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Alcohol Advertising Heading For The Gutter?

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Fosters.Smirnoff. Budweiser. Pimms. Guinness.Bailey’s. You know the brands, you know the ads and you probably know what some (most?) of them taste like too. But you may need to savour that (hazy?) memory if the people at the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) have their way. NICE, an independent advisory group to the NHS, published a 100-page report on Wednesday issuing recommendations that they believe will help reverse Britain’s underage and binge drinking culture- including a total ban of all UK alcohol advertising and a steep increase on the prices of all alcoholic beverages. According to Professor Ian Gilmore, the President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, … Continue reading Alcohol Advertising Heading For The Gutter?

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The Town Of Everlasting Peace

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“Greetings from Taiping,” writes Intrepid Correspondent Vicki Terhorst this morning. “This place is an historical and hidden gem in Malaysia. So few Westerners visit the ‘town of everlasting peace’ that Paul and I attract attention wherever we go. Young folks yell ‘Welcome to Malaysia’ from car windows, school bus windows, and motorcycles. Older folks come up to us when we are eating or out walking, to greet us and to ask where we are from. “The other day I walked by a huge convent school that teaches in English, and their motto caught my attention: Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in … Continue reading The Town Of Everlasting Peace

Attitudes, Great Places For Holidays And Investments1 Comment

The Top Three Reasons Not To Retire Overseas Debunked!

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Reason #1 Not To Retire Overseas: You have young children. Bring them with you! The advantages to raising children abroad are many, from a second (or even third) language to a second passport. Children raised overseas are generally self-confident, open-minded, and resourceful. They learn to make friends easily and to adjust quickly to change. If you’re hesitating making an international move because you have children, you’re making a mistake. That, however, is not to say that raising kids in another country is easy. When you make a move overseas with children, they, specifically the options for their education, become your … Continue reading The Top Three Reasons Not To Retire Overseas Debunked!

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Stop Reading And Get On A Plane

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Stop reading. Well…not right this minute. But, after you’ve done your research and your googling, you have to stop reading about living, retiring, and investing overseas…and get on a plane to investigate the possibilities firsthand. Nothing substitutes for feet on the ground. You’ve got to walk the beaches, the pavements, and the hillsides of whatever overseas Shangri-las may be tempting you virtually. Only then can you know if any one of them is the right place for you to spend your time or your money. Readers write every day to say, “I’ve been reading your letters for months (or years), … Continue reading Stop Reading And Get On A Plane

Great Places For Holidays And Investments1 Comment

Emergency Health Care In Belize–One-Third The Cost You’d Pay Stateside

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“After a lovely weekend with friends,” writes Belize Correspondent Ann Kuffner, “my husband Mike and I stepped into our condo at dusk Sunday evening. I had just picked up my new prescription sunglasses at the Hoy Eye Center in Belize City. I was pleased that the transition lenses are very dark but not yet used to focusing with them. Entering the house, I did not see our big, black dog, Ziggy, asleep on his favorite dark rug… “Before I knew it, my heels were in the air, and I had landed on the unforgiving tile floor, directly on my hip. … Continue reading Emergency Health Care In Belize–One-Third The Cost You’d Pay Stateside

Real Estate Investments1 Comment

Assessing Your Retire Overseas Risks

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“Read almost any article in the mainstream press about retiring overseas,” writes Intrepid Correspondent Paul Terhorst from his current base in Chiang Mai, Thailand, “and the writer almost invariably starts by evaluating the local health care situation. ‘Country A offers high-quality, low-cost health care…Country B allows expats to buy into the national health plan.’ “I’ve long been puzzled by this emphasis on health care. “Sure, most overseas retirees are older…and we older folks buy more health care than young people. But we buy other stuff, too. We buy transportation, plumbing, electricity, and lodging. You never read that ‘Country C offers … Continue reading Assessing Your Retire Overseas Risks

Great Places For Holidays And Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments2 Comments

Retire Overseas Fundamentals

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Lief and I have begun conversations with our first Live Overseas Personal Consulting clients, and I’m being reminded of the fundamentals. For example… Language This can seem an intimidating, even paralyzing hurdle. If you’ve never spoken a second language or even if you speak, say, a little Spanish but not enough to hold a business conversation or to negotiate a rental lease, you can worry how you’ll get things done, how you’ll keep from being taken advantage of, and how you’ll make friends. The concern can be greatest if you’re thinking of making a move on your own. I do … Continue reading Retire Overseas Fundamentals

Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments1 Comment

Why These Expats Chose This Safe Haven

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“Developed in the 1930s as a resort for wealthy Argentineans,” writes Uruguay Correspondent Sol Tuya, “Piriapolis has evolved into one of the world’s most affordable and appealing retirement havens, attracting expats from North America, Europe, and elsewhere throughout South America.             “I include myself among them, and I can tell you that, here in this small city on Uruguay’s coast, we are enjoying peace and harmony and a quality of life that I think would be hard to match. “Every month, the Piriapolis English Speakers Club gathers by the sea for good conversation, good food, and a chance to network … Continue reading Why These Expats Chose This Safe Haven

Great Places For Holidays And Investments, Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments1 Comment

Culture Shock In Reverse

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A couple of months ago in Paris, I had lunch with another long-time American expat, whose children, like ours, have grown up outside the States. “We’re moving back,” he remarked that afternoon, “to Bethesda.” At first, I thought he was joking. After more than 13 years in France, he was opting now for Bethesda, Maryland? Then he explained. “Only for a couple of years, until our youngest son goes off to college. We feel like we need to do something to help his transition back to U.S. life. His older brothers have struggled with it so.” Then I understood. I’ve … Continue reading Culture Shock In Reverse

Real Estate, Real Estate Investments1 Comment

Building The Perfect Property Portfolio

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The perfectly diversified international real estate investment portfolio might look something like this… A rental property in Europe that is leveraged (that is, carries a mortgage…remember that it’s possible to borrow for the purchase of real estate as a foreign buyer in many European countries) and that generates positive cash flow. Right now France, Italy, and Portugal probably make the most sense for this kind of investment. This is a long-haul play, and, thinking very long term, I like Paris. It’s the closest thing to a recession-proof rental market as you’ll find. Next, a rental property in a resort location. … Continue reading Building The Perfect Property Portfolio

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Here’s How Not To Let This Happen To You

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Buying wholesale, path of progress, crisis investing, real productive assets…why bother with all these different real estate investment strategies? Why not just focus on one? Wouldn’t that be simpler? Yes, sure. It’s be more simple, but, over time, it’d also be far less effective. One of the fundamental advantages global real estate investing offers is diversification. You want to capitalize on that advantage every way you can. All those bubble investors in the United States who “controlled” millions of dollars worth of pre-construction condos found out the hard way what putting all your eggs in one basket can mean for … Continue reading Here’s How Not To Let This Happen To You

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Nobel Laureates, Sugar Cane, And Cruise Ships–The

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“St. Lucia is like a pretty girl with only her smiles to live off,” writes Correspondent Paul Lewis, continuing the reports from his early-winter cruise through the Caribbean. “The island’s main export is Nobel Prize winners–it has had two so far. With a population of only 160,000, this makes it the world champion Nobel Prize-winning country. “St. Lucia’s first laureate was Sir William Arthur Lewis, who received the Economics award in 1979. He launched the United Nations Development Program and championed the idea that education is more important than money in promoting development. “St. Lucia’s second win came in 1992, … Continue reading Nobel Laureates, Sugar Cane, And Cruise Ships–The