 |
|
This Country Is The World's It Is:
 Panama offers many different, very appealing retirement lifestyle options, from Panama City to the highlands and two long coastlines...As you’ve probably guessed by now, Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader, What's going on? How can a country this size continue to bring so much to the table? Panama Is:
For this important and timely event, we've invited all our top Panama experts, advisors, contacts, colleagues, and friends. The personal introductions we intend to make over the two-and-a-half days of this conference are alone worth the price of admission. We'll arm you with every contact and every resource you'll need to pursue whatever Panama plans and dreams you may harbor. And we'll introduce you to Panama in a way that no one else can. We'll show you Panama from the inside. We've been spending time and doing business in this country, again, for more than 19 years and living and operating our business here full-time for more than 9. Here in Panama, over the past 19 years, we've bought pre-construction for investment and centuries-old French-colonial for renovation. We've started businesses, formed corporations, and opened bank accounts... We've acquired full-time residency through the country's Reforestation Visa Investment program (which is but one of the 13 good residency visa options Panama offers, including the ground-breaking “Specific Countries” visa program that I’ll tell you more about in a minute)... We've hired staff, shipped household belongings, enrolled our young son in school, sourced architects and carpenters, paid local utility bills, researched which health insurance plan makes most sense for our family, bought cars (because finally we'd had enough of dealing with Panama City taxi drivers!), gotten local driver’s licenses, and, most recently, started a local franchise (a family project)... And our experiences in this tropical haven are only the beginning. Because for this special Live and Invest in Panama event of 2018, we’re pulling out all the stops, with the help of the most expanded panel of Panama experts you’ll find anywhere. Resident global real estate investing, tax, and business expert (and my husband) Lief Simon and I will be on hand throughout this Live and Invest in Panama event to share our personal stories, anecdotes, discoveries, recommendations, caveats, and cautions, of course. But we realize that we are but one (well, two) points of view. You need many others. Plus, you need experienced, professional counsel when it comes to things like taxes, banking, trusts, corporations, residency requirements, investor incentives, insurance... To help you consider and understand the many advantages and benefits Panama offers, we've invited the top experts in the country on these important issues to join us for this just-in-time event. These are our trusted personal advisors, people you can count on to accomplish whatever you're hoping to accomplish in this country safely and efficiently. And, they'll join us not only to address the group, but also to answer your questions, one-on-one, and to make themselves fully at your disposal. 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 they can find safe haven, for themselves and their money... Panama is the answer! What's So Special About Panama?
Other former bubble markets worldwide have imploded. Why not the Panama market? I can identify four reasons:
My Rallying Recommendation Gets
You Only So Far  Panama is a nature-lover's
paradise and one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations on earth... Internet research... email communications... armchair searching and planning... manuals, reports, and guidebooks...
How Much Does It Cost To Live In Panama? The truth? There's no answer to this question... at least no one-size-fits-all answer. A couple could live comfortably in this country on as little as US$1,200 a month, perhaps less. Of course, you could also spend a whole lot more than that... Together, during our Live and Invest in Panama Conference, we'll walk through a series of budgets, from very modest to fully loaded, each one realistic and based on real-world experience... so you can make an informed decision both about what it would cost you to live in Panama... and exactly what that monthly spend would buy you. 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. At Home In Panama  At home in Panama, some of the world's most beautiful beaches would be on your doorstep...In Panama, specifically, we're building businesses. 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 20 years, and we continue to shop... and to buy. Because this country continues to offer some of the smartest property buys on the planet today. We're also becoming part of the community. We have good friends in this country, some Panamanian, some American... others are French, Dutch, British, Russian, Italian, Irish... Our commitment to Panama is long-term and ever-evolving.
In Panama, You Could...
Enjoy Perfect Weather Not in Panama City, of course. The climate in the capital is hot, hot, hot... and humid. But in the interior of the country, in places like Boquete and Volcan... Santa Fe and, nearer to the big city, El Valle... the weather can be spring-like year-round. In Boquete you might even want a fireplace for the chilly nights... In Panama you'll never again have to worry about snow. Nor will you have to give a thought to hurricanes. As one expat friend puts it, "The only hurricanes in Panama since 1851 have been the kind you drink." What's the point of all this to you? At our Live and Invest in Panama Conference, we'll introduce you to: The #1 Legal Resource for Living and Retiring in Panama:
Roberto Guardia, Attorney-at-law And Principal Of Guardia & Co.
Since his career in law began in 1987 he has gained a variety of expertise, including in the fields of real estate and consulting. Today he is a founding partner at Guardia & Co., which was established in 2005. The #1 Resource for Real Estate Investing in Panama: Lief Simon, Private Real Estate Investor, Consultant, And Developer
 Panama boasts Top-Notch, First World health care and medical facilities...Lief made his first Panama purchase 19 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 two-and-a-half days of our 2018 Live and Invest in Panama 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.
The #1 Resource for Insurance, Including Health Insurance, in Panama: Gonzalo de la Guardia, Licensed Broker, ADG Seguros
In Addition, Over The Course Of These Two-And-A-Half Days In Panama City, You'll Also Meet And Hear From:
In Panama, You Could… "Kathleen, I moved to Panama 11 years ago because I like gardening and wanted to live in a place where tropical gardening is possible year-round without worrying about frost. "Here in the highlands of Chiriqui, we have very rich black volcanic soil, and it is cool enough here to grow many temperate plants, yet it is frost-free. "Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, especially among retirees, and a reason to move to Panama. If you move to a foreign country with an interesting hobby, it helps to keep you from becoming bored and dis-satisfied with your choice. "In addition to gardening, birding is very popular in Panama, as there is an unusually large number of species of birds living here..." --Robert G., Happily Retired to Panama for 11 Years The World's Best In May 2012, Panama's then President Ricardo Martinelli issued an executive decree that has since become known as the "Specific Countries" residency permit. Big news, as this new program is not only easy residency, but a quick and easy route to a work permit, as well. And a work permit is no easy thing for a foreigner to organize anywhere in the world. Note that this unique and important program could be discontinued anytime. This could be your last chance to take advantage of it.
In Panama You Could…  In the highlands of Panama, the temperatures are cooler and the cost of living is much, much lower...Only it wasn't working for them. From their position in the U.S. capital, they had an insider's view of what was going on and, from their perspective, what was going wrong. This was seven years ago, and, after a lot of research and months of soul-searching, Coley and his wife, in their mid-30s, scooped up their two little ones and opted out. "We wanted to get out while we were still young enough to remake our lives and our children's futures in a way that made more sense to us." Coley and his young family hopped a flight from the American capital to the Panamanian one, where, months before, they'd purchased a house on the beach. They had to pull the trigger on their plan, because their house back in the States had sold. Yet, they discovered, their new home on the coast outside Panama City wasn't finished yet. Arriving in Panama, the little family checked into the Intercontinental Hotel. "We were at the Intercontinental for weeks," Coley explained Thursday night when we met for dinner. "I would wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. What had I done? What was I doing? We were living in a hotel in a Third World city with two toddlers, for crying out loud. Burning through our savings. No one could promise when our house would be ready for us to move in. I thought I'd made the biggest mistake of my life." Today, seven years later, Coley is confident that moving his family to Panama was the smartest thing he could have done at the time and that, if he hadn't done it then, he'd do it today for sure. "I look at what's going on back in the States," he says, "and I know we made the right choice. I see very bad times ahead for my country. I think my family and I can do better for ourselves in this life we're creating for ourselves. "There's so much unhappiness and uncertainty in the United States right now, especially in D.C. I think people in that part of the country are at the epicenter of a growing recognition that things are out of control. What I realized years ago was that nobody was going to get things back under control anytime soon. Our only choice, each of us, is to take control of our own lives. I say this to friends and clients back in D.C. today, and they agree. They see this truth as well as I do. But they're scared, intimidated. I understand. I was scared, too, when the realization first set in for me. "All I can say is that this move to a simpler life here in Panama that we found the courage to make? It was the best move and the best decision of our lives." Plus, at our Live and Invest in Panama 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.  In charming mountain and coastal towns across Panama, it's possible to retire well ona budget of as little as US$1,200 per month... 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. We know who is building dream homes by the beach and who's the subject of serial horror stories. 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 two-and-a-half 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. 14 Reasons Panama Is One Of The #1: The cost of living is affordable. Outside Panama City, it remains downright cheap. You could retire to the beach in Las Tablas, for example, on the country's Azuero Peninsula, on a budget of US$1,200 per month or even less. #2: The sun shines year-round. Panama City can be too hot and sticky for some retirees' tastes, but, again, look beyond the capital, and you find pockets of near-perfect climates in some regions. If you prefer cool mountain temperatures to steamy sea-level ones, consider Boquete or, less discovered and therefore more affordable, Santa Fe. #3: The retiree's path is well worn. This country has been attracting foreign retirees in growing numbers for more than a decade. It offers many and very user-friendly options for establishing foreign residency if you want to live here full-time, and it is home to established and welcoming communities of expats and retirees. #4: You can get by without speaking Spanish. I don't recommend it, but, in Panama City, you don’t have to learn to speak Spanish if you don’t want to. #5: Health care in Panama is of an international standard, and Panama City is home to Hospital Punta Pacifica, the only hospital in Latin America affiliated with and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International. #6: The cost of medical care is a bargain. Like everything, medical costs are higher in Panama City than elsewhere in the country, but, even in the capital, a doctor's visit costs US$50 or less. #7: Local Panama health insurance (which can be good, comprehensive coverage, all you need living in this country) can cost US$100 per month or less. #8: The infrastructure is of a high standard. This is a place where things generally work—the Internet, cable TV, phone service, etc., are all as reliable as anywhere in the States. The roadways and highway systems being constantly expanded and improved. #9: The currency is the U.S. dollar, so U.S. retirees have no currency-exchange risk or exposure. #10: Panama City is an international travel hub, very accessible from North America. The flight from Miami, for example, is about two-and-a-half hours. #11: Panama's pensionado program of special benefits and discounts for foreign retirees is the current Gold Standard. Retired in this country, you can save as much as 50% on everything from restaurant meals to in-country airfares, from prescription medicines to closing costs on your new beach house. #12: This is a nature-lover's paradise, boasting some of the world's best surfing, snorkeling, diving, sport fishing, birding, hiking, and adventure-travel opportunities anywhere on earth. #13: This is a safe, welcoming place to call home. #14: Retirees you meet in Panama aren't losing sleep over their futures. They're embracing them. If All These Folks Could Do It,
Who else will you meet at our Live and Invest in Panama Conference? Others just like you who've already made the move: 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.  What is your Panama dream? Come, let us help you realize it...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.
No place is perfect, and we understand that a rose-colored view does you no favors. To this end, we've invited two expats who chose Panama. One is running a business... and one is living his retirement dream in an expat enclave high in the mountains... and each one is excited to share his (or her) story with you.
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.
First, I began work to launch this new publishing group, Live and Invest Overseas, and the new free e-letter service, Overseas Opportunity Letter. In addition, my husband, Lief Simon (yes, the guy I introduced to you above), and I made an important geographic decision. We decided to make a third international move with our family and my new business, from Paris to Panama City. In other words, I've been covering this beat, researching, writing, speaking, and presenting on the opportunities for living, retiring, and investing overseas, for more than three decades. I have moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets from the East Coast of the United States first to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France… next to Panama City, Panama… and, most recently, we’ve flipped the switch to a new stage of our lives that has us moving around the world regularly with Paris and Panama City as complementary home bases. I have traveled to more than 70 countries, invested in real estate in 23, established businesses in 7, and renovated historic properties in 6. I've written six books (including a brand-new and expanded edition of my best-selling “How To Retire Overseas” to be published by Penguin Books in 2018) on why and how you might want to do the same and I've appeared many dozens of times on television and radio (everything from Bloomberg and CNBC to Fox and the Regis Philbin Show) detailing opportunities for living, retiring, and investing all around the world. In Panama, in February, at this Live and Invest in Panama Conference, 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 two-and-a-half 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, with our Live and Invest Overseas panel of experts, and with all the Panama expats we’ve invited to join us. P.S. From my vantage point here in Panama City, I can tell you that this is a moment of opportunity in this country that, right now more than ever, qualifies as the world's top retirement, investment, tax, and doing-business haven. Live And Invest In Panama Your Live and Invest in Panama admission includes all seminars, breakout sessions, workshops, cocktail parties, and entrance to the exhibit hall.  Important Discounts And Special Offers: If you're a Panama Circle Member, All Access Pass Member, or Private Access Member, we've got a seat at the conference with your name on it. In addition, we'd like to extend a special discounted invitation to our valued readers: Overseas Retirement Circle members and subscribers to Panama Letter, Simon Letter, or Global Property Advisor save US$100.
More Reasons
We're Not The Only Ones Who Know Here's what others are saying about Panama...
|
Roberto is our personal attorney, the one who's by our side for every real estate purchase, every visa application, every bank account, every corporation, and every contract.
Lief Simon has lived and worked on 5 continents and traveled to more than 60 countries. His real estate investing experience began more than 20 years ago with a multi-unit building in Chicago. After selling that building for a leveraged total return of more than 1,800% in two-and-a-half years, Lief began to diversify internationally. In the 20 years since, he has personally bought and sold property in 23 countries.
Gonzalo de la Guardia is your one-stop resource for all your Panama insurance needs. Gonzalo has been helping expats in this country shop for insurance for more than 35 years. He understands your concerns and needs, and he's well familiar with all the options. 