Episodes
Sunday Apr 28, 2013
Friday Apr 26, 2013
The Expat Files - Cooked Books - 04/26/13
Friday Apr 26, 2013
Friday Apr 26, 2013
-Latins regularly cheat on their taxes with impunity and almost always get away with it. That means if you are looking to buy, rent or lease an existing business, you can be 100% sure that the books are cooked (undercooked actually) for the taxman’s benefit. So then, how can you get a true picture of the health of that business? Here are some tips….
-The only Latin government departments that are actually somewhat organized along first(or second) world lines are IVA tax collections (called VAT tax in Europe). And it figures. When it comes to the money shakedown, even government slugs get off their dead asses. In fact Latin governments even have an 800 number “snitch” hotline for civilians to report on businesses that do not give out official receipts (facturas). Tax evasion is considered a minor crime that can generally be fixed with a bribe.
-Some “off the books” items to consider along with some questions to ask the seller, if you plan on buying an existing business in Latin America
-A few words about property and business option clauses in Latin contracts, and what to be on the look out for- if a Latino happens to make you an offer on YOUR little mom and pop business.
-The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Be be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for full details, pricing and earlybird signup bonus…
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
Wednesday Apr 24, 2013
Expat Files - Cucarachas - 04/21/13
Wednesday Apr 24, 2013
Wednesday Apr 24, 2013
-Here’s some advice about gas stations in Latin America that will get you thinking.
Just like there are certain restaurants you’d never patronize there are certain Latin gas station generic brands that, unless you’re running on vapor, you should never think of using…
-You should always have an empty plastic water bottle or container in your car and here’s why……..
-Child labor is rampant in Latin America and almost everywhere in the informal economy. But the family’s between a rock and a hard place- they’ve gotta eat. Too bad they don’t believe in (or never heard of) planned parenthood.
-Now we need to have a very serious discussion regarding those disgusting cucarachas. The fact is, they are NOT ubiquitous in Latin America though most people would assume they are. I know many expats who have learned to live with them- but I know even more expats who have found totally natural ways to eradicate them; COMPLETELY. Personally, I have not seen one in my house for over two years.. but there are a few simple rules you need to follow to get that happy first-world result …
-The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for in-depth details, pricing and the early-bird signup bonus…
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
Friday Apr 19, 2013
Expat Files - Small Internet Footprint, Bitcoins, and more - 04/19/13
Friday Apr 19, 2013
Friday Apr 19, 2013
-The upcoming Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28… a full six days. Do be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for in-depth details, pricing and earlybird signup bonus…
-A few words about expat those wannabes who have gained all kinds of knowledge and great info from my show and a lot of other sources yet are just too petrified to jump into the deep end. Expat Eddie says they’re like some people he knows who religiously follow gold and silver markets but never put any money in.
-Some uncommonly good info on how to have and maintain a small internet footprint (which is more important then ever) and some hints on how to become almost completely anonymous. Remember, having a very low profile is the Expat’s unspoken creed you know..
-Whether you think Bitcoins are a bubble, a pyramid scheme or a good solid game plan, many expats and wanabees are moving their assets around and shifting out of high tax regions by converting to Bitcoins. Here are a few words on the bitcoin phenomena and how expats are catching the Bitcoin bug
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
Sunday Apr 14, 2013
Expat Files - Retirement - 04/14/13
Sunday Apr 14, 2013
Sunday Apr 14, 2013
-The dates for the next Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28. In the first part of today’s show you’ll get many of the specifics but do be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for in-depth details and pricing…
-One big reason so many expat wanabees remain on the fence and never actually get to Latin America is because they have a real fear of failure. Somehow they have it in their minds that they won’t be able to make a go of it on the nest-egg they have, no matter how big or small. So in a sense they are letting their first-world comfort-based cradle-to-grave paradigm get in the way of their goals.
-I'm happy when expats and wanabees have a common dream of retiring or semi-retiring in Latin America... but I wince when I hear that the other half of that dream is to own and operate a restaurant! Jeese Louise!....seems like every gringo thinks there's a chef in the family! In reality the restaurant biz has always been very hard work with miserably long hours… and no one who’s ever done it will admit that it resembles anything close to semi-retirement. Even so, there can be rewards and some great success stories if you can find that certain “niche” market…. that's IF you can find it!
-Buying, renting or partnering up with an existing small business in Latin America- Part 1. Some pitfalls you should know about- if for example, you wish to buy a going concern, like a mom and pop hotel or a restaurant. Listen to Part 2 on the next show.
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
Friday Apr 12, 2013
Expat Files - 04/12/13
Friday Apr 12, 2013
Friday Apr 12, 2013
The dates for the next Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” (well off the gringo tourist trail of course) will be Sunday, June 23, thru Friday, June 28. In the first part of today’s show you’ll get many of the specifics but do be sure to go to ExpatWisdom.com and click on the seminar link for in-depth details and pricing…
-One big reason so many expat wanabees remain on the fence and never actually get to Latin America is because they have a real fear of failure. Somehow they have it in their minds that they won’t be able to make a go of it on the nest-egg they have, no matter how big or small. So in a sense they are letting their first-world comfort-based cradle-to-grave paradigm get in the way of their goals.
-I'm happy when expats and wanabees have a common dream of retiring or semi-retiring in Latin America... but I wince when I hear that the other half of that dream is to own and operate a restaurant! Jeese Louise!....seems like every gringo thinks there's a chef in the family! In reality the restaurant biz has always been very hard work with miserably long hours… and no one who’s ever done it will admit that it resembles anything close to semi-retirement. Even so, there can be rewards and some great success stories if you can find that certain “niche” market…. that's IF you can find it!
-Buying, renting or partnering up with an existing small business in Latin America- Part 1. Some pitfalls you should know about- if for example, you wish to buy a going concern, like a mom and pop hotel or a restaurant. Listen to Part 2 on the next show.
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
Expat Files - Destinations - 04/07/13
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
-Here are the dates for the next Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar”. Mark your calendar- it’s scheduled for June 23rd thru June 28th and be sure to stay tuned for the details on next week’s show…
-Some people love the beautiful (but hot) Belize Cays. They are excellent beach destinations, but first world expensive. So how do they compare to the very similar but much cheaper Honduran islands of Roatan and Utilla (only about 200 miles south)? And what are the general opinions of Expats who actually live in both places?
Note: never expect anyone in real estate or tourism to give you honest answers- they're always looking out for #1
-A few words about house security if you are going to be gone for a day or more, or even a month or two.
-Wondering about the incidence of high seas piracy in Latin America? Well here’s the scoop on that…
-Some more evidence that Ecuador is slowly being ruined by the steadily increasing hordes of gringo tourists and retirees.
-More hard evidence that the Chinese are snapping up huge chunks of South America and forcing those countries to water down their environmental regs
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, we can talk about your situation one on one
Friday Apr 05, 2013
Expat Files - 04/05/13
Friday Apr 05, 2013
Friday Apr 05, 2013
-Reviewing a few dangerous countries in Latin America that are not recommended as permanent destinations for Expats
-Some people think that since Chavez has just died, and the currency (the Bolivar) has been devalued twice in the last 50 days (close to a western world record for fiscal irresponsibility), maybe Venezuela‘s hit rock bottom and just might be a good time to get in on the ground floor of a big boom. Well I don’t think so… here are 101 more reasons to avoid Venezuela as an Expat destination.
-Some thoughts on making deals and signing contracts with Latinos
-Using ATM machines in countries like Venezuela, Cuba and Argentina: the Latin countries that have strict currency controls
-Since the official Venezuelan dollar to Bolivar exchange rate is only about 1/3 of what you can get on the street, that means if you have USD’s you get an instant 300% return on your money (if you have a trustworthy black market currency exchange guy). Now there’s a golden opportunity, right? If only one could get a truckload of USD's into the country….
-Man, can governments lie. If you think that Obama and Bush have advanced degrees in endless BS, well how about this whopper… according to official Venezuelan govt. statistics the country’s monthly minimum wage is about $400 (and 80% of Venezuelans make that minimum wage). But the actual monthly minimum wage is just $115. Here’s how they try to feed that big lie to the world...
-I’ll soon be announcing the latest plans for the next Expat Wisdom “Latin American Insider Seminar” which will of course be off the tourist trail. It’ll be coming up in the early summer so stay tuned for more info…
-Follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one
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