Hi ,

Recently we've been asked by several readers about ways in which to obtain a second passport. Some countries maintain economic citizenship or citizenship-by-investment programs. Governments of those countries utilize the program to attract investors of good character to make a substantial contribution to the development of the country's economy. These investors can then apply for citizenship and passport within the relevant regulations.

Currently only three countries in the world provide for official economic citizenship. Those are the Commonwealth of Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis and Austria. Dominica requires a non-refundable donation of US$ 75,000 for a single person and US$ 100,000 for a family option. St. Kitts & Nevis require an investment in the amount of at least US$ 350,000 or a donation of US$ 200,000 for a single person and at least US$ 250,000 for a family. Austria has much more substantial financial expectations from its investors and it's not that easy to qualify for a citizen's status in Austria.

After consulting with experts we've come to the conclusion that it's a better strategy to use sound tax planing to take advantage of offshore asset protection structures, such as the Master Pension Trust offered by Hong Kong, perfectly suited for citizens of all the G8 nations.

Aaron A Day

The Master Pension Trust is one of the most tax efficient pension structure is available to the private investor. Domiciled in Hong Kong:

PENSION NOT A TRUST The Master Pension Trust is an "onshore" Hong Kong registered "occupational Retirement Scheme" (ORSO) administered as a Trust under the Mandatory Provident Fund schemes Authority since 27th March 2006.

COSTS: With trusts becoming more expensive, the Master Pension Trust gives a unique tax and pension planning opportunity at fair cost.

TAX EFFICIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY Due to the HK ORSO tax regime and double taxation agreements, no matter what your residence or nationality the Master Pension Trust can be one for the most cost effective and efficient ways of mitigating your tax planning issues.

QROPS The Master Pension Trust will accept UK domiciled pension transfers and thus take full advantage of the HMRC Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme rules.

• The Master Pension Trust can hold cash, property, land, mutual funds, stocks, stock options, bullion, private shares, hedge funds and bonds.
• It can mitigate "MOST" taxes depending on your domicile, on both a current basis and death basis.
• It can accept most transferred Pensions with no limits. It protects you and your assets against claims from Creditors.
• No Income tax, Capital Gains tax, on the underlying funds
• No compulsion to purchase an annuity
• Income for life on 70% of pension funds transfered from a UK Pension.
• Lump sum payment available on retirement age.
• No Widows benefit on pension scheme
• Freedom of investment and currency choice
• No tax on the scheme or its member
• Reporting requirements costs are significantly less in Hong Kong than elsewhere and that helps to enhance absolute returns on investments.
• Client confidentiality.
• Choice for investment assets.
• No maximum investment restrictions.
• Can mitigate UK Stamp Duty Land Tax, Capital Gain or Income tax on the transfer of property.
• No UK IHT, death or estate tax.
• No profits tax on property traded within the Master Pension Trust.

HONG KONG Master Pension Trust main features
Master Pension Trust can take transfers and contributions from anywhere. That is because of the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance definition of a scheme. In other words, we are not confined to Hong Kong. A Master Pension Trust can receive employer contributions from anywhere for any type of pension fund design - defined contribution, lump sum, final salary, defined benefit, pension or annuity. It can purchase any form of insurance or financial instrument to answer benefit payments.

Any United Kingdom registered pension fund of any description, whether in drawdown or not, may be transferred to Master Pension Trust.

All forms of restriction on transfer of pension funds into and out of member states are made illegal under European Union Law. The United Kingdom regulations on transfers to QROPS follow EU law. HMRC cannot change regulations against EU law.

A transfer payment may be made either to the scheme administrator including persons responsible for administration of the QROPS, not just the trustees of Master Pension Trust; or, where the receiving scheme for the member is to be an insured scheme, the the scheme insurers, then to Master Pension Trust (the usual route).

A Transfer Value is calculated according to The Pensions Regulators guideline and must be explained by the person presenting it to the member.

Following the transfer, Master Pension Trust will be required to provide benefits on a like for like basis as preceding the transfer. So the transfer of a scheme pension in payment, for example, should be continued in that form, and the conditions as set out in HMRC's RPSM14106030 should be followed. If any of those conditions are not met the member of the receiving scheme will be liable to an unauthorised payments charge (see HMRC's RPSM13102020).That will be the case, in particular, if a lump sum is paid, the scheme pension is increased or the income withdrawal is speeded up. Transferred pension fund money received by a Master Pension Trust cannot be topped up.

Additional voluntary contributions of any description, including real estate, can be received by Master Pension Trust only if the member is in employment and sponsored by his employer who must sign the Master Pension Trust trust deed.

Master Pension Trust members and their dependants can elect to defer benefit payments past first payment due date or on the member's death. There is no reversion of the fund to the member's deceased estate except by default where the member has no dependants or relatives.

Together with Modern Portfolio Theory, at, for example, age 60 with a life expectancy of 25 years, the portfolio should be weighted 70% to liquidity and 30% to less liquid capital growth. The 70% tax law rule is clear - life means life and not life style. The Master Pension Trust is designed to allow 100% drawdown of capital and income during a member's lifetime with the option of leaving a capital residue for the member's spouse and dependants.

Effective since October 18th, the NFA and CFTC is effectively 'protecting' millions of Fx traders in the USA. What are they protecting them from? As we all know, government knows best and these new regs are protecting traders from 'themselves' of course.

You can imagine that USA brokers are putting on a 'happy face' trying to save what business they can, but here is the crux of it:

• All trades are now FIFO: First in first out. As a trader if you put in a longer term trade, and then later saw a short term opportunity, you can no longer close your second short term trade at a profit, while letting the first trade run. The first trade must be closed first.
• No hedging: Traders cannot have a buy and sell order open on the same pair at the same time. This hinders a critical strategy used to mitigate risk while keeping good positions open during an adverse swing.
• Leverage: US brokers now can only offer a 50:1 leverage or less. While this does reduce risk for novice traders it also reduces profitability for good traders by cutting profitability by 2 times to 10 times, depending on the leverage used.
• No Offshore Accounts: USA traders can no longer trade with brokerages 'offshore'.

Thankfully, our Private Placement Life Insurance/Annuity is not subject to such 'protection' and professional traders still have the full assortment of tools, leverage and service that they need to operate effectively and efficiently.

PPLI can improve the tax efficiency of a portfolio because life insurance enjoys favorable tax treatment. This favorable tax treatment also allows investment consultants to strategically allocate assets in a PPLI portfolio to hedge funds and hedge funds of funds (which are generally tax-inefficient investments) without worry about the negative tax consequences that would occure in a traditional investment.

The PPLI Advantage:

1. Tax-deferred inside build-up. IRC 7702 and IRC 817
2. Non-recognition of capital gains. Ability to switch investment options within the product without triggering taxation IRC 7702 and IRC 817
3. No FATCA issues

Request more information about Private Placement Life Insurance.

Basket A - All Key Industries (Large) € 13825.75
2 kilograms Indium
3 kilograms Hafnium
2 kilograms Gallium
7 kilograms Tellurium
8 kilograms Tantalum
47.4 kilograms Bismuth

Basket B - Solar and Energy (Small) € 4.872.34
2 kilograms Indium
3 kilograms Hafnium
2 kilograms Gallium

Basket C - Construction and Engineering (Medium) € 7.659.18
4 kilograms Tantalum
20 kilograms Molybdenum
20 kilograms Chromium
20 kilograms Cobalt
20 kilograms Zirconium
20 kilograms Tungsten

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

AG Silver granulates € 906,13 per kilo Price @ 25th Jan

Request more information about Rare Industrial Metals.

One bedroom apartments located within 2 minutes walk from South Beach, Jolly Harbour - starting at $150,000 USD

Jolly Harbour has become a destination for yachtsmen cruising in the Eastern Caribbean. If you love to sail or just watch the amazing sailing boats that come into the harbour then this is the ideal apartment for you. Sit and relax on the balcony and enjoy the views across the harbour in this lovely one bedroom, self contained apartment.

It is situated on the South Finger of Jolly Harbour, just a short walk from the beautiful white sands and turquoise ocean that greets you on the South Beach of Jolly Harbour. This apartment is ideally situated, offering the best of both worlds, for the sailing enthusiast, and for the perfect holiday relaxing on one of Antigua's finest beaches.

It is also less than five minutes to walk to Jolly Harbour's commercial centre which caters for your every need from a supermarket, restaurants, banks ... to an 18 hole golf course, tennis and squash courts and more for the sporting enthusiast.

Request an introduction to our agent in Antigua.

You are invited to join us for The Truth and Lies radio show, hosted by R David Finzer, the president and CEO of the Capital Conservator Group, on the Overseas Radio Network 1PM to 2PM New York Time Monday-Friday. This informative 1 hour radio show is dedicated to revealing the truth and exposing the lies about:

• international living and expatriation,
• pitfalls and rewards of the PT (permanent traveler) lifestyle,
• offshore companies, trusts, foundations and other structures, asset protection

Submit a question to be answered on "The Truth and Lies" radio show.

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