.
1) Definition
2) Elimination
3) Automation
4) Liberation
Tim Ferris asks the reader to define exactly what type of life they desire to have on a day to day basis. He explains how to eliminate the things in ones life that do not contribute directly to the creation of said lifestyle. Ferris then gives specific information on how to automate every possible thing that can be made into an automated system in ones life so that they are free to do what they want almost all day, everyday. Furthermore, to take the tasks that cannot be automated and delegate them to others. Finally he shows just how other people have been able to liberate themselves from the usual 40 plus hour workweek deeming them part of the "New Rich."
Can The 4-Hour Workweek Really Teach One How To Create An Ideal Lifestyle?
The fantastic thing about the 4-Hour Workweek is that it is fairly simple and is a step-by-step process that can be followed by almost anyone. Many of the principles taught in the book I follow today in my own business. These processes are exactly how I am able to work much less and create much more income than I did at any job that I have ever had. The system of automation is how I have made a great deal of money working from home marketing products online. I have been able to help myself, family and friends to set up automated income streams online through fairly simple techniques.
Expert Author Christopher M. Castillo of http://www.HomeMarketingGuru.com is a top internet marketing guru who works with industry leaders in developing the best tools to automate making money online. His real passion is for helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations of earning a full time living online with his methods. Christopher is also known for small business consulting, business plan creation and for teaching others how to make business success.
Christopher M. Castillo is an expert in marketing holds a BBA and MBA in Marketing and has decades of experience in Marketing for corporations, small business and non-profit organizations. To learn more how Christopher M. Castillo and his team of Mentors can teach you to make money online today, visit them at http://www.HomeMarketingGuru.com and take a FREE TEST DRIVE!!!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Castillo
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Four-Hour-Work-Week-by-Tim-Ferris---Book-Review&id=2470449
Is There a 'Best' Or a 'Safest' Offshore Bank Or Tax Haven?
By Peter Macfarlane
"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
Keynes' comments are very relevant to the fast changing world of globalized offshore banking where we do business today. Investors more than ever have to keep on their toes, keep themselves informed, and avoid complacency.
Which are the world's best or safest offshore banks? Where is the best country to open a bank account? Which is the best offshore tax haven? Is it still a good idea to open a bank account in Switzerland?
These are the type of questions I get on a daily basis as an offshore wealth management editor and consultant. For example, in recent months I have seen a lot of the fallout of the UBS scandal in the United States. Swiss banking giant UBS has closed thousands of bank accounts based in their Swiss branches where American residents or citizens were involved as signatories - even accounts that had been open for decades. Many investors believe (rightly in my opinion) that Credit Suisse could be next on the hitlist. So what alternative offshore banks are there? Or what other countries offer better security and secrecy than Switzerland?
The answer, as I always have to explain, is that there is no 'best offshore bank' nor even 'best offshore banking country.' A whole range of individual circumstances come in to play. Investors have many different motivations when looking for a new bank. Often these days, the level of service, privacy, and asset protection are far more important to clients than the tax implications of a secret offshore bank account.
For example, your citizenship is very important. If you are a US citizen your options are more limited, as many offshore banks no longer accept US citizens as clients. Brits, Canadians or Australians for example will have fewer problems in this regard. But the traditional wisdom is that for the best level of privacy, choose a bank that does not have offices or branches in your home country.
If you are a citizen of a European Union country (including the United Kingdom of course) then the European Union Savings Tax Directive comes into play, and you might prefer to hold your offshore bank account in one of the tax-haven type banking countries that is not a signatory to this treaty. That rules out Switzerland, Andorra and the Cayman Islands for example - and brings into play other prominent financial capitals a little further afield, like Panama or Singapore.
But there are also other nuances to look out for besides citizenship and residency. What kind of services are you looking for? Do you want one with the best online trading technology or the one with the highest level of personal service? Generally, those two are polar opposites. Traditional private banking is expensive. Whereas for online trading in the financial markets, maybe you don't even need a bank account these days.
Most offshore banks offer debit and/or credit cards, and internet banking - two essentials for the modern expat bank account. But again from here, services vary widely. Will it be a Maestro ATM card or a an American Express Platinum? If you are mainly interested in cash withdrawals using an offshore card, then Maestro might be better. But other clients want the prestige and service level afforded to those Gold and Platinum level clients - not to mention perks like airline miles offered on Panamanian Platinum Mastercards (that can be very valuable if you are conducting serious business through your offshore company).
Ultimately, then, there is no correct answer - the best offshore bank account for one person is completely different from the best account for somebody down the road. And the same applies to comparisons of countries like Panama, Switzerland or the Cayman Islands.
If you would like to read more about this topic, you will find forty or so pages of easy to read advice in the Practical Offshore Banking Guide 2009 by Peter Macfarlane, author of the above article.
Peter also offers a free five-part e-mail course on offshore banking, wealth creation and asset protection that you can sign up for instantly and without any obligation here: Free Offshore Banking Course.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Macfarlane
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-There-a-Best-Or-a-Safest-Offshore-Bank-Or-Tax-Haven?&id=2556304
Menorca Property Prices Set For A Price Crash
by Henry Ashworth
A Mediterranean holiday home for many Europeans, but especially the British, has been an aspiration achieved by many since the early 1980's, when the UK allowed the free flow of capital, and property price gains allowed many to sell up in Britain and move to Spain and her islands - Menorca for example.
A slow down of Brits buying abroad happened in the early 90's when recession hit the country, but overall the pace of number of people buying a home and often buying a business too has been relentless.
And with a growing number of British moving abroad, the UK's financial infrastructure followed them, with British banks setting up branches in Spain and the Spanish islands like Menorca (ironically some of the British banks have now been taken over by Spanish ones), mortgage companies tailoring products for overseas home purchase, and insurance companies offering building and contents cover.
For many of the British buying in Spain, it was like Britain with sunshine.
But times have changed, Spain is flooded with unsold brand new and re-sale properties, and property prices have crashed. In Britian property prices have dropped and are expected to fall further for the next year or more.
Confidence is low - unemployment in the UK is expected to hit 3 million before it peaks, and people with some money who might ordinarily have considered buying a property abroad are often keeping it in assets where the money is easily accessible -something it's not when tied up in a property during a recession.
And of course the financial infrastructure that supported the British buying homes and businesses in Spain and her islands is in full retreat. The banks who were lending money readily to Brits moving abroad aren't lending much, and many of them have been bailed out with taxpayers' money - overall a dismal picture of a once flourishing overseas property market.
So, is now a good time to buy in Spain and her islands? If you've always fancied an apartment or villa in glorious Menorca - is this the time to take the plunge?
Part of that answer depends upon your individual financial circumstances, but if you need to borrow to buy a second home, and if you need income from holiday rentals to sustain your new Menorca property ... halve the figure you think you might achieve and re-calculate to get closer to what you might realistically get from renting out to those taking Menorca holidays in today's market.
But if you have a surplus of cash and are ready to buy a property in Menorca - is now a good time to buy?
There's a property glut in Spain. If property was water, Spain and her islands would be renamed Atlantis. Developers and private owners alike are more than keen to sell, and anyone who is a cash buyer won't have to wait long before they see a bargain. But don't necessarily buy the first property you like that seems good value.
Draw up a list of say three or four apartments or villas you have viewed and liked and put in an offer of around sixty per cent of the already discounted price, starting with your favourite one, telling the owners that the offer remains good for two weeks, and at that time you will look elsewhere. Within a couple of months you, perhaps even weeks, you could have the property you want at an amazing price, even if the owners come back with a counter offer.
One bit of advice from UK based Tribune Properties is to avoid buying a brand new property.
'Only buy a new property in Menorca if you're absolutely certain that the developer has the funds to finish off a development and the promised infrastructure that goes with the new development ... and even then only spend what you can afford to lose. Guarantees are often useless if a developer goes bust. And just don't buy a property under construction - the development could be mothballed for years to come - along with any deposits and staged payments already paid by a buyer.'
Their final bit of advice is not good news for Menorca property developers either, or for private re-sales.
'If you can hold on a few months, you might find even better bargains than there are now in the autumn when the same owners who are selling now have failed to find a buyer, and at the end of the holidays season owners might be prepared to listen to offers in the hope of finally selling their Menorca property.'
More information about the current availability for Menorca property can be requested at http://www.menorcaprops.com
A Mediterranean holiday home for many Europeans, but especially the British, has been an aspiration achieved by many since the early 1980's, when the UK allowed the free flow of capital, and property price gains allowed many to sell up in Britain and move to Spain and her islands - Menorca for example.
A slow down of Brits buying abroad happened in the early 90's when recession hit the country, but overall the pace of number of people buying a home and often buying a business too has been relentless.
And with a growing number of British moving abroad, the UK's financial infrastructure followed them, with British banks setting up branches in Spain and the Spanish islands like Menorca (ironically some of the British banks have now been taken over by Spanish ones), mortgage companies tailoring products for overseas home purchase, and insurance companies offering building and contents cover.
For many of the British buying in Spain, it was like Britain with sunshine.
But times have changed, Spain is flooded with unsold brand new and re-sale properties, and property prices have crashed. In Britian property prices have dropped and are expected to fall further for the next year or more.
Confidence is low - unemployment in the UK is expected to hit 3 million before it peaks, and people with some money who might ordinarily have considered buying a property abroad are often keeping it in assets where the money is easily accessible -something it's not when tied up in a property during a recession.
And of course the financial infrastructure that supported the British buying homes and businesses in Spain and her islands is in full retreat. The banks who were lending money readily to Brits moving abroad aren't lending much, and many of them have been bailed out with taxpayers' money - overall a dismal picture of a once flourishing overseas property market.
So, is now a good time to buy in Spain and her islands? If you've always fancied an apartment or villa in glorious Menorca - is this the time to take the plunge?
Part of that answer depends upon your individual financial circumstances, but if you need to borrow to buy a second home, and if you need income from holiday rentals to sustain your new Menorca property ... halve the figure you think you might achieve and re-calculate to get closer to what you might realistically get from renting out to those taking Menorca holidays in today's market.
But if you have a surplus of cash and are ready to buy a property in Menorca - is now a good time to buy?
There's a property glut in Spain. If property was water, Spain and her islands would be renamed Atlantis. Developers and private owners alike are more than keen to sell, and anyone who is a cash buyer won't have to wait long before they see a bargain. But don't necessarily buy the first property you like that seems good value.
Draw up a list of say three or four apartments or villas you have viewed and liked and put in an offer of around sixty per cent of the already discounted price, starting with your favourite one, telling the owners that the offer remains good for two weeks, and at that time you will look elsewhere. Within a couple of months you, perhaps even weeks, you could have the property you want at an amazing price, even if the owners come back with a counter offer.
One bit of advice from UK based Tribune Properties is to avoid buying a brand new property.
'Only buy a new property in Menorca if you're absolutely certain that the developer has the funds to finish off a development and the promised infrastructure that goes with the new development ... and even then only spend what you can afford to lose. Guarantees are often useless if a developer goes bust. And just don't buy a property under construction - the development could be mothballed for years to come - along with any deposits and staged payments already paid by a buyer.'
Their final bit of advice is not good news for Menorca property developers either, or for private re-sales.
'If you can hold on a few months, you might find even better bargains than there are now in the autumn when the same owners who are selling now have failed to find a buyer, and at the end of the holidays season owners might be prepared to listen to offers in the hope of finally selling their Menorca property.'
More information about the current availability for Menorca property can be requested at http://www.menorcaprops.com
BOOK REVIEW: The 4-Hour Workweek - A Manual For New Productivity Or a Guide to Cheating?
By Jennifer Roland
Timothy Ferriss seems to have mastered the life of leisure and delegation. His product, brainQUICKEN, is run without his direct intervention. He travels the world and has had some fascinating experiences. But many would not call him successful, they would call him shiftless.
In The Four-Hour Workweek, Ferriss shares his life story and lessons he thinks will help you become someone who works the barest minimum necessary to sustain your lifestyle. He provides tips and tricks for getting out of the office and into, well, whatever you want.
Get Creative
But not all of the lessons are very practical. The story of how he won a kickboxing title sums up his philosophy: Ferriss read the rules very carefully and found that if one opponent falls off the platform three times in a match, the other opponent wins be default. Rather than training and working to become the best kickboxer, he endeavored to knock every opponent off the platform three times. His adherence to the letter of the rules, not the intent of the sport, got him a title. But, he freely admits it was a title given grudgingly by the judges.
Work from Home
He suggests that employees who want to use their time more wisely yet continue to collect a paycheck force their employer to allow them to telecommute. When you telecommute, he argues, you can spend the time needed getting the job done, and spend the rest doing what you want.
One of the techniques to get your boss to agree to telecommuting is to artificially lower your productivity on days you are in the office. This may not be the most ethical way to get your boss to agree to a telecommuting arrangement, but it is likely to work. Most employees would be reticent to engage in seemingly unethical behavior.
A quick Google search or visit to the book's customer reviews at Amazon will show bloggers and readers who have pointed out a lack of ethics inherent in Ferriss' recommendations, but a lack of ethics is not completely evident in the book. Ferriss takes an interesting way of looking at the rules of the game and uses them to his advantage. He doesn't screw people over to get what he wants; he just exploits flaws in the system to do it.
Will It Work for You?
The value in The 4-Hour Workweek doesn't lie in the specific examples. Instead, you should read the book to shock yourself into thinking differently about the world around you. How can you exploit the loopholes to make your life better and happier? And how can you do it in a way that doesn't violate your personal ethics?
The 4-Hour Workweek is a hard read if you prefer a book with solid linear flow. If you are a chunker who picks and chooses sections based on your needs, however, you will love the book.
Jennifer Roland is an experienced writer and editor from the Portland, Oregon, area. Her nonfiction covers such areas as educational technology, personal finance, entertainment, pets, and health and fitness. She also writes fiction, including paranormal and contemporary romance and urban fantasy. Find out more at http://jennifer-roland.com.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-4-Hour-Workweek---A-Manual-For-New-Productivity-Or-a-Guide-to-Cheating?&id=2561338
Getting a Secret Offshore Bank Card
By Patrick Winters
The easiest and most cost-effective way of withdrawing funds from your secret offshore account will almost certainly be through the use of an offshore bank card.
Used in the right way, offshore bank cards can execute financial transactions that leave almost no trace of your identity, but, generally speaking, the larger the transaction the harder it is to keep secret.
The cheapest card you might get can be a gift card, which is paid for upfront. You may be able to load up to 1000USD on to each gift card you purchase without having to identify yourself. Other specialist "card providers" can provide a similar service. You can purchase one of these by wiring funds from your offshore account to a specialist card-loading account, and then have your card sent via mail. Then again there are "virtual cards", so-called because you possess only the number rather than a physical card. These can be very secretive, but are not suitable for day-to-day use.
Brand-name debit and credit cards like Visa and MasterCard will always require identification, at the very least a notarized passport copy and utility bill. It is still possible however, to effectively shield your financial transactions from the great majority of "outsiders".
One of the most common ways is to get a card in the name of your offshore company. In this way your company name will appear on the card, your company name is registered when the card is swiped or the chip is read, and your company name will appear on all receipts. If this company is located in a tax haven with strong bank secrecy, and company records like the names of directors are hard to access, it will be extremely difficult for an outsider to pierce the "corporate veil", and identify the flesh and blood person behind the transaction.
Using a brand name card is often preferential to gift cards, or simple cash cards because it has a much wider reach. From personal experience I have had "bank cards" issued by the local branch of a an international bank in a low-tax jurisdiction, which did not work at any ATM outside the country where they were issued. Even worse, I could not access my money from international bank's branch in a different country, no matter what ID I supplied. Funds were essentially "landlocked".
By contrast, a brand-name card like Visa or MasterCard will allow you to access your funds from anywhere in the world. Since the card providers know who you are, you lose confidentiality using these cards at home.
But for day-to-day purchases on vacation, online purchases into thousands of dollars, their ease-of-use and high-limits, brand name cards are easier. Furthermore you can be sure that it will work wherever you go, and you can be sure of cash in an emergency.
The author is a staff writer for Offshore Banking House Capital Conservator. Capital Conservator products are meticulously engineered to provide the best combination of security, confidentiality and ease-of-use. Modest and sensible due diligence applied. Click for more information on our confidential offshore bank cards.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Winters
http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-a-Secret-Offshore-Bank-Card&id=2595823
ExPat Tax Tips - The Death of Foreign Earned Income Exclusions?
By Nick Hodges
President Obama is tagging your Foreign Earned Income Exemption to help pay for huge federal budget deficits. He thinks to hide this motive behind recent White House announcements about U.S. companies, providing smokescreens such as: "I want to see our companies remain the most competitive in the world," and "...the way to make sure that happens is not to reward our companies for moving jobs off our shores or transferring profits to overseas tax havens."
The reality is that with tax gaps estimated in the $400 billion range, this administration is hard-pressed to come up with new sources of revenues to fill the deficit. It is estimated that offshore tax abuses cause the United States to lose approximately $100 billion each year in tax revenues. Recovering these funds represent a substantial portion of the annual U.S. tax gap, which is why President Obama has authorized an additional $128 million for the 2010 IRS budget, which includes the addition of 800 new IRS agents. Do not be fooled, they have declared war on YOU and are coming after YOUR money.
First, they are going after the companies you work for because they see companies operating abroad as a viable source of additional revenues. Currently, companies with overseas operations pay U.S. taxes only if they bring the profits back to the United States. They can defer paying U.S. taxes indefinitely if they keep the profits offshore.
Obama's plan, which would take effect in 2011, cracks down on these loopholes so that companies would no longer be able to write off domestic expenses for generating profits abroad. It is estimated that this change alone would generate $210 billion in new taxes over the next 10 years, making a modest dent in the forecasted $1.8 trillion federal deficit. Rest assured, this administration will encourage any possible avenue to be able to bring these monies back into the U.S.
And, they are coming after YOU. The recently released IRS report on the 2006 tax year indicates that the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion might be another modest source for helping to fill the tax gap. In tax year 2006, about U.S. taxpayers living abroad reported approximately $36.7 billion in foreign-earned income and claimed nearly $18.4 billion in income exclusions. And that was three years ago. There are more Americans living and working abroad now than ever. Can't you just see the wheels turning in the minds of our government leaders? Removing the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion could add billions to U.S. tax coffers.
Perhaps you think they won't find YOU. The historic legal struggle that has cracked Switzerland's renowned reputation for banking secrecy is part of an on-going IRS quest to identify nearly 52,000 suspect offshore bank accounts. When the IRS increases their workforce by 800 new agents, they won't be hiring new college recruits. They have announced that they will be hiring the fancy attorneys and investment advisors that have helped hide those assets offshore.
Now, multiply the number of suspected offshore accounts by the $10,000 or possibly $20,000 in allowable fines for non-reporting, and you come up with another modest number toward the filling of the U.S. tax gap. If you have been one of those 'tax evaders' thinking they can hide assets in offshore bank accounts, think again. The IRS is already searching for you, cracking the international bank privacy policies and gearing up to hire professionals to find you.
All of these items add up to making the American Expatriate look like a great big piggy bank to the current administration. While there will likely be a huge fight in Congress regarding closing the corporate loopholes, it is even more likely that the tax benefits associated with your Foreign Earned Income Exclusion will be taken from you. Fines for unreported bank accounts will soon become automatic bills. This means that for you, the individual American Expatriate, the stakes are high and getting higher if you seek to hide your income off-shore or evade paying U.S. taxes on that income.
What action do you need to take as an expatriate? Stay abreast of the latest information that develops about the foreign earned income exclusion. The best way to accomplish this is to work with a reputable advisor who will focus on keeping you out of the scrutiny of the IRS by keeping your activities well above board and within the law. Your advisor must be well-versed in the nuances of expatriate tax law, so check with your advisor about his/her expertise in this arena and be ensure you've chosen your advisor wisely.
Copyright (c) 2009 Nick Hodges
Nick Hodges, President of NCH Wealth Advisors, provides US expatriates with the best tools, strategies and planning techniques to help expats manage their tax and financial goals and dreams on a day-to-day basis regardless of their location. To claim your free gift, ExPat Life Portfolio Kit, visit his site at
=======> ExPatCFO.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Hodges
http://EzineArticles.com/?ExPat-Tax-Tips---The-Death-of-Foreign-Earned-Income-Exclusions?&id=2566627
International Cost of Living Rankings July 2009
By Steven Coleman
The most expensive global location to live in, as at July 2009, is still Tokyo Japan, however there have been some significant changes in the last year mainly due to large differences in exchange rates, and more recently, a real drop in prices along with the majority of global locations enjoying their lowest inflation rates in recent times.
Tokyo's cost of living index only increased by 1.4% from July 2008 to July 2009, but is 16 index points clear of 2nd placed Hong Kong (11th in July 2008). Last year Oslo, Norway, was the 2nd most expensive global location to live, however Oslo's cost of living relative to the rest of the world has decreased by 27 index points over the past year.
The cost of living indexes are based on pricing the same basket of goods in local currency and comparing them in US Dollars using exchange rates with New York as the base (New York = 100). In most cases the major factor driving the changes has been the weakening of other currencies against the US Dollar. This is the main factor behind Oslo's drop from 2nd to 13th most expensive global location to live. The Norwegian Kroner has decreased 19% against the US Dollar over the past year. In contrast the Japanese Yen has increased 12.7% against the US Dollar over the past year.
The 5 Most Expensive Global Locations Overall
Joining Tokyo and Hong Kong in the top 5 most expensive global locations are Caracas in Venezuela (up 62 places in the rankings) to 3rd most expensive, followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic, and in 5th place is Geneva in Switzerland, down 2 places from July 2008.
The 5 Biggest jumps
The largest increase in relative cost of living is Harare in Zimbabwe, albeit off a very low base. Harare has been ranked the least expensive global location for several years, mainly due to hyperinflation and a constantly weakening currency. This year Zimbabwe's cost of living index has jumped 118% and is now ranked 275th most expensive out of 276 global locations. Other large increases in relative cost of living in the past year are Honiara in the Solomon Islands up 37% compared to July 2008, Caracas up 22%, Kigali in Rwanda up 19% while the 5th largest jump belongs to Manama in Bahrain, up 17%.
The 5 Least Expensive Global Locations Overall
The least expensive global location to live in this year is Tianjin in China with a cost of living index of just 30 compared to New York's index of 100. Harare in Zimbabwe, last years least expensive global location is now 2nd least expensive, followed by Durban in South Africa. Phnom Penh in Cambodia is ranked 4th least expensive followed by Mbabane in Swaziland.
The 5 Biggest drops
The largest decrease in relative cost of living is Nuku'Alofa in Tonga with a decrease of 45%, followed by Brazzaville in the Congo with a decrease of 31%. The Congolese Franc has lost 44% against the US Dollar compared to July 2008. Mbabane in Swaziland had a decrease in relative cost of living of 30%, while Budapest in Hungary decreased 28%. The 5th largest decrease between July 2008 and July 2009 was Guangzhou in China with a decrease of 27% despite the Yuan strengthening slightly against the US Dollar by 1%.
The Details: What Costs the Most Where?
Top 5 Alcohol & Tobacco
Alcoholic beverages such as beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes are most expensive in Doha in Qatar, followed by Oslo, Manama, Moroni in Comores and South Tarawa in Kiribati. The least expensive place for alcohol & tobacco is Kuwait.
Top 5 Clothing
Clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, children's clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear are most expensive also in Doha, followed by Zagreb in Croatia, Dubai, Beijing and Manama. The least expensive place for clothing is Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Top 5 Communication
Communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile/cellular phone contract and calls are most expensive in Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, followed by Noumea in New Caledonia, Riga in Latvia, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, and Douala in Cameroon. The least expensive place for communication is Conakry in Guinea.
Top 5 Education
Costs such as crèche/pre-school fees, high school/college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees are most expensive in Caracas followed by Luanda in Angola, Brasilia in Brazil, Hamilton in Bermuda and Lagos in Nigeria. The least expensive place for education is Paramaribo in Suriname.
Top 5 Furniture & Appliances
Costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as DVD player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine are most expensive in Douala, followed by Bamako in Mali, Bangui, Lagos, and Freetown in Sierra Leone. The least expensive place for furniture & appliances is Harare.
Top 5 Groceries
Costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Bangui, Honiara, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Lagos. The least expensive place for groceries is again Harare.
Top 5 Healthcare
Costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance/medical aid contributions are most expensive in Tokyo followed by Hong Kong, Caracas, Luanda and Hamilton in Bermuda. The least expensive place for healthcare is Tianjin.
Top 5 Household
Costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house/flat mortgage, house/flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas/fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates/taxes/levies are most expensive in Hong Kong followed by Tokyo, Taipei in Taiwan, Dubai, and Luanda. The least expensive place for household costs is Asmara in Eritrea.
Top 5 Personal Care
Costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer/sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap/shampoo/conditioner are most expensive in Banjul in Gambia followed by, Algiers in Algeria, South Tarawa in Kiribati, Moroni in the Comores, and Bratislava in Slovakia. The least expensive place for personal care is Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.
Top 5 Recreation & Culture
Costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CD's, sports goods, sports clubs and theatre tickets are most expensive in Maputo in Mozambique followed by Bangui, Doha, N'Djamena in Chad, and Cotonou in Benin. The least expensive place for recreation & culture is Harare.
Top 5 Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel
Costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast Food) are most expensive in Dubai followed by Doha, Athens in Greece, Brussels in Belgium and Ljubljana in Slovenia. The least expensive place for restaurants, meals out and hotel is Tianjin.
Top 5 Transport
Costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase/lease of vehicle, petrol/diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase are most expensive in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia, followed by Honiara, Dili in Timor-Leste, Douala, and Oslo. The least expensive place for transport is Tianjin.
Best Places to Live
So if you were to relocate anywhere in the world right now, where would you experience the lowest cost of living with the least amount of hardship? Hardship is used as the measure of discomfort a person and their family are likely to experience. Each global location is ranked between 1 which is minimal hardship and 4 which is extreme hardship.
Assuming therefore that you would want to live in a minimal hardship location, the location with the lowest cost of living index is Adelaide in Australia. Adelaide is a minimal hardship location and has a cost of living index of 60 compared to New York's index of 100. The next 6 best places to live on this basis are all in the USA. Memphis Tennessee is 2nd followed by El Paso Texas 3rd, St Louis Missouri 4th, and in 5th is Indianapolis Indiana. The next best non-USA location is Auckland in New Zealand in 8th place.
Steven Coleman runs Xpatulator.com an internet service that provides free cost of living and hardship information for 276 global locations to registered users. The detailed cost of living rankings as at July 2009 for each basket group for each of the over 200 global locations can be found on the website. The premium content international cost of living calculator and cost of living allowance calculator are used for international cost of living comparison and calculation of cost of living allowance. Follow Steven on twitter steveninseattle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Coleman
http://EzineArticles.com/?International-Cost-of-Living-Rankings-July-2009&id=2596279
3 Steps to Finding Your Offshore Playground
By Peter Treble
When it comes time to leave your current home for an offshore destination, sometimes the hardest part of the process can be deciding where to go. Naturally, you can always keep moving, but it does save time if you can choose a good place from the start. To help you make that crucial decision, this article looks at the three steps you need to take to find your perfect offshore playground.
Step One: Do A Financial Services Evaluation
For this step, you need to take a few days and do some in-depth research on the countries you are considering as a part-time or full-time residence. You will want to acquaint yourself with the basic financial rules and regulations that will govern you during your stay. If your business is complex, you may want to consider talking with a tax professional about your options.
Do you need to be in a sheltered financial center, such as Isle of Man or Austria? Or do you need to stay in areas denominated in a certain currency or pegged to that currency? Evaluate each choice and rank them according to their suitability as a potential offshore playground for someone in your financial situation.
Step Two: Do A Governmental Evaluation
Naturally, you want your offshore playground to allow you the freedom to live life on your own terms. If you wanted a restrictive, oppressive environment, well, you can get that at home so why move? Thus, you need to do an evaluation of the role of government in the lives of the people in the countries you're considering.
As with the financial marks, you'll want to give each country you are considering a score based on the level of anticipated governmental interference. You can score points for restrictive entry/exit requirements, police presence, or bureaucracy. Evaluate honestly which governmental quirks are likely to have the biggest impact on your day-to-day life.
Step Three: Do A Lifestyle Evaluation
What kind of lifestyle are you looking for in your offshore playground? Do you want something wild and exotic, or something more pastoral and relaxing? Think about how you would like to be spending your time each day, and research the local habits carefully.
Rank your countries again, using whatever criteria you like as long as it is consistent. Include medical facilities and entertainment venues in your scorekeeping. Try to get a sense of any existing expat communities as well as this will help you meet people when you arrive in your playground.
Once all the scores have been tallied, make a top 3 list for your potential playgrounds. You can opt to take the plunge and just move to the first one on your list, but many people opt for vacations first to see if their paper evaluations are right. Once you have tested the waters, though, you will be ready to make a more permanent move to your own personal playground.
If you're interested in learning how to build wealth, keep it and live the life you've always dreamed of, then ByeByeBigBrother.com is the place to start. Learn perfectly legal tactics to protecting what you've got and become "Happy, Healthy, Sexy & Wealthy!" Visit ByeByeBigBrother.com to learn more today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Treble
http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Steps-to-Finding-Your-Offshore-Playground&id=2603833
When it comes time to leave your current home for an offshore destination, sometimes the hardest part of the process can be deciding where to go. Naturally, you can always keep moving, but it does save time if you can choose a good place from the start. To help you make that crucial decision, this article looks at the three steps you need to take to find your perfect offshore playground.
Step One: Do A Financial Services Evaluation
For this step, you need to take a few days and do some in-depth research on the countries you are considering as a part-time or full-time residence. You will want to acquaint yourself with the basic financial rules and regulations that will govern you during your stay. If your business is complex, you may want to consider talking with a tax professional about your options.
Do you need to be in a sheltered financial center, such as Isle of Man or Austria? Or do you need to stay in areas denominated in a certain currency or pegged to that currency? Evaluate each choice and rank them according to their suitability as a potential offshore playground for someone in your financial situation.
Step Two: Do A Governmental Evaluation
Naturally, you want your offshore playground to allow you the freedom to live life on your own terms. If you wanted a restrictive, oppressive environment, well, you can get that at home so why move? Thus, you need to do an evaluation of the role of government in the lives of the people in the countries you're considering.
As with the financial marks, you'll want to give each country you are considering a score based on the level of anticipated governmental interference. You can score points for restrictive entry/exit requirements, police presence, or bureaucracy. Evaluate honestly which governmental quirks are likely to have the biggest impact on your day-to-day life.
Step Three: Do A Lifestyle Evaluation
What kind of lifestyle are you looking for in your offshore playground? Do you want something wild and exotic, or something more pastoral and relaxing? Think about how you would like to be spending your time each day, and research the local habits carefully.
Rank your countries again, using whatever criteria you like as long as it is consistent. Include medical facilities and entertainment venues in your scorekeeping. Try to get a sense of any existing expat communities as well as this will help you meet people when you arrive in your playground.
Once all the scores have been tallied, make a top 3 list for your potential playgrounds. You can opt to take the plunge and just move to the first one on your list, but many people opt for vacations first to see if their paper evaluations are right. Once you have tested the waters, though, you will be ready to make a more permanent move to your own personal playground.
If you're interested in learning how to build wealth, keep it and live the life you've always dreamed of, then ByeByeBigBrother.com is the place to start. Learn perfectly legal tactics to protecting what you've got and become "Happy, Healthy, Sexy & Wealthy!" Visit ByeByeBigBrother.com to learn more today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Treble
http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Steps-to-Finding-Your-Offshore-Playground&id=2603833
Big Brother and International Savings Accounts
By Peter Treble
At some point, you just knew that Big Brother was going to start getting greedy and start trying to get his hands on international savings accounts. Governments all over the world are running short of ready money and are looking for new sources of income. What better way that to go after those nasty tax evaders and their wicked offshore accounts?
Raising taxes has been tried, but falling tax receipts have ruined that plan. In the US alone, 2009 year to date tax rolls are down 16% over last year. Similar sob stories are being told in the U.K., the E.U., and Russia.
Printing money has also been ruled out, since everyone is well aware of the nightmare in Zimbabwe. They printed money until it was literally worthless. Families now spend their days panning for gold to buy bread, as the bakers there have had enough of paper currencies.
Bakers aren't the only ones who are suspicious of paper currencies, which is part of why many prudent savers opened international savings accounts in the first place. It had nothing to do with dodging taxes or trying to hide their incomes, regardless of what the mad press corps reports. It was mostly about trying to diversify and get some protection from the vagaries of governments.
Historically, this has been a smart move. When the Swiss first got into banking, it was because the French government was broke and going after non-Catholics for extra cash. Wise Protestants invested quietly in offshore accounts, and 300 years later they still look rather clever.
Unfortunately, governments who find that money is flowing out of their borders - and hence out from under their control - are understandably furious. How dare their citizens resist them? These nasty international savings accounts holders are scum. SCUM!
But scum is the least of the rabidly howled names grey haired Senators and Premiers like to use to discuss people who've slipped out from under their thumbs. They've been ratcheting up the pressure on banking havens like Switzerland, Isle of Man, and Monaco to "cooperate" with international tax fraud investigations by revealing private account data for clients. Yet most of these investigations are on trumped up charges and amount to little more than attempted shakedowns.
At the moment, the banks are bending. They don't want to reveal the identities of their international savings accounts holders, but they also don't want to be pariahs in the world of international finance, either. Keep a close watch on the situation so that you can plan to stay one step ahead of Big Brother's grasping fingers.
If you're interested in learning how to build wealth, keep it and live the life you've always dreamed of, then ByeByeBigBrother.com is the place to start. Learn perfectly legal tactics to protecting what you've got and become "Happy, Healthy, Sexy & Wealthy!" Visit ByeByeBigBrother.com to learn more today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Treble
http://EzineArticles.com/?Big-Brother-and-International-Savings-Accounts&id=2603825
US Debt and Inflation - The Future of Our Economy
By James Orr
In a recent USA Today article by John Waggoner, he shares with us that the US government now owes a shocking $11.4 trillion dollars. That works out to be approximately $37,000 per individual in the United States and it doesn't stop there. The government is slated to add an additional 15.78% more in debt - $1.8 trillion dollars - in the next fiscal year. And that is not including interest on the debt we already have.
So, what does this mean for the US economy? Well, the options are not pleasant.
First, it will probably mean an increase in taxes, a decrease in what we spend in the future or most likely both. Plus, it will probably also lead to inflation.
First, we will need to increase the amount of money we have coming in to start to pay down the debt we owe. How does the US government get money to pay down this debt? Through taxes. Someone, somewhere, somehow will need to pay this money back and that will come from some type of tax increase.
Second, like many individuals who have been living beyond their means are learning in our new economy, we need to stop spending more than we are bringing in. The US government, apparently, has yet to learn this lesson. The government will need to cut back on what it is spending, which will mean either vast improvements in efficiently allocating money and/or a significant reduction in what they are providing.
We will probably see a combination of both: increases in taxes and less services for it. So, if you're the vocal complaining type, get ready to start griping about having to pay more for less because that's where we're headed.
Another way to reduce the burden of our country's overwhelming debt is to allow or even encourage inflation. If you owe $13 trillion dollars, it's much easier to pay back that debt if $13 trillion dollars isn't worth what it used to be. If people working at entry level positions are earning $500,000 per year because of inflation (which I hope is a gross exaggeration of my point), then paying back $13 trillion will be far easier to do. And that is part of the problem.
There are huge incentives for the government to not only let inflation occur but to actually encourage it as the amount it owes balloons out of control. While it is certainly horrible news for the savers of the world or those who are living on fixed income, for those who have taken on large amounts of debt or invested in inflation friendly investments, they can rest comfortably on the same side as the US government where inflation may be working, at least partially, in their favor.
James Orr is a professional real estate investor that works with buyers, sellers and private lenders. You can learn how to get a higher return on your money with trust deed investing on his blog or calling him directly at (970) 225-6989.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Orr
http://EzineArticles.com/?US-Debt-and-Inflation---The-Future-of-Our-Economy&id=2604470
In a recent USA Today article by John Waggoner, he shares with us that the US government now owes a shocking $11.4 trillion dollars. That works out to be approximately $37,000 per individual in the United States and it doesn't stop there. The government is slated to add an additional 15.78% more in debt - $1.8 trillion dollars - in the next fiscal year. And that is not including interest on the debt we already have.
So, what does this mean for the US economy? Well, the options are not pleasant.
First, it will probably mean an increase in taxes, a decrease in what we spend in the future or most likely both. Plus, it will probably also lead to inflation.
First, we will need to increase the amount of money we have coming in to start to pay down the debt we owe. How does the US government get money to pay down this debt? Through taxes. Someone, somewhere, somehow will need to pay this money back and that will come from some type of tax increase.
Second, like many individuals who have been living beyond their means are learning in our new economy, we need to stop spending more than we are bringing in. The US government, apparently, has yet to learn this lesson. The government will need to cut back on what it is spending, which will mean either vast improvements in efficiently allocating money and/or a significant reduction in what they are providing.
We will probably see a combination of both: increases in taxes and less services for it. So, if you're the vocal complaining type, get ready to start griping about having to pay more for less because that's where we're headed.
Another way to reduce the burden of our country's overwhelming debt is to allow or even encourage inflation. If you owe $13 trillion dollars, it's much easier to pay back that debt if $13 trillion dollars isn't worth what it used to be. If people working at entry level positions are earning $500,000 per year because of inflation (which I hope is a gross exaggeration of my point), then paying back $13 trillion will be far easier to do. And that is part of the problem.
There are huge incentives for the government to not only let inflation occur but to actually encourage it as the amount it owes balloons out of control. While it is certainly horrible news for the savers of the world or those who are living on fixed income, for those who have taken on large amounts of debt or invested in inflation friendly investments, they can rest comfortably on the same side as the US government where inflation may be working, at least partially, in their favor.
James Orr is a professional real estate investor that works with buyers, sellers and private lenders. You can learn how to get a higher return on your money with trust deed investing on his blog or calling him directly at (970) 225-6989.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Orr
http://EzineArticles.com/?US-Debt-and-Inflation---The-Future-of-Our-Economy&id=2604470
Purchasing Holiday Apartments? Italy Gives Great ROI
by Dominic Donaldson
Buying property abroad has been a preferred investment opportunity for many people living in the United Kingdom. As well as being a source of income through holiday lettings, these properties are often a second home to some. We give advice on why when investing in apartments, Italy offers a great return on investment.
Not only is Italy famed for is olive groves, fine foods and spectacular wine, it is also considered one of the finest places for architecture. From apartments to cathedrals, the architecture in Italy is built to be pleasing to the eye and to blend in with historical surroundings.
If purchasing apartments in Italy to let out for holidays, target well-known retreats such as Tuscany, Abruzzo and Umbria. These areas are renowned for arts, culture and speciality cuisine that has been developed over many centuries from local farm produce, something tourists can't wait to taste.
Tuscany has been mentioned in many travel stories, and often in nostalgic novels. The region is in northern Italy, and it's capital, Florence is a popular tourist destination. Apartments in Florence reflect the influence of the renaissance period with lavish and intricate architecture. With a rich history of fine art and culture, tourists flock to the city in their thousands to experience a wealth of cultural events.
Abruzzo lies on the eastern coast of Italy and its close proximity to Rome makes it an ideal place to purchase holiday apartments. Italy attracts visitors who want to soak up the Mediterranean sun as well as explore the historical sites.
Holiday apartments that offer access to the beach and are close to public transport systems are increasingly popular as tourists turn their back on package holidays in favour of bespoke breaks. Abruzzo has a plethora of hill towns that reflect a medieval past as well as connections to renaissance architecture, all of which are popular with visitors to Italy.
Umbria lies in the centre of Italy surrounded by rolling hills and home to some of the most beautiful religious buildings in the country. Hill towns are a haven for tourists who come to the region to seek sanctuary and explore Italian history. Although not the most popular place to purchase apartments for holiday lettings, many investors choose the region as a place for a second home, a calm retreat. Umbria is less crowded than its neighbour Tuscany, but still has easy access to popular tourist destinations.
Dom Donaldson is a property expert. Find out more about why when purchasing Apartments Italy is favoured location at http://www.realitalia.co.uk
Buying property abroad has been a preferred investment opportunity for many people living in the United Kingdom. As well as being a source of income through holiday lettings, these properties are often a second home to some. We give advice on why when investing in apartments, Italy offers a great return on investment.
Not only is Italy famed for is olive groves, fine foods and spectacular wine, it is also considered one of the finest places for architecture. From apartments to cathedrals, the architecture in Italy is built to be pleasing to the eye and to blend in with historical surroundings.
If purchasing apartments in Italy to let out for holidays, target well-known retreats such as Tuscany, Abruzzo and Umbria. These areas are renowned for arts, culture and speciality cuisine that has been developed over many centuries from local farm produce, something tourists can't wait to taste.
Tuscany has been mentioned in many travel stories, and often in nostalgic novels. The region is in northern Italy, and it's capital, Florence is a popular tourist destination. Apartments in Florence reflect the influence of the renaissance period with lavish and intricate architecture. With a rich history of fine art and culture, tourists flock to the city in their thousands to experience a wealth of cultural events.
Abruzzo lies on the eastern coast of Italy and its close proximity to Rome makes it an ideal place to purchase holiday apartments. Italy attracts visitors who want to soak up the Mediterranean sun as well as explore the historical sites.
Holiday apartments that offer access to the beach and are close to public transport systems are increasingly popular as tourists turn their back on package holidays in favour of bespoke breaks. Abruzzo has a plethora of hill towns that reflect a medieval past as well as connections to renaissance architecture, all of which are popular with visitors to Italy.
Umbria lies in the centre of Italy surrounded by rolling hills and home to some of the most beautiful religious buildings in the country. Hill towns are a haven for tourists who come to the region to seek sanctuary and explore Italian history. Although not the most popular place to purchase apartments for holiday lettings, many investors choose the region as a place for a second home, a calm retreat. Umbria is less crowded than its neighbour Tuscany, but still has easy access to popular tourist destinations.
Dom Donaldson is a property expert. Find out more about why when purchasing Apartments Italy is favoured location at http://www.realitalia.co.uk
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Buy a Holiday Home in Antigua
Image by ••iFLUK•• via Flickr
Ah, the Caribbean! Sun, sand and sea of the most beautiful kind are the most appealing things there is to the Caribbean group of islands, most especially in the island of Antigua. Of course, the colorful culture and the proud people complement its natural beauty so much so that Antigua is one of the worlds perfect holiday spots, if not the most ideal of them all.
Take a Holiday!
There are 365 days in a year. Now, it is your choice if you want to work your butt off for 365 days in a year and wait for a leap year to come in order to take one day off. It is also your choice to visit the 365 beaches in Antigua anytime of the year you want to!
But of course, wallowing in the beauty of sun, sand and sea in Antigua is not all there is to your holiday, far from it. You have to engage in water activities that take advantage of the sunniest weather in the Caribbean, which include boating, diving, snorkeling, fishing kayaking, swimming, windsurfing and sunbathing. Or you can just ogle the scenery and the species of the opposite sex at the nudist beaches!
If you are not much of a water baby, land activities are yours for the taking. You can go on excursions, engage in sports activities, slide the zip line, dine and drink to your hearts content and dance the night away. Of course, you can also become a hermit in your holiday home if crowds are not your thing either.
Remember it is your holiday and nobody can tell you what to do on your holiday! Well, maybe your family members can but Antigua is a free country so, by all means, you can assert your right to party.
Buy a Home Already!
Once you have been deeply enamored of Antigua, it makes perfect sense to buy a holiday home in the island. After all, it will be your home away from home and you might as well make it the most perfect second home you can have!
Besides, it is still wiser to buy a holiday home than rent it, finance and fun-wise. Think of it as an investment in real estate that will pay off in two basic ways avoidance of high rental costs and recoupment of investment either through rentals to other holidaymakers or sale in the future.
Plus, you do not have to worry about obnoxious guests invading your personal space! Yes, even holidays that are supposed to provide for rest and recreation can turn out into mini-nightmares, no thanks to the hotel guest from hell.
Now, if you have a holiday home of your own, you can choose the guests to invite. And did we mention that you might even run into the likes of Timothy Dalton, Eric Clapton, Giorgio Armani and Oprah Winfrey, all of whom maintain holiday homes in Antigua?
Truly, buying a home in Antigua has its merits. And it is not just sun, sand and sea that matters either because colorful celebrities, charming company and calm climate awaits you and your family!
Simon Skinner is part of the company, Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
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10 Reasons to Own a Home in Antigua
Image via Wikipedia
365 Beaches
Where other tourist destinations only boast of a few beaches to enjoy sun, sand and sea, Antigua has 365 beaches to offer residents and visitors alike! That is like saying that you can explore one beach for each day of the year in the first twelve months of your stay.
Sunniest Climate
You will want 365 days of sunny weather to go with those 365 beaches! Fortunately, Antigua is the sunniest and the driest Caribbean island. And do not worry about hurricanes either because in the last 50 years, there have only been 6 direct hits to the island.
Sports Galore
Expectedly, all those beaches and all those years of European colonization will influence sports activities in Antigua. Thus, you can enjoy water activities like swimming, snorkeling, fishing and windsurfing as well as land activities like excursions. And remember that this is a former British colony and as such, it is cricket-crazy! Not crazy for cricket? Well, go for soccer and golf then.
Fresh Seafood
This is the Caribbean, after all! Fresh seafood is the norm, not the exception in Antigua although you need not worry about eating anything raw as sushi is not as popular here. Sample the catch of the day shrimp, red snapper, mahi mahi, spiny lobster, shark, conch, and octopus. You will get all the omega-3 you need!
Crime-Free, Almost
Antigua is one of those islands where people can be friendly with people and not be afraid for ones safety. Of course, you must still take commonsense precautions but then again, who does not in any neighborhood?
Good Educational and Medical Facilities
Small as it may be, Antigua boasts of two medical facilities that offer adequate healthcare alongside the many pharmacies present in the island while medical schools offer excellent education. At least, you do not have to worry about getting sick and not having a doctor around when in Antigua.
Celebrity Neighbors
Get your cameras and pens ready! You never know who you meet while walking the streets of Antigua. Giorgio Armani, Timothy Dalton, Robin Leach, Eric Clapton and Oprah Winfrey have homes in the island. You will get the opportunity to boast that, yes, you have the means to become neighbors with the rich and famous.
Easy Purchase
With the many price ranges and types of houses for sale in Antigua, you ought to find {The House}. Don't worry about bureaucratic red tape slowing the purchase process because it can be conducted in a relatively straightforward manner especially with the governments desire to encourage more real estate investments.
Finance Savvy
Why rent when you can own? So, goes the mantra of real estate agents that you should listen to. Besides, if you do rent a villa in an industry that sets high prices due to high demand, you will soon discover that it just does not seem financially wise. As to property taxes, these are very low compared to other Caribbean islands so no worries on that aspect.
Westernized Culture
It is like a home away from home because the culture reflects Western customs although there are local flavors to spice things up.
With all these ten reasons, do look into homes in Antigua now!
Simon Skinner is part of the company, Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years and has a comprehensive Antigua real estate listings.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
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The Ten Best Things about Antigua
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Every tropical island enthralls. With Antigua, however, there are just so many charming things that saying goodbye is not an easy thing to do especially when you have sampled these ten best things about the island.
Carnival!
When Antiguans say carnival, they mean it! An eleven-day celebration of music and dance, the Antiguan Carnival is an explosion of sights, sounds and smells that definitely speaks of its African traditions with European touches. And it is an opportunity to shake your booty, too!
Beaches
Antigua is purported to have 365 beaches all around the island. Now, if you can explore one beach in a day, you will be staying in Antigua for a whole year. But who is complaining? Definitely not you in your two-piece bikini soaking up the sun, sand and sea for the perfect tan!
Water Sports
Not surprising, this one. Antigua's pristine Caribbean waters provide for the best venues to engage in water sports from jet skiing and windsurfing to snorkeling and diving. Go for the eastern seaboard for the best diving sites especially the deeper portions that can be reached by a boat.
Fig Tree Drive
Fig trees in the Caribbean, you say? Well, not really because the Fig Tree Drive is a 20-mile countryside rough road lined by mangoes, coconuts and bananas as well as the occasional quaint thatched-roof fishing villages. Fig, by the way, is the local name for bananas. Don't ask why.
Devils Bridge
No, not the bridges in Europe alleged to be built by the Devil himself, although this is also alleged to have the Devil's hand. The Devil's Bridge in Antigua is a rock arch shaped by natural forces that features many blowholes. According to folklore, many slaves threw themselves overboard in acts of mass suicides.
Casinos
Well, this might not be your cup of tea during holidays. Still, for a little gambling fun, Antigua offers many gaming establishments where you can blow money or win money depending on Lady Luck.
Hospitable People
The Antiguans are one of the friendliest people on Earth especially when you are a visitor to their island. They are so proud of their heritage that you can almost always get a free lesson in local dance and music from the locals! Lost? No worries as locals will point you in the right direction.
Sunniest Weather, Ever
Well, with the exception of the Sahara and Gobi Deserts, of course. Antigua enjoys the sunniest and driest weather in the Caribbean that visitors are assured of 365 days of sun, sand and sea! Alright, qualify that with an exception during hurricanes that, fortunately, has only directly hit Antigua just 6 times in the last 50 years.
History
Antigua has a rich history stretching from the Ciboney Indians, its discovery by Christopher Columbus, European colonization and slavery, to its administrative independence from Britain. Historical monuments abound in the island, the most notable of which is Nelsons Dockyard. And of course, the general atmosphere of the island combines its rich African heritage with its European colonial past.
Low Cost of Living
Generally speaking, living in Antigua even for just a short holiday is like being transported to a time when living and loving in luxury was an affordable undertaking. It is the best place to be for your honeymoon without draining the honey from the hive!
Antigua, you ask? More like Paradise in the Caribbean!
Simon Skinner is part of the company, Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
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Cheap Places to Retire Overseas
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Cheap Places to Retire Overseas by Stephen Di
In the quest to find a cheap place to retire overseas one might come across various reports stating that so and so country is one of the best places to retire. It might be the best place to retire for that particular writer, but will it be good for you?
The vast majority of us would like to live a simple, healthy, happy, and comfortable life especially after retirement. Let's look at some basic criteria to consider when looking for cheap places to retire overseas. We are not recommending regions, but based on the tips stated in here, you will be able to come up with intelligent decisions.
Many people retire due to the age factor, while some of them even take an early retirement voluntarily ... wouldn't that be nice!! With the progress of time, one's age becomes a major consideration and determining factor for where you can move and retire to.
The climate of the retirement destination city plays an important role while deciding the cheap places to retire overseas. It will be disheartening to go to some unknown country and spend the rest of the days on medicines. It's good to choose a region that has a good climate with sunny days and moderate rainfall all throughout the year.
One of the primary reasons why people look for cheap places to retire overseas is to reduce their current cost of living. $500 might be insufficient to exist in the United States, but it is more than ample to live lavishly in Panama. Please note that the previous comparison was just an example.
There are many places available in this segment where you will be able to live comfortably without breaking the bank. Entering and exiting the country must be fast. In other words, the rules of entry must be lenient and retiree friendly. Retirement is a peaceful part of one's life. One does not like to spend his retirement days walking through the embassy halls every day and fighting with government officials trying to get their papers and visas in order.
The next in the list are the facilities that have been made available in the medical industry in the country where you are planning to spend the rest of your days. There is no use staying in a country where you will be charged $5000 for doing a complete checkup. Always keep this in mind while choosing the cheap places to retire overseas. At first, it might seem impossible to find a place with low cost but efficient medical facilities, but once you dig a little deeper, plenty of options will materialize in front of you.
The place chosen must be safe and must have a relatively low crime rate. Do not opt for a place, where there is a high chance of you being mugged every time you step into the dark shadows of the alley. Who wants that? It is true that criminals can be found in every part of the globe so be realistic in what you look for. However, it is also true that criminals are lower in number in some parts than others.
While looking for a suitable retirement abode it is always encouraged to look out for a place where there are expatriates from your native country. Chances are high that you might meet some of them, spend some quality time with them, develop long lasting friendships and learn firsthand what life is like as an expat living abroad. Your retirement is an adventure waiting to happen, first studying up on some of these basic factors will prevent it from becoming a "mis" adventure!
Visit us at Invest-Retire-Abroad.com for more Canadian retirement advice. We have many resources, information, articles, and contacts to help put you in touch with the right people and get the right information for your international retirement. For further reading check out this article: Best Places To Retire.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Di
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How Much Do You Need to Retire Abroad?
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How Much Do You Need to Retire Abroad? by Stephen Di
Retiring abroad is one of the most exiting ways to spend your retirement life. While enjoying an international retirement you get to start a new life in a new locale and rediscover the world from a fresh perspective.
Many people find it a bit difficult to accept their retirements though. This is true, especially in case of those who had been rather attached with their profession or career. Such people often plan to leave the country for a greater impact that would easily help them in coping with the fact that they no longer have a working life.
Just like any other retirement plan, retiring abroad primarily depends on the size of your budget, that is, your savings and investments during retirement. Before making any kind of move you should have a rough idea about how much you need to retire abroad comfortably.
Your company pensions and social security benefits might not be enough for planning a cross-border settlement. You should have a strong financial base in order to implement such a life-size retirement plan. The size of your savings is an important determinant when it comes to settling in any foreign country.
However, a more clear answer to the question of how much you need to retire abroad can be provided only when you decide your location. There are no standard rates to decide just how much you need to retire abroad. Nevertheless, you can take it for granted that it is surely going to cost you more than what you are living on right now, in your own country.
Primarily, the standard of living in the country to which you are moving defines your basic budget requisites. The only way to cut down your cost is to choose a place where cost of living is lower, but such countries might not be able to provide you with high quality standard of living to which you are accustomed till now. If you are someone who loves the countryside atmosphere then you can opt for living in less urbanized places. This will be quieter and cheaper. There are several European countries which attract lot of retirees who come there and settle down for the rest of their life.
While calculating the budget for migrating to your new destination you should take into consideration the investment and saving rules applicable in that country. It is important to educate yourself regarding the laws and practices of your new country because most probably you will be living in there for the rest of your life. There might be variations in these rules for non-resident Americans. You should also consider the maximum senior citizen benefits applicable to you. All the countries might not provide efficient medical care for senior citizens as in US. Such factors might considerably increase your cost of living in a foreign country.
Real estate prices are another inevitable factor which you must consider in detail while planning your retirement budget. The distance from your own country to this new place is also an important factor which determines your total cost. No matter how far you go, your roots will beckon you back to your motherland sooner or later. If you intend to visit your friends and relatives often in a year then your decision to live abroad can be an expensive one. Once you figure out how much you need to retire you can begin planning for how you can achieve that goal and make the Autumn of your life even more exciting than the Spring!
At Invest-Retire-Abroad.com we help put you in touch with the right people and the best resources to help your in your quest for international retirement. If you are one of the millions of Canadians Retiring Abroad then we have everything you need from early retirement planning tips to the best places to retire in Panama. See you there!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Di
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Buying Land in Antigua
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If you are seriously considering the purchase of land in Antigua, welcome to the club! It has no name yet but you can be sure it is a club that desires the laid back atmosphere of island life surrounded by endless vistas of sun, sand and sea and hobnobbing with friendly people. Well, always friendly, almost-naked people on the beaches and the Carnival!
Do Step into Paradise
For non-citizens of Antigua, the purchase of land in Antigua is one of the easiest and wisest moves you can take in diversifying your investment portfolio, capturing the magic of holidays and becoming part of island life. There are steps to take into paradise, expectedly.
Do secure an Alien Landholding License, which costs 5 percent of the total value of the land considered under purchase. Since each license is specific to the property, be sure that the contract is ironclad. You do not want to be evicted even before the ink has dried, right?
Do peruse and understand the fine print of the contract. You will be setting yourself up for investment heartbreak if you do not. Besides, this is standard procedure in any real estate transaction so it is just common sense, too. Or better yet, do the next step.
Do hire a local lawyer and/or a property management services company to handle the documents and details of the transaction. You do not want to deal with the bureaucracy when you can be on your holiday! Besides, it will take a load off your shoulders although you do have to take off a load off your pockets in the process. But, hey, it is worth it!
Do inspect the property being considered for purchase. You do not want to end up with a shack teetering on the edge of a cliff and paying hundreds of thousands of good American dollars for it, do you? Pray that it is not somewhere near Devils Bridge either.
What all this advice is saying is that buying land in Antigua is easy, excellent and expensive. Seriously, we kid you on the last one.
Do Enjoy the Benefits
Antigua is a tax and investment haven in the Caribbean, which is one of the benefits of buying land in the island paradise. Although you may pay up to 25 percent of the total land value for government fees, agent commissions and other roundtrip transaction costs, the benefits far outweigh these expenses.
For one thing, you are allowed full ownership of the land. You do not have to marry an Antiguan citizen to do so, which is not a bad idea in itself since Antiguan women are some of the most beautiful on Earth. And we are not talking bodies only either!
For another thing, the medical and educational facilities, finance and business support services, and the transportation and communication logistics available in Antigua cannot be beat. If you do decide to make your Antiguan home your second base, you definitely will still stay in touch with the world while being removed from its cares.
So, the next time you are thinking of getting a piece of God's Earth for your vacations, think no further than Antigua. It is God's paradise on Earth!
Simon Skinner is part of the company, Paradise Properties Connection Ltd., a professional, full service personalized real estate company, properties and villas for sale, land for sale and luxury villa rentals are available.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
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Investing In Antigua Island Property
Image of a beach in Antigua via Wikipedia
There are people who dream of living in an island paradise and then there are people who buy an entire island to become their playground. Think Mel Gibson. Well, since you are neither one of the two, you can invest in real property in the island paradise of Antigua in the Caribbean!
What You Will Get
Since they are not making land the way God used to, it is about time you get a piece of God's earth to call your own. On any piece of land in Antigua, you get magnificent views of the country stretching from one end to another.
And we are not just talking about nature in its most beautiful incarnation either because all images of Antigua are beautiful! You will see proof of this statement during the Antigua Carnival where men and women in various states of undress shake their booty to hypnotic African music.
What You Will Pay For
Just like any real property market in the world, the costs of investing in property in Antigua depend on many factors of which the most important is location, location, location. Of course, you also need to take into consideration things like architecture style and spaciousness.
Expectedly, you have to pay for government-imposed fees related to real investment property. As a buyer, you pay for the Alien Landholding License (5 percent of the property value), legal fees (1 to 2 percent) and stamp duty (2.5 percent).
All in all, you may pay up to a quarter of the property value in roundtrip transaction costs when investing in Antiguan property. Put that into perspective if you are thinking that it might be too much. You are investing in paradise, after all, and paradise is priceless!
What You Will Do
Investing in island property is relatively easy especially as the Antiguan government is keen on foreign investments pouring into their coffers. Antigua is also a tax haven so you need not worry too much about your property becoming another white elephant on your tax forms.
However, being an alien from another planet, er, country, you need to secure an Alien Land Holding License before you can proceed with the purchase. It will take at least 3 months to process so in the meantime, take your holiday in one of the Island's many rental villas.
You may ask why Antigua is being promoted as a real property paradise investment haven, not its sister island of Barbuda. One reason: The government prohibits the sale of even a single rock in Barbuda!
Also, keep in mind that government being as it is anywhere in the world, the laws on buying real estate can be confounding to the average investor. You are better off hiring a property management service company that will handle the details and documents of the purchase.
When you have the deeds to your house and lot, it is time to start thinking about the next step. No, it is not refurbishing and redecorating. It is taking a holiday in paradise and being king (or queen) in your own island kingdom!
Paradise Properties Connection Ltd. is a professional, full service personalized real estate company and has been in existence for 5 years.
http://www.paradisepropertiesconnection.com
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A Thing Called Freedom
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A Thing Called Freedom by HohKoon AuYeong
Way back when I was in my early teens, I was taught that freedom can only exist within a framework of rules. Without rules, freedom would run amok and result in more harm than good. Clearly defined rules and good enforcement help build trust in a system and ensure that it is functioning properly for the benefit of all.
As an analogy, anyone with a valid driver's license may drive a car provided that he or she is prepared to respect all traffic signs and rules posted. If the rules are not obeyed, there would be total chaos on the streets and innocent pedestrians and other drivers would be at risk of harm and injury. Traffic rules are built on logic (reaction times, road conditions, etc) - they are not there to impede progress but to keep order so that everyone can get to their destination safely in due time.
The notion of absolute freedom cannot exist in any society because the good of the larger community must prevail. The driver's right is not prejudiced by the traffic rules - he/she is free to drive so long as the rules that applies to everyone is followed.
Why am I writing about freedom and rules? Quite simply, in the light of the financial debacles we have recently witnessed, it is clear that the degree of freedom that was accorded to the financial industry led to abuses and ultimately a crash that hurt many innocents and retirement egg-nests' values were destroyed or, in the worst of cases, completely wiped out. In the light of what has happened, it is clear that we need a fresh look at how to prevent similar crashes in the future and we need to write smarter rules.
For far too long, we have relied too heavily on the word of the law and not the spirit of what was intended by those laws. This trend stems from the fact that it is easier to apply a prescribed set of do's and do not's than to leave it to the interpretation of the authorities. The problem with that thinking is that as new processes and technology is adopted, hard coded rules must be revised to keep up and we end up with volumes and tomes of legal prescriptions that no lay man can hope to fully grasp or understand anymore. At the same time, the 'pros' exploit the gaps in the rule books to profit from the unwary and uninformed.
The recent meltdown of what were once giants in financial institutions and insurers, the investment fraud perpetrated by Madoff point clearly to the need for a more comprehensive and intelligent way of ensuring compliance and reliability of the system.
Post Enron, Tyco, and WorldCom, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposed more stringent rules and yet failed to prevent the current crop of failures and disasters. Clearly, this points to a lack of enforcement and, even more alarming, the lack of understanding or knowledge necessary for a proper examination of the underlying risks in the newly minted derivative financial instruments, even in the reputable credit rating agencies. If they claim to have the necessary competence, then it raises questions on their independence and ability to voice their concerns, given the fact that they are paid by the very organizations and transactions that they are rating.
The question before us then is: Do we need more intelligent rules to govern financial reporting, trading in securities and derivative instruments OR, more importantly, do we need better enforcement of those rules?
Prior administrations have increasingly weakened the enforcement arm of the SEC by defunding and deregulating the financial industry on the basis that regulations impede business and profits as well as the ability of the US exchanges to compete internationally. That is hogwash and serves only to promote the false notion that the market will regulate itself. The problem with that self-regulation notion is that it fails to take into account the human factor we know as 'greed'.
The consequence of the latest round of financial fiasco was a near total collapse in faith and trust in the system worldwide by all players, including the banks themselves - demonstrated by the sudden credit freeze when banks feared to lend to other banks. Had it not been for the massive intervention by the government here in the US and in the UK and elsewhere, things could have been worse. The problems seen in Iceland and Ireland could have been spread across the globe faster than the latest strain of the flu virus and caused more devastation in its wake.
I'm not advocating that businesses or profits are bad - far from it. Businesses exist for a profit motive and I strongly believe in industry and reward. However, businesses should not dictate its own rules and business lobbyists should not have such a strong hold on the government that it can. Capitalism should not mean freedom for the strong to prey on the weak nor for the present generation to pass the mess on to future generations. We have a responsibility as good citizens to ensure that the soul and strength of the nation is not destroyed by the greed of the few.
About the Author:
I grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and relocated with my work, first to Hong Kong where I lived for nine years and then to the US where I have been living since 1993. I've travelled to many places around the world (I've used up six passports and is on my seventh) and despite the fact that the opportunities I've had in the past few years have been limited, I am still in love with the adventure of travel, of discovery, and, above all, encounters with different people in different places.
Some of those encounters were brief but some have resulted in friendships that will last a lifetime. I've had the fortune of working for multinational corporations, internet/technology startups, investment banks and, best of all, for myself - for my continuing development and personal growth. I've yet to find that 'calling' but with each step I take, I hope I am getting closer.
To read more of my blogs, please visit: http://wordswitandwisdom.blogspot.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=HohKoon_AuYeong
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Expatriation - Top Ten Destinations For the Wealthy to Reside
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Expatriation - Top Ten Destinations For the Wealthy to Reside by Russell Longcore
Expatriation is a hot topic here in America. People with assets watch aghast as their assets lose value while the Federal Government steamrolls American banks, investment companies and insurers.
And it's not just "the wealthy" that are scared of the future. Middle class people who were planning to retire soon have realized dramatic losses in their pensions and 401K funds. Retirees are experiencing the same things. And what will happen to the retirees of America' auto companies, now bankrupt and under Federal control?
May thousands of Americans are seriously considering moving to another nation. They seek financial and political stability, less repressive government and a lower cost of living.
CNBC recently did a study to find out where the safest havens for wealth are on earth. They studied and compared things like education for children, economic and political stability, legal considerations, employment and business opportunities, tax and immigration, conveniences, and cultural sophistication.
Switzerland came up Number One in all categories.
The list of the Top Ten, in inverse listing, is:
10. Dubai
9. Monaco
8. Isle of Man
7. Cayman Islands
6. Isle of Jersey
5. Hong Kong
4. New York City, NY
3. Singapore
2. London, UK
1. Switzerland
Switzerland is a democratic confederacy that was founded in 1291. Seven hundred years later, it is still the best government on earth. It has not been invaded by enemies since before 1291. It minds its own business and protects the business of those who do business in Switzerland.
Its legendary banking laws offer the best security and secrecy in the world today. Most of the bank secrecy and tax haven nations of the world have copied Switzerland's methods. Other nations despise Swiss banking laws, and constantly attack them.
Politicians and governments looking to plunder the wealth of its citizens view Swiss traditions of private banking, fierce independence and anonymity as obstacles to their plunder. And, the age-old tradition of armed neutrality stands as the exception and example to the imperialism and aggression of other nations. Simply stated, it puts other nations to shame.
But many investors and owners of wealth prefer Switzerland and the Swiss franc. And, despite what you may read in the news and hear on TV, Swiss banking security is still one of the best on earth.
What's good for the wealthy is also good for the smaller investor. Don't wait until the collapse of the American Federal Government. Don't wait for massive hyperinflation of the Dollar to steal the rest of your wealth. Prepare yourself NOW for the coming storms.
Seriously consider moving your money to more secure investment climates.
See the slide show for the Top Ten Safe Havens at: Top Ten Safe Havens.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russell_Longcore
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Italy Property Purchases Defy Real Estate Trends
Image of Porlezza, Lake Lugano by Laurent SJ via Flickr
Real Estate has always been seen as a good investment, no matter what country you plan to buy in. Given the recent economic crisis, in Italy property prices are cheaper than ever. We take a look at why purchasing property in this Mediterranean country is becoming increasingly popular, and what you could do to make a good return on investment through purchasing an Italian property.
One of the reasons that many people choose to move to Italy is also one of the reasons why the Italian property market is as it is. The stunning views, ancient olive groves, established vineyards and diverse flora and fauna combine to make building new properties in Italy incredibly difficult. The Italians know what makes the country beautiful and they are not willing to spoil it for the sake of making money on new properties.
Instead of new developments, people interested in investing in the Italy property market are encouraged to buy and renovate existing buildings. This helps save resources, re-use materials and keep the aesthetics of every region authentic. In times of financial crisis, renovating properties becomes more popular as people want to spend less over a longer amount of time, and this is ideal for the Italian property market.
Another reason why buying property in Italy is attractive to investors is that the sale and purchase of properties is usually conducted outright, or in installments, without applying for a mortgage. A payment strategy is negotiated between both parties, and once the final payment has been made, the new owner is given all the legal ownership documents and can move in.
Deciding to live in a property during renovation will cut costs and deliver a greater monetary return when deciding to sell. It is hard work living in a building that is undergoing a major upheaval, but it cuts costs considerably. In Italy, property development of this type is possible to carry out whilst living in temporary accommodation on the land.
The Mediterranean climate that is experienced over the majority of the country means that summers are warm and the winters are mild. Coastal and higher regions however are prone to colder and wetter winters than some of the inner lowland areas. When making plans to renovate, investigate the local climate pattern and plan work to be carried out accordingly.
Ultimately, identifying cost cutting measures to implement during renovation, such as living on the property, will mean that not only will you have the potential to make a greater profit, but you will also have had the opportunity to truly experience this wonderful country.
Dom Donaldson is a property expert.
Find out more about Italy Property purchases at http://www.realitalia.co.uk
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Sunday, July 5, 2009
Andorra As an Option For Private Bank Accounts
Image of Andorra la Vella via Wikipedia
Andorra As an Option For Private Bank Accounts by Peter Macfarlane
For those who are not aware, Andorra is a small tax haven principality located in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. Since Andorra has no income or corporation taxes, it has developed something of a financial services business going back about half a century. The private banking divisions of Andorran banks tend to work very much along the lines of Swiss, Austrian and Liechtenstein banks.
Because Andorran banks offered similar advantages to these countries but Andorra was less known (and therefore less subject to pressure) Andorran banks have flourished. It's important to note that foreign banks have traditionally been strongly discouraged from opening in Andorra by the Andorran government. Andorran banks have only local capital, have very strong balance sheets, and are very conservative. They are not exposed to risky business practices.
In particular, Andorra was little known in the USA, and had few American clients, so long after Switzerland and Austria started refusing business from US citizens, Andorran banks were happy to deal with Americans, tending instead to reject the business of French and Spanish citizens.
Andorra is still an excellent place for private banking. For a small country, you would be surprised at the level of expertise available. We have worked with several Andorran banks over the years and have been impressed with all of them.
As of 2009, however, the scurrilous attack on tax havens led by Obama, Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have had something of a negative effect on Andorra. Sarkozy, a shameless publicity seeker, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Andorra, probably because of his political connections there - in his role as President of the French Republic, he also happens to be co-prince of Andorra.
As of the time of writing, Sarkozy has started an internal furor between political parties in Andorra, some of whom are more in favour of capitulating to OECD demands, whereas others are fiercely independent and protective of Andorra's tax-free status. On this, the jury is still out and we will have to see what happens. Those with established non-resident accounts in Andorra have not been affected and probably won't be - but it pays to be alert.
In the interests of diversification, Andorran banks are however expanding and diversifying in the direction of the Americas. Between them they have opened subsidiaries and offices in Uruguay, Panama and the Bahamas. The main aim of these offices is to enter the Latin American market, considering that Andorra is predominantly Spanish speaking and the cultural similarities make this the most attractive market. Also not forgetting that doing business in Latin America remains relatively problem-free for banks, while seeking clients in the European Union or USA could expose banks to a lot more regulatory hassles and demands for information etc.
The advantage for clients is that this network of European and American offices are available to assist in account opening for European and American account holders.
All Andorran banks have a policy of requiring personal meetings prior to opening accounts. These meetings may take place either in Andorra or in the remote offices, no matter where you wish to open the account. This means for example that you can visit Andorra to open an account in Uruguay, or vice versa.
The option of visiting Andorra is of course convenient for Europeans - they can open an account far away from the European Union, without having to travel all the way to Uruguay. Likewise, the option of visiting for example Panama is convenient for North Americans, even though they might finally decide to open an account based at the head office in Andorra.
A third option is to arrange for the meeting to be held elsewhere, with a bank officer or representative. These people travel frequently and may be able to visit a city near you. Our local "Mr Fixer" who handles Andorran banks can advise and co-ordinate this.
The personal meeting requirement may appear at first glance to be an inconvenience, but is actually useful in getting a feel for the bank's services. "You don't know until you go."
Beyond that, account opening is quite straightforward. At the meeting you should present your passport, a bank reference, and documents proving the source of funds.
Of course, in the case of corporate accounts you also need to show the company documents. At any rate, you should inquire about exactly what is required before the meeting, so you can be well prepared.
The only other important thing to note is that these are private banks and their main business is investment. Andorran banks do not want business of the the active type, with lots of wires or cheques in and out. If you are looking for this kind of account, our second option (see below) is a better alternative.
All Andorran banks automatically work on a multi-currency account system, so you can keep various currencies within the same account. As this is a full service private banking relationship, you can also negotiate other services like secured loans - for example you can borrow against your portfolio to make other investments, thereby increasing gearing. They will also issue guarantees to foreign banks for the purposes of real estate loans. All banking services are possible and you will be dealing direct with intelligent, qualified bankers who speak lots of languages including English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Scandinavian languages, Russian etc.
What is the next step? If you wish to open an account in an Andorran bank, it's almost essential to be introduced by somebody who is already known to the bank. This policy not only gives the banks a much higher level of comfort, but it works - this is the precise reason why you haven't heard about Andorran banks being involved in scandals like ponzi schemes etc. Real traditional private banking, of this type, is all about relationships.
Introducers cannot risk their reputations with banks by sending the 'wrong' kind of business, whether it be criminals with dirty money or simply people who will waste the bank's time by asking lots of questions then never moving forward. These banks are in the business of looking after money for wealthy people. They don't want to hear from people who are waiting to be paid out a huge amount from some dodgy ponzi scheme or a non-existent Nigerian oil executive who contacted them out of the blue by e-mail. The first step in advance of anything else is to demonstrate that you are serious about doing clean, confidential business.
If you follow this procedure strictly, you will find you end up with a very private account in a first class Western European bank. If you don't, you won't!
This is the information they need:
• Clear scanned copy of your passport
• A contact postal address and telephone number, that will be given to the bank
• Information on whether this will be a corporate or personal account, and the names the account will be opened in
• Expected opening deposit, and expected balance after the first year
Once you have sent this requested information you will hear back usually within a day or two. If your account is pre-approved you can expect a telephone call from a banker and a meeting will be set up.
You can visit The Q Wealth Report to learn more about wealth management advice. Englishman Peter Macfarlane is an author and lecturer on offshore finance, investment, due diligence and wealth creation matters. After fifteen years advising high net worth clients on offshore asset protection structures such as companies, trusts and private interest foundations, he decided on a career change and now mentors individuals who are interested in creating, preserving and growing wealth in a secure offshore environment.
Peter defines wealth in the broadest sense, believing that money is worthless if you don't have health and happiness. He is now joint editor of The Q Wealth Report, a publication dedicated to publishing freedom, wealth and privacy information for a select audience. His personal blog is on Offshore Banking. He offers a free online investing course to readers of EzineArticles.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Macfarlane
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Saturday, July 4, 2009
Wealth Management Resources Must Include Offshore Incorporation
Image of Abu Dhabi via Wikipedia
Wealth Management Resources Must Include Offshore Incor- poration by Ramapati G Singhania
Of course the steps are numerous and will depend on your individual circumstances. However, one of the key benefits of a well-laid out financial plan that is implemented and monitored is that it will generally allow you to reach financial independence sooner than if you had not formulated a plan of action.
Financial independence can mean different things for different people but for many it means the ability to cease regular employment. Wealth management resources, astutely deployed, can help you to have enough assets and retirement income to maintain a certain lifestyle for the rest of your life and provide for your beneficiaries after death.
Everyone has different goals and objectives, and everyone has different financial conditions and circumstances. It is conceivable that your current financial decisions are not compatible with your true goals and objectives. And that you have not deployed the wealth management resources available to you because of current timing.
Financial decisions are strongly influenced by emotions. According to medical studies, we all make decisions in the emotional part of our brains, and tap into the rational side of our brains to justify them. Unfortunately, emotions can overwhelm our capacity to reason rationally and objectively.
This severely limits our ability to make logical investment decisions. This is not to say that emotional decisions are a bad thing! Only, sometimes we are unable to see our alternatives clearly, in the heat of the moment.
But what kind of wealth management resources would have helped in the current financial meltdown? One analogy that is making rounds recently, is that when a fire is raging your first priority has to be to put it out! There will undoubtedly is water damage subsequently but hopefully you will have time to rectify that.
It is doubtful that any one will come out unscathed, and this meltdown is a rare occurrence! Until the fire (in this case the under capitalization of the banks) is put out, the banks will not feel able to make capital available to businesses and the economy is unable to get going.
There is a raging debate on what the various governments should do to get their countries out of the crisis, and the answer is best left to them or other pundits.
The question we need to look at is how we are going to deploy our wealth management resources in this era of high taxes, to deal with our finances in this environment. Incorporation offshore is an absolutely doable action that you can take.
In the meantime the headlong drive to reduce interest rates is having little effect simply because, although money is cheap, the banks are reluctant to lend. And as financial results are released by companies, banks will find that their balance sheets do not warrant additional credit risks!
Most of us buy and keep personal assets - not trade them regularly. Whether it is real estate or stock & shares in our own companies, or jewelry. Many times are assets are illiquid and are rarely bought and sold and therefore rarely valued. And we are only looking for a way to own them without having everyone eye them!
The real value of these assets in many cases is far greater than their monetary value. So you do not really know the value of what you have until you sell it. And this in most cases is only when you pass it on to your heirs.
The wealth management resource that is most helpful in such a case is of course an offshore incorporation with perhaps a trust registered in a tax haven such as Mauritius.
Possibly, you are invested in hedge or mutual funds. Of course, the more sophisticated the fund manager appears to be, and the more complex the model. And it is harder for the client to tell what type of returns the strategy will produce. As a consequence of market turbulence over the last 5 years, the private client has realized that a traditional core domestic equity/bond portfolio is incapable of delivering consistent returns in all market circumstances.
Wealth management resources will of course ensure that the client is not invested in these funds only. Wealth management resources professionals are keen to deliver a suitable response to the client and to demonstrate how performance volatility can be managed through a wider set of market conditions.
Many wealth managers' current investment proposition and existing investment expertise, has been focused specifically on their domestic markets, and so they are unlikely to use offshore incorporation as the inexpensive tool that it is.
There are a variety of options readily available to support the investment open architecture models through use of fund vehicles. Wealth management is an advanced type of financial planning that benefits not only high net worth individuals and families, but also middle income ones.
Private banking, estate planning, asset management, legal resources, and investment management are resources offered, with the goal of sustaining and growing long-term wealth.
Due to their higher value accounts, banks create separate branches, services and other 'benefits' to retain or attract these high net worth customers who are typically more profitable than other retail banking customers. But families recognize that when the concentration of knowledge and experience resides with a patriarch or office executive, it can prevent other family members from fully assuming responsibility for wealth management.
Few resources have been available to help families meet the complex challenge of wealth management education. Now, due to the accessibly enabled by the internet, anyone can take financial matters into their hands.
Wealth management resources are available easily - not only in the hallowed halls of expensive firms. The internet will give you easy and affordable alternatives, including starting with offshore incorporation in Seychelles, Mauritius, British Virgin Islands or Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
Ramapati Singhania specializes in creating and managing web businesses. His focus on incorporation offshore saves wealth, will help you to incorporate offshore companies in Seychelles, Mauritius, BVI, and Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ramapati_G_Singhania
http://EzineArticles.com/?Wealth-Management-Resources-Must-Include-Offshore-Incorporation!&id=2536005
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Information on How to Register a Company in Australia
Image via Wikipedia
Registering a company in Australia is easy, quick and can be done fully online. These are the important steps to consider and take when setting up your business as a company in Australia.
1. Get legal advice
This is one of the most important steps that is often overlooked by business startups. Talk to your lawyer or accountant well before the business is set up. Find out what the best business structure is for your business, find out what laws and regulations will apply to your activities and if there are any standards and licenses that you will need to acquire. Needless to say, starting a new company comes with a great deal of responsibility and this initial planning step cannot be taken lightly.
2. Register your company
If you have been advised that the company business structure fits your requirements, your next step would be to register the actual company. This takes about 20 minutes and can be done fully online. During the registration process you will be asked to provide:
Desired name for your new company
Company registered office of business
Your name
Place of birth
Your contact details
Director's details (this can be you)
Share structure of the company (e.g., 100 shares at $1 each).
Once completed, your online application will be send to ASIC for processing. Once approved, you'll receive your company constitution, minutes of the first meeting, company certificate and other details that come as a part of the new company setup.
3. Register ABN - Australian Business Number
Once you have your company name registered, you'll need to register ABN. Every business in Australia needs an ABN. The Australian Business government website allows you to submit this registration also online, with instant approval.
4. Register TFN - Tax File Number
Each new company needs a new TFN. You can apply for TFN registration also online, at the same time when applying for an ABN. TFN verification is a longer process and the ATO - Australian Tax Office - will post your TFN details by snail mail.
5. Register for GST and PAYG - if required
Consult your accountant if you need to register for GST - Goods and Services Tax - and PAYG - Pay As You Go - if you intend to employ people and turnover a sizable amount each year.
6. That's It!
Once you setup a new business, it will be a while before you can sit back and relax. It's all hard work ahead, to make it work! Enjoy!
For more information on how to register a company, visit AusBusiness Review http://www.ausbusiness.net/review/register-company-registration-australia/
Author: Guennadi Moukine (AusBusiness Review, Editor) http://www.ausbusiness.net
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