The answer is simple: The same flexibility to invest in an unregulated fashion that allow hedge fund returns to flourish, can also cause them to be virtually unmarketable to the general public. The securities laws do not allow for the general advertisement and solicitation via mass marketing and communications. Knowledge about hedge funds generally travels by word of mouth.

If you owned a tech sector mutual fund in recent years, you saw your portfolio lose on average 34% of its value. Compare that with a variety of technology hedge fund that posted 20% to 35% gains. The Nasdaq lost 29% of its value while hedge funds on average returned an 8% gain. In 12 out of the last 14 years, hedge funds have out performed the markets as well as the average returns for stock mutual funds.

Part 3 of the article Increase Your Flexibility, Decrease Your Taxes: The Benefits of an Offshore Trust reprinted from International Living

The Turks and Caicos Islands offer a great deal more than sunshine, an easygoing lifestyle, first-class diving, and friendly residents. In recent years, these Caribbean islands have firmly established their reputation in the world of tax-free nations. They rank among the best, alongside the Caymans and Bahamas, in offshore benefits.

Part 2 of the article Increase Your Flexibility, Decrease Your Taxes: The Benefits of an Offshore Trust reprinted from International Living

Belize has achieved notoriety because it has taken the strongest legislative measures to protect the interests of a trust beneficiary over those of the settler's judgment creditor.

Reprinted from International Living

Holding an asset in trust simply means that a person who has legal ownership of an asset is not necessarily the person who is currently enjoying or will in the future enjoy the benefits of the property. This duality of ownership may sound complex, but in reality it is straightforward. 

There's a tiny tropical paradise on the Western edge of the Caribbean that is the new land of opportunity for the sovereign individual... a new frontier for living, investing and doing business. In this beachside paradise, the water is so clear, you can see the nooks and crannies of the reef 20 feet below. Tropical breezes blow, the sun always shines, and the friendly locals greet you like they've known you your entire life.

Even better, this is a land where the money you make is yours, not the tax man's. In Belize, your assets belong to you and you alone.

For those of you who have followed the OECD’s developments in its “Harmful Tax Haven” initiative over the past three years, skip to the section below entitled “Where Are We Now?”  For the rest of us, a simple overview will put the OECD actions into context.  

Reprinted from International Living -- July 2000

Under the guise of fighting international money laundering and stopping drug cartels, high-tax countries are trying to eliminate the attractions of tax havens to stop potential tax dollars from leaving their shores. Many former colonies, possessions, and countries closely affiliated with the more developed OECD countries are creating high barriers to entry or even eliminating tax-haven benefits to citizens of the United States. Other high-tax jurisdictions are being excluded too, for fear of trade isolation, boycotts, and the elimination of international aid.

Reprinted from International Living

When you think of Belize, you may think of its beaches, its rain forests, its spectacular diving, and its Mayan heritage... but you should add its offshore banking structures to your list.

This tiny country’s popularity among tax practitioners, estate planners, and international business people, has grown tremendously in the last decade, and enthusiasm has really piqued in the last year.

In fact, the number of registered corporations in Belize’s International Business Corporation (IBC) registry recently surpassed 10,000 - making it the third-largest domicile for offshore businesses in the Caribbean-Central American basin, behind the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

Originally Published in December 2001

A customized-single premium variable annuity that allows the holder a virtually unlimited choice of private investment funds and managers and still qualifies for the favorable tax deferral accorded annuities under the Internal Revenue Code is one of the last, yet best remaining tax deferral mechanisms left to offshore passive investors. These annuities are available only to persons who are "accredited investors" as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and are intended only for substantial investors who are U.S. taxpayers and desire to accumulate capital on a tax deferred basis for retirement or other long-term purposes.  

John Templeton, one of the most successful investors of all time, saved himself approximately $100 million in taxes in 1992…

Templeton sold his successfully money management business that year, but the IRS had no legal claim to collect.  You see, Templeton is a highly spiritual man and is immensely wealthy.  And he’s also extremely philanthropic, as he plans to have given nearly all his money away before he leaves us. But John Templeton, as successful a man as you’ll find anywhere, made an interesting choice along the way...

There are some important things you may not know about United States laws governing international trade. You might say,  “I don’t export anything” and “I haven’t invested in anything overseas so I don’t have to worry about these laws.”  Don’t be too sure about that.

Under the provisions of the Export Administration Act of 1979 as amended, the US government has established the Export Administration Regulations. They apply to US persons and to transactions which you may not realize are governed by the regulations.  Some examples follow.

The Offshore Banking Act (No. 11) of 1996 was signed into law July 26, 1996. The act allows certain banking and other related businesses to be carried on from within Belize in foreign monies, securities and assets for persons who are non residents of Belize.

Article Reprinted from Hemispheres

The King of Silver and the King of Rock-n-Roll

In the early 80’s two prominent men died.  One of them was a Hunt brother whose wealth had been estimated by Forbes Magazine as exceeding  $1 billion, shortly before his death.  The other was Elvis Presley, beloved King of Rock-n-Roll whose net worth was $300 million.

As you have learned from my previous blog post, we have recently set up a new office in London, UK. I was involved in the whole setup process from its very beginning, but after the initial phase, I am back home in the US. Due to the fact that I am the head of web development in Our Company, it is within my responsibilities to oversee all work carried out by the London Office as well. And here comes the question about how to do this effectively while being on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

As you could already get to know from the News section, we have recently opened a new office in London, United Kingdom. The office has already started its operation and first projects are to be delivered soon, so I finally found some time to share my impressions from its setup.