Ex Pat finances

[SEA Traveler]

I'm beginning to wonder why worry about it because the worlds monetary system is going to come tumbling down here soon enough anyway. get some land and start farming so that you have the means to maintain subsistence. food and shelter and the basics are always good to be involved in.

[OhOh]

I was under the illusion I had seen some 100% capital safe bonds in the UK somewhere ,, I thought the NSI lot issued them oh well

They might well be, just check who is providing the 100% guarantee, who is backing/insuring the gaurantee, make sure the % returns quoted are realistic - many firms are still quoting 4%,8% and 12% returns which we haven't seen for years and lastly check the "charges" the advisor will be wanting to take every year.

The last thing I'm gonna do mate is have ANY form of business

You are still a young man, you've got 40 years ahead of you. Maybe not as a 25 year old, but you can keep the forty year old body going for ever.

After a few years of building up your nest in Thailand you may have an itch to do something more. Better a productive interest than a destructive one.

[OhOh]

get some land and start farming so that you have the means to maintain subsistence

Yep, it keeps you fit and can be a source of achievement when your hard work provides a real addition for your family.

It can also be a bit an arse when the bugs and droughts put paid to a few months work or your neighbours get to the fruits before you do.

[DrAndy]

Buy physical gold, as much as you can safely store. Last two years profit of 19% per year (38%), priced in THB and you still have the capital available when you want to cash the gold in; anywhere in the world and at any time.

yes, maybe buy at $1650 and sell at $1450! or less

[DrAndy]

get some land and start farming

or get some land, as an investment

but you would have to know what is a good investment, like anything

[OhOh]

yes, maybe buy at $1650 and sell at $1450! or less

As everyone here has said there are risks with all "investments".

[The Ghost Of The Moog]

I would suggest buying some ETFs that invest into Hedge Funds, .

Can you give some pointers/examples of which ones.

[Butterfly]

^ sure, some new ones have been introduced recently to follow the different HF indexes available (HFRX series)

[Butterfly]

today it's not even about income, but how to maintain some investment value to the inflation threat

[The Ghost Of The Moog]

^ sure, some new ones have been introduced recently to follow the different HF indexes available (HFRX series)

Yes, they are replicators that attempt to emulate hedge fund indices and hedge fund returns.

Though they don't actually invest in underyling hedge funds.

[The Ghost Of The Moog]

^ sure, some new ones have been introduced recently to follow the different HF indexes available (HFRX series)

Yes, they are replicators that attempt to emulate hedge fund indices and hedge fund-style returns.

Though they don't actually invest in any underlying hedge funds.

[Marmite the Dog]

If you intend to base 99% of your life in Thailand, wouldn't it make more sense to use a high interest Thai bank account? That way once your money is in baht you wouldn't need to worry about currency losses after the initial transfer. It must be no less risky than having an offshore account in a sinking currency like sterling or dollars?

[taxexile]

sinking currency

the £ is relatively strong at the moment and 5%+ tax free in ££ is surely better than 3% before tax is deducted in Baht.

[OhOh]

sinking currency

the £ is relatively strong at the moment and 5%+ tax free in ££ is surely better than 3% before tax is deducted in Baht.

Less inflation of course would show a different choice.

[nigelandjan]

Thats an interesting viewpoint MTD ,, I have no idea if they offer monthly income from these accounts ,, this is what I am gonna be looking for.

To be honest if I could find safety for the capital in an account / accounts such as this I would happily settle for around the 3.5% mark , I don't know as I am a bit clueless at the mo on this subject but I'm guessing I would pay Thai tax at around 7% which has to be better than the UK 20%

[can123]

I happen to be a qualified ( FPC) financial adviser but have not worked at it for more than ten years. It was just too dishonest a business for me and I walked out and qualified as a TEFL teacher. Now everybody knows how dishonest it was.

My advice, not as a financial adviser, is to hang on to your money. The recession will end eventually but inflation will return. The position is too uncertain for anybody to offer you advice which is 100% correct. I'll hedge my bets by advising you to invest in UK government bonds - Gilts. Not with a view to earning a high income but to try to secure that capital you already have. Hang on until you get your pension. Don't weaken your present financial situation just because you want to go to Thailand sooner.

[Marmite the Dog]

sinking currency

the £ is relatively strong at the moment and 5%+ tax free in ££ is surely better than 3% before tax is deducted in Baht.

Really?

[taxexile]

its within a gnats crotchet of 50 today, compared to 46/47 a couple of months ago.

yes i know it was once 75, but that was a long long time ago.

[DrAndy]

the £ is relatively strong at the moment

what!! maybe it appears so against the dollar, but with all the QE that is going on, it sure ain't strong

but I'm guessing I would pay Thai tax at around 7% which has to be better than the UK 20%

you would not have to pay any UK tax if you could prove your residency in Thailand

[nigelandjan]

Some sound advice Tincan , but I really don't want to wait until I am 65 then a couple of years later kick the bucket , I have worked very hard all my life and have never been given / come into,,, anything ,,,so as I have a plethora of hobbies / interests I want to pursue whilst I am still able to.

However I accept the reality of it is I might well have to work on nearer to the 65 mark

[nigelandjan]

you would not have to pay any UK tax if you could prove your residency in Thailand

Thanks for that info Doc ,, would that apply to both my pensions coming from the UK ? as you say if resident in Thai

[DrAndy]

I presume your pensions, being from the UK, may attract tax

I think they would, but not any investments you make offshore

[taxexile]

pensions paid in the uk, by uk companies or private pension companies have uk tax deducted at source, offshore investment gains are tax free.

you will need to prove that you are non resident to the bank or organisation that you invest with. the paperwork is tedious to say the least.

you only need to inform customs and revenue of your offshore status, they will lose any paperwork you send them anyway but they will check up on you later for sure.

best to organise it through an accountant, they will deal with customs and revenue on your behalf. once your status is all set up, if your income streams are uncomplicated then it is easy enough to deal with any tax liabilities yourself through the self assessment system.

[can123]

Accountants will eat your money. Bear in mind that you would only be liable to pay income tax if your pension exceeded your personal allowances as a married man. Once the government are aware that you no longer live in the UK, your pension will be frozen.

[taxexile]

^
true, but i was referring to occupational pensions and private pensions that can be taken earlier than the state pension, from 50years of age usually. some of these pension schemes are inflation linked and your country of residence will not affect those increases.