September 24, 2003
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THE SOVEREIGN SOCIETY OFFSHORE A-LETTER
Your Link to Freedom, Privacy & Prosperity in the Offshore World
Wednesday, September 24, 2003 - Vol. 5 No. 113
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In This Issue:
* COMMENT: Conspiracy of Silence
* OFFSHORE: Sovereign Society Joins in Opposing OECD Policies. Swiss Election Internet Battle. Pro-EU Malta Ends Offshore Tax Breaks.
* WEALTH: Forbes Annual Richest List. US Very Rich Net Worth Up. Battling Boating Billionaires. UK Biz Taxes. EU Courts & Taxes.
* PRIVACY & RIGHTS: Patriot Act Spin; What's the Truth?
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* ADVERTISEMENT *
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But it may mean having to apply perfectly legal, 'unconventional' methods that Washington and Wall Street will not approve of...
LINK: http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/190SFORD/W190D915/
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Guest Comment today is by Ron HOLLAND, a leading financial consultant and investment advisor based in Switzerland, and a member of the Sovereign Society's Council of Experts.
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COMMENT: Conspiracy of Silence.
Dear A-Letter Reader:
If you have ever talked about offshore investing with a US financial professional, this unsettling scenario already may have happened to you. It goes like this: you meet with your stockbroker or investment manager. It's the usual one-sided pitch as the "financial professional" explains reasons for poor past performance, then quickly switches to the sales and chart presentation showing why the new manager, strategy or product will be different from now on. Nothing you say slows or stops this one-sided presentation.
Finally, you voice your doubts and ask a simple question: "I'm concerned about the risks of having all of my wealth here in the US. I want to move part of my portfolio offshore. What do you suggest?"
Suddenly the sales pitch ends abruptly. You can hear a pin drop as your advisor looks at you with total disbelief. Then he says: "Why on earth would you consider moving your wealth to a non-US jurisdiction and advisor?" The unspoken ideas; What's wrong with you? We have the greatest nation (economy, stock market) in the world; The dollar is good as gold. Aren't you patriotic? What's your problem with the government? Do you pay your taxes? Don't you trust our legal and tax system? What do you have to hide?
Almost any US advisor will throw cold water on your concerns and reasons for offshore investing. They'll never really respond directly, since if you invest offshore it means less revenue for them. And they know they have no way to protect you from the very real US threats to your wealth.
Although going offshore has distinct advantages not available in the US market, the real benefits, other than global diversification, are seldom mentioned by anyone in the US financial industry.
The simple truth is that a legal, properly structured offshore investing strategy guarantees reduce risks for your wealth in ways not available in the US. For example, it reduces the threat of political or jurisdictional risk, US foreign policy or empire risk, bureaucratic and regulatory risk, judicial corruption and lawsuit risk, currency and exchange controls risk, and most important today, the terrorism and financial crisis risk. No US domiciled product or investment can offer the degree of risk protection available from an offshore strategy.
The US financial establishment's conspiracy of silence about these threats and the protection of an offshore strategy can cost you the benefits of a lifetime of work and savings. Smart American investors must protect themselves and their portfolios from such risks. Prudent, proper offshore diversification, domicile, structures and investment management are available now, so act while you still have these opportunities.
RON HOLLAND
E-mail: Ron@swissgnomes.com
Note from the Editor: For more information on International Investing
Opportunities please click on the following:
LINK: http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/CTA/WCTAD634/
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COMMENT LINKS:
* Ron Holland's Swiss Gnomes LINK: http://www.swissgnomes.com
* Offshore investor's quiz: LINK: http://www.swissgnomes.com/quiz
* Freedom Quotes compiled by Ron Holland.
LINK: http://www.ronholland.com/quotes/intro.htm
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EDITOR'S MEA CULPA: In Friday's Comment I wrongly attributed the
famous denunciation of "whited sepulchers" to St. Matthew, which is
hardly correct. St. Matthew was only recording the words of Jesus
Himself. An impressive percentage of readers let me know of my error.
Regrets and apologies, and thanks for reading so carefully. Hopefully,
He will forgive me as well, now and in the future. Bob Bauman, Editor.
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* OFFSHORE *
SOVEREIGN SOCIETY JOINS WITH ANTI-O.E.C.D. GROUPS
Opposition stated to US taxpayers funding OECD's global taxation
plans and abolition of financial privacy; 30 groups sign. LINK:
http://www.freedomandprosperity.org/press/p09-23-03/p09-23-03.shtml
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SWISS ELECTION BATTLES ON THE INTERNET
With conservatives ahead, parties use the Web to campaign. LINK:
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=4254440
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MALTA DENIES OFFSHORE TAX BREAKS
VALETTA: New EU member state says it no longer allows
offshore business tax breaks, to comply with EU requirements.
LINK: http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=21051
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JOIN BOB BAUMAN IN PANAMA - REGISTER NOW!
October 8-12, 2003 - Offshore Opportunities 2003 Conference - Panama
This year Panama ranked # 1 on the Sovereign Society Asset Haven
Index and International Living ranked it as a top world destination for
offshore living. Join us there for 3 intensive days of educational
sessions, subject specific workshops, and panels of leading legal,
financial, tax, asset protection, and real estate experts who will give
you an up-to-the-minute picture of how offshore structures can work
safely to your advantage. You'll come away with a plan of action
personalized for your own situation. For more info, click here:
LINK: http://www.sovereignsociety.com/vmembers.php?nid=645
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* ADVERTISEMENT *
Make as Much as 450% as Another Oil Giant Falls
Victory in Iraq didn't end America's energy troubles. A quiet revolution is
beginning in another OPEC nation, and a new war may be on the way. Over 696
billion barrels of oil are in danger! When it unravels, the costs will be
huge. But prepare now, and you could make 300%, 450% or more on every dollar
you invest. For details on this crisis -- and how to protect yourself --
read on.
LINK: http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/OST/GainBigger
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* WEALTH *
FORBES ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICA'S RICHEST
Some Forbes 400 are unusual; they pay lots to the tax collectors.
LINKS: http://www.forbes.com/home/2003/09/17/rich400land.html
http://www.forbes.com/home/free_forbes/2003/1006/018.html
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NET WORTH OF AMERICAN RICH GOES UP
After a 2 year decline, the economy is improving for the super rich.
Net worth of US's richest rose 10% to $955 billion in 2002. LINK:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-forbes-richest-americans,0,905382.story?coll=sns-newsnation-headlines
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BATTLE OF THE BOATING BILLIONAIRES
The billionaire's equivalent of keeping up with the Joneses.
Who has the biggest, most expensive yacht? LINK:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/business/articles/timid67973?source=
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U.K. BUSINESS TAXES JUST BELOW E.U. AVERAGE
LONDON: 30% corporate tax losing competitive edge to Ireland. LINK:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?grid=M3&menuId=-1&menuItemId=2864&xml=/money/2003/05/12/cbtax12.xml
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E.U COURT RULINGS DEFINING TAX LAWS
Rulings support EU-wide uniformity in corporate taxes.
LINK: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,630-828425,00.html
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* PRIVACY & RIGHTS *
WOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT LIE?
Pres. Bush pushes to expand government powers with Patriot Act II.
But experts say government assertions about what the first Patriot
Act covers constitute outright deception of the public.
LINK: http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,60541,00.html
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THE SOVEREIGN SOCIETY OFFSHORE A-LETTER. *
Bob Bauman, Editor * Daniel Aponte, Jr. Research Asst.
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