Times are changing, like it or not. And changes threaten assets and what we take for granted. The future does not look like the past, and there's risk in uncertainty. How things unfold will have an unknown impact on those hard-earned assets, if you are not prepared.
But for those forwarding thinking individuals that have already taken steps to protect their assets and lifestyles from the unknown, they are resting better at night. They find stability and certainty in the future, whatever path it takes. These smart individuals don't leave the future to chance.
Today, we consider the steps you can take to protect a lifetime of hard work.
Big Changes Ahead?
Most informed individuals agree that we are at a turning point. Is that turning point a ‘tipping point’ where a bright, happy future lies ahead, or something much less? Or is it the beginning of the end? Or something stranger than 2020? It's uncertain.
Human history demonstrates that major changes can and do suddenly occur. It can happen during generational cycles. Or every couple of decades. Look back five years ago. Things are very different today. Will the same be true five years from now? Even next year? We forget how quickly things can and do change when we’re not expecting it, including profound threats to our assets.
Consider the world as it was in the 1990s. At that moment in time, the US and other Western cultures were in the midst of a great economic boom. Globalization had firmly taken hold and the world was expanding at break-neck speed.
Some economists were heralding the 1990s as the 'end of history' and that liberal, capitalistic democracy was clearly the only suitable model. Russia was in shambles. The European Union sought closer integration for greater economic prosperity. Japan was still feeling the pain of its first Lost Decade, and China had only just begun its ascent as a new world power.
Then came GFC. And next changes to how Washington functions, or not. And now Covid. Six months ago the Western financial system was still trying to over-come the GFC crisis of 10 years ago. The GFC had stripped away the prosperity that held the world together. China's manufacturing had exploded upwards, but now has gone into a prolonged economic slump. In the EU, China, the US and elsewhere, jobs have been lost, and individuals disillusioned with where we are traveling. Are we there yet?
As a result, the rise in nationalism – and protectionism – is an ongoing global trend, and a critical consequence of the changes that play a pivotal role in reshaping geopolitics. There has already been a clear unwinding of decades of successful globalization. This consequence stems from the rejection of international institutions - for better or for worse - which has dominated the rise of globalism since the end of World War II.
Discontent continues at home and across the world. Wars and terrorism continue to threaten. China and Russia are flexing their muscle with confidence. And what do we make of the polar extremes at home where there's no common ground?
What was once the most peaceful period of history is now taking a turn. Those that understand history ask if we have already entered the beginning of a dark period of politics similar to 1930 through 1940.
What does the future hold for you, your family, and your hard earned assets? What are the big and small forces at play at home and around the globe?
What are the known, unknowns? And what are the unknown, unknowns lurking? How many black swans or tipping points are just around the corner?
No one knows – particularly me – but rest assured that this year and next will certainly look different than today, and certainly very different than only a couple of years ago.
We find ourselves at a particularly concerning time in the next phase of human history. Changes take time to reveal themselves even when unfolding all around us. Are you prepared for what lies ahead?
Forward thinkers know it’s a good time to plan for the worst case scenarios. Their survival instincts are front and center.
What is your Plan B?
Rest assured, the one thing that helps provide economic and personal security, and freedom from the uncertainties of the future, is a well-established, properly implemented, International Trust. Why?
The International Trust transcends the boundaries of time and politics. Trusts were first used to protect assets by Roman soldiers over two millennia ago as they marched off to war. The British Empire expanded the use of trust concepts, and the laws and commercial use of asset protection trusts started taking hold during the past 500 years. During the two World Wars, trusts were successfully used for cross-border asset protection by those seeking protection and freedom from persecution.
Today, the International Trust and Standby International Trust © contain the same asset protective features – plus much more – as used successfully throughout history. The International Trust is time tested and true. It is safe to say that they will continue to endure in the years and decades ahead for individuals seeking to protect their assets.
For over three decades we’ve successfully and quietly assisted clients seeking to protect their assets from risks and uncertainties using International Trusts. From years of experience the book How to Legally Protect Your Assets, 2nd edition, was born. And later, Offshore Living & Investing, 2nd edition, provided more, great, useful information for living and investing globally.
During the past three decades I’ve authored periodic newsletters and articles highlighting some of the useful concepts for asset protection and offshore planning, many of which are found as complimentary past articles at our website DavidTanzer.com.
For example, the articles What is an International Trust? or the Standby International Trust © in simple terms - in layman’s language - found here and here. The A, B, & Cs of International Trusts is found here. And information about estate planning, international wills and trusts is found here.
How to control assets through an International Trust is located at this link.
And to identify the many reasons why an International Trust is better than the home grown, domestic variety, U.S. vs International Trust describes which is better, and why, found here.
If you want to know if offshore is still legal, or the basics of private banking 101, the answers are also found here and here. Or how offshore risk management works is found here. Or if you’re interested in alternative citizenship and residence, go here.
Some individuals look to go the ultimate distance as an sovereign individual, and a two part article helps you understand how this works, and is found here and here.
There are many more useful articles found at our Past Articles page.
Bring some certainty to your life.
The most important step?
The most important step of all is to act now to protect your hard earned assets before you are presented with a problem. Otherwise, at best, you will be limited to mostly damage control.
Like buying an insurance policy, it is difficult to obtain coverage if the house is burning and the fire department is at your door. You must act now, in advance of a problem, to protect and preserve your hard-earned assets. Taking action today is the biggest and most important step of all.
How to Legally Protect Your Assets, 2nd edition, introduces you to the basics of this planning process and provides actual case scenarios demonstrating how you can achieve results.
The International Trust is a great tool for at-home planning, or when looking offshore, and this and more is covered in greater detail in the book Offshore Living & Investing, 2nd edition.
For more practical information on the above topics, and more, visit DavidTanzer.com to get started.
And if you would like more information about how to begin planning for a more secure future, or how we conduct an initial review and make recommendation, contact me here for more information.
Whatever you do, start today.
Until next time.
David
David A Tanzer, Esq.
JD, BSc, Ph.D (Hon)
For more information visit www.DavidTanzer.com or email to Datlegal@aol.com. David is the author of “How to Legally Protect Your Assets” and “Offshore Living and Investing.”