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we move into the year 2009, we have already experienced the effects of
Globalization,
Bank
Failures, Wall Street Bailouts, Devaluation of US Real Estate and the
US Dollar, Double Digit Inflation, and too much more to mention
here. Is there anyway to win this seemingly losing end
game? We think
so, and if the idea intrigues you, then the information on this site
may be of interest. Albert Einstein was credited with
saying
that: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over
again, with the expectation of a different result the next
time. We
think it may be time for a new game plan, and now may be just the time
to implement it. |
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This
site offers news articles and information pertaining to expatriation,
offshore banking, offshore investments, residency in other
jurisdictions, second citizenship and second passport matters.
Jurisdictions covered in our main section and our on-line newsletter
sections include: Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, China, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Nevis, Panama, United States and
Uruguay. Ascot Advisory assists with incorporation
services,
banking introduction services, free zone license
assistance, residency and naturalization (second citizenship) in the
Dominican Republic and Panama. Please feel
free to contact us
with your questions !
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Reply
Form Here
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A Man's Country Is
Not
A Certain Area Of Land, Of
Mountains, Rivers, And Woods, But It Is A Principle And Patriotism Is
Loyalty To That Principle
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George William Curtis
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The Great Financial
Crisis of 2009: What's Different From 1929 ?
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There any many news articles and
opinions floating around lately comparing the Great Depression of the
1930's to the current economic climate, but are the comparisons really
fair? Well, the truth of the matter is, some things are the same
(unregulated financial market chicanery) and some things are certainly
not. In addition, will the same so-called bailouts or government
rescue packages really help the average middle-class citizen, or will
they possibly rescue the guys that created the mess, while leaving
everyone else in a lurch? These are some of the questions we want
to discuss and answer.
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On The Road To
Insolvency: Are You Prepared ?
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The
numbers are in and they do not look promising. In fact, as of
September 2008, the US Congressional Budget Office has projected a new
budget deficit in excess of US$400 Billion Dollars. They
also estimate that the cumulative deficit over the next 10 years will
be at least $2.3 trillion, but possibly US$7 Trillion. And where
is all this money coming from?
Debt of course, for the moment, to be added on top of the almost US$11
Trillion in national debt, and higher taxes later on for
sure to pay for it all. If you think
it will be you stuck with the bill, what do you want to do about it?
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Are There Any Safe
Havens Left For The Middle-Class?
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The world is
an ever changing place, in terms of politics, economics and all the
other things that may effect our personal lives. But has
this not been the case always, through-out history?
Meaning, we can stay in a negative situation or we can look for new
lands, and new opportunities. But does such places exist today,
considering the financial and economic turmoil? Are there really
any safe havens left for the average middle class citizen? We
would say the answer is YES,
and it just may surprise you to learn that maybe the world is not
completely flat or as interconnected as some would suggest.
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Click
Here For
Article
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Inflation
Makes A Comeback: Are Your Investments Inflation Proof ?
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Inflation,
or
devaluation of a currency
by the politicians, is nothing new. The Roman
Emperors
starting
clipping coins, or better said, slowly but surely reducing the gold
content of the Denari until such a point that it was nothing more than
base metal. It took them 500 years before the coins became
worthless or junk in other words (without the gold or silver
content). Paper money used to be backed by gold or exchangeable
into gold, until it too was taken off the gold standard altogether, and
now it is, quite frankly nothing more than paper with fancy engravings
on it.
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Click
Here For
Article
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Dominican Republic Real Estate As A US
Dollar Inflation - Deflation Hedge:
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The
US Dollar is sinking like a rock, and the US real estate market is not
fairing too much better. The diagnosis by many respected
economists is
for even lower interest rates. So, what can you do? Convert
your US
Dollars to Euros or Gold? Maybe, but that train seems to have
already
left the station. Where can you convert your US Dollars without
losing
your shirt on the exchange rate or otherwise, get fair value for your
money? One answer might be with Dominican Real Estate. . . .
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Rhett Butler Was Possibly The First
Offshore Investor:
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And if you recall the
story of Gone With The End, it saved his assets from disaster so he
could buy Scarlett a very nice home once the conflict was
over. In fact, you might even say that good old Rhett was
both a Patriot and an Expatriot at the same time, at least in terms of
his bank accounts and investments. But what can an old Depression
Era film about the US Civil War teach us really? Plenty, when you
consider it was a time of uncertainly, domestic unrest and currency
devaluation (in terms of the Confederate Money) - and yet Rhett Butler
survived it all.
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The
Great Exodus or Trading Places:
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It
has been estimated that over 2 Million people have expatriated from the
UK over the past decade, and now the analysis claims that about 300,000
US Citizens are leaving
the US yearly as well (and it is estimated there are already about 8
Million US citizens living abroad). Why are the best and
brightest
leaving North America and Europe? Where are they going? Is
this a new trend or an extention of an old one? What will be the
long-term result of such Mass Expatriation?
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A Second Passport or Second Citizenship:
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What
is Dual Citizenship and it is legal? What is the difference
between residency and citizenship? Why would someone want to
obtain residency in another country? Why would someone want
another
passport or citizenship? Will you loose your current citizenship
if you obtain another? Are there in fact any benefits by having
dual citizenship?
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We put together some information for you
in order
to answer these and many other related questions. The truth of
the matter is, it is not a question of should you - but rather why you
might need
dual citizenship
going forward.
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. . . . Click
Here For
Article
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Globalization: The Good, The Bad &
The Ugly
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What
has globalization meant for the average citizen? Are the
middle-class really better or worse off for it? What are the
long-term repercussions of so-called free trade, and is free trade
truly free at all?
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To be sure, globalization means different things to different people,
and whether you see it a blessing or a curse all depends upon who you
are and where you stand in this new global economy. But
regardless, there are some very profound changes taking place that will
(and already are) effecting the standard of living for the middle-class
in many of the so-called wealthy industrialized nations. Will you
be prepared for the changes ?
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Click
Here For
Article
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| Should
you have an
interest in reading some of the back issues of our newsletter, you may
do so by visiting out newsletter archive section, which contains the
last few years of our newsletters all in one place, searchable by
date. Hopefully you will find the articles on this site of value
and
interest, but it is also true that our monthly newsletters tend to have
the most current and up to date information about real estate, banking,
investments, the economy and dual citizenship matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Click
Here To Access The Archives |
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The Sovereign
Individual Versus The Welfare State:
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The news is always filled with
stories about various world conflicts, be they trade wars, the
so-called war on poverty or drugs, and various other combatative
struggles. But the one conflict no one seems to want to talk
about or mention, is the conflict (or war if you like) we see coming
is one that positions the Welfare State against the individual
middle-class
citizen. Of course, we should clarify that we are talking about
the kind of citizen that, in such a case, believes in living as a law
abiding, hard working, self reliant individual, who wants the
government out of his or her pocket, and in correlation is not
interested in any hand outs either.
Click
Here For Article
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An
Offshore Company or Foundation For Asset
Protection
And Tax Benefits:
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For the past few
years, the news has been filled with stories about companies moving
manufacturering and jobs overseas. But, that is only part of the
story. Many domestic companies in the US and Europe have set up
companies in other more favorable, lower tax jurisdictions a long time
ago - and the current tax code often encourages it. So, if
they can do it, why not you? The truth is you can, and as small
businessman or average middle class investor - you probably
should. Find out why setting up a company abroad or private
foundation is not only for the large corporations or ultra-wealthy, and
the cost quite affordable as well. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Click
Here For Article
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Will
Your Future Social Security Check Be Worth The Paper It Is Printed
On?
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Here
is how it works. You
give the government all your money (well, a good part of it) and they
give you a pension in old age. Now they claim the system is broke
- What can you do? How does Social Security really work, and are
the nay sayers who claim that the system is insolvent correct in their
assessment? Instead of counting on the Government, should you
instead start counting on yourself?
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SIGN
UP FOR THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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Every month we
prepare a newsletter highlighting current news items,
editorials and information of interest, involving topics of concern to
our clients. In order to
sign up so you can be kept informed, either
complete our Reply
Form, and indicate in the comments field that you wish to be
placed on the newsletter distribution list.
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| The
only freedom which deserves the name is
that of
pursuing our own good, in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to
deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. - John Stuart Mill |
The man who trades
freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.
- Benjamin Franklin
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Links
of Interest
.
Directly
below is a collection of links to other sites and information we think
to be of interest for our clients.
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Suggested
Reading
.
Our
belief and philosophy is that knowledge is power. As such, we
always encourage clients to read as much as possible, in order to
comprehend better the economics, politics and social dynamics of
the world we live in (and might inherit).
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Escape
Artist - Nothing
to do with a jail break, although many would say that leaving the
high tax over regulated welfare states amounts to the same
thing. The original expatriation directory
of all things to help you escape to someplace better and less taxing
(and perhaps less taxing in more ways than one)
.
The
Dominican Republic - Articles and Information
about Real Estate, Banking, Investing in the Dominican Republic.
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The
Asia Times Newspaper -
Hong Kong based News,
with a very interesting and noteworthy financial section (plus a number
of financial related guest editorials and articles you probably will
not find in other newspapers).
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The
International Herald Tribune Newspaper -
World News and Articles From Europe (owned by The New York Times)
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Dr.
Marc Faber Investment Newsletter -
Want to get some honest investment insight and information? This
is the place, and this gentleman is the guy.
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The
Market Oracle Site - An excellent resource of financial
information, plus hard hitting (but honest) economic related articles
and editorials. Good stuff if you want to really know what is
going on with the markets, inflation, etc.
.
The
Lew Rockwell Site - Articles, editorials and information for
Libertarians and fans of the Austrian School of Economics.
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The
War For Wealth By Gabor Steingart
McGraw Hill, 2008
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The Trillion Dollar Meltdown By Charles R. Morris
Public Affairs, 2008
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While America Aged By Roger Lowenstein
The Penguin Press, 2008
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The Limits Of Power By Andrew J. Bacevich
Metrpolitan Books. 2008
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Wealth, War & Wisdom By Barton Biggs
John Wiley & Sons, 2008
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I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation. Under Stress. In
Debt.
By Addison Wiggin - John Wiley & Sons, 2008
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Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed
Politics, and The Global Crisis of American Capitalism
By
Kevin Phillips - Viking Press, 2008
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The
Post American World By Fareed Zakaria
W.W. Norton, 2008
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Super Class: The Global Power Elite and The
World They Are Making By David Rothkopf
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008
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NOTE:
All of these books are available from AMAZON
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© Ascot Advisory
Services 2008 - 2009
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