Do you need a second passport and can you afford it?
In the past affluent citizens of unstable or totalitarian countries, or discharged despots and corrupt officials from such nations, have sought to acquire a second nationality. But recently there has been growing demand from Westerners, especially from citizens of...
Time is running out to prepare your Plan B
When Live Beyond Borders was launched to inform about global wealth diversification and international living options, many of our friends and acquaintances thought we were nuts. They insisted that Western jurisdictions are safe, due to their well-established...
Digital nomads present a business opportunity overlooked by most developing countries
Government actions aimed at combatting the coronavirus have caused havoc to those developing economies, that rely heavily on income from tourism. Politicians, government officials, and senior managers of private companies are constantly complaining about the dire...
How to find a good provider of precious metal storage
The selection of a storage company is a key decision that should not be taken lightly. If you chose the wrong company, you will end up paying excessive fees and receiving poor service. At worst, you might even lose part or all of your bullion. Below we will explain...
Gold ownership carries more risks than you think
Most gold owners only worry about theft. But there are other risks associated with gold ownership, that are far more likely to impact your property rights. In the following we explain the main issues that you need to be aware of. Theft and disappearance...
Storage options for long-term gold investors
Types of gold storage There are plenty of ways to store gold. Some people dig a hole in their garden, others use a hidden drawer in their desk or a small safe in the wall, but most investors use the service of a storage company or bullion dealer for safekeeping....
Four steps to ensure the smooth formation of your offshore company
It seems to be quick and easy to set up an offshore company. You go to one of the many websites that offer incorporation services and click through the various options. Hong Kong costs $1,500, Ras al-Khaimah (UAE) $1,250, Panama $990, the Seychelles and Belize are...
Key challenges to international living
In the age of globalization and mass tourism, traveling abroad is nothing special anymore, and even the coronavirus won’t change this in the long-term. Before the virus struck, most of us vacationed at least once a year in a foreign country. Some spent a lot of...
Massive debt and state intervention are a recipe for disaster
Politicians and central bankers tend to blame the coronavirus for the current economic crisis. Nothing could be further from the truth. Apart from the fact that most of the recent economic pain is the direct result of governments overreacting, the global economy...
Misguided shareholder value thinking and lack of oversight have corrupted business ethics
Once upon a time you could go to your local bank branch and get investment proposals, that had a realistic chance of generating a positive return. You could pay several decades into your life insurance policy knowing, that the risks were very low and you would...
Is your expat health insurance a financial time bomb?
Over the years, we have talked to many expats all over the world about their medical insurance. Those who were young told us, that they were happy, because they enjoyed good coverage at an affordable price. The middle-aged often complained about rising costs. And a...
Clear personal guidelines improve your investment performance
Professional investors are using sophisticated systems to manage the composition and risk of their portfolios in order to achieve better returns. If you are just an ordinary investor with limited funds, you neither have the expertise, the time, nor the money to set...
