Shelter Offshore

Swiss Offshore Banking

Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Banking Guide
Wed, November 04, 2009 - 11:52 am EET

A Swiss bank account is often thought of as the dirtiest of naughtiest offshore bank accounts.  People seem to assume that if it’s in Switzerland then it is bound to be wrong and all tied up with illegal transactions, privacy and dodgy dealings.

Now whilst we’re quite happy for people to have this perception if it gives them a little thrill, unfortunately the truth is so far from this myth that we thought we’d better tell the truth about Swiss offshore banking in the name of responsible journalism!

Switzerland is not on any black lists for lack of banking compliance, it does not have any anonymous bank accounts in place, it has double taxation agreements in place, and its Federal Department of Finance even welcomed the decisions of the G20 nations to strengthen the stability of financial markets through the introduction of among other things, measures to tighten banking regulations.  So what other myths can we dispel about offshore bank accounts in Switzerland…?

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How Do Expats Invest Their Money?

Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
Tue, November 03, 2009 - 10:03 am EET

According to one of the most influential studies of expatriates globally, over two thirds of the world’s international citizens are able to save far more intensively once they have moved abroad, directly as a result of their expatriate status.

The HSBC Expat Explorer Survey reveals that 68% of expats are actively able to save and invest more than when they lived in their original home nation – and these international individuals are really taking the expatriate advantage by the horns and making the very most of their time abroad financially speaking.

So how do expats invest their money?  Do they place it all offshore to grow in a savings account, do they invest in the stock market at home or overseas, or do they give it all to a financial adviser to manage for them?  We thought we’d have a look into expatriate saving and investing habits to see how the increasingly wealthy are managing their money.  For those of you who are moving abroad and for those of you who are already working overseas and in a position to save more wealth, the findings may well prove interesting and even inspirational.

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Isle of Man Savings Accounts

Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
Tue, November 03, 2009 - 8:19 am EET

The Isle of Man as a jurisdiction has taken a battering in recent months because of the collapse of the offshore arm of the Icelandic bank, Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander on the island.  The investor protection scheme in place in the Isle of Man has been criticised for not offering enough protection to those who choose to place their money with institutions within the jurisdiction for example.

What’s more, the Isle of Man financial authorities have been called to account by many as they feel that they were not tough enough in terms of the regulations they had in place to prevent financial institutions from collapse.  So, are Isle of Man savings accounts worth taking a risk on, and why do so many expatriate financial advisers still recommend the jurisdiction to savers and investors?

We’re going to examine the Isle of Man and its suitability as an offshore jurisdiction for expatriate savers, revealing the truth behind the regulations and protection in place for those who do business through the island, and explaining why it is still so highly regarded by those in the financial services industry.

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• Expatriate Tax Saving Advantages

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Expat Tax Saving Guide
  Mon, November 02, 2009 - 9:47 am EET

  For expatriates there are many potential tax saving benefits to going offshore, in this article we explore them all for you

• UK Expat Savings Accounts

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
  Mon, November 02, 2009 - 8:55 am EET

  As a Briton living abroad you’re probably aware of how weak the pound is and how poor onshore interest rates are – we show you how you can potentially get better rates with UK expat savings account

• Why Americans Shouldn’t Go Offshore

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Expat Tax Saving Guide
  Wed, October 28, 2009 - 9:01 am EET

  Explaining in no uncertain terms why Americans have absolutely no freedom of choice when it comes to the management of their wealth whether offshore or onshore

• I’m Retiring Abroad Do I Need an Offshore Bank Account?

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Banking Guide
  Tue, October 27, 2009 - 8:42 am EET

  In this article we’re going to explore the banking options and alternatives for those moving abroad in retirement

• Are Offshore Tax Havens Benefitting from British Higher Rate Tax Payers’ Wealth?

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Tax Havens Guide
  Fri, October 23, 2009 - 10:53 am EET

  Taking a look at whether the British government’s assault on higher earners is pushing more people and more wealth offshore from the UK

• Best Savings Offshore - How To Get Higher Interest Rates

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
  Fri, October 23, 2009 - 8:29 am EET

  A guide to being very clever and getting around headline savings rates to find out who’s genuinely offering the best offshore savings products with the best interest rates at the current time

• Lock in to Headline Offshore Savings Rates But Not for Long!

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
  Tue, October 20, 2009 - 11:04 am EET

  There are some attractive offshore savings rates available in the offshore financial market place at the moment as banks vie for your cash, but don’t necessarily lock in to restrictive offshore savings accounts for long

• BBC’s Revelation: To Avoid UK Tax You Have to Emigrate

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Expat Tax Saving Guide
  Thu, October 15, 2009 - 9:09 am EET

  A dumb article on the BBC’s website aims to ‘educate’ people that they actually have to move abroad if they want to avoid paying tax in Britain! We look at the rules of non-residency and the taxes you avoid if you emigrate

• Easy Guide to Internationally Transferring Money for Expats and Property Buyers

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Banking Guide
  Wed, October 14, 2009 - 8:25 am EET

  A complete, comprehensive, straightforward and very simple guide to getting it right when you move money between home and abroad – whether you make a one off lump sum transfer, or regular smaller payments

• QROPS, Offshore Pensions and Retirement Options for Expatriates

  Offshore Banking and Savings Guides » Offshore Savings Guide
  Tue, October 13, 2009 - 9:13 am EET

  All you really need to know about offshore pension options for those living, working or retiring abroad – a guide to QROPS

• » Further Offshore Investment & Banking Articles