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Live & Invest Overseas Presents
The Premier Live & Invest In Panama 2009 Event  Panama is the world's #1 retirement haven...
It's the world's top offshore haven...and an international banking center... Its pensionado program of special benefits for foreign retirees is the Gold Standard... And, as a foreign resident, you can pay zero local tax... Panama is one of the best places in the world right now to start a business...and one of the easiest places to obtain foreign residency... Plus, outside Panama City, this beautiful country hides the smartest beach, river, and mountain property buys anywhere on the planet today... It sure can be a great place to call home... And it's one place in the world right now that's enjoying continued growth and prosperity, global financial meltdown notwithstanding... You've heard all this from me before, dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,  And you're going to hear it again. Because anyone who is in the market right now for a place to live, retire, invest, or do business overseas...and who isn't looking closely at what Panama has to offer...is missing the boat. Big time. We're in the middle of a worldwide financial meltdown, but you'd never know it down here in the Hub of the Americas. This remains a fast-moving, ever-expanding market...a land of serious opportunity. After five years of 8%+ annual growth rates...how did little Panama fare in 2008, the year of economic crisis, fiasco, and disaster for so much of the world?
So, again, I'm going to continue beating this drum loudly, because, as so much of the developed world is experiencing collective panic...nearly to the point of paralysis...as so many nearing retirement are wondering...and worrying...how in the world they're ever going to be able to afford to stop working...and where in the world, now, amidst the chaos, they're going to invest their money... Panama is the answer! The trouble is, as you may have figured out already: My Rallying Recommendation Gets You Only So Far  Internet research...e-mail communications...armchair searching and planning...manuals, reports, and guidebooks... All these resources are great...but no amount of them is enough. You can't determine whether or not Panama makes sense for you as a place to think seriously about retiring or relocating or buying preconstruction or investing in raw land or setting up a corporation or launching a new business...long distance. You can't make any real decision about Panama until you've come down here to see it for yourself. Therefore, I suggest you get yourself down here ASAP. "Thank you for your impressive and no-nonsense information... We love it!"
-- Jennifer S., United States You could make the trip on your own. I'd recommend you allow at least a month in the country...and that you count on a series of follow-up visits. No matter how well prepared you think you are before you get on the plane, you'll find, once you're on the ground, that nothing is going to play out quite as you expect. You'll run around from banker to attorney...from developer to owner...from agent to broker...from tax advisor to insurance salesman...from visa specialist to customs agent...back to the banker...back to the attorney... You'll stand in lines...you'll struggle with the language...some appointments will show up hours late...others will never appear... You'll be batted around among bureaucrats...you'll wonder if you're getting a good price...if you're being presented with all the options... Yikes. Why would I subject myself to that torture, you might be wondering. And, indeed, why in the world would you? Especially when you have a far superior alternative. "Thank you for your daily ezine. I read each one and always pick up some interesting and timely piece of inside knowledge. Today's update is a perfect example..."
-- Robert C., Spain You need to get down here to Panama straightaway to see what's going on in this country with so much to offer. And, while you're here, you want to make efficient use of your time. You want to make the contacts and the connections you'll need to realize whatever Panama agenda you imagine. You want to have all the options and opportunities laid out for you. You want to meet with the bankers, the attorneys, the visa specialists, the property developers, etc., etc.... And you certainly don't want to spend weeks and weeks of your time doing it. No problem. Make plans to be in Panama City May 14-16, 2009. Be in Panama City...and in the room for our Premier Live & Invest In Panama Conference. We'll take care of the rest.
More than all that, we've made a home here. Our 9-year-old son is attending the Paul Gauguin French school. (This is but one of the many schooling options in Panama City. If you're thinking of making a move with children, you have more than two dozen top-notch international schools to choose from.) We're building a business. We're putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to the local real estate market. We've been investing in Panama property for more than six years, and we continue to shop...and to buy.  As we've been reporting, Panama City is not the place to buy for investment...but, outside the capital, this country still hides some of the smartest property buys on the planet today. You just need to know where to look. We're also becoming part of the community. We have good friends in this country, some Panamanian, some American...others are Dutch, British, Ukranian... Our commitment to Panama is long-term. What's the point of all this to you? Well...all those years of experience...all those contacts and resources...and all those community connections? We'll be bringing all that...and then some...to the table over the three days of our Premier Live & Invest in Panama Conference in May. "I love the e-zine and eagerly look forward to reading more from you people. What a fantastic idea you've come up with."
-- Carolyn J., United States We've put out a general call, and I'm pleased to report that all our top contacts have responded enthusiastically in the affirmative. They are ready for action. With their help, we've put together an A+ program. Join us in Panama City May 14-16, and you'll learn everything you need to know about residency and taxes...bank accounts and corporations...holding structures and health insurance...employment opportunities (these are limited) and entrepreneurial options (these are not)... Over the course of these three days, you'll also meet everyone you'll need to know to launch your new life in Panama. We're opening our personal rolodex for this event...live and on stage. At our Premier Live & Invest in Panama Conference, we'll introduce you to:
Furthermore, we've been recommending Rainelda as the top legal resource in this country for 10 years. In that time, Rainelda has assisted thousands of readers with real estate purchase, residency applications, incorporations, bank accounts, and tax and business issues. Her track record is as good as they come...her reputation second to none.
Rainelda is the most knowledgeable attorney we've found in more than a decade of looking. She's the one you want on your side when you sit down at the negotiating table...or when you begin considering your full-time residency options.
As the founding editor of Global Real Estate Investor and Real Estate Editor for International Living for 10 years, Lief spent more than three weeks out of four on the road for an entire decade, traveling almost constantly in search of the world's top emerging real estate opportunities. "I wish to congratulate you for the quality of the reports I have received up to now--the plain, matter-of-fact, but essential and wise information we all need to make vital decisions, especially in these extremely difficult times."
-- Peter L., Italy Lief looks for one of two market situations when evaluating a potential investment: an abundance of opportunity created by a market distortion (crisis investing) or a chance to position yourself ahead of new infrastructure or some other local trend (the path of progress). For example, Lief told readers of his Global Real Estate Investor to buy in Argentina immediately after the 2001 financial crisis in that country, a time when CNN was showing riots in the streets and warning people to stay away. Lief saw not crisis but opportunity. Forward-thinking readers who followed his lead enjoyed appreciation rates of 100% and more in fewer than three years on buys in Buenos Aires. In recent years, Lief has also turned readers on to investments in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Romania, buys that have appreciated 160% in 18 months, 120% in 12 months, and 82% in 15 months, respectively. Lief retired from International Living at the end of 2006 to pursue his own real estate investment agenda. In the two-and-a-half years since, he has focused his attention on Panama. Lief made his first Panama purchase six years ago and continues shopping and buying today. In that time, he's covered every corner of this country. Lief knows where to buy now and how much to spend. He knows the pitfalls and the caveats and how to avoid them all. If your Panama agenda includes any real estate component, this is the man you want to speak with. Over the three days of our May Live & Prosper in Panama in 2009 event...you'll have the chance to do just that. Where Should You Buy For Investment In Panama Today?
Panama's is one of the fastest-moving property markets on the planet. No, that's not true. Panama is many property markets...and they're all shifting and expanding so fast it can make your head spin. How do you keep your wits about you...buy smart...and come out on top? More to the point: Where do you look to buy in the first place? Our in-country Panama property experts will tell you. Join us in Panama May 14-16 to find out...
Health insurance may be one of your biggest worries as you prepare to make a move overseas. Kevin understands that and is ready to answer all your questions.  In addition, though, he's also the most knowledgeable and experienced source of information and advice you're going to find in this country on title, automobile, fire, homeowners, and life insurance. Kevin can help you understand the costs and the product options in each case and make the most informed decision to suit your personal circumstances. Again, here in Panama in May, you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with Kevin and to have your particular questions and concerns addressed.
How can you know what's for sale or for rent? Which neighborhoods might best suit you? Which beach towns? How much should you expect to spend to rent an apartment? How much should you pay per square meter to buy in the mountains? Real estate professional Giulia Gonzalez has the answer. We've been working with Giulia for more than five years. She knows Panama real estate better than anyone else you're going to find...because she knows it as a local. "Informative and factual, no bunk! I really appreciate that."
-- Judith D., United States Giulia is a Panamanian who has lived and worked in the States. Her English is perfect, and her attitude is anything but Latin. Still, she understands how things work in this country the way only a Panamanian can understand.  Giulia knows the current per-square-meter cost to buy or to rent in every neighborhood of Panama City...and she knows and has personal local contacts in every other region of this country you might be interested in for living, retiring, or investing. Giulia will help you get the lay of the land regarding this country's key real estate markets...she'll help you to set realistic expectations about what things currently cost...and then she'll do everything possible to make sure you buy or rent safe and for the best possible price. No other real estate agent in this town will work harder for you.
Most recently, Chris has focused his attention on Panama. Every American living, retiring, or investing outside the United States needs two tax advisors--one in the country where he's spending his time or his money...and a second back home in the States. Chris is the guy you want working for you back home. In addition, over the course of these three days in Panama City, you'll also meet and hear from:
Managed timber has beaten the stock market over the past 30 years, returning about 15% a year, while stocks, during the same period, have returned only, on average, about 11% annually. "The honesty and realism of your information shines through. I am looking forward to continuing reading your offerings for a long time."
-- Carol C., United States Furthermore, not only is timber a good way to beat the markets, it's also a great way to hedge them. Timber operates blissfully ignorant of things like worldwide financial meltdowns. The demand for this commodity continues to grow, while the supply, especially for certain kinds of timber, like teak, the world's most valuable hardwood, is limited. Teak is indigenous to only four countries in the world (Burma, Thailand, Laos, and India), but it also grows exceedingly well down here in Panama, particularly in the Darien region, where Robert's 15-year-old plantation is thriving. Even if you aren't thinking about moving to Panama (and therefore shopping residency options), right now, given the current financial climate, this kind of investment is hard to beat. Robert will tell you all about it when we meet in May. In addition, during the three days we're together here in Panama City, we'll introduce you to a professional Panama mortgage broker. One of the most frequently asked questions from readers is, "Can I arrange financing locally to buy real estate?"  In most of the developing world, the answer is no. In Panama, the answer is, indeed. This is the biggest international banking center in the region, home to more than 120 international banks, and a number of them lend to foreign property buyers. Right now, when it's no longer an easy option to borrow against a real estate asset back home or to bring your equity with you, this is a more important than ever advantage to choosing Panama. Which banks offer financing? According to what terms? What paperwork will you need to apply? How will you qualify? Can you be pre-approved? Our preferred mortgage broker in Panama City will detail the answers to all those questions and every other one you have regarding financing in Panama. We'll introduce you to our preferred Panama City banker, as well. It's harder and harder to open a foreign bank account anywhere in the world. It pays to have a personal introduction...an introduction and all your banking questions answered. If you're considering retiring to Panama, some of your most urgent questions likely have to do with the quality and the cost of health care in this country. When we meet in May, we'll make sure you get honest and direct answers from local health-care professionals. You could get by living in Panama without learning Spanish, especially if you intend to focus your time in Panama City. However, we strongly recommend you make an effort to learn the local lingo. Your experience living and spending time here will be greatly enriched once you cross the language barrier. And a little effort goes a long way. That's why we're also inviting a representative from one of the top language schools in Panama City. Also among our Panama Conference Team will be an international shipping agent (to help answer all your questions about shipping your belongings, importing your car, and mitigating your customs duty). Plus, at our Premier Live & Invest in Panama in 2009 event, we'll also introduce you to the people behind the most appealing property developments on offer in the most appealing regions of this beautiful country.  One problem with Panama is that you're spoiled for choice. Panama City's, especially, is a mature real estate market. How do you choose among all the options for city living? And which beach developments make most sense for you given your personal preferences, priorities, and budget? We've been scouting, researching, and performing due diligence on real estate development projects in this country for more than a dozen years. We know who's doing what...and who's doing something he shouldn't be doing. "Thank you for all your hard work. You have made a lot of people dream and a lot of dreams come true. I enjoy all the e-mails from all your staff living all over the world. I am always telling people about you and how you started your publications years ago. In fact, I just today told my banker about how honest and smart you are, letting us know where to go. Wish I had listened to you more years ago..."
-- Marlene M., Alaska We know who's building dream homes by the beach and who's the subject of serial horror stories. For our Premier Live & Invest in Panama in 2009 Conference, we've identified the top five developers operating right now in this country. I'm not exaggerating when I say that dozens of local developers have asked to be able to participate in this event. They're all willing to pay advertising or sponsorship fees. That's not the issue. The issue is: Who do we want to recommend? We understand that, when you're in the room with us over these three days, every speaker and exhibitor we introduce to you comes with our implied endorsement. Heck...he (or she) comes with our explicit endorsement. We don't take that lightly. Our reputation is everything. We want you to be wowed by the quality of this event...so that you might think about coming to another event somewhere sometime down the road. We're in this for the long haul. The same can't be said for all the real estate developers in this part of the world. We're careful, because we've learned you've got to be. That's why, for this event, we're inviting but a handful of developers. These are the guys we want you to know, for theirs are the development projects worth your attention...and your investment.  Who else do we want you to know? Others just like you who've already made the move: Expats already living, investing, or doing business in this country. In fact, these introductions...and your chance to mingle one-on-one, during cocktail receptions and over poolside lunches, with these folks...these alone are worth the price of admission. They could be the most important benefit of the entire event. I'm not counting myself as part of this crew. Yes, I'm an expat living, investing, and doing business in Panama...but I understand if you'd like to hear about Panama from someone other than me for a change. These people have no agenda. They've agreed to participate in the event for no reason other than they'd like to help out fellow expats considering following in their footsteps. They receive nothing in return...have no ties to anyone (including me or Live and Invest Overseas)...and are hindered by no conflict of interest. Our only request of them is that they tell it like it is. What you hear from these Panama expats won't be all good. Maybe it won't even be mostly good. But it will be the real deal. "I particularly appreciated your information today about the joys (?) of international rental property. What I admire is your honest, tell-it-like-it-is approach. A lot of people have been hurt by nothing but glowing reports about offshore living from various sources. Your honest, direct approach is a real service."
-- Arlean K., United States No place is perfect, and we understand that a rose-colored view does you no favors. There's a reason these folks (and Lief and I) are in Panama. We're fans. But we're not fools. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly of day-to-day life and of trying to do day-to-day business in this place. We're enjoying the advantages...and we're reconciled to the downsides. An important part of our agenda during our May event is to show you these downsides...so you can decide whether you can live with them, too. To this end, we've invited three expats who chose Panama. One is running a business...one has invested in real estate with near-disastrous results (he'll tell you all about it when you meet him)...and each one is excited to share his (or her) story with you. "In a horribly busy world and amid corporate pressures, I find that your newsletter is most informative and a wealth of very interesting and thought-provoking information of which I hope to make use in the near future. No matter how busy I am, I find the time to read your letter every day. Keep up the great work!"
-- John M., United States And, of course, I'll be there, too. You hear from me every day...but perhaps this would be a good time for a more formal introduction. My name is Kathleen Peddicord. For more than 23 years, I was Editor and Publisher of International Living. In 2007, I decided to take a break, during which I did two things. First, I began work to launch this new publishing group, Live and Invest Overseas, and the new free e-letter service, the Overseas Opportunity Letter. In addition, my husband, Lief Simon (yes, one and the same as the guy I introduced you to above), and I made an important geographic decision. We decided to make a third international move with our family and my new business...this time to Panama City. In other words, as I write, I've been covering this beat, researching, writing, speaking, and presenting on the opportunities for living, retiring, and investing overseas, for nearly a quarter-century. I have moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets from the East Coast of the United States first to Waterford, Ireland...then, five years ago, to Paris, France...and, most recently, last summer, to Panama City.
I look forward to sharing details of our long experience in this little country with such an abundance of upside. More than that, I look forward to the chance to meet you face-to-face and one-on-one. For me, this is one of the best parts of these live events. This will be a high-energy, full-throttle three days. But we'll do everything we can to make sure it's also a whole lot of fun. We're building in cocktail receptions, lunches, open-air parties, and other special events to give you as much opportunity as possible to mingle and mix with your fellow attendees and your Live and Invest Overseas panel of experts. You never know where these cocktail and poolside conversations might lead. Over the years, we've known readers who've met business partners...roommates...equity investors...language tutors...and, certainly, great friends at our conferences. We've even known some conference introductions that have led to much more than friendship. You know...Lief and I met, a decade ago, at a conference in Ireland... Sincerely,  Kathleen Peddicord Publisher, Live and Invest Overseas P.S. Panama Circle Members attend free...as do their spouses, significant others, or guests. And Overseas Retirement Letter subscribers, we'd like to invite you to join us at a special discounted price. See below for full program and cost details.
"I have to say that you seem to dig deeper into the feel of a particular place and to do comparative analysis between alternative places. Your approach is more sophisticated and thoughtful and therefore more useful than that of other information sources covering these same subjects."
-- John W., United States
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That's where we're holding our event: the recently renovated Hotel Veneto, now a Wyndham property, where we've negotiated a very special Conference Attendee Rate of only US$140 a night, including both full breakfast and free wireless Internet. If you've researched the cost of international-standard hotels in this town, you appreciate what a bargain this is. Internet alone can cost you US$15 a day at some hotels! 