| Retirees examining the possibility of retiring | | | | estate boom in the U.S. in the 1980s was fueled |
| overseas not only have to consider the benefits | | | | by the infusion of foreign capital. The government |
| and lack of benefits to making that move in | | | | had created a financial environment in which even |
| general, they have to be concerned with | | | | the most naive investors stood a good chance of |
| preserving their capital. No one wants to run out | | | | multiplying their capital. Interest rates were high (a |
| of assets in their "golden years", especially while | | | | good return on investment) and real estate values |
| living abroad. | | | | were rapidly increasing due to the increased |
| The question then arises as how best to manage | | | | demand, much of it coming from abroad. The |
| your assets in this circumstance. Do you keep | | | | increased investment capital in turn created a |
| your assets in your home country? Do you move | | | | demand that fed the trend. |
| them to your new country? Do you move them | | | | So, I guess the question you have to answer is |
| to a third or fourth country, or do you use a | | | | whether your destination country has adequate |
| combination of these choices? The answer is not | | | | safeguards in place so that you can have a |
| a simple one and one answer can not be tailored | | | | reasonable expectation of not losing your funds if |
| to fit all circumstances. | | | | invested there. Safety of principal is as important |
| I am not an economist nor an investment advisor. | | | | as return on investment. |
| My major concern is holding on to the small | | | | Some of the questions that you need to answer |
| retirement income I have and stretching it as far | | | | are: |
| as possible. So, the questions I have posed are | | | | - What are the economic and investment trends |
| questions that I myself am constantly seeking to | | | | in your destination country? |
| answer. If your funds are unlimited, none of this is | | | | - Does the country have a secure and |
| relevant; but to most retirees, one of the reasons | | | | prosperous banking system? |
| for considering expatriate living is to maximize a | | | | - Is the government investing in future |
| limited supply of income. Making it stretch farther | | | | infrastructure projects like roads and airports? |
| is frequently easier in some expatriate | | | | - Is the country politically stable? |
| destinations. Couple that advantage with the spirit | | | | There is never a 100% certainty with any |
| of adventure in living abroad, and you have an | | | | investments, but the less risk you take with your |
| increasing number of retirees moving overseas. | | | | retirement funds, the more likely you are to have |
| Investment money always flows toward | | | | them when you need them. |
| opportunities. For example, much of the real | | | | |