Offshore Blog

An offshore trust is more and more being used in today's globalized world as a legitimate and highly functional tool to safeguard assets and ensure financial security. Although the world of offshore remains a mystery for many, it is a very simple yet effective means to ensure what's yours, stays yours.

Are you looking to find out, how much does an offshore trust cost, you must first understand what constitutes an offshore trust and what makes it different than a domestic trust.

Amazon FBA businesses have become extremely popular in recent years, as they offer an ideal way for new and small businesses to leverage Amazon’s sophisticated logistics network and get themselves off the ground.

Many people start selling their products as individuals on Amazon, and by default simply run their business as sole proprietors. However, there are a few other options available when deciding how best to structure your Amazon FBA business, and the decision can have important implications. 

When the words “offshore bank account” are spoken, the first place that comes to many people’s minds is Switzerland. Switzerland is often regarded as the premier jurisdiction for offshore banking. 

In this article, we will explore why that is, and discuss the potential advantages of opening a bank account in Switzerland. We will also talk about the things to keep in mind when trying to open a Swiss bank account as a non-resident, and how to practically do so. 

An asset protection trust is one of the best ways to protect assets from being seized by creditors, lawsuits, or any other claims. However, several considerations determine whether an asset protection trust makes sense for your specific needs.

Asset protection is worth the cost if you have assets to protect in the first place, as it ensures your assets will still be there in times of duress.

In the world of offshore asset protection, the Cook Islands Trust is widely recognised as the gold standard. It was one of the first genuine offshore asset protection vehicles widely available to wealthy individuals from all parts of the globe.

To this day, it remains a highly effective tool to protect one’s wealth, maximise financial privacy and safety, and optimise estate planning and taxes. 

In this article, we will focus on specific aspects related to the Cook Islands trust, such as whether it is legal and safe, what problems there may be if any, why people form Cook Islands trusts, and the important roles of different parties like the trustee and trust attorney.

If you did not know already, but a correspondence address is an address from where you can send and receive mail. Businesses usually use their physical office address as their address for correspondence; however, there are situations where you might want to have an address that is separate.

This article will cover why you might want to have a correspondence address that is separate from your business and where you might find one.

Offshore outsourcing refers to hiring an outside company in a foreign country as a third party to help in business activities. Seeking outside helps not only helps to reduce costs and expand operations but also to get a greater return on investment.

Offshoring occurs across a wide range of industries, sectors and job descriptions from both single-member companies and large multinationals.

Since as early as 1965, the US State of Delaware has been able to develop beneficial offshore structures for company formation and has become an attractive offshore jurisdiction due to its friendly corporate legislation and other key advantages. 

The preferred type of corporate vehicle in Delaware is a Limited Liability Company (LLC). A Delaware offshore LLC offers numerous advantages and uses, such as zero corporate taxation, high levels of financial privacy, fast and affordable incorporation processes, and few reporting requirements.

The Central American nation of Panama has become a popular location for foreigners looking to start an offshore business. Its favourable regulations and tax regime, along with its diverse entrepreneurial opportunities and bustling economy make it an ideal place to set up shop outside one’s home country.

In fact, the Panamanian government has actively promoted and incentivised foreign investment with great success through their ‘Visión 2030 Panama’ scheme. 

Overall, nearly 97% of civil cases are settled outside of the courtroom. You may wonder why companies settle lawsuits so frequently rather than go to court, but there are a variety of reasons that go well beyond guilt or innocence. 

Let’s explore the common reasons why companies are sued, how companies decide whether to settle and why most companies try to settle lawsuits rather than go to court.

Malta is an attractive European nation situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Many are drawn to its shores thanks to its excellent climate, high quality of life, and welcoming people. It has also become one of the most popular nations in Europe and the world to obtain residency and/or citizenship by investment. 

In exchange for mixed investment in property and a government fee/contribution, it is possible to acquire Maltese permanent residency within 4 – 6 months, with a total minimum cost of approximately EUR 150,000. 

Starting a business can be a bit complicated especially if you are not familiar with the process. One of the difficulties during this first step is understanding how to operate through all the red tape that needs to be cut in order to get set up as a business.

If you have decided on incorporating your start-up business, one of the first things you should do once you create a business name and legal structure (sole proprietorship, Limited Company, or LLC) is to apply for a business registration number. This article will discuss what it is and why you need to get one for your business.

When you think of the richest countries in the world, the first ones which probably come to mind are economic powerhouses such as the United States, China, and Japan. While these are indeed among the wealthiest nations on earth with the largest economies, merely taking the gross size of the economy as a measure of wealth is not sufficient.

In fact, some of the smallest nations on earth are really also some of the wealthiest when we adjust for population size and quality of life.  

When it comes to asset protection, few financial tools can rival a Cook Islands Asset Protection Trust. These trusts provide unparalleled asset protection, privacy, as well as a hindrance to anyone foolish enough to try and bring a lawsuit your way. The best way to secure your assets and protect your financial well-being is to have a comprehensive strategy with multiple vehicles complementing each other. 

This is where you can enhance your asset protection plan by using a Nevis LLC in conjunction with a Cook Islands Trust. To add a third piece to the puzzle we use an Offshore Swiss Bank Account that is held by the LLC. We believe that this unique multi-jurisdictional approach that combines some of the world's strongest asset protection mechanisms (Cook Islands), together with a fiercely pro-business country (Nevis) together with the iron-clad banking secrecy laws of Switzerland make this a structure worth talking about.

In this article, we will explore some of the key features of all three of these powerful offshore financial tools, and how they can work perfectly together to bring you greater financial security, control, and privacy.

Traditional banks are rooted in a system that is slow to change and resistant to anything new. This conservatism has rendered the banking system slow to respond and integrate new forms of transaction. Banks have dragged their feet when it comes to updating their corporate and retail banking products with products that appeal to today's immediacy-obsessed consumers. 

Many traditional banks insist on sticking to a traditional banking model approach and as a result, may be left behind as much of the world embraces a new way of transacting and investing.

Two of the most powerful financial vehicles available for asset protection and estate planning are Trusts and Foundations. Both of these vehicles provide a means to protect your assets while you are alive, and to secure them for easy transfer to your heirs upon death. 

While these two instruments have many similarities and common uses, there are also important distinguishing characteristics that set them apart. Deciding which is the ideal choice for you depends on various factors related to your personal circumstances and needs. 

Who needs an estate plan? If you own a car, a house, or an entire room full of comic books, then the answer to that question would be you.

You don’t even have to be married or a parent, although being either or both justifies the need for estate planning even more.

Unfortunately, many Americans don’t seem to be too keen on estate planning. According to a 2017 survey by Caring.com, only 42% of U.S. adults currently have a will, living trust, or any estate planning document.

Trusts are highly effective financial tools used in estate planning, asset protection, tax optimisation, and more. There are numerous types of trusts, each with their own unique structure and terms. This makes them highly versatile instruments which can be used in a range of circumstances. 

A primary distinction is made between irrevocable and revocable trusts. In this article, we will briefly outline what an irrevocable trust is and its main benefits. We will then look at some of the most commonly used types of irrevocable trusts. 

When incorporating a business in the United States, one of the primary decisions is whether to choose an S Corporation or C Corporation. While these two types of corporations have some commonalities in their basic structure, there are also some important differences to be aware of.

These differences primarily pertain to taxation and ownership requirements. The right type of corporation to choose will depend on the specific situation and needs of the business. 

Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets have exploded in popularity and growth in recent years. Many are seeing the exciting potential of this new asset class, and want in on the action. In the early days of Bitcoin and the wider crypto market, the options for buying and selling crypto in a seamless and affordable manner was limited. 

Fortunately, that has changed. Today there are now a multitude of excellent cryptocurrency exchange platforms where anyone from the complete beginner to the experienced crypto trader can easily buy and sell crypto at highly competitive rates. However, due to the fact that cryptocurrency is still a largely unregulated industry, it is important to carefully do your own research before diving in. There are still many scams out there, and not all crypto exchanges should be blindly trusted. 

Hong Kong is regarded as one of the world's top financial centers due to its favorable tax environment, free-market economy and liberal regulatory system, making it one of the world's most dynamic places to start a business.

Hong Kong has a stable and bustling economy with a business culture that has made it on the 3rd easiest country in the world to start a business, according to the World Bank.

Just as every part of the world varies in terms of culture, climate, standards of living, and political systems so too do their tax systems.

Each country has its own unique tax system with opportunities hidden if you know where to look. In high tax countries, governments seek to redistribute some of the wealth by placing progressive tax rates on the wealth as high as 60% in some places in Europe, in an effort to increase equality. The result that follows is often a flight of capital to low-tax countries where the wealthy move their assets overseas to escape the outrageously high tax burden.

When it comes to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, many banks around the globe steer clear. They often avoid or even ban the use of crypto in their accounts due to a perceived threat to FIAT currency and their operations as a whole.

They also tend to believe there is a high risk of fraud and money laundering when crypto is in use.

If you want to open a bank account that your creditors cannot touch, there are a few options to explore. While there is no guarantee that creditors will not seize your assets once it is discovered it is still possible to protect your assets through a number of ways.

The key here is creating a structure before you become involved in any legal situation as it is much easier to protect assets before a lawsuit is brought forward.

There are numerous unpredictable risks to your personal assets. Most concerning are those associated with unexpected lawsuits (liability suits, divorce, creditor claims etc.). Having a solid asset protection plan in place can be a lifesaver when these unfortunate situations arise which threaten your valuable wealth. The best way to ensure your assets are well protected is to be prepared with a comprehensive asset protection plan well in advance. However, the reality is that many do not make the necessary preparations, and are left with their assets fully exposed in the midst of a lawsuit. 

There are a number of different corporate vehicles that you can form in the UK. When deciding on setting up a listed company, the two types of listed companies that you can choose from to start in the UK are Private or Publicly Listed Company (PLC).