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International Living

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 20:23:12 GMT

Looking for Your Just-Right Place Overseas?

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16 Countries Compared, Contrasted, Ranked, and Rated

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Dear Reader,

In the country that takes the #1 spot on our brand-new 2023 Global Retirement Index, you could live a lifestyle that would easily cost you six figures at home...only do it comfortably on a retired teacher’s budget.

The country I’m talking about—the world’s best retirement haven for 2023—has broad appeal...

Cosmopolitan cities sit along a rugged coast...beach towns tuck between golf courses...highland communities boast towering castles and cathedrals...rivers and vineyards provide rural retreats...

The weather is hard to beat. A temperate climate allows plenty of time for outdoor activities—from biking to hiking to water sports. Healthcare, both public and private, is widely available, affordable, and excellent. A couple can live well on $2,494 a month, immersed in history, culture, and eating out often.

“[We] immediately saw our expenses fall to between one-third and one-quarter of what they were back in the U.S.,” says one expat smitten with the experience in this #1 pick for 2023.

“The weather is good, the people are wonderful, and the pace of life is chilled,” says another transplant.

A third put it this way, “What’s life like, really? It’s easier…by magnitudes. People are nicer. The pace is slower. Everyone is quick to help and make you feel welcome. The stress of the daily grind has melted away. Sure, we still work and have busy daily lives, but the pressure and weight of the American lifestyle has been lifted. While we do stay on top of what’s happening in the U.S., we’re focused on diving into [the local] culture and creating our new lives here.”

Great Bang for Your Buck in this #1 European Haven

You may assume that European countries are too expensive to be viable overseas retirement havens, but let me share the good news: This intoxicating country, which takes the top spot in our 2023 Global Retirement Index, offers the best-value living in Western Europe today—pairing low costs with rich cultural offerings and beautiful, historic surrounds anywhere you go. (And beaches...oh, the beaches...)

As one couple who moved there puts it, “We currently rent a house with roof terrace and ocean view for [under $1,000] a month. Only a 10-minute walk from our doorstep, there are five different beaches to choose from. In the States, a property like that would be quadruple the price at least. Same for medical insurance: in the U.S., we’d pay $400 per month, per person. Here, we’ve found great healthcare insurance for both of us for €150 ($158) monthly.”

A lunch at an inexpensive restaurant runs about $13 per person—and that includes a glass of wine and dessert. At a high-end eatery, dinner for two costs in the $50 range. A maid will clean twice a month (about three hours each time) for roughly $60, total. Your internet package—which includes TV and your cell phone plan—will set you back a mere $90.

In the capital city, rent for a two-bedroom place would typically cost from $800 to $1,800, depending on how close you are to the city center. In secondary cities, you can expect to pay a little less: $700 or less outside the center and $1,000 or more in the thick of things.

One writer described this country’s lively capital as “Istanbul meets San Francisco, with its pastel-colored buildings and the wide river running right under a Golden Gate look-alike and sweeping out to the ocean.”

“We selected [this city] because, first of all, it is warm,” says a contented transplant from the cold Midwest. “After living in Chicago for a few years, we knew we definitely did not want any more freezing cold winters.”

He and his wife had spent many years in Los Angeles, and, he says, their cost of living now is about 65% of what it was there.

Another plus? “We have been surprised at how easy it is to make new friends. In Los Angeles, we were always rather isolated, either at home or in a car. If you wanted to see someone, you had to make an appointment.

“Here [we] have made many new friends. As an added bonus, the people we meet here tend to be very interesting and smart. They are, by definition, international.”

And history is everywhere. With its Old World feel, this is a country that does a wonderful job of offering modern amenities—good wifi, efficient electricity, well-connected public transportation—while maintaining its historic charms. Life is lived among cobblestone alleys, medieval town walls, and crenelated castles on hilltops—all sound-tracked by the toll of church bells. Yet you have all the modern conveniences.

Europe Can Be Less Expensive
Than You Likely Imagine

“As we sipped wine at the corner café with friends, my husband turned to me with a big smile on his face and exclaimed, ‘We really live in Europe. Can you believe it?’ Just then the waitress came over with the check, which our friend took. ‘I’ve got this one,’ he said. Two wines, one beer, and a coffee, for a total of just $4.50. ‘Wow,’ our friend said. ‘I’m really going to hate to go back to the U.S., where just one glass of wine costs more than this entire bill.’” That’s how low costs can be in our #1 retirement haven for 2023!

Excellent Healthcare, Low Cost

This #1 retirement haven for 2023 is a place that offers excellent healthcare at a small fraction of what you’d expect to pay. The medical education is well-respected within this country, and many locally trained physicians take on additional studies and residencies in the U.K. and other European countries and speak English.

In bigger cities, the care is excellent and easily accessible. But even in small towns, it’s very good.

As one recent transplant put it, “I’ve found the healthcare facilities, hospitals, and doctors’ offices are cleaner, more modern, and filled with more state-of-the-art equipment than anywhere I’ve gone for medical care in the U.S. And the cost for private healthcare here is almost comical compared to the egregious costs we pay in the U.S. for insurance.

“For example, our family’s health insurance in the U.S. cost $715 a month for the three of us…we had no pre-existing conditions. [Here], we pay $225 a month for premium health insurance. When we first arrived, I needed to get seven x-rays done for my new osteopath. I walked into a local lab with the lab order (but without an appointment), waited only 20 minutes, got the x-rays, and my total bill (without insurance reimbursement or being in the public-health system yet) was only €52 (about $60 at the time). That would have cost me thousands without insurance in the U.S.”

Make It Your Part-Time or Full-Time Escape

As an American, you can stay for 90 days in this #1 retirement haven on a tourist visa, which makes visiting or staying part-time easy. But longer stays are straightforward, too. You have several good visa options, which are renewable.

That includes what is arguably the most attractive “Golden Visa” in Europe. If you have the funds, an investment of as little as $370,000 can deliver you resident status and a path to citizenship and a second passport, which can provide you and your family greater flexibility in travel, tax planning, investments, and more.

Lots of Lifestyle Options—Quiet Beaches,
Vibrant Cities, Small Towns

Mellow wines are nurtured in this country’s northern vineyards. Here the coast is warmed by the Gulf Stream, so winters are reasonably mild, with temperatures ranging from about 46-60 degrees Fahrenheit. It does rain up here, though—a little like the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

In this area, you see more local tourists than foreign—and if you’re willing to chance the weather, you’ll be rewarded by white fishing villages that offer simple restaurants serving exquisite seafood, and an interior dominated by sprawling pine forest and lush, rolling vineyards.

Values are excellent here: I just spotted a beautiful two-bedroom apartment a five-minute walk from the beach, close to grocery stores and other shops and businesses: $212,000.

This country’s central coast is one of Europe’s sleeping beauties, with rugged cliffs and coves, and whitewashed windmills, the beaches here resemble broad golden ribbons. Slumbering inland are historic castle towns, abbeys, and pilgrim shrines. Small villages come surrounded by terraced olive groves, citrus orchards, and vineyards.

Completing the picture are salt lagoons, gurgling rivers, and pine forests. White storks build straggly nests on top of church towers…springy-turf cliff-tops are scented with wild herbs…stone walls trail clouds of blue-mauve morning glory blossoms…village houses are draped in wisteria. Yet for all its beauty, it’s not uncommon around here to find seaside village properties listing from under $200,000.

Down in the south—an area once little more than a collection of sleepy fishing villages—is today a golfer’s haven and a vacation destination for sun-seekers. It keeps an average winter temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. You find here yacht-filled marinas and clean, calm waters. And while there are plenty of apartments and villas on offer for $300,000 and much higher, it’s still possible to pick up a studio in a well-maintained building for as little as $145,000.

We’ll Point You to Where Your Dollars Buy You More... So You Can Live Better

The average retiree household in the US spends about $50,000 a year. Yet that doesn’t bankroll a particularly fancy lifestyle. Most folks live carefully—even frugally.

But if you carried that pot of $50,000 to the right spot abroad, you could watch it expand—like rice on a stove.

All of a sudden, you’d have more to play with. You could afford to live better: eat out a few times a week, travel, have a housekeeper to clean and even cook for you. You could, in fact, have all those luxuries—and still keep half of that money in your bank account.

Because in the best-value places, a couple can live quite well on as little as $24,000 a year.

Sure, the US is easy and convenient. But you can find the same niceties elsewhere—and spend much less for them.

Most folks don’t realize it, but life in the States is relatively expensive when you compare it to other places around the world.

Elsewhere, you can enjoy a much higher quality of life—but spend less for it.

Let me show you what I mean...

In the US, a 60-year-old spends on average $1,115 a month on a “silver” health-insurance premium. Yet you could go to Panama and get an international plan for $90 to $250 a month. You pocket the difference.

In the US, housing costs are high and rising with inflation. If you want to live a few minutes’ stroll from the beach, you’ll need deep pockets.

In California—plan on spending around $1 million, at least. Even in a small town like Newport, Oregon, a nice—but hardly extravagant—house with a view a few blocks from the shore will set you back $729,000.

Yet in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, a beautiful, 2-bed condo right in town, a few blocks from the beach could be yours for as little as $225,000. For $625,000 you could have your own furnished three-bed, three-bath villa with a private pool.

But you needn’t spend anywhere near that much to upgrade your life.

In Javea, Spain, for instance—you could own a skillfully renovated 2-story, 2-bedroom, 100-year-old village home with a water-view balcony right in the heart of town and be an easy stroll to the ocean—for just $212,000.

In Playa del Carmen—on Mexico’s Riviera Maya along the Caribbean coast—you could own a chic, fully furnished apartment three blocks from the beach, right in the heart of the tourist action, for just $140,000. Rent it out when you’re not there, and it could quickly pay for itself.

You simply get more bang for your buck in the right spots overseas. And that means you could afford to live a richer, more interesting life. You could afford to relax and enjoy yourself.

Our Global Retirement Index points you to the best places in the world to do it in 2023.

Easy, Low-Stress Lifestyle

Ultimately, this #1 pick for the world’s best place to retire in 2023 isn’t only beautiful and affordable, it’s just plain easy. You can fly there non-stop from Miami, Boston, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York.

And it makes an excellent jumping off point for exploring the rest of Europe with cheap and frequent flights around the continent as well as great rail connections.

The cultural offerings are rich and varied—with hilltop castles that date to the 12^th century and chapels, cathedrals, and museums chock full of artwork. It’s home to the best-preserved European Knights of the Templar settlement, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Renowned for its inexpensive, high-quality, and fortified wines, this country is a culinary treasure. The locals love their breads and desserts—the custard tarts are unforgettable. And with such a long coastline, fish is ubiquitous. (It’s so beloved, in fact, that it’s said there are 365 ways to prepare it—one for every day of the year.) You’ll find wonderful and varied fresh vegetables and a real appreciation for good ingredients prepared simply.

A café culture is rich and runs deep. From early in the morning until late at night, locals can be found sipping coffee at their local café. They gather to talk, read the paper, watch the ever-present television suspended on the wall, and visit neighbors at all hours. These establishments are magnets for communal watching of important sporting matches.

“We found a more relaxed lifestyle [here] than anywhere we lived in the States,” says one expat. “Parks everywhere burst with fragrant, colorful flowers, and it seems there’s a café on every corner in cities, towns, and villages. To sit outdoors and linger over coffee and pastry or a glass of wine without the slightest pressure to pay the check and move on is an emotional breath of fresh air.”

Of course, it won’t suit everybody—no place will.

And that’s ok...you’ve got lots of excellent options to consider on the 2023 Global Retirement Index.

Is Going Overseas Right for You?
Well, Consider Where You Are Today: Is This Really What You Want Your Life to Look Like?
(If You’re Ready for a Change, Keep Reading.
We Can Help.)

We’re living in uncertain times.

Inflation is making everyday living more expensive.

The stresses of the violence we’ve seen in our schools, bars, grocery stores, and more takes its toll on our psyche.

The ongoing political vitriol... a Supreme Court that seems entirely out of step with the average American... the war-time news from Ukraine... it can all be overwhelming.

And I don’t blame you one bit if you’ve thought: I need an escape plan.

If you want more peace, more control, more balance, more freedom—you’re in very good company.

And you’ve come to the right place. Because here at International Living, we can help.

Things may seem worrisome at home—but in the right places overseas, you’ll find great opportunity today.

Had It with the Pace, the Politics, the Prices? You Have Better Options Abroad

An early retirement is not only within your reach, it could be lived in style.

You could have a luxury home with a water view, afford to travel, to eat out three or four times a week, to spend your days doing what you want with people whose company you enjoy.

You could live life on your terms. And do it on a budget of as little as $24,000 a year.

Maybe you’re not ready to retire, but you crave a change.

If you’ve got the flexibility of a laptop job—what’s stopping you from taking your work-from-home income to a place where the sun shines year-round, the pace of life is slow and civil, and the cost of living is half—or even less—what you pay today?

We’ll show you the best places to go.

Maybe you’ve always dreamed of heading overseas in retirement—but you’ve been waiting for the timing to be just right.

Stop. Never has there been a better time in history to go overseas. The world is more connected than ever, and your strong dollars are putting some of the best-value locations on sale for you—from Mexico to France to Portugal and beyond.

I’d like to show you how you can embrace a more interesting, more international life starting right now. A life where you can meet new people, explore new cultures, try on new places for size.

And I assure you: That jet-set life doesn’t have to break the bank. Not when you know where to go.

You don’t even have to go overseas full-time to reap the benefits of a more fun, more relaxing, more balanced life.

What if I told you that you could own a condo on a beach or in a historic city that you could visit a few weeks or months a year (and that it could generate income when you’re not using it and pay for itself).

In the right spots abroad—the places we point you to in our 2023 Global Retirement Index—you could secure your own getaway like that for as little as $174,000.

If you have had it at home today with the pace, the priorities, the politics, the prices...the weather...

You should know: In the right spots around the world, you can afford to make the change you dream about.

You can afford to create the life you imagine in your mind's eye.

In fact, we conceived our 2023 Global Retirement Index to help you do exactly that.

We're keeping the winners a surprise.

Our #2 Finisher Offers a Simpler, Easier Life—
Close to Home

The country that takes the #2 spot in our Index this year is a place that offers what is arguably the easiest transition to expat life around.

Low-cost, conveniently close, and full of friendly locals and plenty of expats—it hands you an appealing balance of exotic foreign culture and familiar, First World lifestyle.

And right now, the strong dollar makes it a particular bargain.

“You can be on vacation every day—or at least feel like it—when you live in this country’s west-coast beach towns,” says one expat there.

It’s a place where you can live large—but do it on as little as a Social Security budget.

That’s what Rip does. He lives in the heart of a historic town on the water where he rents a 1-bedroom apartment three blocks from the beach for $800 a month. His monthly electric bill? About $19.

With prices like that, you can see how your nest egg could stretch.

Dwight, who left Santa Fe, New Mexico for an arts-rich town in this colorful, good-value country reports that, “It’s probably 35%-40% cheaper here. And our needs are fewer here, especially since we don’t need a car. Taxis are $2.50 to $3 anywhere in the city, when it’s too far to walk.

“The climate is nearly perfect, so utilities are a fraction. Taxes are a fraction.

“We have full-time housekeeping/gardening help and have become very spoiled.”

This #2 finisher in the 2023 Global Retirement Index is a place where you can trim your costs but watch your lifestyle expand.

A couple can live well—all in—for about $1,890 a month. That’s less than $23,000 a year.

Here you can employ a maid for $3 a hour.

Pamper yourself with a manicure, pedicure, and haircut...and pay less than $60.

You can eat out at a nice restaurant for $15 a person or grab a quick lunch for $5.

Accessible, Easy, and Friendly

Expat Louisa says, “We love our simple, economical lifestyle, but the low cost wasn’t what motivated us to live here.

You’re Not Crazy to Consider Life Overseas...You’re Smart

“For retirees with a sense of adventure and a taste for the good life—even if they lack a bank account to match—a change in latitude might be the perfect plan.” – Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

“If you’ve been racking your brain about where to retire on a budget, it might be time to think outside the U.S.” – USA Today

“Your dream of exploring a foreign country doesn’t have to end when your paychecks do. Leaving the U.S. can open the door to a more affordable retirement in an exciting new spot.” – CNBC

“The vitality and beauty of the streets, the thrill of learning another language and making [local] friends, the challenge of understanding a culture so different from our own...the list of reasons goes on and on.

“Every time I re-enter after time away, I see the bright colors, and I shiver with anticipation.”

Paula says it’s easy, even as a single person, to find friends and have an active social life. There are dinners out, community groups, get-togethers, and parties.

“Almost every time you go out, you meet people,” she says. “It’s really easy. People give out cards with their name, email, and phone number. I spend a lot of time with people born here, and it’s great. They’re wonderful.”

This #2 pick for 2023, close by and easy to get to, is already home to thousands of Americans.

It provides potential expats with a lot of choice—from vibrant Colonial cites to laid-back beach towns, Pacific-coast resort communities to chilled out Caribbean retreats.

And it’s an excellent option for snow birds who want to spend part of the year someplace warm.

When you’re out and about in the most tourist-friendly communities, you’ll find many of the same brands you’re used to back home—Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, Ruth’s Chris, and others.

If you can’t live without your peanut butter cups or your turkey bacon... don’t worry, you can find them both.

You can shop at Costco, and you can get U.S. television programs.

It’s easy, in other words.

And, as I mentioned, it’s a place where you really do get bang for your buck.

An Oceanview Apartment for Under $700 a Month

In a colonial-era town where Americans have been settling since the 1940s, you’ll find lots of expats in renovated homes that line cobblestone streets.

This tidy city is full of art galleries, restaurants, and shops. Here a new-construction 3-bedroom home a pleasant, 20-minute walk to the main square lists for $167,500.

It’s one of the pricier spots in the country—yet it illustrates the good values you can find.

Living a Lavish Life Overseas...on a Modest Budget

“If you live in or near the historic district, you can get along quite well without owning a vehicle,” says an expat happily settled in one town we love in our # 2 pick for 2023. “A couple could live comfortably [in this city] on a budget of $1,600 per month or less. A budget of $2,800 would allow for a luxurious lifestyle, including a spacious, Western-style home, a vehicle, and frequent meals at many fine restaurants.” –W.J. in one of the world’s top retirement havens for 2023

If you prefer an ocean breeze, palm trees, white-sand beaches, and quiet turquoise waters...you can have that, too.

In one town popular with expats, Bob and Nancy rent a fully furnished, multi-level, modern townhouse.

It has three bedrooms, a maid’s quarters, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and comes complete with beautiful landscaping, three swimming pools, and 24-hour security. Their rent comes to just under $700 a month.

“We’re about 200 yards from one of the main public beach entries. It’s beautiful,” says Bob. “Rent on a house like this in the States, so close to the beach, would be four times more than what we pay here. Our overall cost of living is about a third of what our cost of living was in the States.”

If you’re a culture-vulture, you should know: This is a land of riches.

Take advantage of the local arts scene, and you could enjoy a cultural event every night. There’s lots to do—from concerts and gallery exhibits to film series and plays—and they rarely cost more than $5 or $10 each.

Great values, comfortable climates, plenty to do... these are all part of the reason day-to-day living is remarkably easy and convenient in this country.

The lifestyle of one Canadian couple we know shows how that’s true.

Their rent—around $800 a month—includes everything: gas, electric, water, internet, even bicycles to get out and about. The only thing they pay more for is a maid, who charges $25 a day for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the laundry. She’ll even cater dinner parties or get-togethers, spending the day in the kitchen so this couple doesn’t have to.

“It means,” they say, “that we can get on with the best job ever: Retirement.”

In Escape #3 You Have SO Many Options

But it’s just one of many options you have, frankly. You might like our #3 pick, the appeal of which one happy expat described this way, “It’s a democracy, the water is drinkable, the locals are used to expats…the electrical systems are the same, the driving is on the same side of the street, many doctors are U.S.-educated.”

Judy, another expat in our #3 country, found the draw visceral, saying, “When we saw that we could get a [water] view for less than a quarter of a million dollars, we said right away, ‘We’re in!’ It was like a dream come true.”

A native Californian, she recalls a time when regular folks could afford to live within easy reach of the beach and enjoy it as part of their day-to-day lives. But no more.

“I couldn’t afford a view in Southern California… not even for the weekend,” she says.

So she and her husband left—and upgraded their lifestyle in the process.

“Now, here I am in [the #3 retirement haven for 2023], looking out my bedroom window, and I see miles of shoreline, and mountains, too. This is gold to us…we struck gold.”

You could, too.

Many Lifestyle and Climate Options—All Low-Cost

Like Judy, you could live there on a palm-fringed coast with your own view out over the Pacific.

Or you might choose, instead, a spot tucked into a lush green valley along a stream.

Then again, maybe you’d prefer a fast-paced, eclectic city with all the cosmopolitan offerings of a thriving urban center—jazz festivals, great ethnic restaurants, museums.

Your options are varied—which is one reason we like this country so much.

And whatever might appeal to you, rest assured: It’s a place where your dollars will stretch.

“We live a life we couldn’t have had back home,” says Connie, who has happily settled in our #3 pick with her husband.

“If we were in the U.S., we’d both be working, at least part-time, and constantly worrying.”

Instead, they report, “Our stress level is 10% of what it used to be.”

In part that’s because the cost of living is remarkably low.

“For trash collection we used to pay $17 a month...here we pay $14 a year...our rent is about half what our house payment was in the U.S....a cleaning woman charges about $15 for a day’s work...

“We chose [this country] for many reasons, but primarily because we love the ocean.

“The beaches here tend to be un-crowded—unlike those in Southern California, where I grew up. The water is warm and usually clear. Hearing and seeing the endless ocean always revitalizes me,” Connie says.

In this safe, welcoming, good-value escape, a couple can live very comfortably—even lavishly—on between $1,765 and $2,890 a month, depending on where you’re based.

Slash Your Tax Bill

I Would Never Have Been So
Indulgent at Home

“I used to daydream of getting hour-long massages while listening to spa music with lavender scents wafting in the air... Then someone would barge into my office asking for financial updates or such, bringing me crashing back to reality. Well, not anymore. Now each month I go to Bodyworks, where for two hours I am stretched and kneaded into oblivion for $50...I would never have been so indulgent...living in the U.S.” – D. S. in one of the world’s top retirement havens for 2023

As expat Roberto puts it, “What I pay for taxes in one year [here] is what I paid in one month in Florida.

“That right there was a good enough reason for me to move.”

His tax bill? $1,100 a year.

Roberto and his wife retired to this country that takes the #3 spot on our Index this year, and he says their four-bedroom home, with a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen in a quiet, gated community, suits them perfectly.

“We’re 10 minutes by car from the beach,” says Roberto.

“There are five grocery stores, there’s a private health clinic, a movie house, banks, good restaurants. We have all the comforts of home.”

But it’s not just the low cost of day-to-day living and small tax bill that are attractive.

The weather is, too.

Endless Summer: Never Shovel Snow Again

From the warmth of the coast to the cooler climate in the hills, it’s easy to find a spot that suits you in our #3 pick for 2023—unless you like snow. There isn’t any snow.

“I’m a Canadian,” says Larke, a part-time transplant to our #3 haven. “I’m used to long, cold winters. But a few years back, my husband Gary and I had had enough.

“I refuse to spend my precious retirement years shoveling snow and huddled in front of my fireplace…not to mention donning layers of clothing from top to toe just to venture outside.

“And so each and every fall, we say goodbye to block heaters…snow shovels…hats, scarves, and outrageous heating bills…and head to warmer climes. We’re now a ‘perpetual summer’ couple and love it.”

Situated outside the hurricane belt, here you’re protected from vicious storms and could have your own warm-weather getaway to enjoy year-round or rent out when you’re not there to cover your costs.

Your Real Estate Dollars Stretch at the Beach, in the Cooler Highlands, and in a Cosmopolitan City

In this nation, you get a lot of bang for your buck on the real estate front.

At the beach—less than an hour from the capital—you could own a 2-bed, 2-bath condo on the 8^th floor of a luxury tower on a golf resort for $179,000.

The views are splashy—from the mountains to the ocean—and two generous balconies let you enjoy the fresh ocean air. It’s fully furnished (including granite countertops) and comes with access to the building’s gym, pool, sauna, game room, and green space. And you’re just a few minutes’ walk to the beach.

Up in the mountains, the values are just as good.

In one spot where expats have been settling comfortably for decades—they call it the Valley of Flowers—you’ll find it easy to make friends and enjoy a slow pace of life and mild weather in the 70s all year long. This lush, green region is a tourism mecca with lots of hiking, cycling, birding, coffee-farm tours, and the like.

Here you can own a new, 3-bed, 2-bath home with massive windows in a community about fifteen minutes outside of a tidy little town where expats flock for $178,000. Or own a 3-bed condo on a golf course (fully—and beautifully—furnished) right at the edge of town for $329,000.

If the vibrancy of big-city living is what you’re after—the capital of our #3 pick country will suit you well. It’s cosmopolitan, bustling, and booming. But also full of green spaces and built along a coast so you can enjoy water views for miles.

In the historic center, a palate of pastels lends a tidy vibrancy to restored colonial homes.

And this is a city where you could be out every night if you wanted to be—eating at excellent restaurants, enjoying concerts, going to the cinema.

In the heart of the capital, you can own a nice 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartment in a swank neighborhood for just $200,000.

This Nation Wants You to Come—and Makes It Easy

But perhaps the most compelling reason to consider this top-ranked haven is because it is actively courting folks just like you.

This country wants retirees to come—and they’re making it worth your while.

A special incentive program designed to woo retirees offers qualified folks discounts like 50% off on entertainment like movies, concerts, and theater. You get 30% off on bus, boat, and train fares, and 25% off on airfares (including international ones). You save 15% on hospital bills and that much or more on dental and medical visits...and the list goes on.

Plus, you’re offered tax incentives as well—yet another way to save on top of the already-low cost of living.

Excellent-Quality, Low-Cost Healthcare

Healthcare is another place where our #3 finisher shines. Many doctors speak English and are U.S.-trained. Plus the standard of care—particularly in the capital—is excellent. In fact, people travel from elsewhere to be treated there. And the low costs will blow your mind.

As Linda, an expat there, explains, “When my husband was being discharged from the hospital after a stay last year, I went to the business office to settle the bill.

“Since we have medical insurance through the hospital, the insurance manager came to the office (even though it was a Saturday), reviewed the bill in detail to verify all the insurance would cover (70%), and I paid the balance of 30%.

“This came to $3,263, including the doctors, all medications, a CT scan, and an MRI. I expect it would have been 10 times that much in the U.S.”

Spend Less, Live Better—Our Index Shows You Where

You’ve got lots of excellent options to consider in the 2023 Global Retirement Index, including our third-place pick for this year...

Often people assume they’ll have to endure huge tradeoffs when they go overseas. But in the right places—that’s just not the case.

Naturally, we’re really excited about our #1, #2, and #3 picks this year.

But, in fact, they are just three of the 16 top overseas retirement havens we compare, contrast, rank, and rate in our 2023 Global Retirement Index—our 32nd annual index.

“Spend less, live better” is a philosophy you can embrace all around the globe—when you know where to go. And our Index will show you.

Southeast Asia’s Low-Cost, Luxury Paradise

It’s not only Europe and Latin America that offer great options for safe, friendly, warm-weather, good-value living.

Southeast Asia may surprise you with the options you have there for high-end living at remarkably low prices.

It’s the world’s hidden lap of luxury.

“It’s like Hawaii, only easier,” says Sam, who’s originally from California.

Or, as another resident expat put it, “You can get away from it all…find a quiet beach and enjoy the surf or sunset…or you can join any form of entertainment or adventure, from zip-lining to chartering your own sailboat.”

In a compelling Southeast Asian country that appears on our 2023 Global Retirement Index, lots of new and interesting developments are underway—making this pick even more attractive than ever.

Expand Your Life, Trim Your Costs

Retiring overseas isn’t about being frugal and shrinking your life in retirement—as it is by default for so many people at home these days. Living abroad, it’s the opposite. It’s about expanding your quality of life—often exponentially—while you slash your cost of living.

“Life [overseas] feels like a dream—but one I don’t have to wake up from,” says Erin in one of the top retirement havens for 2023.

“The climate here is awesome...a cool breeze flows through the valley where I live, never allowing the temperature to get too high. I live in a house without air conditioning or heat and enjoy the fresh breeze as it wafts through an open window or door. Back in the States I suffered from allergies. Here they have almost entirely disappeared.”

In one spot there that’s worth your attention, expats rave about the low costs and high quality of life.

As Michelle pus it, “[This town] combines the best of everything—beautiful beaches, fantastic food…the seafood is the freshest I’ve ever eaten.

“Best of all? the cheap cost of living... cocktails for $2.28 and mouth-watering dishes for as little as $1.63.

“Everything you need is here, including coffee shops, shopping malls, and all the other necessary Western conveniences.”

Yet it’s an incredibly good-value place to live or spend time. On a monthly budget of between $1,596 and $1,914 (housing included) a couple can live very well.

In fact, prices are so low, you may do a double-take.

I know I did when I saw a gorgeous, furnished 3-bedroom home with a pool and ocean views that rents for just $830 a month.

High-speed internet costs about $30 a month. You can employ a housekeeper to clean for you once a week and pay $64 at the end of the month, total.

And, as I said before, this spot makes more sense today than ever.

For starters, a new visa makes it MUCH easier to go and stay—for as long as a decade at a time.

This nation is taking a decidedly friendly stance toward expats—rolling out the welcome mat.

And it’s hard to beat the benefits once you step across that border.

In big cities you’ll find everything you could want or need—a wonderful mix of old Asia and super-modern Asia.

This country’s medical system ranks among the best in the world.

Plus this nation’s geography offers everything from quiet, secluded island beaches in the south... to mountainous, jungle zones up north... to hilly, central highlands where you can trade summer heat for cooler days.

As one happy expat puts it, “The lifestyle here is vibrant, friendly, and rewarding. There is no way I could afford to get out so much if I didn’t live [here]. I can afford to go out every day, enjoy golf, lunches with other expats, and enjoy many local events. You can’t help but feel very alive here.”

So Many Places—and Ways—to Enjoy a More International Life

This year’s Global Retirement Index reveals a tremendous variety of retirement solutions for somebody looking to live better for less overseas. We rank, rate, compare, and contrast 16 countries worth your consideration today.

Maybe you’re in the market for a part-time escape…or maybe you’re looking for a full-time adventure…perhaps you dream about a day when you can see the ocean out your window… or live within sight of the mountains in a place where the sun shines and the weather is cool…

Whatever you dream about…in the destinations profiled in our 2023 Global Retirement Index…you could find a new reality. A lot sooner—and a lot more affordably—than you may imagine.

To that end, let me give you a little assignment...

The decision about where you live is not always readily subject to logical analysis. Ultimately, it’s about where you feel good. It’s about finding the place that’s just, well, a good fit.

What Does Your Ideal Retreat Look Like?

So here’s a little task for you. You start imagining your ideal retreat.

And while you’re busy musing…we’ll sort out for you the “logical” concerns. Like where your dollars buy you most…where the weather is best…where the locals are friendliest…where it’s most comfortable and safe…where the healthcare is both excellent and affordable…and more.

In fact, we’ve just spent the past few months concentrating on exactly this task.

Our staff has been crunching statistics, and talking with our contacts and correspondents around the world…all in the interest of compiling our annual picks for the world’s top retirement havens.

In an era when most news outlets have slashed their budgets and cut their overseas bureaus...and at a time when it’s harder than ever to ferret out the truth...we put our 2023 Global Retirement Index together “the old fashioned way.”

That is to say: We put boots on the ground...just as we have each of the last 32 years we’ve published this country comparison.

We spend, in fact, more than $1 million a year to keep our people in place overseas, reporting back with real-world, up-to-date recommendations and guidance. This is not compiled by Google search, in other words. What we do is real. We take it seriously. We verify.

Is Global Retirement Index subjective? You bet. We rely on the informed judgment and real-world experience of in-country expats…folks just like you who have made the move and learned all their lessons the hard way.

They live in the countries they’re an expert in. And they’ve been there long enough to get under the skin of their host nation and provide us with real understanding about what it’s like to live there.

When it comes right down to it, only you can decide what will make you happy.

But we can point you to the places that are likely to suit you best and save you the trouble, time, frustration, and expense of trying to figure that out on your own.

Here at International Living, we’ve been showing readers where to go for more than 40 years now.

And we’d like to show you, too.

For the next three days, we’ve got a special offer on the table that gives you full access to our 2023 Global Retirement Index—FREE—when you join me as a member of International Living.

One big idea drives everything we do at IL, our belief that you don’t need to be rich to enjoy a pampered retirement…you just need to know where to go.

In our 2023 Global Retirement Index, we show you.

The Best—and Easiest—Way to Target Your Search for the Perfect Paradise
(FREE Today with This Special Offer)

In the 2023 Global Retirement Index, we consider each of the top 16 retirement destinations in a series of categories: housing, visas and benefits, climate, healthcare, cost of living, and more.

And we include a full report on the top picks.

This resource gives you a detailed, well-rounded view of each place.

And we don’t give you just the facts. We share on-the-ground insights, perspective, and context—so you understand what it all means.

And that’s what’s so important. Because everybody is different. And what’s a priority for you might not be for somebody else.

Say you’re of “retirement” age and looking for a place to stretch your savings. You like the idea of a European getaway—combining the cultural offerings with a lower cost of living and a slower pace of life. The availability of good-quality, affordable healthcare might be a top concern. Our #1 pick this year might well be your best bet.

On the other hand, if you’re in your forties with school-aged children, their education and the ease with which you can do business locally might be more important to you. Our #3 pick might make more sense.

Or maybe you’re in the market today for a place you could visit regularly for now and perhaps retire to eventually...so you’re looking for a spot that’s easy to get in and out of, where the weather is good, and a place where you could easily rent your place out when you’re not there. Our #2 finisher might be just right.

No matter what your own personal priorities are, you can use our 2023 Global Retirement Index to easily home in on the places that make sense for you and your situation.

It is a powerful tool.

And it’s yours, FREE today, when you join me as a member of International Living through this special offer.

Real Estate Can Beat Inflation—But What You Buy Matters

At International Living, we show you how—and where—to find the best buys in markets poised to boom. “Inflation will continue to be a scourge for some time to come. But more than ever, right now there is opportunity to put your money to work in vibrant overseas markets. You can do this by buying undervalued assets and locking in super-strong income and appreciation potential.

“Buying at a low price is step one in locking in incredible yield potential. Buying something with huge appreciation potential is key to building wealth over the long term.

“For me, real estate offers the perfect path to freedom—both financial and personal. Whatever is going on in the world, or however bad inflation may get, it gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and create profit while you do it.” –Ronan McMahon, Global Real Estate Expert and Contributing Editor, International Living

Guidance and Hand-Holding from Expats and Experts

But out big, annual Retirement Index report is just one benefit.

When you accept my invitation to join International Living today, you also become part of a community of like-minded people.

You’ll be plugged in alongside me and my colleagues to a network of expats and experts based all over the world.

They’re on the ground in places like Portugal, France, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Belize, Thailand, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Uruguay, and beyond...

And they’re on a mission to help you explore your best options overseas.

I think of International Living as a sort of “underground network” for people like you who are intrigued by the idea of living a more international life and who are ready to explore the opportunities that are waiting in the right places overseas.

For more than four decades now, folks like you have relied on International Living’s guidance and strategies to save money, make money, travel better, retire sooner, live richer, and enjoy life more overseas.

IL Makes Me Feel Prepared

“I love [International Living]! Each month I get in-depth, boots-on-the-ground reports of different cities and countries that are friendly to expats. This sure helps to narrow down the list of places to check out for retirement as all the 'noise' out there can be overwhelming. In addition to the magazine, I signed up for the Lifetime Membership and haven't regretted it - great books, reports and resources available to me. I'm beyond excited for my retirement journey and, with International Living, feel really prepared for my travels/move.” –D.F.

IL Is the Reason I’m Living My Best Life

“International Living is the reason that I am on a wonderful journey overseas, living my best life. It all started when I was laid off at the age of 61 and couldn't find another job. I had no idea what to do, until I read about IL. ... I am so glad I made the move. The information from IL was invaluable in making this happen.” – D.L.

IL Changed My Life

“International Living actually changed my life. Thanks to their publications and information, I am happily living in France realizing my dream. I have attended conferences and met amazing people who are quite enthusiastic about their experiences living abroad...this all thanks to IL!” – A.L.

You Deserve a Better, Earlier Retirement

We’ll Show You How to Get It

You deserve to retire with confidence. Yet that’s something very few folks can do in the States these days.

In the right spots abroad, though, you could.

You could enjoy the peace of mind and comforts that are hard to come by at home today…

You could join the ranks of our members who have taken advantage of the overseas opportunities we’ve shared and, today, have their nest eggs tucked away in a beachfront home or in a cosmopolitan escape in a booming market...

...people retired like royalty on a Social Security income...

...people living comfortably in a beautiful, safe, slow-paced retreat where they’re earning a portable income in the mornings and enjoying a relaxed lifestyle in the afternoons...

I’d like to help you follow in their footsteps.

When you join International Living today, you’ll receive our 2023 Global Retirement Index, FREE.

But that’s just for starters.

I’ll also send you a whole collection of valuable extras via email, including our monthly publication, International Living, delivered online.

It’s the tool we’ve used for the last 43 years to keep in touch with our family of like-minded folks and to share all the great ideas the experts and expats in our network are finding all around the world.

You see, I want you to understand all the possibilities you have for improving your lifestyle overseas—for spending less but getting more.

In the newspapers and on TV, you get lots of political posturing...and lots of discussion about the woes we face…but what you rarely learn is what to do about any of it. I don’t mean “macro” fixes.

I’m talking about what you, personally, can do to improve your life, retire better, retire earlier, save on taxes, gain freedom and control, and travel more…even if you have only a modest nest egg (or no nest egg at all).

Opportunities You Won’t Find Out About Anywhere Else

Each month, in the pages of International Living, we keep you up-to-date on the latest opportunities and we share solutions like...

Tax-saving tips for the seasonal U.S. expat… How do U.S. taxes work for people who spend part of the year abroad? We explain what you need to know…
How—and where—to get settled as a single overseas and why it’s a lot easier than you might think…
Where to get a second passport—and gain the security of greater travel flexibility—without having a pile of money or a parent who can pass citizenship down to you.
Property bargains in secret spots and underrated escapes all around the world, like a medieval country village home in Sulmona, Italy (40 minutes from Rome) for $111,000... a renovated colonial gem in the UN World Heritage City of Cuenca, Ecuador for $115,000... or a cute cottage on the Caribbean island of Roatan for just $137,000.
An easy way to slash your travel costs by half—or even more. One of our writers used this secret to get seven days in Mexico at a swank resort—for $1! YES, a dollar!
Smart escapes for troubled times—safe spots where you can ride out disasters, crises, and pandemics...spots where you can afford to unwind and tune out the real world for a while.
How to stay for free overseas—and live the expat lifestyle without ever buying or even renting a home if you don't want to. This is a powerful strategy for lowering your costs and a great way to travel for weeks and months at a time on the cheap.
Big trends and real estate opportunities for 2023—how and where you could own (on the cheap) in a place poised to boom and have a property you can enjoy that pays for itself.

... and lots, lots more.

The Authority on Global Retirement

When it comes to overseas guidance like this, you won't find a more well-respected source than International Living.

Forbes said, “International Living (IL) is the go-to source for anyone looking for solid information on retirement relocation in other countries. ... For people who are intrigued by the idea of settling outside the U.S. borders, it is a treasure trove of information.”

The Miami Herald called International Living “the authority on global retirement.”

When you join me as an International Living member today, we’ll give you immediate access to our 2023 Global Retirement Index—FREE—and make sure we keep you up-to-date with the best opportunities from around the world in our monthly magazine.

But that’s not all...

Bonus # 2
5 Smart Ways to Travel the World and Pay Next to Nothing

When you take me up on this special offer today, this second report is yours FREE, too.

5 Smart Ways to Travel the World and Pay Next to Nothing pulls back the curtain and shares travel secrets you just won’t find out about anyplace else.

Parlay your curiosity about a new place into free room-and-board all over the world. You could help grow flowers and tend chickens in Ireland, attend to horses and olive trees in Greece, make goat cheese in Mexico, save turtles in Costa Rica, lend a hand at a monastery in France, and more.
Test-drive life overseas and live like a local—it’s like Airbnb, only free! You have a place to stay at no cost and you can do things like pop into the pub... enjoy dinner with the neighbors... catch a show... shop at the market... try a place on for size, rent-free.
Connect with locals and expats on the ground and make new friends from France to Peru, India to Spain—have a coffee with somebody who shares an interest... stay with a local family for a few nights... meet up with somebody on the ground for travel guidance and recommendations—it’s all at no charge.

I said it earlier: You don’t have to be rich or famous to live a jet-set life, you just have to know the secrets. We reveal some of the best of them in this Special Report, delivered immediately via email. It’s yours FREE when you become a member of International Living today.

Plus that’s not all...

Bonus # 3
The Second Passport Report

I’m including a third special bonus for you, too.

It’s a unique resource called The Second Passport Report. You may already qualify for a second passport and not even realize it. In fact, as many as 40% of Americans do.

It’s perfectly legal to hold a second passport. And there are benefits to doing so. If you like the idea of retiring in Europe, for instance, a second passport makes it

easy—and allows you the flexibility to travel widely and stay there as long as you like. Plus, a second passport can allow you to save significantly on your taxes...

Plus, this report explores pitfalls to watch out for and hands you a how-to guide for getting a second passport of your own. A second passport could, depending on your circumstances, help you avoid that “Yankee go home” mentality, and give you a legacy you could pass to future generations, too.

The Second Passport Report is yours FREE and delivered immediately via email with this special offer.

Save More than 60% When You Join International Living Now

A one-year membership in International Living comes at a regular price of $129.

But when you join right now, I’ll shave off more than 60%, bringing your membership to just ~~$129~~ $49.

I want to help you take advantage of the opportunities out there in places like Portugal, Costa Rica, Spain, Panama, Thailand, Uruguay, Italy, and well beyond...

And I want to make it easy for you to live a richer, fuller life—while you spend less.

With This Special Offer Today You’ll Receive All of This

So let me recap.

You’ll receive our Global Retirement Index 2023—and more—FREE with your International Living membership today...

Bonus # 1: Global Retirement Index (value: $99, yours FREE)
Bonus # 2: 5 Smart Ways to Travel the World and Pay Next to (value: $29, yours FREE)
Bonus # 3: The Second Passport Report (value: $29, yours FREE)

This digital Retirement Index Bonus Package is valued at $157.

But it’s yours for ~~$157~~ FREE—with your deeply discounted International Living membership today.

Plus, you’ll also get...

International Living magazine delivered digitally for 1 year, 12 monthly issues (value with membership: $129, included)
Full access to the members-only website and magazine archive (included)
Premium IL Postcards e-letter (included)
IL’s weekly Digest e-letter for members only (included)
IL’s weekly Podcast: Bigger, Better World (included)

If you’re ready to know the shortcuts and make the connections that can help you enjoy a richer, fuller life...while you spend less—we’re here to show you exactly how it’s done.

Our Good-Will, Good-Value Guarantee

Now, what happens if you sign up today and then decide an overseas retirement isn’t for you, after all?

No problem. We offer a generous guarantee.

I feel confident you'll agree that International Living delivers you a world each month that you just can't find anywhere else.

I know you'll be impressed by the wealth of guidance and helpful connections you’ll gain once you’re plugged into our network of experts.

And I feel sure you’ll appreciate the research and on-the-ground insights we include in all our International Living resources.

But, once you’ve had a chance to look through everything, if you decide the recommendations and solutions we share about how to move out of the US, live better for less overseas, make money, save money, and travel better aren’t for you after all—no problem.

Just let us know you’d like to cancel within 30 days via phone or email, and we’ll immediately take your name off the member list and send you a refund. No fuss.

No matter what you decide, your Global Retirement Index Report—PLUS the rest of the bonuses in this special collection—are yours to keep. Our way of saying thank you for giving the ideas we’re so passionate about your consideration.

Before 2023 Is Out, You Could Be Living Large

An international lifestyle isn’t just for the wealthy and the well-connected.

It’s for anybody willing to take advantage of the best-value opportunities in welcoming communities around the globe.

And it’s our mission at International Living to help you do just that.

With our brand new 2023 Global Retirement Index in hand, we can help you find the place that makes the most sense for you…

Whether you’re looking for a friendly, good-value city…a beach town…a highland retreat…an historic colonial community…or a lakeside getaway…we can point you to your best options on the planet today.

If you rely on the internet for intelligence about retiring, investing, or living in any number of good-value escapes around the world—you’re going to find a lot of information out there. But much of it is outdated, incomplete, or just plain wrong.

That’s why we asked our experts based around the world to help us put our 2023 Global Retirement Index together.

Because what you really need is the full, reliable story. Not just facts and figures, but advice about what to do with them.

And that’s what we deliver.

Click the "Add to Cart" button to activate your membership today with this special, limited-time offer that includes the 2023 Global Retirement Index and your additional bonuses, good for the next three days.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Stevens
Executive Editor, International Living
December 2022

P.S. Seeking out your own dream life overseas in a place where you can live comfortably for little…investing ahead of the crowds and potentially profiting from the upswing…

What those ideas have in common is good value.

Nobody wants to pay more than they have to—for anything.

I know I don’t.

And that’s why we’ve created this specially discounted welcome offer for International Living that includes the 2023 Global Retirement Index—and lots more.

Click the "Add to Cart" button now to take advantage of it, and we’ll help put you on the path toward a place abroad that’s just right for you. But don’t wait. This offer comes off the table in the next three days.

The Dream Retirement Project

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:56:46 GMT

Get in Line Right Now for…

The Dream Retirement Project

Get Your Own Roadmap to an International Life

So You Can Enjoy More, Spend Less, and Live
Better…Whether You Long for a Full-Time
Escape, an Annual Summer Adventure,
or Anything in Between

Dear Reader,

Jackie Flynn here, publisher of International Living.

I'd like to invite you to participate in a special project that hands you a quick, easy, fun way to embrace a richer life overseas.

It's a tried-and-true way to put a truly resilient retirement plan in place, so that you can withstand the ups and downs and the unexpected—and still enjoy the comforts of a good life.

It's really only suitable for a small number of our readers, but I'm talking about it here because I believe you may be among those who qualify.

Over the last few years, we've “trial-run” this project with a limited number of subscribers to great success.

Now, we’ve just updated and expanded it—and we'd like to open the door to a few more savvy folks, you among them…

That's why we're inviting you to join what we call The Dream Retirement Project.

It effectively gives you your own “go-overseas mentor,” making it easier, faster, and more straightforward to figure out your best path abroad.

I'll explain what it's all about in a minute.

But I should say up front here, first, that this is not something we'll "advertise" widely.

So if you'd like a chance at being one of the select few who benefit, stick with me here for just a few minutes, and I'll fill you in on all the details.

For starters, a quick question…

What would you do if you could spend your time any way you like?

No commute, no crazy boss, no long hours in the office…no cold weather, no winter coat…

Just you enjoying days that look the way you want them to look…in a place where you love to spend time.

Maybe you'd read lots of books—or write one…sail…paint…fish…learn a new language…golf…dive…travel for weeks or months at a time…

Now imagine if you could have that freedom to relax and the time to pursue your interests…

…PLUS have all the funds you need to afford that dream lifestyle…

Just think about what that would feel like.

You could have more fun…lower your stress level…feel healthier…and live comfortably in the knowledge that you wouldn't run out of money.

Now most folks will tell you that what I've just described is a pipe dream.

"It's a rich man's retirement," they'll say.

And off they'll trundle, back to the grindstone.

It's not surprising, really.

The vast majority of Americans have saved nowhere near enough to support a comfortable retirement Stateside.

So they're working longer, scrimping to save more, and resigning themselves to a lifestyle that's a lot more frugal than the one they'd hoped for.

But There's Another Way…

What I'd like to show you today is how—in the right places overseas—you can enjoy a very good life in retirement, no matter how modest your bank balance may be.

I want to show you how you can create a resilient retirement.

In all kinds of places beyond our borders—beach towns, mountain villages, university cities, even big metropolises—you can spend less and live better.

That's the simple truth.

From Latin America to Southeast Asia to Europe—safe, welcoming, good-value places exist today…

Places where the climate will suit you…

Where you'll find the activities and distractions you enjoy…

And where the price to afford a good life is a small fraction of what your lifestyle costs you today.

Doesn't matter if you like the idea of decamping full-time or if you'd simply like an annual three-month holiday.

I'm talking about places where a couple can live comfortably for $1,650 a month (or even less), rent included.

On a budget of $2,500 to $3,600 a month, you and your spouse could live like royalty.

It means you could afford to do things like…

Have a housekeeper, a gardener, a personal chef, or even a private driver…so you free up plenty of time to do what you enjoy…
Join the local country club to golf and socialize…and revel in the perks of a rich man's lifestyle…
Eat out anytime and never feel guilty about it…
Treat your grandkids to a special trip just with you and create memories that last a lifetime…
Enjoy access to excellent, low-priced healthcare and stop worrying about what happens if you ever get sick…
Own a vacation home in a beachtown you love to visit...or a high-ceilinged apartment in a cosmopolitan city like Paris or Porto, and rent it out when you’re not there so it pays for itself...

I'd like to show you how (and where) you can do that…and help you get there fast, easily, and enjoyably, too…

What "Live Rich, Spend Less" Can Look Like

You might choose to spend time surrounded by the white sand, palm trees, and turquoise waters on the last affordable island in the Caribbean…

…where you can own your own place on the sand for as little as $160,000…

Or try on for size a two-bedroom condo a 60-second walk from the Pacific.

It looks like California (only it costs one-tenth the price)…so instead of a million or two, it could be yours for as little as $150,000…

Or maybe you'd like the sophisticated attraction of the "other" Switzerland—a big-value destination that offers far greater financial privacy than the States does…

…where taxes are negligible, and you can live a very "European" lifestyle.

A 2-story, 2-bedroom cottage with a carefully landscaped garden could be yours for just $220,000…

Then there's a university city that's been called "a kind of paradise," where cobblestone streets wind their way toward grassy riverbanks.

You don't need a car here…and the weather is agreeable year-round-lows in the 50s, highs in the 70s.

In this place, there's always plenty to do…symphony concerts…art and history museums…archaeological attractions…galleries…even a planetarium.

And a couple could live very comfortably here on as little as $21,000 a year, housing included.

Those are just four of the hundreds of good-value options you have around the world today.

But retiring overseas isn't just about stretching your dollars and creating a retirement that’s resilient.

The way I see it: That's simply the means to a better end.

Fundamentally, this idea of living a more international life—it's about improving your quality of life.

It's about living a richer life.

It’s about having the time to do what you want, when you want, with the people you enjoy spending time with.

That's what the big benefit is.

The Life You Pick…Not the One You're Handed

In the right places overseas, you can stop worrying about how you'll afford the life you want.

Instead, you can gain control over what your days looks like and start enjoying them in a way that you choose.

So you're not at the mercy of the retirement that gets dumped in your lap.

Instead, you gain the power to live the lifestyle you imagine in your mind's eye.

If you're looking for a little more adventure…an opportunity to meet new people…try new things…rediscover passions you'd forgotten about…

Then you're going to like this unusual enterprise we call The Dream Retirement Project.

It's designed to "hold your hand" and help you embrace the good life abroad—in a way that's both tailored just for you…and also fast, easy, and fun…

Because life overseas really can be FUN.

As one expat we know put it...

"For a long time, 'fun' had not been a big enough part of our lives, so we adopted a slogan that continues to serve us well—Porque no?, which in Spanish means 'Why not?'

"By saying 'yes' as often as possible, we have been blessed with so many incredible friendships and adventures.

"We've headed out of town on buses not even sure of our destination, gone to so many amazing parties, and met so many interesting people.

"Living abroad has taught us to get out of our own way and not futilely attempt to be in charge of every detail.

"By knowing what we want—yet being open to all possibilities—people, events, and circumstances have regularly (and unexpectedly) made our lives more fun and enjoyable."

Spending time abroad opens the door to a kind of adventure that's hard to create at home these days.

I say that because it's easy to "get in a rut" and do what's expected…to proceed apace because you're in the habit of it.

In the wake of the pandemic, so many people—maybe you among them—are taking stock of where they are in life.

And lots are concluding: Something has to change.

The Dream Retirement Project can help make that change a reality for you.

It’s a way you can inject some excitement into your life…shake things up a little…

Going overseas does that for you…automatically.

You don't need to be rich and famous to do it.

And you don't have to upend your life entirely, either…there are lots of ways you can live internationally…

You could—

Take up the snowbird lifestyle on the French Riviera. Skip the snow back home and rent an apartment for the winter at the beach. Enjoy the coffee and croissants at the café on the corner…learn to live like a local…make new friends…take a cooking class…explore the little villages nearby…and do it all for less than it would cost you to stay home…
Try out a tropical island—housing for free. You might pick a tranquil spot where you can watch the sun set into the Caribbean Sea…in this place I'm thinking of, there aren't any traffic lights, fresh lobster goes for less than $7 per pound, horses roam the streets, and kids walk home from school on the airport runway.
Escape to a history-rich haven in Southeast Asia where the street food is renowned, artists are flocking, and nearly everybody speaks English. Here you could rent a splashy 2-bed condo with a water view for less than $800 a month—in a nice neighborhood with beaches and where shopping and restaurants are within easy reach.

What You DON'T Need to Go Overseas

Here's the thing: A lot of thoughtful folks like you who are interested in a wider world, curious about the opportunities out there…

…they won't ever actually take the steps to embrace those opportunities.

They might read about places they'd like to go. They might talk about them at cocktail parties.

Yet for them this kind of exciting, travel-rich life is always a "someday" sort of thing…a "wouldn't it be nice" fantasy…

For you…it really could be your reality.

That's what The Dream Retirement Project is designed to do…

…to take you from that "wouldn't it be nice" stage to actually living your dream life abroad.

Retiring overseas is a lot more accessible than you may think…

You do NOT need a six-figure income or hundreds of thousands in the bank…
You do NOT need to upend your life entirely and sell everything you own…
You do NOT need to speak another language…
You do NOT need to know already where you want to go…
You do NOT need to have the answers to every question about life overseas that pops into your head…

Where Life is Simpler and Easier

Living overseas can make your life a lot easier—and more pleasurable, too.

I say that because in the right places overseas life is just simpler…

Instead of the crazy pace…overseas you can slow down and savor life.

Dawn, an expat we know living in a Mediterranean town, is doing just that.

Now you might assume it's expensive to live on the Med—but not where she is in Spain.

Rent on her large 3-bedroom apartment is just $448 a month, a two-course meal with a bottle of wine can be had for $9, her combined phone, internet, and international TV package costs just $81 a month. As she puts it…

"I found life in the U.S. to be money-driven and stressful. Contrast that with the quality of life in my beautiful, new hometown…

"The low cost of living and the high-quality lifestyle means I can fill my days doing what I want. Mornings start with a Zumba class…

"I spend my afternoons enjoying a typically late and long lunch (almost always eating one of the many delicious fish or seafood choices).

"I may take my dog to play at the new dog park or take a siesta.

"As night approaches, I'll head out for an evening drink or meet up with friends to talk and dance… I've realized my dream of a simple, fulfilling life."

Bonnie, another expat we know, echoes the same sentiment from a little-known beach town in Latin America she calls home…

"I can live on about $1,000 (or less) a month…and I'm not scrimping. In fact, I can enjoy more here than I could in the U.S. when I had a great salary.

"I eat out when I want…travel around the country…visit the U.S. once a year…and generally have a better quality of life. The big stress factors of the U.S.-traffic, keeping up with the Joneses, and worrying about money, don't exist.

"Life here is easy, peaceful, and happy every day."

In many places beyond our borders, the pace is saner.

It harkens back to a simpler time.

Walter moved to Mexico, and he sums it up this way:

"Life here is like it was in the U.S. in the 1950s—simple and laidback. The significantly slower pace is probably the biggest benefit of daily life here. We eat better, we get more exercise, and our health has improved."

Slimming Down—Effortlessly
(A Pleasant Side Effect of Life Abroad)

…which brings me to another benefit of life in the right places overseas:

It's better for you.

How would you like a diet plan that sees you shedding pounds without even trying?

You'd be amazed at how often readers who've landed abroad write to say that they've slimmed down—a happy side effect of life abroad…

And, really, it makes sense. After all…if you're living in a place where the weather is nice, you want to be outside more.

So that's what you do—you go outside…and you walk or snorkel or hike or swim or ride your bike.

In lots of places we recommend, you don't need a car to get by.

And that means you walk to get groceries more often than not or when you head to a restaurant for a meal.

Armand, a transplant to Las Tablas, Panama, says, “We have dropped an incredible amount of weight. And we’re not even eating as healthy as we ought to.”

Harry and Barbara report a similar experience since they moved to Grecia, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. They’ve found that living like the locals—shopping at the local farmers’ market for fresh fruits and vegetables, for example—allows them to cut their monthly budget to well under $2,000. And, as Harry says, “I’ve lost 30 pounds since moving down [here].”

It's easy to be active.

And it's easy to eat well, too.

While processed foods certainly exist in the places we recommend, they're usually more expensive than the produce you'll find in the market.

So it’s cheaper to eat healthier.

In most places on our beat, fresh foods are grown without pesticides and chemical additives.

The milk, cheese, and eggs come from animals that have not been fed steroids.

And so the type of food that you'd expect to pay extra for at Whole Foods…can be yours overseas in the places we recommend for much less.

Two pounds of tomatoes for $1.26…a dozen eggs for $1.95…17 bananas for 50 cents…fresh raspberries for $1 a quart…

Diego and Kate moved to Medellin, Colombia and say, “Within the first six to seven months of living here, we each lost 10 pounds and kept it off—without even trying!”

A World of Opportunity

When you turn your gaze to beyond our borders, you'll see options for better living that you just don't have at home…

Ways and places you can have more fun…simplify your life…feel healthier…live richer…

…and do it for less than it costs you to stay home, like…

The inviting haven two-and-a-half hours from Miami where you can hire a maid to clean three times a week—for $60 a month. A doctor will make a house call for $35. And property is still cheap—though increasing in value. You can buy a two-bed condo with an ocean view and a large private patio and shared swimming pool for $119,999.
An overlooked spot in Europe where the plazas, cathedrals, and museums are dressed in travertine, the food and wine are glorious…and you can still rent an apartment for less than $600 a month.
Where to find U.S.-standard healthcare for half (or less) than you pay now…
Dollar-stretching property plays—right on the ocean—including one where $145,000 buys you a furnished one-bedroom condo on the beach in a complex with all the trimmings, including a beach club, full-service marina, hotel, and even a yacht club, which boasts a swimming pool, three tennis courts, and restaurants.
Five spots around the world where you can find premium views for less than $150,000.
How to enjoy a million-dollar retirement without touching your savings.
Where $35 a month buys high-speed, wireless internet…a maid will live-in for $200 a month…a taxi ride rarely costs more than three bucks…lunch out will run you $5…a first-run movie is $4…a pound of avocados sells for 65 cents…and you could live well on a Social Security income alone.
How you can earn $108,000 tax-free overseas.
A warm country with palm-lined beaches and spectacular diving where you can live just one short month a year and claim permanent residence… which can mean big tax savings for you when it comes to Uncle Sam.
The best beach communities for expats to live in…from Italy to Costa Rica to Thailand to Belize and beyond…
The top five tropical islands for retirees on a budget…

You'll get the specifics about all of that—and lots more—when you participate in The Dream Retirement Project.

And you'll get the tools you need to match up your dream lifestyle with a real-world place on the ground where you could make it your reality.

Your Timing is Excellent

If you like the idea of doubling your retirement dollars in a place where your greenbacks buy two, three, even five or ten times more than they do right now, then you can't ignore the opportunities you'll find today around the world.

The truth is there has never been a better time in history to explore—and embrace—your options abroad. A hundred, 50, even 20 years ago, it was a lot harder to get around, took longer, required more gumption.

Today, though, infrastructure on the ground is much improved. Traveling is easier, faster, and more comfortable than ever.

The Internet has knit together far-flung corners of the planet, which means you're never further than a Zoom call away from friends and family.

And many of your best overseas options today are just a quick hop by air.

So in a way, the world is getting smaller. But as it does, your options expand.

Think about it this way: Today, you could sit with your toes in a white-sand beach on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, which juts out of the turquoise waters off the coast of Thailand.

And there, on that remote dollop of sand, you could have high-speed Internet access on your iPad while you enjoy a fresh-made lunch of steamed rice, chicken, fresh vegetables, and a bowl of tasty soup—for less than $3.

The world-class view? Free.

Today all kinds of overlooked places are suddenly accessible—and easier than ever to visit or live in.

And they cost a small fraction of what you're used to spending at home.

How Well Suited Are You to Life Overseas?

Here's the thing, though…and I want to be frank about this: Retiring overseas isn't right for everybody.

You're still with me here, so I suspect it's something that might well suit you. But let me ask…

Do you like the idea of living in a place where you could take $100 out of an ATM on Monday, eat out every day of the week, rent a sailboat for a morning, meet friends for drinks one afternoon, pay your monthly utility bill…and still have change leftover on Friday?
Are you willing to be flexible? Other countries do things differently. The locals might speak another language (or they might not). But you can be sure their traditions, the way they approach problems, and their sense of time will be different than yours. Are you willing to "go with the flow?"
Do you enjoy meeting new people and exploring new places—do you consider yourself a traveler at heart?
Do you crave a little adventure? Are you ready to try something new, something a little "outside the box"…even if you have friends and family who say you're nuts?
Are you ready to ignore the everyday perceptions about places in favor of the reality on the ground? The world you hear about on the nightly news is always full of war, disaster, and political chaos. But the world I'd like to introduce you to is full of opportunity for fun, personal growth, travel, profit, and more. Do you believe that world exists…and are you ready to discover it?

If you answered "yes" to three or more of those questions, then I'd say you're a prime candidate for life overseas…and The Dream Retirement Project.

Your Expert Connection to a World of Opportunity

It's a way to jump-start your new life abroad in a place you love, where you can spend less and live better.

Whether you’re interested in doing it a few weeks a year—or full-time.

A place where you can create your own good life overseas…where the weather suits your constitution and where there's plenty you like to do to keep you busy.

You have lots of options abroad today—as I said earlier, more good options than ever before.

But trial and error, frankly, isn't the most efficient (or cost-effective) way to find the place that's right for you.

Now to be honest, that's how most folks go about it.

But I'd like to spare you the time, frustration, and funds that can cost you.

Instead, I'd like to introduce you to a better way.

A way you can get your questions answered…easily match up what you're looking for with a real place abroad…

…put a reasonable plan of action in place…and feel comfortable and confident about your new adventure overseas.

The Dream Retirement Project puts you "under the wing" of our most seasoned editors, Dan Prescher and Suzan Haskins, who've been living overseas for nearly two decades now.

They're the authors of two books: International Living's Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget, and Live Richer, Spend Less.

And these guys know their stuff.

In The Dream Retirement Project, they've created a way they can share those important nuggets they've discovered that can make all the difference for you between a frustrating experience abroad and one that's fun and easy.

They can't sit down with you in your living room—but this is, hands down, the next-best thing.

It all started when Suzan said to me over dinner one night, "If only I'd understood back in 2000 what I know now…we'd have gotten to this 'sweet spot' a heck of a lot faster…"

It got me thinking… Dan and Suzan have a wealth of hard-won, on-the-ground know-how that you could use.

I wanted a way they could debrief you…put you on the inside…

And essentially catapult you from where you are now to that "sweet spot" you dream about…

That way, you could fly right over the roadblocks they themselves had to find a way around.

So you could settle into the promise of a better life abroad seamlessly, easily, and enjoyably…

When you participate in The Dream Retirement Project, that's exactly what you can do.

It’s akin to having a “go-overseas-mentor,” expert guidance and been-there-done-that help. A way to get answers to your questions so you can get to the spot that’s just right for you with confidence and ease.

I encourage you to act fast.

If you're intrigued by the idea of spending a lot less, yet at the same time living a lot better...

If you’re ready to put a more resilient retirement plan in place, but you're not quite sure how—or where—to make it happen…

Then I know that Dan and Suzan can help you.

Doesn't matter if you long to wake up to the sound of the waves sloshing gently on shore…

Or if you're ready to leave the stress behind…and sit on your balcony at sunset looking out at peaceful mountain peaks, a light sweater on your shoulders, cocktail in hand…

Or if you dream about the day when you can enjoy lunch at an elegant sidewalk cafe, revel in the sweet bustle of the city, and look forward to the opera you'll enjoy that night…

Whatever is in your mind's eye—whatever your ideal life looks like—they can help you find the place to make it real…

Because that place does exist—that place where you can live the good life for a lot less than you spend on your ordinary existence right now.

In the right places overseas, a couple can retire more comfortably than you ever could back home—for less than $1,670 a month, housing included.

Here's the Easy, No-Hassle Way to Get from Where You Are Now to Enjoying an International Life… FAST

To my mind, when it comes to an overseas adventure, the romance and the sense of freedom are automatically built in.

But the prospect of this great escape can be paralyzing. You fret, muse, research, dream…it can go on for years. (Maybe it already has!)

Being unsure about just a single, small detail can stop you in your tracks. You don't know what to do next, so you do nothing…

But it doesn't have to be that way for you. This time next year, you could be living way better than you are now…and spending less.

Because we're going to make it super easy for you.

We're going to give you a clear step-by-step path to follow that'll point you to exactly the place you're meant to be.

You could start living well—just like Lee and Peg do.

Retiring Overseas Is NOT an All-Or-Nothing Proposition

You don't have to pull up stakes and renounce life "back home" entirely to start enjoying days at the beach…or having a housekeeper cook and clean a few times a week…

Think about a part-time approach. Not only is it something easily arranged in just a handful of weeks…

But in the right places overseas, I guarantee it'll cost you less to spend a month or two exploring a new community and trying on the expat life for size than it would to book a few weeks at the shore back home.

One prospective expat put it plainly when he visited Ecuador last summer: "I could live for a month here and spend about the same amount as I spend on air conditioning alone every month in Phoenix." He's right. And Ecuador isn't the only place you can do it, either.

As part of The Dream Retirement Project, we walk you through all kinds of options and teach you the best way to narrow down the spots most worth your attention.

They escaped to a little highland town surrounded by peaks that reminds them of the Blue Ridge Mountains where they used to live.

Peg says they rent a three-bedroom apartment for less than $600 a month. They have a walled-in backyard that's 100 feet by 40 feet, where their dogs can play. For less than $20 a week, a woman comes in to clean. Neither Lee or Peg likes to cook, so they eat out every day—eating well, yet rarely spending more than $10 for a meal.

Or you could be enjoying life in the Caribbean, just like Mary and John are.

The couple spends part of the year in Belize. They rent a townhouse in a small complex on a private island for $3,000 a month, which is about what their Minnesota mortgage cost.

But here, they get so much more for the money: a beachfront home, utilities paid, a caretaker, and private boat service.

And life is good. The couple enjoys sports fishing, and John reads four to five hours a day. Mary stays busy snorkeling, sailing, fishing, kayaking, and exploring Mayan ruins.

“I no longer have a budget,” says Mary. “I don’t keep track. I don’t need to. I feel like we have exactly what we need and there’s always some extra at the end of the month.”

What they have…you can have, too.

And when you sign on to participate in The Dream Retirement Project right now, we’ll show you how.

Clear Answers and "This Is How It Works" Guidance Make Going Overseas Easy

In The Dream Retirement Project, Dan and Suzan answer questions and share secrets inside 8 beefy lessons.

For each, they walk you through what you need to know in videos and include written guides and how-to’s that go along with their talks.

Plus, they’ve brought in “backup,” too—tapping the expertise of additional experts from our International Living team.

You’ll find out things like—

Why a part-time getaway might suit you best—and how to arrange it in a way that works for you.
22 questions to ask yourself before you move overseas—the answers will help point you to where you should go.
Should you rent or should you buy? And six more important things to consider (including what to do if you’re spouse isn’t 100% “on board” yet)...
How the top destinations for living overseas compare to one another—so you can match up what you're looking for with a real-world place on the ground.
Taxes, visas, finances, and more—what you need to sort out before you commit to a country, and how to do it with ease.
How to ensure a no-trouble move with your pet in tow… Suzan and Dan tell you exactly how it works…it's not hard.
The easiest, cheapest, most reliable ways to stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues while overseas…
Where to find excellent-quality healthcare (and insurance) you can afford…
How to get the most out of a scouting trip overseas—including the three things you should absolutely do while you’re in the country you’re checking out...
If you’ve got a portable income—we’ll show you the best places to take it overseas today. If you’re NOT yet retired, you’ve got a few things to consider—visas, taxes, and costs among them.
Six ways you can help fund an overseas adventure—whether you’re retired or not, looking for a side gig or a full-time income, we’ll hand you some good options...
And lots, lots more…

It would cost hundreds of dollars—thousands, more realistically—to gather these secrets, tips, and techniques on your own…and that's if you knew where to begin.

But today they are yours as part of The Dream Retirement Project.

Discover Beautiful, Welcoming Places Where You Can Live Well for Remarkably Little… Even in Europe!

As a participant, you'll "come along" as Dan and Suzan pull back the curtain and show you your best opportunities in the Caribbean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

I’m talking about retreats where you can live well…invest profitably…and create the kind of life you've always imagined…for a fraction of what you'd suppose it would cost.

You can compare and contrast one destination to another and be efficient about your overseas search. That way you're not wasting time with places that really aren't right for you.

In each country we recommend, we’ll drill down to show you the regions and communities where the least number of dollars buys you the best lifestyle.

Beaches…cities…mountain surrounds…colonial towns.

They're all places our correspondents around the globe have uncovered on your behalf. Places they investigated firsthand. Places where they themselves live and spend time…

Suzan and Dan will virtually "hold your hand" so you can quickly, efficiently, and enjoyably get from where you are now to living that life you imagine in your mind's eye.

And along the way, they’ll introduce you to some more of the experts on our IL team, like Jason Holland in Mexico... Laura Diffendal in Belize...Kathleen Evans in Costa Rica... Terry Coles in Portugal... Jessica Ramesch in Panama... Keith Hockton in Malaysia... and the list goes on.

They’ll each introduce you to their adopted home country and share with you insights about the best communities to consider for expat life, the cost of living, what life can look like day-to-day, and more.

I believe firmly that there is a place out there that's right for you…

A place where you can create your own good life overseas…

A place where the cost of living matches your budget, where the weather suits your constitution, and where there's plenty you like to do to keep you busy…

A place where you can embrace a retirement that’s not just enjoyable and affordable, but is resilient, as well.

Through The Dream Retirement Project, Dan and Suzan will help you get there.

The regular price to participate in The Dream Retirement Project is $199.

We've enlisted all our resources to pull together The Dream Retirement Project, and that doesn't come cheap.

Each year we spend more than $800,000 to fund the correspondents and editors we have on the ground all around the world and who investigate destinations on your behalf.

We do it so you don't have to. This project really is special.

It's the culmination of more than 40 years of hard-won, real-world experience.

Our editors here at International Living don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk.

Suzan and Dan have themselves have lived in and traveled extensively through the countries that we recommend...

...they've bought and sold property, they've rented, they've renovated...

...they've moved pets, gotten teeth fixed, had surgeries…

...so they know more than a thing or two about successfully navigating (and embracing) an enviable life overseas.

I can say with confidence that you won't find a better way to help you investigate your best options abroad today than with The Dream Retirement Project.

I'm prepared to give you access to all of Dan and Suzan's best intelligence. Plus all the insights the rest of our IL team shares, too.

They're going to set you up to jump-start your life overseas and take you from "dreamer" to "doer."

And that's not all.

When you "raise your hand" and let me know you'd like a spot in The Dream Retirement Project we'll include all sorts of digital extras as well…

SPECIAL BONUS # 1, Yours Free…

We'll issue each new participant a guide called Easy Shortcuts to the Good Life (value: $19.95). In it you'll discover secrets like…

Ten good reasons to move overseas right now…and a couple not-so-good ones. Find out where you stand…
Four "clear-thinking" benchmarks to use before you make the leap…so that you've set yourself up for an easy, fast transition to the good life overseas.
The twelve most important priorities to consider as you compare one good-value haven to another. This list will save you weeks of hemming and hawing and help you narrow down your top choices in no time at all.
Twenty-six practical tips and proven shortcuts to help you save time…

In Easy Shortcuts to the Good Life we make it easy to find the place that's right for you and take the next steps with a sense of confidence.

This report is valued at $19.95. But it is yours today, free, when you register to participate in The Dream Retirement Project .

And when you claim one of the available spots right now, I'll toss in another bonus on top of that…

SPECIAL BONUS # 2, Yours Free…

As an added incentive to put your name on the participant list today, I'll toss in a $100 Event Voucher good toward any of our live events.

There's no expiration on it…so you can use it anytime.

And I'd like to note that, in fact, if you DO use it, it means I'll have essentially paid you $1 to participate in The Dream Retirement Project.

Just think about it: You take me up on this special offer and you get to be a part of The Dream Retirement Project for $199.

In turn, I give you $100 to use toward one of our events.

This $100 voucher is yours to keep, no matter what.

And that's not all!

Respond while this special offer is on the table, and I'll send you something else, too.

—FAST REPLY BONUS—
Here's a Gift Just for Enrolling
Today

Take action right now and join IL's Dream Retirement Project—and when you do, I'll also send you another useful guide called How to Buy Right and Boost Your Rental Income Anywhere in the World (value: $29.95).

It is easier today than at any other time in history for small investors like you or me to make strong gains from renting real estate out—particularly short-term.

And one of the best ways to fund a more international life—particularly if you’re not ready to go abroad full-time—is to own a place overseas that you can enjoy a few weeks a year and which pays for itself when you’re not there.

My colleague Ronan McMahon, an international real estate expert at the helm of Real Estate Trend Alert and a contributing editor to International Living, put this special report together to show you how it’s done.

Inside, he shares the six important steps to take to ensure you’re set up with a property poised to produce strong rental returns.

You’ll find out the best kind of properties to own (1-bed and studio v 2-bed and why and when one can be better than the other).

What you need to watch for in markets where you’re thinking about buying something—because one critical element can make all the difference.

And lots, lots more...

When you let me know you're interested in The Dream Retirement Project today, we'll include How to Buy Right and Boost Your Rental income Anywhere in the World (value: $29.95) for you at absolutely no charge.

Really, there's no reason not to give it a try…I say that because this special offer comes with a rock-solid guarantee.

In fact, a three-part guarantee.

Our Rock-Solid, Triple Guarantee
Means No Risk for You

Guarantee # 1—I guarantee this special online program will help you find an escape that's right for you abroad. A place where you can live better than ever…stretch your retirement dollars…and have the time and funds to travel, relax, enjoy life…a true “resilient retirement” plan.

Guarantee # 2—I guarantee you'll find through The Dream Retirement Project the real-world solutions you need to get from where you are now to where you want to be. But if you feel the solutions Dan and Suzan deliver aren't for you, simply let us know within 30 days and we'll give you a full refund. No questions, no problem. So the risk is all ours.

Guarantee # 3—Should you decide to ask for a refund, you have, as I said, a full thirty days to do it. And regardless, you can keep Easy Shortcuts to the Good Life, the $100 Event Voucher, and the fast-reply bonus, How to Buy Right and Boost Your Rental Income Anywhere in the World too. And they're yours to keep, no matter what…

With this special offer today, you can secure a place in The Dream Retirement Project and receive resources with a value of $348—revealing secrets, strategies, solutions, and smart ideas you'd spend tens of thousands of dollars gathering on your own—all for just ~~$348~~ $199.

But you need to act fast.

Click "Add to Cart" now to register so you don't miss this opportunity.

Here at International Living, we believe the world really IS alive with opportunity and adventure.

We take it as our mission to show you where—and how—you can best embrace it.

By participating in The Dream Retirement Project, you gain a "virtual mentor" as Dan and Suzan show you how to cut through all the clutter out there to home in on the places that make the most sense for you.

Then they hand you the step-by-step guidance you need to get there…fast.

You'll get your questions answered. You'll come away with a clear understanding of what you should do first, second, third, and so on.

With The Dream Retirement Project, we're handing you our best expert guidance about all of the amazing ways you can embrace an adventure-filled world and live better than you do now…without spending a fortune.

Suzan and Dan are "standing by" to help you do it. Just click "Add to Cart" now to get started today.

When you join The Dream Retirement Project, you'll gain insight into how it's possible to live a life of luxury even on a Social Security check alone…

You'll see that in the right places—places where the living is good and the prices are low—you can have a housekeeper, a gardener, a personal chef, or even a private driver…without breaking the bank. When $60 a month will pay for somebody to help a couple times a week, why not have them do it?

In the right places, you can spend much less than you do at home—only watch your lifestyle expand.

You can afford to relax. You can afford to enjoy your days.

I'd like to show you how (and where) you could create your own "good life" in a place you love…

I'd like to show you how you can get there quickly, easily, and enjoyably, too…

Simply click the "Add to Cart" button to enroll in The Dream Retirement Project.

I know you're going to be impressed by what you see.

Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living
November 2021

P.S. Don't delay…click "Add to Cart" to enroll in The Dream Retirement Project now.

Altogether, this unusual deal hands you more than 40 years' worth of live-abroad solutions, recommendations, and expert guidance to help you effortlessly find the spot that's a good fit for you…and get there with ease…

With this special offer you'll pay just $199 for your spot in The Dream Retirement Project.

Just take a look.

This offer is 100% guaranteed and you don't risk anything. No matter what, even if you ask for a refund, the three special bonuses are yours to keep—free:

Easy Shortcuts to the Good Life,
$100 IL Event Voucher
How to Buy Right and Boost Your Rental Income Anywhere in the World

But to participate, you have to enroll. Click “Add to Cart” now to get started.

Global Intelligence Letter

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:20:50 GMT

Enigmatic Expert Who Predicted Bank Failures, Inflation, Market Crash, and America’s Political Divide Issues Final Warning:

3 Strange Financial Events American Retirees Need to Prepare for Right Now

“this will be a disaster for savers... here’s the one important step you need to take right now...”

He was a poor boy from Baton Rouge who rose to the highest levels of the mainstream financial media...

With 10 million readers and 7 acclaimed books, Jeff Opdyke guided America through events like the dot-com bust and the ’08 financial crisis... and even 9/11.

But at the height of his success he walked away from it all.

He left America entirely... and began making a series of predictions about the US economy...

In February of 2021, Jeff went against the Biden administration, predicting that serious inflation was coming...

Then, while the media was calling “the beginning of the end for fossil fuels,” Jeff bucked the trend once more... predicting that oil prices would soar once again.

In late 2021, he also warned that he’d sold 90% of his stocks and bonds to prepare for a major event in the next six months... barely two months later, the stock market began its epic 2022 crash.

In October 2022, Jeff again warned of bank failures ahead, including the giant Credit Suisse...

Earlier this year, that’s exactly what happened...

Today, from his offshore base... Jeff Opdyke delivers his final prediction:

3 coming events – known as super shocks – are about to disrupt our life in a way that few Americans have ever experienced.

In this short presentation, you’ll hear the story no one else is telling – of delusion, woke-ism gone mad, of a hidden agenda to turn America against itself... and the “Reckoning” that must follow.

Jeff will detail the steps he has taken to protect and even grow his wealth... as well as the one simple step you can take right now from your computer, tablet, or phone...

Dear Reader,

Do you know the story of America’s “dead twin”?

A hundred years ago America had a rival superpower.

I’m not talking about Russia, Japan or China...

This “twin” was the fastest growing economy in the world... its currency was the most valuable on earth.

Like us, this rival superpower was at the forefront of technology... their geography made them virtually immune to foreign threats... their resources – an “endless supply of raw materials and natural resources such as water, gas, and oil” – made them a force no one dared touch...

Inside one of their department stores from the time

They built a “world metropolis” with the beauty of Paris, the wealth of New York and the hustle of Chicago...villas and the latest fashions...a $330,000,000 opera house...tree-lined boulevards...

American visitors would write home calling it “the City of Amazement.”

A period of unsurpassed wealth...but it was not to last

Now here’s why this story should matter to every American right now:

Nor could they have imagined that the threat would come, not from a foreign invader or natural disaster... but from a simple, yet dangerous, idea... and a series of shocking events.

As these events played out, political squabbles turned violent in the streets...

Foreign creditors began calling in their debts... and the currency – once equal to the dollar – lost so much value that store owners no longer bothered putting prices on their goods...

Factories stopped being able to pay their workers... employees turned on owners, taking over their businesses (sometimes violently)... middle class families were forced to sell their homes... children starved as basic foods disappeared (in one of the most food-rich countries on the planet)...

Anyone with any sense tried to take their savings and head for the exits...

But a desperate government imposed banking lockdowns, forcing the people to simply watch as their money lost value like a stock in a crash.

Later, shell-shocked locals would remark on just how fast their world came apart...

Visit the capital today and you’ll see traces of that former wealth.

You see it in the grand Parisian-style buildings (still beautiful but crumbling)...

You see it in the old subway system, one of the first in the world... now failing and plagued by crime...

You see it in the wide boulevards, where families gather to barter for powder milk and diapers...

...the ruins of a once-proud superpower...

We’ll talk more about this country later on, as well as the bizarre reality of everyday life there now.

You can already see its influence in our government, our media, our financial system... even in our schools and TV shows...

And I believe we’re about to see a series of events very similar to those that killed “America’s dead twin.”

My name, by the way, is Jeff Opdyke.

I don’t work for a big “financial research” company. I’m not a professional talking head.

I’m just an independent financial writer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

I share my findings and forecasts with a private group of 10,000 subscribers.

A few years ago, I began reporting on a strange idea spreading through America’s elite institutions – our government, our colleges, even our media...

As I traced the origins of this idea and the agenda behind it... it led me to make a series of predictions about our society, our economy, and the stock bubble.

Each of which came true...

Today I’m here to talk about the next – and possibly final – chapter in this story.

We will see empty shelves in our grocery stores once more...

Fuel prices will climb again, triggering black outs and brown outs...

Stocks will whipsaw... (though that’s not the asset I’m most worried about...more on that later)

Companies will see their margins collapse and start laying off staff in massive numbers...

I expect we’ll see joblessness soar as millennials who quit during the pandemic suddenly become desperate for work...

The housing market will get hit, too. The banking giant JP Morgan is already cutting hundreds of jobs within its mortgage division... (that may be just the beginning of trouble ahead for our banks)

And’s that’s just the beginning... what comes next will be stranger still...

Understand: in the highest circles of American finance and industry, they know what’s coming...

And yet the official narrative coming out the White House is one of record employment... lower inflation... lower gas prices... and no recession.

In this free presentation, I’m going to lay out the truth.

I’ll show you what’s really going on... including the insidious idea at work in America today... and the coming events – which I call “super shocks” – that every American should be prepared for.

Once you understand what’s happening, it will explain so much about America of the past few decades...

The strange ideas ... laughable just a few years ago... that have taken hold everywhere from your local library to your local PTA to even our government...
The boom and bust of Big Tech and crypto currencies...
The surprising origin of the “woke” movement...
The rise of identity politics... and cancel culture...

And so much more...

Earlier in this presentation, you learned the story of America’s dead twin...

That country, by the way...was Argentina.

Surprised?

There was a time when the saying around the world went “rich as an Argentine.”

Except for the United States, Argentina had more millionaires than any other country on Earth.

And the Argentine gold peso was the most valuable currency in the world.

In the early 1900s, Americans visiting the capital city of Buenos Aires would write back in awe:

Had the Bishop from Baltimore visited Buenos Aires a few decades later, he would have found a city where people ate from garbage cans... where mothers fed their children tea and sugar because there wasn’t any food...

Think something like that can’t happen in America?

Last year when a single infant formula plant in Michigan shut down, half the supply of formula in the US disappeared...

Store shelves went bare... pharmacies had to resort to rationing... desperate mothers were bringing babies to the hospital with malnutrition...

One Wisconsin mother reported going to 13 stores trying to find food for her son.

“You stare at the [empty] shelf like...I need to find something for my son to eat,” she reported at the time.

America is far more fragile than you think...

For example, a recent food giveaway by a charity in Kentucky saw a mile-long line form... with people getting up at 4am to come secure their spot...

And if you wait for CNN or Fox News or NPR to tell you what comes next, you are making a big mistake.

I’ve seen it before...

At the height of the recent stock boom, in November 2021 I warned people that I’d sold 90% of my stocks and bonds, including Facebook and Google...

What were the “authorities” telling people?

The financial news site MoneyWise told its readers “don’t count on a crash.”

Goldman Sachs told investors the market would continue to hit record highs in 2022.

Just a few weeks later, the market collapsed.

But what’s coming will impact you regardless of whether you own stocks...

In a few minutes, I’m going to share the “radical” change I’ve made to prepare for these Super Shocks, including how I’m protecting my savings and personal finances...

...plus the easy step you can take right now to protect your wealth... and even profit enormously as one poorly understand, yet vital, asset skyrockets in value (no, it’s not oil, gold, stocks, or bonds).

I can understand you may be skeptical. You’re right to be. Especially in times like these.

I remember after the financial meltdown in ’08, every guru on the internet and TV was telling people it was going to be the “end of America.”

And sure, we had big problems. Especially with our national debt.

But even so, I saw something else in America’s future.

See, I began my career as an investigative reporter. And for a time I was stationed at the Wall Street Journal’s Texas office – in the heart of oil country.

I knew there were massive shale oil fields just waiting to be tapped underneath American soil.

That’s why I went against the doom-and-gloomers to predict, not the end of America, but the rebirth of America as a gas giant.

I wrote to my readers back then: “America is on the brink of becoming the next Qatar.”

That’s exactly what happened. America soon became the world’s largest natural gas exporter, with natural exports jumping almost 350%.

Those who listened to me even had the chance to make a lot of money when I recommended a little-known U.S. natural gas company called Cheniere Energy:

Back then, Cheniere was trading for $5 per share. By March 2023, it was worth nearly $165…a gain of 3,200%.

Sadly, I don’t think we’re looking at a rebirth like in 2011...

No, America will not disappear. But if I’m right, the next two decades are going to some of the most difficult we have ever experienced as a country.

That said, there will be “Chenieres” to find here too...

But first, I need to tell you about the first of the three coming super shocks.

The First Super Shock: The “Woke” Attack on America’s Economy

Soon I suspect we will be headed into lockdown once more...

But not over a virus this time.

Nor will they use the word lockdown. Maybe they’ll call it a “climate action” or an “energy reset”...

But it’ll be a lockdown. Cars unable to go anywhere. Stores closed. Streets empty. Here’s why...

Back in 2021, the common wisdom went that in the post-COVID world renewables would replace fossil fuels. Oil prices, which had gone to zero during the pandemic, would stay low.

CNN at the time reported: “The world may never recover its thirst for oil.”

To me that was pure “woke” fantasy…

In March 2021 I predicted that oil prices were about to soar as demand roared back.

Within a year, oil prices had more than doubled to over $130 per barrel.

Today, the prices at the pump appear to be heading back down.

And certainly the White House would love for you to believe that the worst has passed.

Sadly, they are wrong. It’s about to get much worse.

Here’s why:

For years now, elites in the US have pursued the rapid and complete replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy.

President Biden canceled the Keystone Pipeline and has allowed less drilling on federal land than Obama, Trump and every other U.S. president since Truman.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York have all banned hydraulic fracking…even though they sit upon a shale formation with hundreds of trillions of cubic feet in natural gas (enough gas to power the entire U.S. for years).

California, too, plans to ban all new natural gas projects...

These restrictions have proven so effective that we have all but stopped bringing new oil and gas supply to the surface.

The last time new oil discoveries were this low was back in 1946.

Most Americans still didn’t even own cars back then.

The US economy today is 10 TIMES larger now than it was in 1946!

Put simply: at some point we’re going to find that we don’t have enough energy to power this country.

It’s not that we don’t have oil and gas.

The US now holds the largest discoverable oil reserves in the world... more than Saudi Arabia.

But you can’t turn that supply back on like a light switch.

Finding a new well… estimating its reserves… deciding whether or not to tap it… getting government approval and licensing… extracting the oil or gas… and then refining it…

That process takes years…even a decade or more for complex operations like offshore rigs.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with renewable technologies. They may build a great world for my son’s grandchildren…

But you cannot replace more than a century’s worth of fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure in a few years…or even a few decades... with renewables.

Oil and gas are incredibly dense fuels.

Every cubic meter of oil we extract – about 6 barrels – produces up to 45 gigajoules of energy.

A comparable area of solar energy panels produces just 1.5 microjoules... that’s twenty quadrillion times LESS energy.

And even if that wasn’t the case... we can’t afford the transition to renewables.

Consider this: McKinsey estimates the total cost of zero emissions by 2050 could be as high as $275 trillion.

That’s over 20 times all the taxes collected by governments, worldwide, in a year.

Are you willing to forgo your social security so that Greta Thunberg and AOC get their wind farms?

(Though now Greta’s protesting windfarms too so maybe not...)

The fact is: we don’t have the money... we don’t have the energy... and even if Biden acted today, we don’t have the time...

And no one dares talk about it!

The bank HSBC recently forced out one of its top executives after he questioned... not climate change itself... but the wisdom of investing client money in companies with an “environmental or social justice” mission regardless of bad returns.

This is a political issue, not a scientific issue. Look at these headlines:

Look, I don’t like pollution. I started my career as a journalist investigating the chemical industry that was causing birth defects in south Louisiana.

But this is not about pollution. It’s not about climate change.

If it were, we’d be talking about nuclear, which, despite what you may have heard, is both clean and safe... cleaner, in fact, than both wind and solar.

According to a Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Rhodes:

So no, this is not really about the climate (more on that later...)

Regardless, shortages are now inevitable in the US... and probably going to hit much sooner than you realize.

According to the International Energy Forum we are now facing “the worst global energy crisis in history.”

In the past two years, so many refineries have shut down that America has lost more than 1 million barrels a day in supply.

Right now, the Biden administration is relying on something called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stop oil and gas prices from skyrocketing...

It’s a federal complex of deep underground caverns along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast that hold hundreds of millions of barrels of oil.

When Biden took office, the SPR held 640 million barrels.

But Biden burned through 40% of the SPR in 2022 alone... all while touting his climate bona fides by the way...

If he continues at that rate, he will be functionally out of oil by the end of this year.

Businesses are already shutting down because they can’t afford their gas bills. When San Diego restaurant owner, Jeff K. saw his gas bill had jumped 300%, he reported “The costs are out of control, I think they're running us out of here.”

These are not big businesses that get bail outs to stay open... when a small business can’t afford to keep the lights own, it just shuts down.

And in case you don’t know... 99% of American businesses are small businesses.

But it’s not just businesses. Regular Americans are already reporting gas bills nearly 8 TIMES higher than last year.

And it’s about to get worse...

Let me show you what $10 a gallon gas does to this country...

The average trucking company operates on a profit margin between 2.5% and 6%. Think about what happens if their gas price goes up 100% or more...

That will have a devastating effect on retail businesses. And Ecommerce won’t escape the carnage like it did during the pandemic. Without trucks, online businesses can’t ship.

Online businesses can’t ship so they don’t advertise. And all those cool, hip tech companies... well... some of them are going under.

Meanwhile the average American could see the cost to fill his gas tank rise to $278. In some states, it could be double that.

Remember: this is in a country where half the population can’t cover more than $400 in an emergency... and millions of families are already maxing out their credit cards just to get by...

And we haven’t even factored in the many products – from toothpaste to medicine – that contain petroleum derivatives and will skyrocket in price...

Or the cost of heating people’s homes..

But if I could point to one “Achilles heel” for America when it comes to energy... it’s not heating your home... it’s not even trucks...

Here’s a disturbing secret about America’s food supply...

Fertilizer, specifically synthetic nitrogen, is made using natural gas.

Most people don’t realize how important fertilizer is to our modern world. Experts estimate that without the invention of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, the world population would be about half what it is today.

Prices for fertilizer are already rising sharply.

One type of nitrogen fertilizer – ammonia – has already gone up nearly 3 times in price...

For America’s farmers, that’s a problem.

See, most people don’t realize how fragile America’s farms are...

Suicide among farmers is alarmingly high.

If you go to farming communities in places like Wisconsin they’ll use words like “extermination” to describe what’s happening... They’ll tell you they’re being “wiped off the map.” (Their words.)

Most farmers lose money, and the industry has some of the highest debts in the US.

In less than a decade, the US has lost 100,000 farms.

Does that sound like a stable situation for America’s food supply as it is? Skyrocketing fertilizer prices are going to hit very hard.

It’s already happening.

According to Reuters, American farmers are already being forced to abandon crops like corn due to rising fertilizer prices.

This is very similar to what happened a few years ago in Sri Lanka.

The government there tried to force its farmers to go organic, by banning chemical fertilizer.

Here’s what happened next:

Because they couldn’t get fertilizer, farm yields plunged.

One million farms produced nothing at all which caused food supply to collapse 20%.

A third of farmland just went idle.

They had to import hundreds of millions of dollars worth of rice to keep the population from starving.

But it wasn’t enough.

And with hunger came riots. The country’s president wound up fleeing as protestors stormed the presidential palace.

Could the same happen here? Well, the USDA just announced an “Organic Transition Initiative” ... to make America’s farms organic... just like Sri Lanka!

Now I don’t like chemicals, but the yield on organic farms is 40% lower.

We cannot feed a country of 300 million on the half the food supply we currently have.

To match our current production of just one crop – soybeans – without nitrogen fertilizer would require a new area of farmland the size of the state of Kansas.

But farmland is disappearing... in part because farmland works great for solar power. As one wheat farmer put it: “if solar catches on like wind did, all this cultivated land will go out of production.”

There’s an old saying that “anarchy is just nine meals away.”

In America today, I don’t think it will take nine meals...

And look, I know all this sounds extreme.

Many people will refuse to believe me – no matter what the facts say.

Just like they refused to believe me when I warned about stocks... or inflation... and more...

In a moment, I am going to share some insights you can use to protect yourself... and even grow your wealth.

Understand: this is not about profiteering. This is about being in a position to help yourself and those around you. Your friends, neighbors, children, and grandchildren.

Because there will be winners in this crisis.

Right now there’s an asset you can buy a stake in for as little as you want. It’s not oil or gold. Yet, within the coming decade, I expect its price to rise 40 TIMES...

We have taken a lot for granted during the past 50 years in America – cheap plentiful energy, cheap plentiful food, and more (which we’ll get to in a moment).

I think we’re entering an era where a lot of people will lose those comforts we all take for granted.

The first super shock will hit our energy supply...

The second shock will hit a part of the US economy even more vital to your daily life... and crucial for your retirement...

The Second Super Shock: A Shortage in America’s
Most Valuable Asset

Back in 2021, at about the same time I predicted that oil prices would rise, I also made another prediction...

I saw inflation was going to turn into a real problem.

In February 2021 I wrote:

When I wrote that inflation was just 1.7%...well within the Fed’s 2% target range.

The government dismissed inflation as a “small risk.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Fed Chair Jerome Powell said any inflation would be “transitory.”

People like me were mocked.

You know what happened next… Inflation spiraled out of control to a 40-year high.

Biden would love you to believe that inflation is now headed back down...

Truth is, our inflation problem is going to turn into something far stranger...

That may surprise you. After all, isn’t Biden literally printing trillions for his “relief checks” and green energy programs and everything else?

To understand this, we need to take an “uncensored” look at both American history and America today.

If you’ve ever had the feeling that America is headed in the wrong direction... that the quality of the life you get in exchange for a day’s work just isn’t what it was...

You’re right.

In the early 20^th century, Americans became if not the most, then among the most productive, innovative, and richest people in human history.

In 1870, the average American still burned whale oil and candles for light in his cabin. He got scurvy because he ate few vegetables (because he had no refrigeration). He had no running water and no toilet.

He was extremely poor. The average person living in the Congo today is richer than the American of 1870.

But by 1921, that American could drive a Ford... had clean water, modern toilets... ate Kellog’s cornflakes for breakfast, fresh vegetables year round, White Castle hamburgers, and drank Coca-Cola...

In 1870, he paid $20 for a kerosene lamp that could produce light equal to 5,050 candle light hours per year.

In 1920, that same $20 bought 4.4 million candle light hours from an electric bulb.

Instead of living in a cabin of rough logs and mud, he could order an inexpensive bungalow directly from Sears.

The trend continued to the 1970s. By then, 100% of households had electricity and refrigerators. We drove air conditioned cars, and flew in jumbo jets (sometimes at supersonic speeds which made it possible to go from Paris to New York in 2 hours 59 minutes).

We say that we live in an era of disruption today.

But there is a world of difference between making automobiles and electricity available to hundreds of millions... and inventing a new social media app.

By 1965, nearly every technology we rely on today... had already been created... even the internet.

But it wasn’t just that our technology got better.

We were vastly more productive than other countries, too.

In 1950 a European worker produced just 39% of what an American worker could produce in the same hour of work.

And then, the trend towards greater wealth, greater innovation, and greater productivity... stopped.

Between 1970 and 2012, productivity growth fell by two-thirds...

That’s despite American workers today spending 400 hours more per year on the job than workers in Europe.

Innovation, too, stalled...

That may seem surprising in an era when billionaires are literally going into space...

Yet, studies show that disruptive discoveries have plummeted across every scientific discipline over the last 50 years...

And the more effort and money we spend improving our lives... from our healthcare to our food to even our technology... the less we get.

A study by McGill University looking at America since 1965 found that the more we spend today on advances in cancer and heart disease... the fewer life years we actually save...

The same study found the same trend in farming; the development of new medical drugs; and even, surprisingly, computer chips.

It’s as if, despite all our efforts, American progress is being slowly destroyed by a force you and I have no control over.

And nowhere has that been more obvious than in our wealth.

And what’s the link with this second super shock?

Stick with me here... because what I’m about to show you explains so much about America today.

Let’s go back in time once more... to an even earlier time in America’s history...

During the Revolutionary War, Congress needed a way to pay for supplies and weapons. So they created a currency called the Continental.

America’s first experiment with debt-based currency

The Continental wasn’t backed by anything. And Congress printed millions upon millions of them. So their value collapsed...

Farmers and shop keepers stopped accepting Continentals. When the government tried to force them, they closed...

Back in school, you learned about the hard winter George Washington spent with his starving and naked army at Valley Forge.

Actually, there was plenty of food and clothing to be had in America. But not for a Continental.

By 1780, the Continental was worthless.

After the Continental disaster, America replaced its debt-based money with a money system based on gold and silver.

That may sound technical... but stick with me...

The problem with currencies like the Continental, which are really just a form of IOU, is that they lose value over time... sometimes very quickly...

Because of that they don’t transmit productivity into wealth very well.

A worker has no reason to be more productive or innovate because every additional dollar just loses value.

Gold and silver backed dollars, on the other hand, increase in value over time.

That is, they transmit productivity gains into wealth exceptionally well, rewarding the most productive and innovative worker.

Cue productivity and innovation exploding... and a massive growth in wealth.

Because that’s how wealth is created: it’s not just resources... and it’s not just work... it’s the productive and innovative use of resources.

As I’ve already shown you, during the 1950s peak we were vastly more productive than other countries... and we were much wealthier too.

But starting in the 1960s, America began to change...

This is John Galbraith, a Harvard professor and advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

He was also major figure in the Democratic Party arguably creating the modern “social justice” and “woke” movements.

You may have never heard of Galbraith, but you could argue that he is one of modern America’s founding fathers.

Foreign Policy once called him America’s “Economic prophet.”

The Wharton Business School once called him the “economist of the American Century.”

His influence spread outside America too... after the death of Mao, for example, China used his work to model their current society. (You’ll see why in just a moment...)

Galbraith believed America needed a “new socialism.” He advocated for centralized control of the free market, guaranteed income, the forced conversion of private companies into public companies, higher taxes, price controls, and more...

Influenced by these ideas, President Johnson began a vast expansion in the size of our government... “the Great Society” he called it...

That expansion cost a lot of money that America didn’t have. And our allies at the time, notably France, knew it.

They began trading in all their dollars for gold.

By the time Nixon got to office, he faced an impossible choice: either sell out America’s gold or abandon the gold standard entirely.

In 1971, he severed the link between the dollar and gold...

Essentially, he converted our money back into a Continental.

Sure enough, since that day the dollar has lost 85% of its value...

You’ve already seen how productivity... innovation... and our wealth collapsed.

But that’s not all...

To lower costs we sent jobs overseas while investing less at home... effectively destroying entire towns that had once relied on good factory jobs...

That led people to become more reliant on government, insurance companies, and lawyers... causing a politics of “victimhood” and “disability” to take hold...

Our families became more brittle ... raising divorce rates and creating a generation of angry kids that we tried to correct through the “self esteem movement” in the ‘90s... (with little success... today 60% of young men are alone...)

But wait... if the old Continental collapsed within a few years, why hasn’t our experiment with the new Continental ended the same way?

Because of debt.

As our economy began to stall out, our government came up with a novel solution.

You’ve heard of the Fed raising or lowering interest rates...

Lowering rates makes money cheaper... that is, it’s less expensive to borrow, which essentially creates new money without officially printing it.

Starting in the early ’80s, the Federal Reserve began lowering the price of money to a fire sale...

Government cuts price of money by over 70%

That kickstarted an orgy of borrowing: our government borrowed... our citizens borrowed... our corporations borrowed...

More debt than can ever be repaid

It’s like if you kept taking out mortgage after mortgage on your house.

Well after a while, it might look like you still owned that house, even though you didn’t own an inch of it.

You might look wealthy. But in fact, you’d be broke.

This is America today. We look like we have money. In fact, there is very little actual money – money that truly represents wealth – in America today.

That is a disaster waiting to happen.

And disaster very nearly did happen back in 2008...

In the years before 2008, the government decided to boost homeownership by “encouraging” banks to give out loans to the worst possible borrowers. They made it illegal not to.

During the Clinton administration, quotas required 50% of all mortgages go to the worst borrowers in any given area.

The banks went along with it because the government agreed to make good on those borrowers through entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Remember them?)

Result? A massive debt bubble formed in our housing sector.

And when that bubble imploded, in the 2008 financial crisis, it nearly took our banks and your savings down with it.

I was writing about finance for The Wall Street Journal in New York City back then. I vividly remember then-Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warning of the possible failure of the entire American economic system.

I also happen to know that congressmen and bankers were literally calling their wives in secret and telling them “go to the ATM, take out everything you can.”

Faced with that crisis, the folks in Washington ran the same ol’ playbook.

They made money cheaper... and they borrowed more...

But that wasn’t quite as effective as it had once been...

So they began outright “printing” trillions of new dollars and mainlining them right into the economy.

It was the advent of a new phase in the post 1971 experiment...

All that money acted like jet fuel to the trends already underway...

The rich got much richer as the stock market went crazy... inflating a bubble in start-ups and tech stocks...

The poor and middle class lost more and more ground...

Consider what it does when most people get poorer no matter how hard they work... while at the same time billionaires are being created out of thin air...

Might that start to corrupt how Americans think... how they spend... how they save... even how they vote...?

Might that turn people against traditional American values... like the 51% of millennials who now believe the First Amendment – which guarantees freedom of speech – is outdated.

Might that cause people to lose touch with how wealth is created to begin with... like the quarter of Americans ages 20 to 34 who weren’t even looking for a job back in 2021 ... or the quarter of Gen Z who plan on becoming social media “influencers” for their career...

Should it surprise us that young people are angry when they discover they can’t get rich and famous doing nothing?

Should it surprise us that more and more people cling to identity politics like race and income level?

Should it surprise us that people are turning to radical ideas to address the problem?

This is an actual headline I saw recently in the New York Times:

And under the guise of “reparations” San Francisco is planning on giving $5 million to every Black resident...

Aims aside, these programs are obviously unworkable...

But if all you’ve known is this post 1971 world, or worse, the post 2008 world, maybe they don’t sound so crazy at all.

Of course, that’s no more true today than it was back in the days of the Continental...

Wealth is a function of the productive use of resources...

If you lose touch with that... then you start living in fantasy...

A fantasy... where you can swap out a productive fuel like oil and gas, for a less productive fuel like solar or wind... and pay no price.

A fantasy where you can force every farm to go organic... and no one starves.

A fantasy where you can print all the money you want... and never pay back your debts...

That’s when the lights shut off... the fields lie fallow... the grocery store shelves go bare... and people with nothing to lose start massing in the streets...

There’s a principle in economics called Gresham’s Law. It states that “bad money” – like debt or debt-based dollars – eventually drives out “good money” – that is, money that represents real wealth.

We have pumped so much bad money into our economy over the last several decades that when we finally NEED good money... we’re going to open up the coffers and find we don’t have any.

Now the good news is that I don’t think we’ll get that far.

The bad news is that America will be in crisis long before then.

In total, in the span of 3 years, our government injected $7.3 trillion more “bad money” into our economy.

...creating what hedge fund manager Mark Spitznagel calls:

“objectively the greatest tinderbox-timebomb in financial history.”

This is very similar to what happened in Argentina by the way.

At some point in their history, the Argentines lost touch with the connection between work and wealth...

They had so much of everything... if every citizen wasn’t rich, it must have been because a failure of central planning.

So they created within Argentina a “charity society” – supported with massive government spending, massive welfare programs, wealth redistribution, nationalized businesses and resources...

Before long every citizen became a millionaire... even as they starved.

Inflation ran as high as 5,000%... meaning that your $1,000,000 in the bank became $20,000.

Naturally, people tried to get their wealth out of the country and out of the Argentine peso.

So the government eventually blocked people from doing either... and shut down their bank accounts altogether.

Riots and looting followed soon after.

"It was surreal. We were driving back from [the store] just as we used to do every week, and there were barricades and fires on almost every street,” said one witness to the events.

When the people were finally able to access their accounts, the bills they got back were worth a fraction of what they’d put on deposit.

“Of the 77,000 dollars I had in the bank, I lost 40,000 … That December was terrible, there were riots everywhere,” an Argentine man later recounted.

He was lucky. His mother went to her grave wondering if she’d ever get her savings back.

Another man told the New York Times at the time:

“I cannot walk down a street in Argentina today without having to avoid someone -- a man, a woman or a whole family -- searching through a mountain of garbage … it breaks my heart …”

Think about that for a moment...

Among Argentine companies that even had a credit rating, a whopping 60% went broke.

Could half of America’s companies go bankrupt?

Here’s a disturbing truth about America’s corporations:

The only reason these companies are still in business is that rock bottom interest rates have allowed them to refinance again and again... kicking the can down the road.

But as you know, rates are no longer rock bottom.

As Bloomberg recently warned: “the end result could be a prolonged stretch of bankruptcies unlike any in recent memory.”

Those bankruptcies will be a big deal. These are companies whose products you and I use every day... They employ millions of people.

And by the way, in case you don’t think this threat is real: rising rates are exactly what led me to warn in October of 2022 that bank failures were on their way, and said the trouble at Credit Suisse could turn into “a very large matter.”

Sure enough five months later, four major banks, including Credit Suisse, failed... due to rising rates.

I think there’s more to come...

As the Economist recently put it: “a reckoning has begun for corporate debt monsters.”

And just as corporate “zombies” are facing problems with rising rates... so too are other borrowers... like the US government... US banks... and the millions of Americans already living off their credit cards with car payments and mortgages they can barely afford...

So where does this house of cards begin to fall apart?

Fact is: I don’t know.

A cold snap sweeps over the Midwest... a heat wave melts tires in California...

A bankruptcy... a corporate household name’s demise splashed across the front pages of your newspaper... or being talked about on the evening news...

Or maybe the US tries to buy oil or food from a foreign “ally”... And just like those shopkeepers back in 1780, our ally says “of course...but not for a dollar.”

This is a more likely scenario than you think...

What happens when we try to buy fuel...or food...but no one wants our dollars?

Will we soon be living like Washington’s army at Valley Forge? Cold and starving as the rest of the world refuses to accept our “new Continental”?

And look, maybe I’m wrong. No one gets it right 100% of the time. And you should be skeptical of anyone who makes that claim.

For example, I was early to see bitcoin’s enormous potential as a decentralized technology. The price of bitcoin was around $20,000 at the time. I calculated that it would hit at least $100,000.

Yet, it only would up going as high as $69,000.

But there’s a saying where I come from in Louisiana: “poor people plan for Friday night, rich people plan for three generations.”

Betting on the exact return of any asset is pure Friday night thinking. It’s missing the “three generations” picture.

Because let’s say I’m only 70% right about the exact numbers in this case... but still right on the overall trend as I was with bitcoin.

Well, you’re welcome to email me to say I was dead wrong.

But something tells me you’ll have bigger worries.

And look, I take no pleasure in saying that.

I lived through the energy and inflation crisis of the ‘70s.

I remember that era well... fights breaking out as gas stations... lines for what seemed like miles... lost jobs... stunted careers...

My mother had to work. She couldn’t stay home with me. So my grandmother raised me (and she worked too!). I remember sitting with her to cut coupons. She put on a good face. She didn’t want to me see how tired and worried she was.

But of course I knew.

Right now, I want to talk about what you can do... today... to protect your wealth and freedom in the days ahead.

The reality is that not everyone will experience the 2020s equally.

There are certain assets and trades that, if made now, could return more wealth in the coming years than you’ve made – maybe ever – on an investment.

But most people have the wrong approach to preparing for events like these...

Some assume the money they have tied up in their house will be safe...

Or they just figure that if they hold the right stocks eventually the market will rise again.

Here’s why both are risky assumptions to make right now:

Several decades after Argentina crashed, America saw another competitor emerge...

I’m talking about Japan.

After World War II, the Japanese took America’s productivity secret and ran with it.

Japanese workers produced cars about 5 times faster than competitors.

But it wasn’t just cars. It was wrist-watches, radios, tape recorders, pianos, cameras, bicycles – all taken over by the Japanese.

That translated into enormous wealth.

So much wealth, in fact, that by 1988, it seemed inevitable Japan would become the next super power.

Little did Kissinger realize that in Japan, a simple, yet dangerous idea was taking hold.

Japan was creating debt at an alarming pace.

That had real effects. For example, loans to actual industry dropped. And loans to investment banks and speculators soared...

In other words, they turned their backs on what made them so successful to begin with.

Predictably, their credit markets collapsed, their loans went bad... all the money they thought they had sloshing around... simply wasn’t there.

Today, Japanese wages haven’t increased since the early 1990s.

And the government had to intervene in order to stop every major bank from going broke until the late 1990s.

A study conducted 17 years after the crash, showed that Japan had one of the lowest levels of entrepreneurial activity among developed countries - similar to Italy or Greece.

The Japanese productivity miracle was over.

And what about their stocks?

Their stock market has still never recovered.

Real estate was even worse...

28 years later, real estate values were still just half of what they had been before the bubble popped...

Turning back to the US: if stocks and real estate can’t offer a safe haven... what can?

If you invest at all, you might suspect the answer is gold bars or funds.

But that’s not actually what I would point you towards first.

Don’t get me wrong – I’ve been moving some of my wealth into gold for years. I estimate I’ve already converted at least 20% of my personal wealth into gold and related investments.

It’s been highly profitable.

In the past two decades, as the government has dumped trillions of extra dollars into the economy, gold has risen in value by 500%.

I project it will run much higher from here.

But before you go buy gold, let me show you something my team and I have been working on for the past several months... and where I’ve personally been putting a lot of my wealth.

Step 1: Will A Shortage in This Key Asset Lead to a
40x Price Spike?

The big theme of this 2^nd super shock will be the shortage of money – that is, the shortage of assets that store and transmit real wealth.

To that end, my team and I have put together a special dossier called The Best Performing Asset of the 2020s.

I realize that title sounds like hyperbole. And it is.

Obviously I don’t know what asset will the best performer of the 2020s any more than you do.

But I do know that as real money becomes scarce, it also becomes extremely valuable.

And “real money” can take on some strange forms in a crisis.

During Venezuela’s recent hyperinflation, citizens switched to using “crystal coins” from a popular online video game.

Others switched to buying goods with gold flakes from illegal jungle gold mines...

Predictably gold skyrocketed against the Venezuelan bolivar...

...and that wasn’t even the worst year of the crisis.

In The Best Performing Asset of the 2020s. you’ll learn about the number one asset I recommend as a form of money – and why I expect it to rise in value 40 TIMES over the next decade (though as you’ve just seen I wouldn’t rule out things happening in a matter of months either).

You might be surprised. And fair warning: it is not a trade for the light of heart.

But the good news is that you can buy it for a few dollars, so you don’t need to risk much.

The reason I believe this asset will be so highly sought after as a form of money is that it is inextricably linked to the productive use of our resources.

It is the direct manifestation of innovation, productivity, and energy put to work.

I’ll lay it all out in my special report The Best Performing Asset of the 2020s.

And there’s a lot more too, including

A Step-by-Step Guide on How and Where to Buy This Asset (get this wrong and it’ll cost you…)
The Expert Strategy on How to Keep Your Holdings 100% Secure (the same strategy I use)…
Plus my insights on gold and silver including: My #1 Gold Investment Right Now .... The Super-Popular Gold Investment You Must Avoid .... The Easy (and Affordable) Way to Store Your Gold and Silver in Highly Secure, Instantly Accessible Overseas Vaults... and more...

If you do nothing else today, I advise you to read this dossier.

In a moment, I’ll share how you can get your copy.

But first, I’d like to share another important step you should consider right now.

Step 2: Own These Hidden Energy Giants

As you know from earlier, politicians and companies pandering to “woke” investors have created a massive shortfall in America’s energy supply.

It will result in a painful moment for many.

But it could represent a generational windfall for some.

This fact is not lost on America’s elites, especially those in Congress.

For example, a 2021 study found that 21 of the “greenest” democrats in Congress all had investments directly in or tied to oil and gas including Chevron and Exxon.

And you can see why... While the rest of the market collapsed in 2022, those stocks have roared to new heights...

But I think the real opportunity lies in a special kind of energy investment that few investors know about – a group of “hidden energy giants” who operate out of sight and reap huge profits.

Certain members of Congress appear to agree...

One of these “hidden giants” boasts insider level connections to one of the most powerful democrats in Congress... (though he has never publicly acknowledged it that we know of)

In fact, at least 7 members of Congress have a few thousand to a million invested in this company.

You’ll learn everything you need to know about it in the special report I’ve prepared, The “Hidden Energy Giants” of the 2020s.

In a moment, I’ll show you how to immediately access to both of these special reports, for free.

Before I do, though, we need to talk about the third super shock... and what happens to America after those first two dominos fall...

Step 3: Protect Yourself from the Third and Final Super Shock…

Once the energy shock hits... and the dollar shock hits... here’s what I see happening:

At first, we’ll see more handouts…

Could you imagine seeing “climate change relief checks”... or “social justice” checks...?

I certainly can.

Then, we’ll see more controls over your bank account...

When a European country went through a crisis like this, they ordered banks to close and imposed a $67 limit on ATM cash withdrawals.

Huge lines formed at ATMs as people desperately tried to take out cash.

The elderly stood outside the shuttered banks, wondering if their social security would be paid.

This happened in 2015, by the way. In a modern, wealthy country.

This is how it always goes… Eventually, the measures necessary to keep the fantasy going get more and more extreme...

We’ll see more attempts to regulate what private citizens do... what we eat... what we buy... even what we say.

I think we’re already seeing the early stages of this...

For example, a new Biden order aiming to reach “net-zero” is part of a push to most likely ban all gas-powered cars eventually.

Now I don’t like paying for gas... I’d drive an electric car happily.

But electric cars can’t accommodate most working people in the US.

Even the New York Times admits: “an uncomfortable truth remains: Battery-powered cars are much too expensive for a vast majority of Americans.”

...and that’s with the nearly $2 trillion Biden has put on the table in tax credits to electric car buyers.

Do you see how this works? Forcing everyone to buy electric cars... then no one can afford them... then the government needs more money to subsidize those cars and build the infrastructure for them...

I suspect that’s why Biden recently issued an executive order to push for a major change to our financial system...

To most people it will sound technical... yet to those understand it, this change paves the way for unprecedented control over what you buy... where you keep your money... the causes you contribute to... and, most importantly, how much your dollars, your savings, are worth.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, has called Biden’s executive order “the most treasonous act in US history.”

Former CIA and Federal Reserve insider Jim Rickards has called this “Biden’s most enduring legacy.”

Rickards goes on to explain that this change has “enormous political implications, including the culmination of the total surveillance state. This is why China did it. And don’t believe anyone who tells you that the United States won’t do it.”

Look, I’m never one to promote conspiracies.

And I don’t think people working in our government and institutions are bad people. I’d guess most of them really believe they’re trying to save America.

Sadly their methods are both reckless and dangerous, and YOU, not them, will be the one expected to pay the price.

Now I realize we’re running short on time.

So I’ve prepared a full resource you can use to learn all about this third super shock.

It’s called The Era of Super Shocks. Not only does it provide a refresher on super shocks 1 and 2... but it also details exactly what comes next... the third domino to fall.

As you’ll see, the third super shock involves a prediction I made awhile back that we haven’t spoken about yet here.

And a “hidden” clause built into the Constitution itself by the Founding Fathers... a clause that has never been enacted in US history.

In a moment, I’m going to share how you can get access to all these dossiers.

But first, there’s one more resource I want to give you.

It’s called How to Profit From Farmland…Without Ever Owning a Farm

Farmland has almost doubled in value since 2007. In fact, for two decades, it’s been quietly outperforming the S&P 500 in average annual returns.

But this is just the beginning… I predict the value of farmland could double or even triple from here.

And here’s thing: You don’t need to own a farm to benefit from this trend…

In this report, you’ll discover... my 5 favorite ways to play farmland… including a simple way to profit from farmland right now from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Today, I’d like to give you immediate access to these four special dossiers.

I also want to include one more thing...

As I mentioned at the beginning of this presentation, I share my insights with a small group of private readers through a newsletter called Global Intelligence.

Unlike other newsletters you may have seen out there, Global Intelligence is 100% independent. I have no trading system to sell you. I don’t accept money from banks or brokers.

Global Intelligence is a newsletter for “three generations” planning... not next Friday night.

It was in Global Intelligence that I warned readers about the coming inflation crisis…

...that I told them about the impending spike in oil prices…

This isn’t just some “pick of the month” newsletter.

For example, at the end of each year I give a brutally honest review of the investments I recommended in the previous 12 months.

In 2022 I had some speculations that became downright stinkers when the Fed raised rates and sent the economy into a tailspin. Maybe you did, too.

At the same time, however, I’m proud to say that my stock picks beat the market in 2022.

And if there’s an area I’m not an expert in, I call in a favor from someone in my network to come provide my readers with their analysis – at no charge.

For example, in November of last year, I brought in an expert on investing in foreign countries with high inflation... Before that I had an expert on Asia come in to talk about problems in Chinese real estate and their impact on the world economy...

As you can see, Global Intelligence is much more than a regular newsletter.

Today, along with your special reports, I’d like to include a full year of Global Intelligence.

Step 4: Your Private Network of Free Thinkers and Experts

Here’s another way in which Global Intelligence stands out from others...

I see some newsletters out there charging readers $1,000... and more!... for monthly analysis.

All I ask for is a yearly $149 fee to support my team and our work.

But I won’t ask you to chip in even that much today...

Instead, I’ll give you a massive discount.

By now you should see a link below this video. Just click that to get started. You can review everything on the next page.

Order now

Here’s something else you’ll find there...

Recently, the US Department of Energy quietly began amassing a “strategic stockpile” for a rare metal that contains a type of energy found nowhere else in nature.

Already governments around the world – including the UK, Japan, and even the US – have earmarked trillions to extract this metal’s energy.

I think there’s a huge opportunity here... one company recently signed contracts that guarantee 340% sales growth over the coming decade.

Could this be the single best stock of the 2020s?

I lay out the full case for this energy metal and the company behind it in a special report: The Energy Metal That Saves America.

Here’s everything you’re getting today...

That’s a total value of over $600...

But you won’t pay anywhere near that... or even my $149 a year fee...

Instead all I ask for is just $49 for your first year... that comes out to only $4 a month (a lot less than most Americans pay to sit in front of a TV every month!).

And if it’s not for you, you have a full 30 days during which you are entitled to a full refund and keep all the research you’ve received so far.

After your first year, if you don’t cancel, you’ll pay a reduced rate of $99 per year going forward.

It’s that simple.

Just hit the link below to take advantage of this offer right away. You’ll have a chance to review everything on the next page.

Hit the "Add to Cart" button now.

We have turned our backs on the source of our wealth and power... in favor of a fantasy.

A fantasy that we can print and borrow as much as we want... or ditch dirty fuels in favor of solar power or windmills... or feed our country (plus all the foreign countries who depend on us) with organic farms...or make everyone “equal” by redistributing wealth...

It’s not that these ideas aren’t nice. It would be amazing if the world worked that way.

But it doesn’t. I’m sorry but it doesn’t.

And look, eventually I believe there is a bright future for America. Truly.

But that it may take a decade or even two of real instability to get there...

Remember Japan... whose stock and housing markets are still not where they were decades ago.

Remember Argentina... once the envy of the world... and still stuck in an endless cycle of inflation and crisis...

Remember Venezuela... with more oil than Saudi Arabia... and once the fourth largest economy in the world (far richer than China!)... and now its citizens are forced to carry around illegal gold flakes or trade digital crystal coins from a video game...

Think it can’t happen here?

That’s what they said when I predicted inflation... spiking gas prices... when I told people I had sold 90% of my stocks... that banks would fail... Yet each time I was vindicated.

Human beings have an inherent bias against believing big change is possible. It makes sense. After all, if early man couldn’t trust the coming of spring and summer every year he might never have planted crops.

But the flipside is that most people find themselves caught off guard when big shifts actually do happen...

This is the moment you need to make a decision. Will you be informed? Will you be prepared? Or will you just get pulled along with the current like everyone else?

I’ve done all I can to make this easy for you. It’s all at my risk. It’s at the biggest discount I can afford to give you. I’ve shown you the facts behind my conclusions.

All you need to do is click the button below to get started...

Hit the "Add to Cart" button now.

You’ll be taken to a secure order form where you’ll be able to review all the details.

I look forward to welcoming you to our group.

Jeff Opdyke
Editor, Global Intelligence
April 2023

P.S. On the next page, you’ll also find a special “fast action bonus” when you act today. But this fast action bonus expires soon. Clicking to the next page does not obligate you in the slightest. Simply click the button below to get started.

Hit the "Add to Cart" button now.

Portugal All Access

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 12:35:26 GMT

Portugal offers you 1,115 miles of gorgeous coastline, historic castles and ancient ruins, a snow-free climate, your own dream home on a budget, and some of the friendliest people in the world…

It's likely one of the safest countries you'll ever visit… with the lowest cost of living in Western Europe… and one of the top healthcare systems anywhere…

Is Portugal the World's MOST AFFORDABLE COUNTRY to Live a Rich Life?

Here's What You Need to Know…

Dear Reader,

If you can't choose between the many retirement havens that might suit you, allow me to save you some time. Not too long ago, my friend Terry was in a similar situation—and after exploring more than 40 countries, she found the one place that offers everything…at an unexpectedly low price.

She says, “I remember my husband saying that people like us didn't go to Europe...that only rich people go to Europe. Yet in Portugal, we saw our expenses fall compared to what they were back in the U.S.

Hi I'm Dan Prescher. If Portugal isn't on your shortlist yet, here's why it belongs at the top…

Portugal is an ocean lover's paradise, with hundreds of golden-sand beaches all along the coast (and most of this country is coast)… mountain highlands, with hills of heather, oak forests, and canyons sprinkled with tiny villages… fertile farmland that stretch for miles… sophisticated university towns… and wonderful vineyards that wind their way along the Douro River…

Yet a couple will only need $2,200 a month or less to live well anywhere in Portugal—even in the Algarve, home to exclusive beach resorts and some of Europe's top golf courses.

It's Official: Portugal is One of the Safest Countries in the World

According to the IEP's Global Peace Index 2020 (which measures safety, stability, crime rates, and more), Portugal ranks third in the world.

Iceland
New Zealand
Portugal
Austria
Denmark
Canada

The warm and welcoming people love their local festivals and small town markets, and everyone is invited to join in the fun.

When it comes to fitting in, there is practically nowhere better—Forbes has called Portugal one of the easiest place in the world for visitors to make friends.

You'll find culture everywhere. Portugal is dotted throughout with castles and cathedrals, plus magnificent Roman ruins… and Moorish, Gothic, and Romanesque architecture.

Fascinating towns and cities of all sizes are everywhere, separated from one another by great green stretches of those vineyards, farmlands, forests, and rivers.

If, like my friend Terry, you're looking for the ideal mix of Western European culture, a warm welcome, more beaches than California, and a lower cost of living than Kansas… there can be only one choice.

As Terry explained, after investigating everywhere from Panama to several other countries in Europe, "Portugal wasn't just the best choice—it was the most affordable by far for what we were looking for…"

Portugal is the Best-Value Destination in Western Europe—and It's One of the Most Affordable Places to Live Richly in the World

First things first, take a look at how Portugal measures up:

Low cost of living. You can dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant for $28 (like Antiqvvm in Porto)… rent an oceanview condo on a golden-sand island for $550 a month… and play a round of golf on one of the Algarve courses for $50. The way Terry tells it—depending where you choose to live, you could expect to reduce your total expenses to about one-third to one-quarter of what you spend now.
Great climate. You can kiss those snow- and sleet-filled winters goodbye thanks to Portugal's sunny climate. With its Mediterranean climate, Lisbon enjoys the warmest winters of any large city in Europe.
Trusted healthcare. Portugal is known for its high-quality, professional health system, including nine JCI-accredited hospitals (the gold standard in international healthcare). According to the World Health Organization, Portugal has one of the best healthcare systems in the world—ranking 12th out of 191 countries. Yet this comes at a LOW price—that's why Portugal is gaining popularity as a medical-tourism destination. Private health insurance can cost less than $10 a month.
Safe and stable. Portugal is practically the most peaceful destination you could ever visit. The Global Peace Index is updated and published every year. Portugal always scores high—coming third in 2020, after Iceland and New Zealand. (Sadly, the United States is in 121st place.)
English widely spoken. Naturally, Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. But in the four main regions—Porto, Lisbon, the Lisbon Coast (like Cascais and Estoril), and the Algarve—you can easily get by with only English.

Portugal is the Perfect Size—Small Enough to Easily Explore, But Incredibly Diverse

Portugal has so much coastline, you are never far from a gorgeous beach.

You'll love beautiful, safe, cosmopolitan Lisbon, the jewel of Western Europe… the vineyards of the lush Douro Valley… the golf clubs of the Algarve… vibrant university towns… historic cities, green mountains, mesmerizing waterfalls, ancient castles… and all in a country the size of South Carolina

That's an impressive list, to be sure. Yet Portugal has so many more advantages.

It's the westernmost country in mainland Europe. Many airlines fly direct from North America to Portugal's three international airports, in less than 7 hours. So, it's closer than you think for when friends and family want to visit.

You'll likely make lots of new friends in Portugal. In 2019, InterNations conducted a massive survey of expats all over the world. The questions asked were about how friendly expats found their new communities, how easy was it to make friends, how the locals fit in with visitors, and how likely expats were to want to stay in their new country as long as possible.

Portugal came in third—one of the most welcoming countries in the world.

The Portuguese have a live-and-let-live attitude. You can sit for hours at an outdoor café nursing one cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and no check will appear unless requested. It’s normal for a person on a crosswalk to wave "thank you" to the driver who stopped.

And once you become friends with someone from Portugal—you will have gained a trusted ally forever.

Almost everything in Portugal is less expensive than you're used to. A restaurant lunch, including wine, often comes in at less than $10 per person, and a coffee at a pavement café costs less than a dollar.

A three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant costs $55 in Paris and Rome, $50 in Madrid, but only $33 in Portugal's capital, Lisbon. Likewise, in budget-friendly Lisbon, monthly utilities for an 850-square-foot apartment can run you as little as $132, compared to $160 (Madrid), $209 (Rome), and $195 (Paris).

How Does Portugal's Capital City Compare for Cost of Living?

So How Do You Find Out if Portugal is Right for You?

Normally, Portugal attracts 22 million visitors a year from Spain, Italy, France, the UK, Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere. What makes some of those visitors—like my friend Terry that I mentioned earlier—want to spend as much time as possible in Portugal?

The low costs, obviously, are a big draw. From its cosmopolitan north to its beachy south, Portugal is the best-value retirement haven you'll find in Western Europe—you can live comfortably on a budget of around $2,200 a month or less.

And there's something for everyone: white-washed villages with terra cotta roofs… cobblestone streets and elegant palaces… sandy beaches and green golf courses… and the whole country is filled with friendly locals.

That's why anyone who dreams of retiring to a place with beautiful scenery, better weather, and a far better cost of living… finds all that and much more in Portugal.

Still, it's a foreign country… If you decide to live in Portugal, you'll need a resident visa… You'll need to decide where in the country you want to live, and if you'll rent or buy a home or apartment…

You'll want to decide whether or not to ship your household goods…to buy a car or not…what you'll do about insurance and taxes…how you'll manage your banking and financial needs…

You'll want to understand the rules for importing your pets to Portugal…what kinds of vaccinations are needed…and on and on…

Even though Portugal was one of the friendliest places on the planet to retire to in 2019, there are many things to consider and plan for.

With something this important, you need reliable, up-to-date information you can count on, from a dependable, well-qualified resource.

That's where Terry Coles comes in, our Portugal Correspondent here at International Living.

Terry Coles,
Portugal Correspondent, International Living

For years, Terry and her husband Clyde loved taking vacations in Europe, but assumed that living in Portugal would always be an unaffordable dream. Then they did the math and realized Portugal is so affordable - their dream was easily in reach. In fact, they save thousands of dollars a year on health insurance alone…

Since moving there in 2018, Terry has visited much of the country. She’s lived in Central Portugal, surrounded by rolling green hills…and the legendary Algarve in the south.

Terry is constantly on the lookout for ever-better places in Portugal to live, explore, invest, and start a business… She has contacts in every area of the country and is on top of all the technical and legal stuff… the processes and requirements for buying, renting, getting visas and residency, building, renovating, furnishing a home, moving your household goods, buying a car, bringing your pets, and so on…

She knows exactly how much it costs to live in the different communities and regions of Portugal. And based on her own experiences and the experiences of the many expats she's interviewed over the years, she has a ton of tips and strategies to help you save both time and money when you visit or live in Portugal yourself.

The Cheapest Home in Portugal?

Outside Lisbon you can buy a city apartment for as little as $100,000; for something walking distance to the beach, the price goes up to $150,000; for spectacular ocean views in a popular beach town, expect to pay about $340,000 for a three-bedroom home. Though in lesser-known towns, a one-bedroom apartment with seas views can cost as little as $115,000."

And if you think Portugal may be the place for you, Terry is committed to sharing her real-world, on-the-ground insights with you.

Your very best course of action would be to go to Portugal in person and spend a couple of months kicking around the country with Terry. It would take about that long for her to show you, firsthand, everything she's seen and everything she knows that can help you streamline your own move to Portugal.

Spending time one-on-one with Terry would certainly "fast track" your research, no question about it.

But, of course, that isn't really a practical option.

So we asked Terry to create a personalized online virtual tour of Portugal.

It's a way for you to gain access to Terry's incredibly comprehensive and truly rich depth of knowledge and get "plugged in" to everything you need to know. A way for you to see for yourself, from the comfort of your own home or office, all that Portugal has to offer you.

It's an easy, streamlined, and most reliable way to get you from where you are now—to a better life in the perfect place in Portugal that's exactly right for you.

This is Your Invitation to Go "On the Road" With Terry Coles

No matter how many times you've been there… no matter how many books you've read or online research you've done… what you don't know about Portugal may surprise you.

International Living has been reporting for 40 years now about the benefits countries like Portugal offer retirees—and over the last three years, Terry has been asked to take on one of the most in-depth research-gathering project International Living has ever mounted on Portugal.

She's been challenged to dig deep… to round up all her intelligence and to assemble all this valuable information in one place…

And now we bring to you this project we call Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle.

This has been no small undertaking. Even though Portugal is a relatively small country, it's large on opportunity.

In effect, Terry has been working on this project for three years… the entire time she's been in Portugal.

And take it from me, no one is better suited for this kind of challenge. Terry is one of the most dogged and diligent researchers I know. She digs deep. She answers the questions you don't even know to ask…

Best of all, she makes sure the facts are reliable and verifiable. You can be certain that what Terry tells you is correct and current… and that's probably the most important element in all this…

Things change. Rules are adjusted. Laws are reformed. New policies are instituted. You can't always rely on what you read online in expat forums or on the internet. You need a trusted resource. And that's Terry.

What she's put together is not just groundbreaking, it's almost overwhelming in its scope. It's a complete resource reference of everything you need to know about moving to, investing in, living in, and/or starting a business in Portugal.

If you can name it, think of it, or wonder about it, Terry has you covered. Every issue is addressed, every challenge is covered, and every question is answered.

The brand new edition of Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle puts a huge amount of information, recommendations, tips, advice, and insights about living, traveling, and investing in Portugal in one place… in living color… on video.

It's the next-best thing to actually exploring the country with Terry in person. And it's the best way I know to not just "tell" you about all Portugal has to offer, but to "show" you so you can see it with your own eyes…from the comfort of your home.

With Terry as Your Guide, You'll Discover Everything You Need to Know About Europe's Affordable Gem

Michael D. zeroed in on Portugal as his overseas retreat because it offered him much of what he loved about living on the U.S. West Coast. "Hiking, mountain biking, surfing, and sunny weather," he says. Plus, the cost of living was lower.

In fact, Portugal's cost of living is lower than that of any other country Michael has lived in. "By 2004 I had lived in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Spain," he explains.

Now he lives 20 minutes from downtown Lisbon with his wife Jayma.

"My grocery bill is about two-thirds of what I paid in San Diego, and I'm dining like a king on organic vegetables, fresh fish, and lobster."

Eating out is also inexpensive.

"Outside of Starbucks, espresso costs about 75 cents. Lunch—soup, main course, dessert, and beverage—in the Lisbon area runs between $8.50 and $12.50," Michael says.

Dinner in an upscale restaurant is $30 to $50 per person, though you can pay more. "For example, at the Grill Four Seasons in the Hotel Palácio Estoril, foie gras, crab soup, and a main dish of scallops and shrimp risotto will set you back $78. But then, it's one of the most exclusive establishments in Estoril, a resort town famous for being home to exiled European royalty and for Formula One motor racing."

The following monthly budget is a typical example of what two North Americans could pay to live in most neighborhoods of Portugal:

Housing (rent for a furnished two-bedroom apartment:	$700
Electricity:	$46
Water:	$23
Domestic Gas/Oil:	$35
Household help (maid twice per month, three hours per day):	$52
Internet package (includes cell phones and TV):	$86
Health insurance:	$112
Transportation:	$200
Groceries:	$460
Entertainment (including dining out once per week:	$290
Incidentals:	$230
TOTAL:	$2,234

Annette R. moved to the popular beach town of Cascais with her husband José.

Living in Atlanta, Georgia, they realized that "The economic forecast didn't look good for a soon-to-be-retired couple in the U.S." They opted for peaceful Portugal and couldn't be happier.

"We're never surprised by costs, other than to realize how richly we can live on our retirement income, beyond all of our expectations," Annette says.

Areas like Cascais and Lisbon require a monthly budget of about $2,500, but move 30 minutes away, and that figure drops to around $2,000.

There are three destinations in particular in Portugal where you'll find good-value living.

When you make your home in Portugal, you can live very well for very little money, that's true… But when you choose one of the lesser-known destinations Terry Coles has identified, you can live like royalty.

Lisbon is Europe's most colorful, and best-value, capital city—from the brilliant blue waters of the Tejo River and Atlantic Ocean to the sunny yellow cable cars, to grassy green parks. In the Rossio, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, outdoor cafés and restaurants beckon passers-by with the aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries, grilled fish, and cuisines from around the world.

But even there you can find a rental in the most central neighborhoods, right in the heart of the action—for less than $1,000 a month. (Try showing a check that small to an agent in Paris or Rome!)

But when you look beyond Portugal's more touristy destinations, that's where you'll find big bargains.

Terry's done a lot of digging, and along with the more tried-and-true communities popular with expats, she's pinpointed three special destinations—including an overlooked section of the Algarve—that you'll want to take a look at if you're considering retiring or starting a new life in Portugal.

You'll find all the details in Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle.

Now… if you're doing your research on moving to Portugal, I know there's one more thing that surely must be on your mind…

Portugal's High-Quality, Low-Cost Healthcare

Portugal is known for its quality, affordable healthcare, which is attracting more and more "medical tourists". In fact, a World Health Organization ranking of global healthcare systems places Portugal at number 12 of 191 countries.

Medical care is available everywhere through the public healthcare system. Private insurance is readily available, and one company accepts new customers up to age 75 (once in the plan you will not be cancelled).

Depending on your age and health condition, private insurance can be had for less than $10 a month, although usually it is more in the $50 a month per person range.

Healthcare in Portugal costs a fraction of that in the U.S. and Canada.

A hip replacement costs around $10,000 in Portugal, compared to as much as $44,000 in the U.S.

A visit to the dentist will cost about $50.

Are You Ready to Learn More About How Easy and Affordable it Can Be To Retire to Portugal?

There's no better resource than Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle.

It's not like anything else International Living has ever produced on this country. As I mentioned, Terry has worked on this for three years. She's literally spent tens of thousands of hours on the ground in Portugal, doing research, collecting data, conducting interviews, and more…

Then she went into the studio to assemble a comprehensive series of 14 professional videos to bring her research to life. You can see, feel, and almost touch and smell Portugal.

You'll travel along with Terry as she introduces you to the 18 different regions of Portugal… and to many communities in each of those that make for easy and affordable expat living.

And yes, you'll discover the three little-known areas—including one on the Algarve—that Terry believes are well worth your attention right now. These are places your fellow expats have yet to discover in large numbers. Prices are low and opportunities are sky high.

To make a point here, this is no static report. It's not a manual…or a website…or a conference. Think of it more as a high-level "virtual conference," but much better…

Because instead of sitting in a room all day watching a parade of speakers up at a podium, you'll access these videos online from the comfort of your home, and you'll get to see and hear directly from Terry, our in-country contact in Portugal.

She's the best Portugal expert we know and in this blueprint, she takes you by the hand and not only introduces you to "her" Portugal, but she gives you the tools to make it "your Portugal."

Along with the six in-depth "destination" videos, Terry has produced eight more "need-to-know" videos with advice about Portugal that will save you time, headaches and boatloads of money.

Here's just some of what's covered in Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle:

Your best resident visa options. There are several you might qualify for, but which is the best for your personal circumstances? Video #9 in the series is devoted to this topic and can help ensure that you don't make any costly mistakes. Of course, you should find an attorney who works best for you (see the Portugal All Access legal resource rolodex for some contacts), but this video can give you a sense for the most important questions to ask.
Your healthcare options. Intro. In Video #8, she shares her experiences and gives you the full rundown on the options that make the most sense, including how you could qualify and what her costs have been. (You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost of excellent and readily available medical and dental care in Portugal.)
How to safely purchase real estate in Portugal. Legal processes are a bit different in Portugal and having the right guide to those rules and procedures is invaluable—and that's exactly what Portugal All Access and the legal resource guide offer.
What about shipping your household goods and your car? Should you? Why might you be better off buying a car in Portugal? Believe me, this is the kind of insider information you need. Terry clarifies import taxes, explains how much cars can cost, and the best kinds of cars to drive in Portugal… She explains whether or not you'll need a local driver's license (you won't for the first six months) and how to get one…
How to structure your finances… where you could bank, how to pay your bills…
How to get mail delivered…
What about communicating? What kind of phone and internet service should you expect in Portugal… how to best (and cost-free) communicate with friends and family back home…
How to find a good doctor… where to get the prescriptions you need and how much they might cost…
How to bring your pets to Portugal…
What to expect in the way of taxes, both at home and in Portugal (in most cases, not much, thankfully)…and much, much more.

Importantly, you'll discover how to save even more money when you live in Portugal. It has more to do with picking the right place to settle… choosing the right kind of home to live in, and so on…

Terry offers all her tips and insights that will have you starting on a well-planned, streamlined course…

Best of all, she even provides a step-by-step Action Plan. If you've wondered or worried about how you might ever pull it all off… making a move of this type… worry no more.

If you're thinking of retiring to Portugal… or spending some extended time there… maybe opening a business or just reinventing your life… Portugal All Access is your very best resource.

It's the fastest, most efficient, most cost-effective way to get you quickly ramped up so you can get from where you are now to the idyllic spot in Portugal that's right for you.

And when you're ready to actually visit Portugal firsthand for yourself, you'll be able to use your time wisely—because in essence, you'll have already been there, with Terry as your guide.

You'll know where to go, who to contact, and the questions you'll need to ask along the way. Plus, there's more…

You Also Get 7 Comprehensive Special Reports including a Complete Resource Rolodex. These Are Not Available Anywhere Else

As Terry was taping the videos she created for the Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle, she discovered there were a few topics that required some extra lengthy reporting… too much to record on video. So those have been assembled in a series of special reports—delivered electronically to get them into your hands as quickly as possible.

This is the kind of information you'll definitely want at hand as you prepare for your move to Portugal.

Special Report #1: Portugal Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide. If you've got one week, two weeks, a month or more to spend in Portugal, you'll want this guide. Terry and her Portugal team have planned all the details for you… from how to travel around to where to stay—hotels, short-term rentals and much more. You'll also discover where to play… dine… and more...even the popular hangouts where you can meet expats who may some day be your neighbors. Live links to websites and contact information is all there for your easy access.

Special Report #2: How They Did It: Meet Happy Expats in Portugal. Speaking of expats, sometimes it just takes a little motivation. That's exactly what you'll get in this special report. You'll meet expats in many different areas of Portugal, all living their dream lives under the European sun. They explain exactly how they did it (and how you can, too) and they share personal details you couldn't get unless you quizzed them yourself… Find out what they do for healthcare, how they fund an early retirement, how much they spend on a daily and monthly basis, what they do in their free time, and much, much more.

Special Report #3: Practical Matters: Taxes, Low Cost of Living, Residence, Moving Your Household Goods and Pets, and Doing Business. Yes, Terry covers all this in the video series, but as you can see from the lengthy title, this special report digs deep. You'll get comprehensive sample budgets and money-saving tips, a detailed tax primer, a full explanation of various visa options and a complete legal resource rolodex. And if you plan to move with pets (very easy) or children, or you're thinking of starting your dream business in Portugal, do not leave home without this special report. Nowhere else can you get this kind of valuable, all-inclusive information.

Special Report #4: Spotlight on the High-Quality, Low-Cost Medical Care in Portugal. This comprehensive report explains why Portugal has some of the finest doctors and medical training available anywhere. You'll also learn the differences between Portugal's public and private healthcare systems so you can make an educated decision about what to do for your personal healthcare needs when you move to Portugal. You'll get all the details (including costs) of the public health service, and why you should apply for a Portuguese social security health card (even though it's not required). There's also a rundown of the best private hospitals in the country and a list of some of the best local insurance providers—with full contact information. There's even a detailed review of private health insurance policies.

Special Report #5: The Guide to Renting a Home or Buying Property in Portugal. When you move to Portugal, you'll need a place to live. And whether you rent or buy, that means contracts. Word to the wise: Do not sign a rental or purchase contract without first reading this crucial information (when buying a home, the contract must be read aloud in front of all parties!) Everything is covered… from typical costs and how to find a rental to what to look for in a reliable real estate agent, how to get financing, where to get title insurance, the various title structures, the correct process for registering a deed, and much more.

Special Report #6: Something for Everybody: An In-Depth look at Portugal's Regions. If you want information about areas of Portugal that offer a combination of livability, affordability, beauty, and convenience—you'll find it in this special report. All the "personalities" of the top 18 locales in Portugal are sliced and diced for you (along with examples of properties to rent and buy in each region). You're sure to find a hidden gem that's perfect for you.

AND Special Report #7: Your Portugal Rolodex and Resource Guide. This is another document you won't want to leave home without. You'll find its pages packed full of resources that you can rely on to help streamline your scouting trip and your move to Portugal. Websites, email addresses, phone numbers, costs for services… it's all there… from accommodation (including pet-friendly hotels) and restaurants to airlines and shuttle services… to attorney, healthcare providers, social groups, moving/shipping and English-speaking real estate contacts, language schools, vets and much more, including handy travel apps you can load on your phone or tablet to make navigating your way around Portugal as easy and inexpensive as possible.

One More Thing: The Portugal All Access Mastermind Session…

Once you've had a chance to review all the videos and reports in your Portugal All Access (and that will take some time, we know…) send us any questions you have via a special e-mail address we'll provide.

A couple weeks from now, Terry Coles will host a follow-up Q&A Session where she'll answer your Portugal questions in detail. You'll receive advance notice of this special "Portugal All Access Mastermind Session" so you can tune in—and we'll also archive it for you on the Portugal All Access website so you can watch it any time you like.

All You Need to Do Now is Place Your Order—and SAVE

If you wanted to track down all the intelligence we hand over in Portugal All Access, you could probably do that.

Ask Me Anything

Terry Coles

"When you're one of the first people to accept this invitation to try Portugal All Access, you'll receive a priority e-mail address to ask me anything about living, retiring, and exploring Portugal. I'll use these questions in my Portugal All Access Mastermind Session—but only folks who respond today during this charter offer will get to take part. I look forward to showing you Portugal!"

But it would take an investment of many months… likely 3 years or more, in fact. That's how long Terry has been at it.

And you'd likely have to pull thousands of dollars out of your pocket.

In the years that Terry has been traveling the width and length of Portugal, and living in the different regions, she's racked up tens of thousands of dollars in expenses for airfares, bus fares, car rentals, gasoline, accommodations, meals, and more.

Over three years living in Portugal, she's spent many hours consulting with attorneys, healthcare professionals, real estate experts, insurance and shipping experts, and more… as well as interviewing and socializing with expats from dozens of countries.

To be honest, on your own you'd have a very difficult time tracking down all these people… and accumulating all the intelligence Terry has amassed.

My point: Portugal All Access delivers exclusive access…

It hands you on-the-ground solutions that would likely cost you—at a minimum—$10,000 to gather on your own.

Probably more like twice that. (Terry has spent far more than that on this project already.)

But you don't have to spend anywhere near that kind of money to gain the intelligence she has to share.

Terry has done all the work for you in compiling all her research, has saved you a ton of money.

(The Rolodex and Resource Guide is in itself invaluable. Think how much time and money you'd spend doing online research, making phone calls, and pounding the pavement to find these dependable local contacts on your own. And the Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide… I assure you this is the easiest, quickest, and most reliable way to plan your own scouting check-out trip to Portugal. It's all there for you. No extra work for you to do. No second guessing or costly mistakes.)

We could reasonably ask $1,000 or more for this program, which reveals tips and secrets about Portugal you won't find anyplace else.

But we won't charge you $1,000 for access… even though it would be worth every penny.

But because of your interest in Portugal, you can get Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle for just $499.

And remember, that covers everything—including the SEVEN SPECIAL COMPANION REPORTS, that complement the comprehensive videos.

But please order Portugal All Access now, because in just a few days, the price goes up.

Now's the time to take advantage of this special deal.

As you know, there's only so much you can absorb when you're reading about and researching a place. You do a "Google search" and tens of thousands of links come up. It's so hard to know whose opinion to trust. And the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming.

But that's what makes Portugal All Access so special—and so useful. Terry Coles shares her real-world insights directly with you via video. She cuts right to the chase, right there in living color, and she answers every question you're likely to have about Portugal. I guarantee it.

Our Rock-Solid, Triple Guarantee Means No Risk for You

Guarantee # 1—I guarantee this Portugal All Access will help you find the perfect Portugal lifestyle that's right for you. A place where you can live better than ever… stretch your retirement dollars… and have the time and funds to travel, relax, and enjoy life…

Guarantee # 2—I guarantee it will show you the real-world solutions you need to get from where you are now to where you want to be… so that in just a handful of months, you could have "boots on the ground" in a part of Portugal you love. But if you feel the solutions we offer aren't for you, we'll give you a full refund within the first 30 days. In other words, the risk is all ours.

Guarantee # 3—Should you decide to ask for a refund, you've got a full 30 days to do it. If you don't feel that Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle can help you to a new life in Portugal, just let us know and we'll refund every penny within the first 30 days. That's how confident we are in the depth and breadth of information this brand-new resource provides.

The friendliness of Portugal… the peaceful, laidback lifestyle, reminiscent of a kinder, gentler time in history… and with the modern pleasures and amenities now available and so affordable…

All this makes Portugal hard to resist.

The good news, though, is that it's all within your grasp. You don't need millions in the bank to capitalize on the opportunities in Portugal—one of the best-value retirement options you'll find.

In Portugal, you can have your own dream life in Europe… on a monthly budget of $2,200.

If you're looking for a safe, friendly European haven, with cosmopolitan cities and lots of beach towns, internationally acclaimed (and affordable) healthcare, and the lowest cost of living in Western Europe, you'll find all that and more in Portugal.

And in Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle, Terry Coles shows you exactly how to make it happen…how you can settle into a far better, more affordable, healthier life and do it seamlessly, enjoyably, confidently…

Think about it: A handful of months from now, you could be sitting on your own terrace, a glass of delicious Portuguese wine in hand, enjoying the azulejo-splashed architecture the strains of fado in or the sun set over the gorgeous blue ocean…

I hope you'll let us show you how… just click 'Add to Cart' now and we'll get you started.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher,
Senior Editor, International Living
July 2021

P.S. If you have any doubt that Portugal offers the very best lifestyle—at a very affordable price—your mind will definitely be changed after you've reviewed the 14 professional videos, the seven comprehensive special reports, including the hefty resource rolodex that make up Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle.

If you've always loved the idea of retiring in comfort somewhere very affordable—with a mix of Western European culture, a warm welcome, more beaches than California… where you don't have to worry about rising healthcare costs and crime rates, out-of-control government spending or crazy politics…

Then I encourage you to take a look at Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle. It was created with you in mind.

Follow the blueprint Terry Coles has created. Let her introduce you to the special places she's discovered. Let her share her expert insights with you and help you shave months…even years…off your learning curve.

Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle is like taking a whirlwind investment and lifestyle tour of Portugal. Only instead of paying thousands of dollars for the travel fees and expert advice, we hand it all to you right there in the comfort of your own home for just $499 when you take advantage of this special offer and order Portugal All Access: Your Blueprint for an Affordable European Lifestyle now.

Remember, there's no risk to you, as you have our 30-day, 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:42:40 GMT

This message is NOT approved, endorsed, or authorized by Medicare. All information regarding Medicare discussed or mentioned here is available for free from Medicare.

Attention Americans:
If You Qualify for Medicare (or Soon Will),
It’s Time to Discover…

How You Can Use Medicare
When Living or Travelling Overseas

Even if You Never, Ever Plan on Leaving the U.S.—
This is Still Need to Know Information

Dear Reader,

As you edge closer to your dream retirement, there are critical issues to consider.

One matter that's especially important is healthcare.

The good news is that spending time overseas can actually be beneficial to your health, as you'll likely choose a better climate where you can be more active and have access to healthier, straight-from-the-farm food.

In many cases, healthcare costs are so low that you can cover them out-of-pocket.

Even so, if you are a U.S. citizen, there is one important safety net you should not overlook.

And that's Medicare. (This applies even if you are already enrolled)

If you've paid into Social Security over the years, you've likely already paid for this healthcare coverage and many of its primary benefits are free for you.

I’m Dan Prescher, for International Living.

Not too long ago, I turned 65 myself—the age to qualify for Medicare—and I know for sure there’s a lot much we need to understand about our Medicare benefits.

There’s the free Part A, there's Part B, and all kinds of supplemental plans you can pick and choose from to increase the robustness of your coverage.

Athough many of us have been led to believe that you can’t use Medicare overseas, there are, indeed, many instances now when you can.

The problem is, there’s not a lot of reliable information out there about how to do this, and especially not about how to make it work best for your personal situation.

Sure, you can find some details on government web pages, but good luck trying to decipher the legal and academic jargon.

And yes, you can attend seminars or ask friends for advice.

You can hire an insurance specialist (who will likely want to sell you a few cherry-picked supplemental plans) to create a blueprint for your special circumstances.

But you don’t need to do that.

Because International Living has commissioned an important book, written just for readers like you who are exploring their overseas options.

It has just been completely updated for 2023. And it provides dependable details about how to decipher your Medicare options—in plain, accessible, understandable language.

Whether you’re looking to retire overseas full-time or part-time, or just travel now and again, this book is for you.

In fact, if you never, ever plan to leave the U.S., this book is for you.

And it is essential whether you are already enrolled in Medicare or will be soon.

It's called Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know, and it’s written by Ron Elledge, a U.S. Medicare and health insurance specialist who has devoted his career to understanding the intricacies of U.S. health insurance options. (No small task)

Thankfully, Ron has a passion for helping those of us of Medicare age make sense of what’s available to us.

Does Any of This Apply to You?

About to turn 65? Will you soon be leaving an employer health plan? Are you planning a move, including overseas? Thinking about changing your Advantage Plan or delaying or dropping Medicare Part B?

Before you do any of these, READ THIS BOOK.

All the details you need to consider are covered.

This book demonstrates his unique forte in helping expats and travelers determine the very best Medicare options.

I'm so impressed with the guidance he shares in the book that I lobbied International Living publisher Jackie Flynn to offer it to you, right now.

Let me explain why Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know belongs in your library if you’re currently or soon will be on Medicare and you’re considering spending any time at all overseas.

First off, all the basics are covered...In an easy-to-understand manner, Ron explains how Medicare works, when you become eligible and how to sign up, your important beneficiary rights...and why, even if you are still working and have a healthcare plan, you must contact the Social Security Administration on a specific date.

Part A is almost always yours free, as you likely know—so there is no reason not to have this. And you’ve earned it, so why not?

Even so, keep in mind that there are important obligations you need to consider. But when should you opt into Part B? And when might you want to delay that, without paying a penalty later? Ron explains...and this is just the beginning.

Supplemental coverage and all moving “Parts” are addressed in detail. Medicare Part A, B, C, D, Medigap, coverage for long-term care, Tricare, the “Donut Hole,” veteran’s options ...

All of this is explained in detail to help you determine the type of coverage that works best for you.

And this is where this book really shines... It’s “need to know” information for all Americans at this critical point in age, but it’s even more important if your plans include any kind of international travel or spending any extended time overseas.

Now is the time to make changes to your coverage so you can use Medicare overseas.

Your Personal Medicare Consultant

Ron’s been an IL subscriber for years. He and his wife are residents of Panama, and he strongly believes that it’s important to have a comprehensive healthcare plan when you travel or live abroad. Medicare should be a key part of that, he says.

At an IL conference a couple of years ago, Ron approached one of our editors, offering to contribute his expertise. Ron has over 15 years experience as a Medicare consultant, helping Americans get the most out of their Medicare at home and overseas. We knew we needed him as an expert in our community.

If You Plan to be an Expat (or Already Are) or Plan to Do Any International Traveling, Here’s What You Need to Know...

If you are living abroad when you turn 65, and don’t apply for Medicare at that time and you eventually move back to the U.S., you'll likely be subject to late penalties or delayed Medicare coverage. And there can be some other catches. Ron offers some real-world examples to help you understand your options and avoid problems.
And if you are in the overseas planning stage...while there is no residence requirement for original (or basic) Medicare,” Ron says that where you live “makes a massive difference in how you approach enrollment.” This is need-to-know stuff if you plan to eventually go overseas.
Whatever you do, don’t drop Part A, Ron says, because if you do, you will become ineligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits and be required to pay back all previous benefits received. (Note that Social Security administers Medicare, not the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. So you must abide by their rules.)
Again: This is need-to-know information that will help you better understand your Medicare options if you plan to spend time overseas. If you’re living overseas when you hit your eligibility date, Ron explains why you want to reach out to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an in-person appointment to discuss your best Medicare options.
And if you are working overseas and are covered by an employer’s health plan, your options are covered in the book, too. This is especially important if you plan to retire from active employment while living in a foreign country. You have a different set of circumstances in these situations, and you’ll want to understand your options and obligations.

Medicare: You Earned It. Now Put it to Work.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want to make your benefits work for your personal situation. And you don’t want to be without them should you need them.

Make No Assumptions

"Never assume anything when dealing with Social Security or Medicare", Ron Elledge says.

In Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know, he deciphers Medicare myths and solves the mysteries you’re unsure of. The brand-new edition of the book shows you how to leverage your benefits to your advantage.

After all, you paid for them during a lifetime of work.

You deserve the full benefits Medicare provides to you.

Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know showcases various scenarios to help you easily identify and assess your options for healthcare coverage anywhere you might choose to travel or live.

Importantly, it also shows you what not to do if you are living overseas. You don’t want to risk running afoul of government regulations, no matter how inadvertently.

Do that, and you may have a tax fraud case filed against you.

How and When Can You Use Your Medicare Overseas?

There's Good News If You Plan to Be Out of the U.S. for Up to 9 Months at a Time (and Sometimes Longer).

Beginning with the 2019 coverage year, some Medicare Advantage Plans began to allow their clients to remain out of their resident coverage area for up to 12 months per trip. Ron Elledge believes more carriers will offer this welcome option in the coming years.

As of now, six Medicare Supplement Plans and many Advantage Plans include foreign travel coverage. In Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know, you'll learn more about these and get Ron's advice about an extra layer of coverage to consider if you plan to live part- or full-time overseas.

Recent changes to some Medicare plans have expanded coverage networks, allowing wider coverage and longer stays out of the country.

They also provide for emergency and urgent care services overseas. This is a big benefit for travelers and part-time expats.

In Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know, you’ll get details about which Medicare plans provide this global coverage and how this all works, without having to spend hours combing the Medicare website.

As Ron says, “It’s important to know exactly what you’re covered for before you leave the country.

“It may be worth the effort to change your insurance carrier in order to take advantage of worldwide services.”

For example, for some options, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that you maintain residence within their coverage area.

But CMS requirements for Supplement Plans only require that you are a resident in the coverage area at the time the policy is issued.

So it’s important to have a strategy—before you leave the States—to ensure two things: that your coverage will never be interrupted wherever you choose to live and that it won’t be adversely affected if you decide to seek legal residence status in another country.

Rita’s Story...

To help you better understand this issue, Ron tells the story of Rita, who has made Panama her part-time home for the past 12 years. (She has been covered by Medicare for the last five.)

A few years ago, she decided to get her Panama residence visa to relieve herself of the tax burden imposed by her state and in order to benefit of the discounts and incentives offered through Panama’s renowned Pensionado (Retirement) Program.

Moving overseas can change your life for the better. You may even enjoy a healthier lifestyle...

But be sure to consider your healthcare options and make your Medicare benefits part of your strategy.

This program is one reason for Panama’s popularity among expat retirees. There is no requirement that you live in the country for any length of time once you obtain a resident visa.

Because she moved her legal residence to Panama, Rita can maintain Medicare Part A and B, but will be disenrolled from all Advantage and/or Part D Plans anywhere from six months to one year after her official residence change takes place.

However, if she was enrolled in a Supplement Plan before the residency change, she will not be disenrolled, as long as she continues to pay the premium.

“It is always best to check with your insurance carrier before the change, so you know what your options are,” Ron cautions.

And if Rita were not to pursue a residence change...well, then she has far more options, as Ron weighs in on in Chapter 7 of Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know.

As he says, “Careful consideration should be given.” And in this newly updated book, he helps you understand exactly what those considerations are and helps you make informed decisions.

Are You Ready to Get Your Hands on This
Important Information?

One of the things I most appreciate about this comprehensive book, as I’ve said before, is that the information is presented in a simple, easy to understand manner.

As I also mentioned, I turned 65 not long ago. Unfortunately for me, that was before Ron had written this book.

So I toughed it out and cobbled together an approach on my own. I can’t even begin to tell you how much easier the process would have been had I had this book to refer to.

Not only does Ron explain things in layman’s terms, he also offers hypothetical scenarios based on proven strategies and situations similar to what you and I are likely facing.

These examples showcase people in their 60s and 70s...some looking to craft their first Medicare solution and others who have been using Medicare for years.

Thanks to Ron’s guidance, they've found ways to make changes that upgrade and enhance (and in some cases, save money on) their coverage.

I’ve done the same. With Ron’s input, I have now changed my original strategy.

Ron’s advice is worth its weight in gold. No matter if you’ll be eligible for Medicare in the coming year or you’re already enrolled, you’ll want this valuable reference book.

There are even five Appendixes in the book, newly updated for 2023, including specific, must-have information for expats and travelers, and contact information for many, many assistance programs and information resources.

There is nothing else out there like this book. Believe me, I've looked.

Whether you’re looking to retire or invest overseas, or just spend time exploring the world full- or part-time, Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know hands you a blueprint to follow in crafting the best Medicare strategy for your personal needs now and in the future.

Take advantage of the solutions and strategies Ron lays out for you and you could save thousands of dollars on medical expenses.

As always, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Our Good-Will, Good-Value Guarantee

If you decide the information shared in Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know doesn’t work for you, just return the book to us within 30 days and we’ll issue you a refund. No hassle, no fuss.

But I don’t think that will happen. This information is just too important. And understanding your rights—and the policy changes recently made by Medicare—can help you make decisions and changes to your Medicare strategy that can save you money and increase your peace of mind.

As soon as you order, we’ll immediately send access to a digital copy of your book straight to your email inbox.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your options for using Medicare in overseas. And you’ll enjoy the easy-to-understand style Ron Elledge uses to explain and help you sort through those options.

Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know is a must-read before you make a critical and costly mistake with your Medicare coverage when planning your overseas move or travel.

And it’s yours now for just $59.

Remember, it’s been completely updated for 2023 so you can be sure the information provided is as current, reliable, and actionable as possible.

It’s not offered anywhere else at a lower price.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher
Senior Editor, International Living
January, 2023

P.S. Ron’s contact details are also in the book so you can reach out to him for guidance or answers to any questions you may have.

Remember, if you're at all disappointed...and I can't imagine you will be...feel free to ask for a refund within 30 days for a full refund.

P.P.S. Over the years, the strategies Ron has shown would-be expats and international travelers have proven to be true money-savers...and sometimes even life-changing...

As one told Ron:

“Commend you for your book “Medicare Made Easy.” Been reading this week and have to say I would otherwise never have known about topics such as MOOP and the Social Security 12 Criteria for establishing “Convincing Evidence of Residency.” And when my future income level drops, I will definitely inform the IRS of my status change. That info alone could be worth 100X the price of your book.”
—Robert M.

Another said:

“Thank you for your excellent help. I put in an application for an Advantage plan. Now waiting for their approval. Looks like I'll have to return here every 6 months for a routine checkup, but I believe it will work for me. Annual medication cost with the Plan is under $900, whereas it would be over $6,000 otherwise.”
—John M.

And don't forget, you’ll get Ron’s contact information inside your new book. He has graciously offered to answer emails and consult with you by phone.

As another IL reader noted:

“It was very nice to speak to you about my mom’s situation on Monday. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. You are providing valuable insights to expats that no one else offers out there in the market. “
—Barbara S.

Let Ron Elledge help you, too, define your own money-saving, life-changing Medicare.

Medicare Made Easy: What Expats, Frequent Travelers, and You Need to Know is only from International Living, and available to you now.

Just click the "Add to cart" button now...

Real Estate Trend Alert

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:20:52 GMT

Welcome to Real Estate Trend Alert

You are now just minutes away from accessing everything in Real Estate Trend Alert and sharing ALL of my profitable research.

My analysis of the current global situation is this. Put simply, a flood of real estate deals is coming. What's playing out right now—because of the Covid effect—is set to create the biggest buying opportunity of our lifetimes.

I can already see the signs.

I'm talking about property bargains in Lisbon, Portugal... perhaps up to 30% off best-in-class real estate in Italy.

If you're looking for stability—one of the safest places to stash your cash will be owning farmland in Uruguay. It may be the ultimate crisis hedge.

Recently, Real Estate Trend Alert members could buy near one of the world's best beaches for $149,000. This place feels like your own private paradise...yet you're still close to a Caribbean beach town with everything you need.

Because I'm constantly searching for the best deals for my associates and Real Estate Tend Alert members, I uncover intriguing buying opportunities you won't hear about anywhere else. When you join Real Estate Trend Alert today you'll get immediate access to all of them, like:

How and Where to Double Your Money in Five Years in Costa Rica. Real Estate Trend Alert members have full privileges to access my personal library of market reports—including one on where to buy a lot in one of Costa Rica's most beautiful and rapidly up-and-coming paradises from just $29,400.
The Caribbean condos you'll love spending time in—and that could make you money. Along Mexico's Riviera Maya the white-sand beaches are stunning. The Path of Progress is rolling down the coast from Cancun. New roads, bridges and a government program were designed to increase the number of tourists from four million to 10 million. This is a stretch of coast where Real Estate Trend Alert members have seen strong paper gains over the past five years, and where you can, too.
Where to buy on the Costa del Sol for less than replacement costs. The buying opportunity in Spain is to buy via a bank fire sale. In the past, I've told members about deals on the Costa del Sol where you can buy for less than replacement costs. (Those deals always get snapped up fast!)
You'll also receive the premium edition of the Roving Real Estate Investor, sent every day to Real Estate Trend Alert subscribers via email.

Economist and multimillionaire investor, Bill Bonner calls this type of overseas real estate "one of the least explored, the least-understood and the most promising asset classes in the world."

Once you're a member of Real Estate Trend Alert, you'll know exactly how best to profit from overseas real estate.

Here's What to Do Now…

Here's exactly how to get instant access to all the benefits of Real Estate Trend Alert.

First, scroll down to review everything you'll receive when you accept this special invitation. Second, complete the secure order form on this page. And third, simply click on the "continue" button beneath the form. That's it…

Then make sure to check your email inbox because as soon as I hear from you, I'll immediately send you the research report I've promised you:

An "Insider" Real Estate Deal In Paradise

You'll also get your password to the members-only section of our website, where you can stay abreast of the latest news and developments… get hot tips and recommendations… and be first to know about real estate deals that you can quickly lock in at special terms.

You'll also start receiving regular reports that fill you in on all the details of what I'm currently researching or investing in.

Plus, you'll also get the inside scoop and contact information for some of the top experts in real estate, law, mortgage, title insurance, and other fields that will help you easily, safely, and efficiently buy properties.

And you can expect instant e-mail alerts on the hottest "off market" opportunities—before the public hears about them.

A Virtually Risk-Free Opportunity

I want you to be 100% Satisfied with your Real Estate Trend Alert membership.

This means I personally pledge you will get complete and unrestricted access to every members-only research report and deal recommendation. You'll get to read all the Real Estate Trend Alerts for the next 90 days.

If you decide this service isn't for you, no problem. You can easily cancel your membership before the 90-day period expires and you'll get a full refund.

Any reports you save, plus everything else you learn during those 90 days, are yours to keep.

If you are hesitant at all about checking out all this research, don't be—I fully believe this is your best way to gain access to a 100% safe, legal treasure trove of insider information you can use to your advantage.

And of course, you have my 100% risk-free, 90-day money-back guarantee.

By way of full disclosure: My company, Pangea Ltd., may earn advertising fees on the deals I pass along to RETA members. This helps fund the travel, due diligence, and resultant legal investigations my team and I do.

But I want to be absolutely clear in saying that RETA members always get the best price available on a property.

All you need to do right now is complete the short, simple form on this page, then click on the "continue" button to review your request.

Go ahead, and I'll begin sending you my e-mail alerts on the hottest off-market real estate opportunities.

You've come this far, don't stop now. If you're as serious as I think you are about taking advantage of what could be the safest and easiest way to generate thousands in additional cash, there's no better time to start than right now.

Go ahead and complete the secure order form on this page now while you're thinking about it, then click on the "continue" button underneath the form to ensure you don't miss out on my next insider real estate deal. Then be sure to check your e-mail inbox.

What Real Estate Trend Alert Members are Saying:

"Real Estate Trend Alert has provided me with a variety of information and direction to explore countries outside of the USA for both investment and pleasure."

—Don C., Arizona

"Your connections to great deals in great places is worth every penny for the membership. I wish I had more capital to invest."

—John, Indiana

Costa Rica 101

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:20:55 GMT

The happiest people in the world live in Costa Rica…

The land of Pura Vida offers miles of sun-kissed beaches, fertile farmland, rolling mountains, and vast amounts of colorful culture…

It's safe and politically stable (not even an army), with a very low cost of living that includes top-quality medical care…

Costa Rica is one of the World's Top Place to Retire. And It May Also Be the Easiest.
Here's What You Need to Know…

Dear Reader,

My friend Donna tells a common story. She and her partner aren't wealthy people, but they've traveled a bit, looking for that perfect place.

In between their travels, they keep going back to Costa Rica to vacation. They're starting to wonder…is this their place? Costa Rica feels so welcoming and familiar… Can it be this easy?

Hi, I'm Dan Prescher. If you've been to Costa Rica, as many people have, then you understand its appeal…

It's a natural wonderland…a place full of exotic scenery and wildlife…where the sounds of the waves can lull you to sleep at night, and your morning wake-up is the call of monkeys and toucans…

It's a land of stunning beaches and lush jungles…rushing rivers and naturally warm thermal springs…fresh mountain lakes rimmed by regal volcanoes…rich farmland where anything grows…and vast amounts of colorful Costa Rican culture…

So it's little wonder so many tourists visit Costa Rica each year—the majority from the U.S. and Canada.

Maybe you've been one of them? If so, you know firsthand how much Costa Rica has to offer…

BIG NEWS: Costa Rica is Now Easier Than Ever

A new law offers even more incentives to expats, including reducing the minimum capital investment require for residency from $200,000 to $150,000, relaxing importation exemptions, and a special “Digital Nomad” law offers lucrative incentives to remote workers.

In both cases, not only is it easier to get resident visas but you won’t be considered a tax resident and required to pay any tax on foreign-sourced income. Keep reading for more details...

With so many uncertainties in the world today, Costa Rica is like a breath of fresh air.

Less than a three-hour flight from the U.S., it feels like a world away.

In some ways, it feels a bit lost in time…its small towns will remind you of the towns and neighborhoods you grew up in.

Fresh strawberries and cream are sold in roadside stands… Family life is valued…

Children of all ages can safely walk to school and back…Community centers are loud and lively places with daily art, music and cultural events… There's a town fiesta or celebration every week, it seems…

These are communities where neighbors watch out for and help one another. People treat one another with kindness and respect, especially their elders. In Tico communities, foreign retirees like us are welcomed as family…and treated as family.

"Tico," by the way, is what Costa Ricans proudly call themselves. And "Pura Vida" is the way they describe life in Costa Rica. Ticos live Pura Vida, the "Good Life." And you can, too.

Costa Rica is one of the World's
Best Places to Retire…

As I've said, if you've been to Costa Rica or you're pretty sure it's a place you'd like, you may already know something about Pura Vida.

And if you're thinking of retiring soon, you may be wondering how Costa Rica measures up—and why International Living ranks it as one of the “best places in the world to retire”.

The weather—From the temperate Central Valley to the beautiful tropical beaches, unless you're a snow lover, there's a climate for everyone. You will never scrape ice from your car or shovel snow. If you prefer a climate where all you'll need is couple of T-shirts and pairs of shorts, Costa Rica is your place.
Healthcare—Put any fears to rest. Costa Rica offers top-quality healthcare at an affordable price. When it comes to overall healthcare efficiency, says a 2018 Bloomberg report, Costa Rica ranks well ahead of the U.S.—critically important in this day and age.
And that's despite the fact that Costa Rica spends far less on healthcare per capita than the U.S. does.
A stable democracy. No other country in Latin America—or in the world, for that matter, has the peaceful history and democratic stability of Costa Rica, which doesn't even have an army—there is no need for one!
Comforts of home—In Costa Rica, you'll find world-class hospitals, modern shopping malls and supermarkets and big-box stores you know from home, with many of your favorite brands in stock. Reliable high-speed Internet is available just about everywhere. Public transportation is safe, reliable and plentiful.
Low, low taxes—You'll pay zero income taxes on foreign-earned income. If you buy a home in Costa Rica—your annual property taxes will be no more than $300-$500 in most cases.
Affordable real estate. Is there anywhere in the U.S. where you can buy a two-bedroom condo with a jaw-dropping ocean view for less than $279,000? Or rent a comfy home or apartment for $500 a month or even less? When you know where to look, you can find real bargains in Costa Rica…

In fact, when you know where to look…with the right kind of guidance…you can find the exact retirement lifestyle you're looking for…and it can be far more affordable than you've ever imagined…

Stick with me for more about the low cost of living you can expect in Costa Rica…especially when you settle in one of the up-and-coming destinations we've identified… And you needn't give up any of the creature comforts that make life so enjoyable.

There's more to consider, too. If you're worried about being far from family and friends back home, I've already mentioned the short flight times—less than three hours—from Costa Rica to the States (and only a little more than five hours to Canada).

When you live in Costa Rica, you will have more visitors than you can handle…I can almost guarantee that.

Who doesn't want to visit Costa Rica?

I can also pretty much guarantee that you won't be lonely in Costa Rica. I've already explained how welcoming the Ticos are.

You'll also find a built-in community of English-speaking expats—it's said that nearly 70,000 Americans and Canadians mostly retirees—currently live in Costa Rica.

But here's what sets Costa Rica apart from some other retirement destinations:

It's super healthy… Once outside the capital city, you'll find little pollution in Costa Rica—and lots of clean water and fresh air. Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world to reverse deforestation. A staggering 99% of the country's energy comes from renewable, money-saving sources.
Adult literacy is practically 100%. Thanks to the well-educated, well-informed workforce, many international companies have offices, factories, and call centers here—contributing to the strong and stable economy. And when people have jobs, there is less crime.

With all this, it's no surprise that Costa Ricans are, in fact, the happiest people in the world.

That's according to sociologists from the Happy Planet Index who say Costa Ricans "report the highest life satisfaction and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the Americas (second only to Canada)."

And, as I've mentioned…

Costa Rica offers a surprisingly low cost of living.

➜ Retired expat couples in Costa Rica say they can easily and comfortably live on a budget of about $2,150 a month…sometimes less…and that includes their monthly rent and health plan.

Yes, there are some communities that are more affordable than others. I've already mentioned that in some places real estate costs are lower than others…not because they're less desirable, but because they're not on the tourist path. You'll find the same great beaches and mountain views, but at a far lower cost…

And of course, there are some tips and tricks that, once you know about them, can help greatly reduce your overall expenses.

For instance, when you become a legal resident of Costa Rica, you'll qualify for the Caja national healthcare plan. This is a huge cost-savings and "peace-of-mind" benefit for you. With some insider input, you can better navigate this system and save even more on your healthcare costs…

So How Do You Find Out if Costa Rica
is Right for You?

For years now, Costa Rica has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for North Americans. A record-setting 3.14 million international tourists visited Costa Rica in 2019. The majority from the U.S.

They come for the natural beauty. Nearly a quarter of the country is national park land and protected areas.

And they come for the beaches. There are plenty of those, on both Pacific and Caribbean Coasts.

And the country's Central Valley offers a nearly perfect climate…never too hot and never too cold.

Some of those tourists—like my friend Donna that I mentioned earlier—never want to leave.

They've dreamed of retiring to a place with beautiful scenery, better weather, and a far better cost of living. Costa Rica delivers on all that and much more.

Still, it's a foreign country. If you decide to live in Costa Rica you'll need a resident visa. And you're required to sign up for the Caja national health program. You'll need to decide where in the country you want to live, and if you'll rent or buy a home or apartment…

You'll want to decide whether or not to ship your household goods…to buy a car or not…what you'll do about insurance and taxes…how you'll manage your banking and financial needs…

You'll want to understand the rules for importing your pets to Costa Rica…what kinds of vaccinations are needed…and on and on…

Even though Costa Rica is one of the easiest places on the planet to retire to, there are many things to consider and plan for.

With something this important, you need reliable, up-to-date information you can count on, from a dependable, well-qualified resource.

That's where Kathleen Evans comes in.

In 2013, tired of the “corporate grind” in the U.S., Kathleen and her husband Steve moved to the lively beach town of Tamarindo.

There, she says they’re enjoying everything about the “Pura Vida” lifestyle.

As Costa Rica correspondent for International Living, it’s her job to travel Costa Rica from north to south and east to west.

She’s constantly on the lookout for ever-better places in Costa Rica to invest, to live, and to play.

She has contacts in every area of the country and she's on top of all the technical and legal stuff…the processes and requirements for getting visas and residency, for buying, renting, building, renovating, furnishing a home, moving your household goods, buying a car, bringing your pets, and so on…

Kathleen knows how much it costs to live in the many different communities of Costa Rica. And based on her own experiences and the experiences of hundreds of other expats she's interviewed over the years, she has a number of insider tips and strategies to help you save both time and money when you visit or live in Costa Rica yourself.

And if you think Costa Rica may be the place for you, Kathleen is committed to sharing her real-world, on-the-ground insights with you.

Of course, your very best course of action is to go to Costa Rica in person and spend a couple of months kicking around the country with her. It would take about that long for her to show you, firsthand, everything she's seen and everything she knows that can help you streamline your own move to Costa Rica.

Spending time one-on-one with Kathleen would certainly "fast track" your research, no question about it.

But, of course, that isn't a practical option.

Think how much it would cost… Even though Costa Rica can be a budget traveler's paradise, you'd soon rack up thousands of dollars in expenses.

So we asked Kathleen to do something to help facilitate your research. We asked her to create a personalized online virtual "retirement tour" of Costa Rica.

It's a way for you to gain access to her incredibly comprehensive and truly rich depth of knowledge and get "plugged in" to everything you need to know. A way for you to see for yourself, from the comfort of your own home or office, all that Costa Rica has to offer you.

It's an easy, streamlined, and most reliable way to get you from where you are now—to a better life in the perfect place in Costa Rica that's exactly right for you.

This is Your Invitation to Go "On the Road"
With Kathleen Evans

No matter how many times you've been there and no matter how many books you've read or online research you've done, what you don't know about Costa Rica may surprise you.

International Living has been reporting for more than 43 years now about the benefits Costa Rica offers retirees—and over the last several years, Kathleen has been asked to take on the most in-depth research-gathering project International Living has ever mounted on Costa Rica.

She's been challenged to dig deep…to round up all her insider intelligence and to assemble all this valuable information in one place…

It's a project we call Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle.

This has been no small undertaking. Even though Costa Rica is a relatively small country, it's large on opportunity.

In effect, Kathleen worked on this project for close to eight years now...the entire time she's been in Costa Rica.

And take it from me, no one is better suited for this kind of challenge. Kathleen is one of the most diligent researchers I know. She digs deep. She answers the questions you don't even know to ask…

Best of all, she makes sure the facts are reliable and verifiable. You can be certain that what Kathleen tells you is correct and current…and that's probably the most important element in all this…

Because you can't always rely on what you read online in expat forums or on the internet. You need a trusted resource.

Things change. Rules are adjusted. Laws are reformed. New policies are instituted. Here’s how to get the timely, updated information you need...

Just last year, in fact, the government signed into law two new programs that make Costa Rica even more enticing—with big incentives for retirees, investors, and digital nomads/remote workers.

Already there are many easy visa options available to you, including for retirees that want to rent.

But if you are applying for an investor visa by buying a home or investing in a local ag or infrastructure project, the amount required to qualify has now been lowered from $200,000 to $150,000.

In addition, you’ll be able to import your household goods, including two vehicles, planes or cars, duty-free. Your foreign-earned income (retirement pensions included) will not be taxed. And you’ll be eligible for a slew of other local tax breaks, too.

Additionally, a new “Digital Nomad Law” allows foreign nationals and their families a special visa to live and work in Costa Rica for at least a year with the ability to easily extend.

It, too, comes with a host of impressive benefits, excluding a full income tax exemption.

There’s more to know...and these are exactly the kinds of timely details and information you’ll get in Costa Rica 101.

It’s a complete resource reference of everything you need to know about moving to, investing in, living in, and/or starting a business in the world’s top overseas destination.

If you can name it, think of it, or wonder about it, Kathleen has you covered. Every issue is addressed, every challenge is covered, and every question is answered.

It's the next-best thing to actually exploring the country with Kathleen in person.

And it's the best way I know to not just "tell" you about all Costa Rica has to offer, but to "show" you so you can see it with your own eyes…from the comfort of your home.

With Kathleen as Your Guide, Put #1 Ranked Costa Rica on Your Short List Now

I've already mentioned the overall low cost of living in Costa Rica. And I should probably stress that Costa Rica isn't the world's lowest-cost destination.

But when it comes to overall value—everything you get at such a low price tag—Costa Rica is hard to beat.

It's a quality destination. Not to keep beating the drum, but it's a modern, First-World environment with all the comforts of home.

Still, it remains remarkably affordable. And as I've said, it very well may be the world's easiest retirement destination.

Low healthcare and health insurance costs have something to do with that. After all, if you save $5,000 to $10,000 a year…or maybe even more…on your health insurance costs, that money can go far in Costa Rica.

If you buy a home, you'll save thousands of dollars more on your property taxes. Last year, the average American spent $3,785 on property taxes for a home in the U.S.

In Costa Rica, you'll currently pay a mere .25 percent on the taxable value…which is usually only about one-quarter of the real value. In other words, you'll rarely pay more than $300 to $500 a year for your property taxes. Sometimes much less.

Costa Rica Really is Far More Affordable
Than You Think…

So how much does it cost to live in Costa Rica? The short answer is: whatever you want…within reason, of course.

As Kathleen says, if you focus on what's important you can live very well on a very low budget. You don't have to "keep up with the Joneses" here, she says.

"Your 'needs' will become simpler. You can live comfortably with a lot less stuff."

Most expats report they live happily and without sacrifices on $2,000 to $3,000 a month or even less.

For example, John and Caryl Buford live very comfortably near the Central Valley town of San Ramon on a monthly budget that typically comes in at about $1,500.

They own their home, so they don’t pay rent...but you can find rental properties in the Central Valley starting at about $500 a month.

“We live conservatively. We rarely go out to eat because she likes to cook and does it well,” John says, “We buy local produce and are not big meat-eaters. We own our house, so we're not paying rent. Our annual property taxes for six houses, now over 15,000 square meters of land, a four-story activities center with five apartments, and 13 residential lots was about $2,000 this year.”

As for their health plan: “For the both of us, we pay a total of 83,000 colones a month (roughly $150 US) for full hospital/medical, dental, optical, and prescriptions.”

I’ll share more about healthcare costs in just a moment.

But it's not just the cost savings you should consider…it's the overall improvement in your quality of life.

Here's a typical monthly budget, based on calculations for two people living in a mid-range, two-bedroom home in the Central Valley where the climate is so temperate you don’t need heat or air conditioning:

Housing (average rental):	$800
Electricity:	$50
Water and trash collection:	$10
Transportation—maintaining one car:	$130
Two cellphones:	$30
Cable TV:	$60
Internet:	$30
Healthcare: (Caja national health plan plus incidental doctor’s visits)	$250
Household help (once a week):	$40
Groceries:	$400
Entertainment/dining out:	$250
Miscellaneous:	$100
TOTAL:	$2,150

Your actual budget may be even less—some landlords include internet and other expenses like lawn care, water and trash pick-up. And, of course, if you pay outright for your home you won't have any rent payment.

You can see how affordable it is to live in Costa Rica.

You can afford to treat yourself with things you might not afford at home…like a maid and gardener, spa days, and more…

In Costa Rica, even the lowest budget affords a very good lifestyle. You'll enjoy guilt-free consumption at very low prices. For instance, splurge on a salon manicure or pedicure for just ($10 each), pay a maid to clean your house ($20 a day) or a gardener to do your lawn work ($5 an hour).

There are Three Destinations in Particular in Costa Rica Where You'll Find Good-Value Living.

When you make your home in Costa Rica, you can live very well for very little money, that's true…

But when you choose one of the lesser-known destinations Kathleen Evans has identified, you can live very well.

If you've been to Costa Rica, you may know the "Gold Coast"—the northern Pacific Coast where the popular beach town of Tamarindo is. That’s where Kathleen lives.

Even there, you can live affordably…but when you look beyond Costa Rica's more touristy destinations, that's where you'll find the bargains.

Kathleen's done a lot of digging, and along with the more tried-and-true communities popular with expats, she's pinpointed three special destinations—including an overlooked section of pristine coastline—that you'll want to take a look at if you're considering retiring or starting a new life in Costa Rica.

You'll find all the details in Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle.

Now…if you're doing your research on moving to Costa Rica, I know there's one more thing that surely must be on your mind…

What Can You Expect When
it Comes to Healthcare?

Remember, thanks to Costa Rica's national health program, your healthcare costs will be negligible. But should you desire elective procedures, you'll pay about one-third what you will in the States.

A facelift, for instance, averages $4,800 in Costa Rica, compared to $7,000 to $9,000 or more in the United States. A total hip replacement at a modern, private state-of-the-art hospital costs about $12,000 in Costa Rica compared to a cost of up to $43,000 in the U.S.

A dental implant costs an average $900 in Costa Rica compared to $3,500 in the U.S.

And don't worry at all about the quality of healthcare in Costa Rica. Hands down, the country's universal healthcare system is one of the best in Latin America and, indeed, among the best in the world.

The US. Would Do Well to Reform Its Lagging Healthcare System By Looking to Costa Rica’s Example, Says the Prestigious Commonwealth Fund: “With public frustration over the current system mounting, many in the United States believe that significant reforms are warranted. Costa Rica offers an example of an efficient health care system centered around a backbone of robust, community-oriented primary health care, characterized by strong and effective use of community health workers to improve access, quality, and equity.”

Once you obtain your legal residence visa, you'll be eligible (required, in fact) to participate in Costa Rica's universal healthcare system, the Caja.

For this coverage, a retired couple might expect to pay $50-$200 a month total for the two of them.

The Caja is affiliated with ten major public hospitals in the country and many small clinics in almost every community.

You can also buy private insurance—most plans cover dental work, optometry, and cosmetic surgery in the case of an accident.

Prescription drugs, certain medical exams, sick visits and hospitalization are covered at 70% cost, and surgeon and anesthesiologist costs are covered at full cost.

Private medical insurance in Costa Rica currently costs about $200 to $300 a month per person, depending on age and other factors.

And many doctors speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S.

Are You Ready to Learn More About How Easy and Affordable it Can Be To Retire to Costa Rica?

There's no better resource than Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle.

As I mentioned, Kathleen has worked on this for eight years now. She’s literally spent tens of thousands of hours on the ground in Costa Rica, doing research, collecting data, conducting interviews, and more…

Recently, she went into the studio to assemble a comprehensive series of 14 professional videos to bring her research to life. You can see, feel, and almost touch and smell Costa Rica.

You'll travel along with Kathleen as she introduces you to six distinct regions of Costa Rica…and to many communities in each of those that make for easy and affordable expat living.

And yes, you'll discover the three little-known areas that she believes are well worth your attention right now.

These are places your fellow expats have yet to discover in large numbers. Prices are low and opportunities are sky high.

To make a point here, this is no static report. It's not a manual…or a website…or a conference. Think of it more as a high-level "virtual conference," but much better…

She's the best Costa Rica expert we know and in this Blueprint, she takes you by the hand and not only introduces you to "her" Costa Rica, but she gives you the tools to make it "your Costa Rica."

Along with the six in-depth "destination" videos Kathleen has produced eight more "need-to-know" videos with advice about Costa Rica that will save you time, headaches and boatloads of money.

Here's just some of what's covered in Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle:

Your best resident visa options. There are several you might qualify for, but which is the best for your personal circumstances? Video #10 in the series is devoted to this topic and ensures that you don't make any costly mistakes.
Your healthcare options. In Video #9, Kathleen gives you the full rundown on the options that make the most sense for you, including how to qualify and what the costs are. (You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost of excellent medical and dental care in Costa Rica.)
How to safely purchase real estate in Costa Rica. Legal processes are a bit different in Costa Rica and having the right guide to those rules and procedures is invaluable—and that's exactly what Kathleen offers in Video #12.

What about shipping your household goods and your car? Should you? Why might you be better off buying a car in Costa Rica? Believe me, this is the kind of insider information you need. Kathleen clarifies import taxes, explains how much cars cost, and the best kinds of cars to drive in Costa Rica… She explains whether or not you'll need a local driver's license and how to get one…
How to structure your finances…where to bank, how to pay your bills…
How to get mail delivered…
What about communicating? What kind of phone and internet service should you expect in Costa Rica…how to best (and cost-free) communicate with friends and family back home…
How to find a good doctor…where to get the prescriptions you need and how much they might cost…
How to bring your pets to Costa Rica…
What to expect in the way of taxes, both at home and in Costa Rica (not much, thankfully)…and much, much more.

Importantly, you'll discover how to save money when you live in Costa Rica. It's not just about shopping in the local farmer's markets or eating Tico-style food (delicious, by the way)…

In Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle, you'll find out what's true and what's not. The internet offers loads of information about Costa Rica. Websites and chat groups are full of misinformation—so it's important to get the most up-to-date information straight from someone who knows Costa Rica inside and out.

Kathleen Evans offers you experienced perspective, valuable judgment, and on-the-ground guidance that will save you time, money, and frustration when you head to Costa Rica yourself… You can be sure you'll be completely and reliably "in-the-know."

It has more to do with picking the right place to settle…choosing the right kind of home to live in, and so on…

Kathleen offers all her insider tips and insights that will have you on a well-planned, streamlined course…

Best of all, she even provides a step-by-step Action Plan. If you've wondered or worried about how you might ever pull it all off…making a move of this type…worry no more.

If you're thinking of retiring to Costa Rica…or spending some extended time there…maybe opening a business or just reinventing your life…this Costa Rica Blueprint is your very best resource.

It's the fastest, most efficient, most cost-effective way to get you quickly ramped up so you can get from where you are now to the idyllic spot in Costa Rica that's right for you.

And when you're ready to actually visit Costa Rica firsthand for yourself, you'll be able to use your time wisely—because in essence, you'll have already been there, with Kathleen as your guide. You'll know where to go, who to contact, and the questions you'll need to ask.

This Costa Rica Blueprint delivers insider access… It hands you on-the-ground solutions that would cost you a minimum of $10,000 to gather on your own. Probably more like twice that. (Kathleen has spent far more than that on this project.)

But you don't have to spend that kind of money…no way.

Kathleen has done all the work for you. And she's just saved you a ton of money.

We could reasonably ask $1,000 for this program, which reveals tips and secrets about Costa Rica you won't find anyplace else.

But we won't charge you $1,000 for access...even though it's worth every penny.

It's available now, for just $499.

Plus, there's more that comes with it…

You Also Get 7 Comprehensive Special Reports and a Complete Resource Rolodex.

These Are Not Available Anywhere Else.

As Kathleen was taping the videos she created for the Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle, she discovered there were a few topics that required some extra lengthy reporting…too much to record on video.

So those have been assembled in a series of special reports—delivered electronically to get them into your hands as quickly as possible.

This is the kind of information you'll definitely want at hand as you prepare for your move to Costa Rica.

Special Report #1: Costa Rica Scouting Trip itineraries and Travel Guide. If you've got one week, two weeks, a month or more to spend in Costa Rica, you'll want this guide. Kathleen and her Costa Rica team have planned all the details for you…from how to travel around to where to stay—hotels, short-term rentals and much more. You'll also discover where to play…dine…and more…even the popular hangouts where you can meet expats who may some day be your neighbors. Live links to websites and contact information is all there for your easy access.
Special Report #2: How They Did It: Meet Happy Costa Rica Expats. Speaking of expats, sometimes it just takes a little motivation. That's exactly what you'll get in this special report. You'll meet expats in ten different areas of Costa Rica, all living their dream lives in the tropical sun. They explain exactly how they did it (and how you can, too) and they share personal details you couldn't get unless you quizzed them yourself… Find out what they do for healthcare, how much they spend on a daily and monthly basis, what they do in their free time, and much, much more.
Special Report #3: Practical Matters: Taxes, Cost of Living, Residence, Moving Your Household Goods and Pets, and Doing Business. Yes, Kathleen covers all this in the video series, but as you can see from the lengthy title, this special report digs deep. You'll get comprehensive sample budgets and money-saving tips, a detailed tax primer, a full explanation of various visa options and a complete legal resource rolodex. And if you plan to move with pets or children, or you're thinking of starting your dream business in Costa Rica, do not leave home without this special report. Nowhere else can you get this kind of valuable, all-inclusive information.
Special Report #4: Spotlight on the High-Quality, Low-Cost Medical Care in Costa Rica. This comprehensive report explains the differences of Costa Rica's public and private healthcare systems and can help you make an educated decision about what to do for your personal healthcare needs when you move to Costa Rica. You'll get all the details (including costs) of the Caja public care coverage. There's also a rundown of the best private hospitals in the country and a list of some of the best local insurance providers—with full contact information. There's even a list of questions to ask about insurance policies you may be considering and a tutorial on how to find the best doctor for your personal needs.
Special Report #5: The Guide to Renting a Home or Buying Property in Costa Rica. When you move to Costa Rica, you'll need a place to live. And whether you rent or buy, that means contracts. Word to the wise: Do not sign a rental or purchase contract without first reviewing this crucial information. Everything is covered…from typical costs and how to find a rental to what to look for in a reliable real estate agent, where to get title insurance, the various title structures, the correct process for registering a deed, and much more.
Special Report #6: Something for Everybody: An In-Depth look at Costa Rica's Regions. If you want insider information about areas of Costa Rica that offer a combination of livability, affordability, beauty, and convenience—you'll find it within the 40+ pages of this special report. All the "personalities" of these locales are sliced and diced for you. You're sure to find a hidden gem that's perfect for you.

AND Special Report #7: Your Costa Rica Rolodex and Resource Guide. This is another document you won't want to leave home without. You'll find 16 pages of resources that you can rely on to help streamline your scouting trip and your move to Costa Rica. Websites, email addresses, phone numbers, costs for services…it's all there…from accommodation and restaurants to airlines and shuttle services…to attorney, healthcare providers, moving/shipping and real estate contacts, language schools and much more, including handy travel apps you can load on your phone or tablet to make navigating your way around Costa Rica as easy and inexpensive as possible.

All You Need to Do Now is Place Your Order

As you know, there's only so much you can absorb when you're reading about and researching a place.

You do a "Google search" and tens of thousands of links come up. It's so hard to know whose opinion to trust. And the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming.

But that's what makes this Costa Rica Blueprint so special—and so useful. Kathleen Evans shares her real-world insights directly with you via video. She cuts right to the chase, right there in living color, and she answers every question you have about Costa Rica. I guarantee it.

Our Rock-Solid, Money-Back
Guarantees Means No Risk for You

Guarantee # 1—I guarantee this Costa Rica Blueprint will help you find the perfect Costa Rica lifestyle that's right for you. A place where you can live better than ever… stretch your retirement dollars...and have the time and funds to travel, relax, and enjoy life...

Guarantee # 2—I guarantee it will deliver the real-world solutions you need to get from where you are now to where you want to be…so that in just a handful of months, you could have "boots on the ground" in a part of Costa Rica you love. But if you feel the solutions we offer aren't for you, we'll give you a full refund. In other words, the risk is all ours.

Guarantee # 3—Should you decide to ask for a refund, you've got a full 30 days to do it. If you don't feel that Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle can help you to a new life in Costa Rica, just let us know and we'll refund every penny. That's how confident we are in the depth and breadth of information this Blueprint provides.

The joyfulness of Costa Rica…the laidback lifestyle, reminiscent of a kinder, gentler time in history…and with the modern pleasures and amenities now available and so affordable…

All this makes Costa Rica hard to resist.

The good news, though, is that it's all within your grasp. You don't need millions in the bank to capitalize on the opportunities in Costa Rica—one of the best-value retirement options you'll find. With so much to offer.

In Costa Rica, you can have the life you've been dreaming of. You can have it all…and on a monthly budget of $2,150 or less.

If you're looking for a tranquil, safe place to live…for total freedom and a non-intrusive government (with no army!) that will welcome you with open arms…where you can actually afford top-quality healthcare…have access to farm-fresh, healthy food…and a great year-round climate…

On the beach or in the mountains…where you can live well for $24,000 a year or less...you'll find all that and more in Costa Rica.

And in Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle, Kathleen Evans shows you exactly how to make it happen…how you can settle into a far better, more affordable, healthier life and do it seamlessly, enjoyably, confidently…

Think about it: A handful of months from now, you could be sitting on your own terrace, a hot cup of Costa Rican coffee or a frosty, delicious drink in hand, watching toucans and parrots fly overhead or the sun set over the gorgeous blue ocean…

I hope you'll let us show you how…just ‘add to cart’ now and we'll get you started.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher,
Senior Editor, International Living
February 2022

P.S. If you have any doubt that Costa Rica offers the very best lifestyle—at a very affordable price—your mind will definitely be changed after you've sifted through the 14 professional videos, the seven comprehensive special reports, including the hefty resource rolodex that make up Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle.

There are so many reasons Costa Rica is one of the world’s top retirement spot.

If you've always loved the idea of retiring in real comfort…where you don't have to worry about rising healthcare costs and crime rates, out-of-control government spending or crazy politics…

Then I encourage you to take a look at Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle. It was created with you in mind.

Follow the blueprint Kathleen Evans has created for you. Let her introduce you to the special places she's discovered. Let Kathleen share her expert insights with you and help you shave months…even years…off your learning curve.

Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle is like taking a whirlwind investment and lifestyle tour of Costa Rica.

Only instead of paying thousands of dollars for the travel fees and expert advice, we hand it all to you right there in the comfort of your own home for just $499 when you order Costa Rica 101: Your Blueprint to the Pura Vida Lifestyle now.

Remember, there's no risk to you. You have our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

Panama 101

Mon, 16 May 2022 13:32:40 GMT

A Warm, Tropical Climate with No
Hurricanes Ever, Totally Modern
Infrastructure, Excellent Healthcare, and
a Very Affordable Cost of Living...

Just 3 Hours From Miami, You’ll Find the
World’s #1 Retirement Spot.

But That's Just the Beginning

The Top 10 Reasons So Many Retirees—and People of All Ages—Are Choosing Ultra-Modern, Welcoming, Scenic Panama…

Dear Reader,

If you're thinking about retiring overseas, I'll wager that Panama is in the top one or two places you're considering. That's smart on your part.

Panama is the world's #1 retirement spot for many very good reasons.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons for Choosing Panama:

#10. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, you know Panama is close to home…just a three-hour flight from Miami, pretty much directly south. It's in the same time zone as North America, in fact—either central or eastern time, depending on the season.

(Panama doesn't do daylight savings time as the sun rises and sets at about the same time every day, month in and month out.) This makes it easy to work or stay in touch with everyone back home.

#9. The warm, tropical climate is a big attraction. As a friend of mine who lives in Panama's pretty mountain town of Boquete says, “Panama is not the end of the rainbow, but it's pretty close. In fact, we see rainbows here almost every day. The greenery grows and the flowers bloom year-round.”

Best of all, he says, “I now have a one-season wardrobe. That's something nobody tells you…you'll save thousands on your wardrobe costs when you live here. It's one of the unexpected savings. Parkas, hats, gloves, and snow boots…snow shovels…I'll never buy those again if I can help it…because I never plan to see snow again.”

#8. No big weather traumas. There's no such thing as blizzards and ice storms in Panama. No hurricanes, either. While it's nicely situated at the southern tip of Central America, and between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Panama is well below the hurricane belt. You can live the laidback tropical lifestyle with no need for expensive hurricane insurance.

#7. You can lower your cost of living without giving up those things that are most important to a happy lifestyle. It can be remarkably affordable to live in Panama, with no sacrifices. Expat couples report they live very happily and comfortably on budgets averaging about $2,000 a month.

#6. You'll find top-quality medical care. (Punta Pacifica Hospital is affiliated with Baltimore's renowned Johns Hopkins Medicine.) Many doctors have trained at major universities in the U.S., Europe, and beyond, and they speak English.

You’ll find many healthcare innovations, too—such as stem cell therapies. (Panama is quickly becoming a global leader in non-surgical therapeutic options.)

By the way, the cost of healthcare can be five times less than comparable services in the U.S. That should get your attention.

#5. You have many affordable health plan options, too. You can join a hospital-based plan, get private insurance, use your TRICARE…

Retirees who would be paying $1,250 a month or more—$15,000 a year—in the U.S. for health insurance with a high deductible say that in Panama, they're paying, on average, $3,240 a year for coverage—and that's with a deductible of just $250 a year. That's a savings of nearly $12,000 a year right there.

#4. Plus, Panama offers all retirees—including foreign residents—the option to join its world-class Pensionado (Retirement) Program—the most generous and appealing program of special benefits you'll find anywhere in the world today. I'll explain more about this in a moment…it's important for you to understand its many benefits.

#3. Another thing expats in Panama appreciate is the big tax savings. You'll pay no taxes on your foreign-earned income. In fact, you'll experience far less bureaucracy and government intrusion overall, than you'll find elsewhere in the world.

For instance, a new property tax law went into effect on January 1, 2019, which reduces property taxes in Panama—to an incredibly low .5% of the value of the home. And you can get full tax exemptions on some properties constructed in recent years.

#2. Importantly, it's easy to settle into life in Panama. The government is stable and the economy is robust. Despite the pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Panama will be one of the “fastest growing economies in the region” for 2022.

By many accounts, Panama is the most modern and progressive country in Latin America.

All your brand-name products and specialty items are available, high-speed internet is just about everywhere… You can drink the tap water… The U.S. dollar is the official currency…

Americans helped build the Panama Canal, remember, and they've been a steady presence in Panama for generations, so you'll find a big community of English speakers.

But There's Another Compelling Reason—the TOP Reason, in fact, to Choose Panama: Because of the Panamanians Themselves.

#1. You cannot beat the warmth and the welcoming nature of the Panamanian people. They are happy and it's infectious.

I'm Dan Prescher, senior editor for International Living, and I have a story to tell you about the people of Panama…

My wife and I lived in Panama for a time. So did our son. Flash forward more than a decade and I am happy to say I am now father-in-law to a lovely Panameña and a proud “papa” to our Panamanian-American granddaughter.

The extended crew of our daughter-in-law's parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews have become…well…family to us…

We typically gather once or twice a year, in Panama or the U.S. And to say that my wife and I have been welcomed into the family fold would be a vast understatement. We don't speak perfect Spanish…not by any means…and not all of them speak English, but we celebrate the achievements of life and commiserate over the downsides.

Our Panama family has so warmly shared their culture…their food and drink, their funny sayings, the card games, music, fireworks and happy chaos…that I sometimes have to stop and think: Are these their customs or mine?

My point with all this: You can choose where to retire for a variety of reasons important to you. And there are places where you can satisfy most anything on your wish list…climate, beautiful scenery, affordability, and so on.

But in Panama, you'll also get a whole lot of heart.

Part of it all is surely the long association Panama has had with the U.S. for 200 years or more. “Zonians,” in fact, is a term used to describe descendants of Americans who were born and/or stayed in Panama after their ancestors came to build and maintain the canal. The late Senator John McCain, the baseball player Rod Carew, and musician Stephen Stills are famous Zonians…

Panamanians understand our culture and our customs. They're happy to share their country with us. And they're unfailingly happy. But why not? They enjoy a high standard of living and a low unemployment rate and low crime rates, but an overall low cost of living. Who couldn't be happy with that?

Not Ready to Retire? Panama Has Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Remote Workers

Panama offers a new extended-stay visa for digital nomad types that allows you to stay up to nine months....and then extend for an additional nine months. Requirements are simple: you must have medical insurance and an external source of income of at least $3,000 a month.

There’s also the “Foreign Professionals” Visa that allows you to work in Panama with your university degree.

Of course, there are lots of opportunities for entrepreneurs...and starting a business is far easier and more affordable than you might expect.

For all these reasons and more, Panama consistently earns a top spot on International Living's Global Retirement Index.

And in 2022 Panama is #1: the world’s best place to retire.

You owe it to yourself to see what Panama offers you.

The Most Important Person You'll Want on Your Side in Panama…

I'd like to introduce you to another person that's become part of my Panama family. Her name is Jessica Ramesch. For more than 15 years now, she's been International Living's eyes and ears on the ground in Panama.

She's the person you want on your side if you're thinking of making a move to Panama.

Because even though Panama is one of the world's easiest places to settle in, it's still a foreign country with different rules, regulations, options, and procedures than you may be used to.

You'll need to get on the right legal track, for instance, with the resident visa that works best for you… You'll want to be sure you understand your best healthcare options… You'll have to decide where in the country you want to live, and if you'll rent or buy a home or apartment…

You'll want to decide whether or not to ship your household goods… to buy a car or not…what you'll do about insurance and taxes…how you'll manage your banking and financial needs…

You'll want to understand the rules for importing your pets to Panama…what kinds of vaccinations are needed…and on and on…

With something this important, you need reliable, up-to-date information you can count on, from a dependable, well-qualified resource. And that's Jessica.

Jessica was born in Panama but raised and attended university in the U.S. After traveling the world working in the cruise ship industry, she decided there was no place she'd rather live than Panama.

Jessica Ramesch is Your #1
Panama Expert in #1 Ranked Panama

Since 2006, it's been Jessica's job to travel Panama from east to west and north to south on behalf of IL readers, constantly on the lookout for ever-better places in Panama to invest, to live, and to play….

She has contacts in every area of the country and she's on top of all the technical and legal stuff…the processes and requirements for buying, renting, getting visas and residency, building, renovating, furnishing a home, moving your household goods, buying a car, bringing your pets, and so on…

She knows exactly how much it costs to live in the many different communities of Panama.

Jessica recently moved from Panama City to the beach area of Coronado. And based on her own experiences and the experiences of hundreds of other expats she's interviewed over the years, she has a number of insider tips and strategies to help you save both time and money when you visit or live in Panama yourself.

What About Safety?

Most expats who live in Panama will tell you the same…that they feel far safer there than they did when they lived in the U.S. or Canada.

As one expat living in David, Panama's third-largest city reports: "I live alone and have found Panama is extremely safe. I have had nothing but positive experiences here and met many others like me who are going it alone to fulfill their dreams to live abroad. The expat community has supported me, and I continue to make new friends and find new adventures to pursue. I don't think I could find this sense of community in the United States as a single woman."

Most expats who live in Panama will tell you the same…that they feel far safer there than they did when they lived in the U.S. or Canada.

And if you think Panama may be the place for you, Jessica is committed to sharing her real-world, on-the-ground insights with you.

Your very best course of action, of course, would be to go to Panama in person and spend a couple of months kicking around the country with Jessica. (And we recommend that.)

But it would take about that long...months... for her to show you, firsthand, everything she's seen and everything she knows that can help you streamline your own move to Panama.

Spending time one-on-one with Jessica would certainly “fast track” your research, no question about it.

But, of course, that isn't a practical option. It's doubtful you have the time or inclination to spend months on the road right now. And think how much it would cost… Even though Panama is budget-priced, you'd soon rack up thousands of dollars in travel expenses.

So we asked Jessica to take her years and years of intensive research and asked her to create a personalized online virtual “relocation tour” of Panama.

It's a way for you to gain access to Jessica's incredibly comprehensive and truly rich depth of knowledge and get “plugged in” to everything you need to know. A way for you to see for yourself, from the comfort of your own home or office, all that Panama has to offer you.

It's an easy, streamlined, and most reliable way to get you from where you are now—to a better life in the prefect place in Panama that's exactly right for you.

This is Your Invitation to Go “On the Road” With Jessica, Panama's #1 Expert

No matter how many books you've read or online research you've done…and no matter how many times you may have visited…what you don't know about Panama may surprise you.

International Living has been reporting for decades now about the benefits Panama offers retirees—and over the last several years, Jessica has taken on the most in-depth research-gathering project International Living has ever mounted on Panama.

She's been challenged to dig deep…to round up all her insider intelligence and to assemble all this valuable information in one place…

It's a huge project we call Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle.

This has been no small undertaking. Even though Panama is a tiny country, it's big on opportunity.

In effect, Jessica has been working on this project for well more than a dozen years now…ever since she returned to Panama to live in 2006.

And take it from me, no one is better suited for this kind of challenge. Jessica is one of the most diligent and detail-oriented researchers I know. She digs deep. She doesn't take “no” or even “I don't know” for an answer. She answers the questions you don't even know to ask…

Best of all, she makes sure the facts are reliable and verifiable. You can be certain that what Jessica tells you is correct and current…and that's probably the most important element in all this…

What she's put together is not just groundbreaking, it's almost overwhelming in its scope. It's a complete resource reference of everything you need to know about moving to, investing in, living in, and/or starting a business in Panama.

If you can name it, think of it, or wonder about it, Jessica has you covered. Every issue is addressed, every challenge is covered, and every question is answered.

Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle puts a huge amount of information, recommendations, tips, advice, and insights about living, traveling, and investing in Panama—one of the world's top retirement destinations—in one place…in living color…on video. I'll give you all the details of what it includes in just a moment.

It really is the next-best thing to exploring the country with Jessica in person. And it's the best way I know to not just “tell” you about all Panama has to offer, but to “show” you so you can see it with your own eyes…from the comfort of your home.

With Jessica and Panama 101 as Your Guide, See What Panama Offers You…and Watch Your Dollars Go Farther Than You Ever Thought Possible

I've already mentioned the overall low cost of living in Panama. It really is a bargain. When it comes to overall value—everything you get at such a low, low price tag—Panama is hard to beat.

Plus, it's a quality destination. Not to keep beating the drum, but it's a modern, First World environment with all the comforts of home. Still, it remains remarkably affordable. And it's very easy to make the transition to life in Panama.

Low health care and health insurance costs have something to do with that. After all, if you save $10,000 a year…or maybe even more…on your health insurance costs, that money can go far in Panama.

Housing costs, too, are low in Panama. You can buy a modern two-bedroom two-bath condo—in a building with a pool and gym and in a great neighborhood of Panama City—for just $145,000. Or a home in Panama's famous Coronado beach area—on the golf course—with three bedrooms, two-bathrooms, on a third-acre lot with a large sparkling pool, for just $349,000.

In Boquete, a three-bedroom, two-bath mountain home with gorgeous volcano view, is priced at just $145,000.

And rental prices are just as reasonable. In the countryside you might pay as little as $200 a month for a nicely updated home on a quiet acreage. In the city, $650 a month will get you a nice, modern 2-bedroom apartment in one of the city’s nicest neighborhoods.

It's easy to see how you'll get a huge drop in your cost of living when you move to Panama.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Panama?

As Jessica says, if you focus on what's important you can live very well on a very low budget… She knows what she's talking about. No one knows the money-saving secrets and the low-cost hotspots of Panama like Jessica does.

Besides, she says, your “needs” will become simpler in Panama. And I can tell you from my personal experience how true that is. You can live comfortably with a lot less stuff.

Just to give you an idea of the average cost of living, here's an average monthly budget for a retired couple living in the interior of Panama, outside the more-expensive capital city. (You can expect to spend 20 to 40% more to live in the city):

Rent:	$775
Electricity:	$90
Propane (cooking and hot water):	$6
Water and trash collection:	$13
Maintenance/fuel for one car:	$125
Internet:	$28
Cellphone:	$30
DirecTV (US channels):	$43
Groceries/dining out:	$585
Misc.	$300
TOTAL:	$1,995

As you might understand, your own cost of living will vary. If you buy a home and therefore don't pay rent, or you won't need a car, you can replace those costs with what will surely be lower home maintenance and public transportation costs. You may find a less-costly rental, especially if you look in smaller towns…

You may not spend as much on groceries or dining out…or you might spend more. This discretionary budget item is totally up to you.

And note that the miscellaneous budget item of $300 includes health insurance and more. You may or may not have those costs…again, it's up to you. Some expats spend more than this and some spend less.

But the point is: On this kind of average budget, a couple can live very comfortably in Panama.

The Low Cost of Living is Made Even Better With The World's Best Retirement Program

I mentioned before that one of the most important benefits drawing expats to Panama is the country's world-class Pensionado (retirement) Program. It was created for Panama's own retirees but is generously extended to anyone with a resident visa in Panama, age 55 or older for women and 60 for men.

As a pensionado in Panama, you're entitled to:

50% off entertainment—such as movies, theaters, concerts, and sporting events—anywhere in the country
50% off closing costs for home loans and more…
50% off hotel stays from Monday through Thursday
30% off hotel stays from Friday through Sunday
30% off bus, boat, and train fares
25% off airline tickets
25% off at restaurants
20% off medical consultations
20% off professional and technical services
15% off hospital bills (if no insurance applies)
15% off dental and eye exams
10% off prescription and over-the-counter medicines
And more…

If you move to Panama with a Pensionado residence visa, you're also entitled to a one-time exemption from duties on the importation of your household goods (up to $10,000 value) and tax exemptions on the local purchase of a car.

All these discounts can greatly reduce your overall cost of living in Panama.

To give you an idea of how the discount can help with everyday costs, one expat says, “I can afford to eat out more often in Panama. Sit-down restaurants offer a 25% discount when you purchase a full meal. Fast food restaurants give a 15% discount. And I get hotel discounts of 50% off Monday through Thursday and 30% off for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. These discounts apply to the rack rate, so ask for them at the time of booking and make your reservations directly with the hotel instead of online.

For instance, she says, “I went for mid-week outing to the beach. I didn't even make a reservation beforehand but asked for my jubilado discount when I arrived at the hotel. I was told the rack rate was $95 so I was charged $47.50 plus tax for an overnight stay. Not bad for an ocean view room.”

Plus, you'll gets discounts on public transport…on domestic flights within the country and on international flights that originate in Panama… You'll get 15% off services in hospitals and private clinics. Medical doctor's fees are reduced by 20%. Dentists give a 15% discount. All doctor's prescriptions get a 10-20% discount, even including aspirin.

As my Panama expat friend says, “The entertainment discounts are great too. You can get 50% off tickets to movies, theaters and all sporting events like baseball games and soccer…so first-run movies that normally cost $6.50 set me back just $3.25. Your utility costs will be lower, too. Thanks to the Pensionado Program you'll get a hefty 25% discount on your monthly electric bill.”

What Can You Expect When It Comes to Panama's Excellent and Inexpensive Healthcare?

One big benefit to living in Panama is its excellent, inexpensive healthcare. The quality, particularly in the private system, is as good as what you'll find back home. And prices are low. They're a quarter to a half of what you'd pay in the U.S. for similar services.

Panama has two healthcare options: a public healthcare system—so-called nationalized health—and private healthcare. And if you're an expat with a valid residence visa for Panama, you can have access to both systems.

Best of all, with that resident visa in hand, you'll have access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance. One expat couple, living in the town of David, in Chiriquí province, say they spend just $145 a month for the two of them, for a worldwide health insurance that covers them in Panama and when they travel to other countries or back to the U.S.

They've only seen a doctor for minor issues, they say, but were impressed with both the quality of care and the costs. Office visits, they report, are just $12 without any insurance. And that's not a copay. It is the actual cost of the doctor's visit.

In Panama 101, Jessica covers all your options in detail, so you'll know which is best for you.

Worried about language issues? As Jessica explains, many doctors have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S. and they speak English.

Are You Ready to Discover How Easy, Enjoyable, and Affordable it Can Be To Live in Panama?

There's no better way to put yourself on the fast track to Panama than with Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle.

This comprehensive resource is not like anything else International Living has ever produced on Panama, and as far as we know, there's nothing else like it out there.

As I mentioned, Jessica Ramesch has been working on this for more than 15 years now. She's literally spent tens of thousands of hours on the ground in Panama, doing research, collecting data, conducting interviews, and more…

Not long ago, she went into the studio to assemble a comprehensive series of 13 professional videos to bring her research to life. You can see, feel, and almost touch and smell Panama.

You'll travel along with Jessica as she introduces you to several distinct areas of Panama…and the many communities in each of those that make for easy and affordable expat living.

And yes, you'll discover several little-known areas that Jessica believes are well worth your attention right now—one coastal area in particular.

These are places your fellow expats have yet to discover in large numbers. Prices are low and opportunities are sky high.

To make a point here, this is no static report. It's not a manual…or a website. Think of it more as a high-level “virtual conference,” but much better… You can access the videos online from the comfort of your home any time you like, and you'll get to see and hear directly from Jessica, our dedicated resource on the ground in Panama.

She's the best Panama expert we know and in Panama 101, she takes you by the hand and not only introduces you to “her” Panama, but she gives you the tools to make it “your Panama.”

Along with five in-depth “destination” videos, Jessica has produced eight more “need-to-know” videos with advice about Panama that will save you time, headaches and boatloads of money.

Here's just some of what's covered in Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle:

In Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle, you'll find out what's true and what's not.

The internet offers loads of information about Panama. Websites and chat groups are full of misinformation—so it's important to get the most up-to-date information straight from someone who knows Panama inside and out.

No one knows Panama better than Jessica Ramesch. She offers you experienced perspective, valuable judgment, and on-the-ground guidance that will save you time, money, and frustration when you head to Panama yourself… You can be sure you'll be completely and reliably “in-the-know.”

Your best resident visa options. There are several you might qualify for, but which is the best for your personal circumstances? Video #7 in the series is devoted to this topic and ensures that you don't make any costly mistakes.
Critical “need-to-know” details about the world-class Pensionado Program that will save you thousands of dollars a year.
Your healthcare options. In Video #6, Jessica shares her experiences and gives you the full rundown on the options that make the most sense for you, including how to qualify and what the costs are. (You'll be pleasantly surprised at the low cost of excellent medical and dental care in Panama.)
How to safely purchase real estate in Panama. Legal processes are a bit different in Panama and having the right guide to those rules and procedures is invaluable—and that's exactly what Jessica offers in Video #9.
What about shipping your household goods and your car to Panama? You can do it, but should you? And how to best go about it? This is the kind of insider information you need. Jessica clarifies whether you'll pay import duties… She explains whether or not you'll need a local driver's license… and which communities are walkable or easy to get around without the hassle of owning a car…
How to structure your finances…where to bank, how to pay your bills…
How to get mail delivered… Panama's postal service is a bit quirky, and it pays to understand how it works.
What about communicating? What kind of phone and internet service should you expect in Panama…how to best (and cost-free) communicate with friends and family back home…
All about hospitals and healthcare…where to get the prescriptions you need and how much they might cost…
How to bring your pets to Panama…You may have heard that Panama has a quarantine period, but believe me, it's not at all what you think… I brought my 90-lb. Chocolate lab when I moved to Panama. It was easy…but you do need some professional guidance to streamline it all, and that's exactly what you'll get from Jessica.
What to expect in the way of taxes in Panama (not much at all, thankfully)…and much, much more.

Importantly, you'll discover how to save money when you live in Panama. It's not just about shopping in the local farmer's markets or relying on those amazing Pensionado Program discounts… It has more to do with picking the right place to settle…choosing the right kind of home to live in, and so on…

Jessica offers all her expert tips and insights that will have you on a well-planned, streamlined course…

Best of all, she even provides a step-by-step Action Plan. If you've wondered or worried about how you might ever pull it all off…making a move of this type…worry no more.

If you're thinking of living in Panama…or spending some extended time there…maybe opening a business or just reinventing your life…Panama 101 is your very best resource.

It's the fastest, most efficient, most cost-effective way to get you ramped up so you can get from where you are now to the idyllic spot in Panama that's right for you.

And when you're ready to actually explore Panama firsthand for yourself, you'll be able to use your time wisely—because in essence, you'll have already been there, with Jessica as your guide.

You'll know where to go, who to contact, and the questions you'll need to ask.

When You Order Now, We'll Give You 7 Comprehensive Special Reports and a Complete Panama Resource Contact Rolodex.

These Are Not Available Anywhere Else

As Jessica was taping the videos she created for Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle, she discovered there were a few topics that required some extra lengthy reporting…too much to record on video.

So those have been assembled in a series of special reports—delivered electronically to get them into your hands as quickly as possible. We'll send them to you now, today—for FREE, with our complements—when you order Panama 101 now. Simply click “Add to Cart” to get started.

This is the kind of reliable, actionable information you'll definitely want at your fingertips as you prepare for your move to Panama:

Special Report #1: Panama Scouting Trip itineraries and Travel Guide. If you've got one week, two weeks, a month or more to spend in Panama, you'll want this guide. Jessica and her Panama team have planned all the details for you…from how to travel around to where to stay—hotels, short-term rentals and much more. You'll also discover where to play…dine…and more…even the popular hangouts where you can meet expats who may someday be your neighbors. Live links to websites and contact information is all there for your easy access. Nowhere else can you get this kind of valuable, all-inclusive information.

Special Report #2: How They Did It: Meet Happy Panama Expats. Speaking of expats, sometimes it just takes a little motivation. That's exactly what you'll get in this special report. You'll meet expats in many different areas of Panama, all living their dream lives under the tropical sun. They explain exactly how they did it (and how you can, too) and they share personal details you couldn't get unless you quizzed them yourself… Find out what they do for healthcare, how much they spend on a daily and monthly basis, what they do in their free time, and much, much more.

Special Report #3: Practical Matters: Taxes, Cost of Living, Residence, Moving Your Household Goods and Pets, and Doing Business in Panama. Yes, Jessica covers all this in the video series, but as you can see from the lengthy title, this special report digs deep. You'll get comprehensive sample budgets and money-saving tips, a detailed tax primer, a full explanation of various visa options and a legal resource rolodex. And if you plan to move with pets or children, or you're thinking of starting your dream business in Panama, do not leave home without this special report.

Special Report #4: Spotlight on the High-Quality, Low-Cost Healthcare in Panama. This comprehensive report explains the differences between Panama's excellent public and private healthcare systems and can help you make an educated decision about what to do for your personal healthcare needs when you move there. You'll get all the details, including typical costs. There's also a rundown of the best private hospitals in the country and a list of some of the best local insurance providers—with full contact information. There's even a list of questions to ask about insurance policies you may be considering.

Special Report #5: The Guide to Renting a Home or Buying a Property in Panama. When you move to Panama, you'll need a place to live. And whether you rent or buy, that means contracts. Word to the wise: Do not sign a rental or purchase contract without first reading this crucial information. Everything is covered…from typical costs and how to find a rental to what to look for in a reliable real estate agent, the correct process for registering a deed, and much more.

Special Report #6: Something for Everyone: An In-Depth look at Panama's Regions. If you want insider information about areas of Panama that offer a combination of livability, affordability, beauty, convenience, and affordability—you'll find it within the 30 pages of this special report. All the “personalities” of these locales are sliced and diced for you. You're sure to find a hidden gem that's perfect for you.

AND Special Report #7: Your Panama Rolodex and Resource Guide. This is another document you won't want to leave home without. You'll find 17 pages of resources that you can rely on to help streamline your scouting trip and your move to Panama. Websites, email addresses, phone numbers, costs for services…it's all there…from accommodation and restaurants to airlines and shuttle services…to attorney, healthcare providers, moving/shipping and real estate contacts, language schools and much more, including handy travel apps you can load on your phone or tablet to make navigating your way around Panama as easy and inexpensive as possible.

All You Need to Do Now is Place Your Order—and SAVE

If you wanted to track down all the intelligence we hand over in Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle, you could probably do that.

But it would take an investment of many months…likely a dozen years or more, in fact. That's how long Jessica has been at it.

And you'd have to pull thousands of dollars out of your pocket.

In the many years that Jessica has been traveling the width and length of Panama she's racked up tens of thousands of dollars in expenses for airfares, bus fares, car rentals, gasoline, overnight hotel stays, meals, and more.

She's spent hours upon hours…more than 15 years…interviewing attorneys and healthcare professionals, real estate experts, insurance and shipping experts, and more…including hundreds of expats in every corner of Panama.

To be honest, on your own you'd have a very difficult time tracking down all these people…and accumulating all the intelligence Jessica has amassed.

My point: Panama 101 delivers insider access…

It hands you on-the-ground solutions that would cost you—at a minimum—$10,000 to gather on your own.

Probably more like twice that. (Jessica has spent far more than that on this project already.)

But you don't have to spend that kind of money…no way.

Jessica has done all the work for you, and I am certain it will save you time and a ton of money.

We could reasonably ask $1,500 or more for this program, which reveals expert tips and secrets about Panama you won't find anyplace else.

If we were to offer the 13 videos separately (and for sure, we could—they're that good), they'd retail for $39 each. Some for even more. That's a total value of at least $507.

And remember, for no additional cost, we're giving you seven special reports. Any one of these could retail for at least $49 each. That's another added value of $343 or more.

(The Rolodex and Resource Guide is in itself invaluable. Think how much time and money you'd spend doing online research, making phone calls, and pounding the pavement to find these dependable local contacts on your own. And the Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide… I assure you this are the easiest, quickest, and most reliable way to plan your own check-out trip to Panama. It's all there for you. No extra work for you to do. No second guessing or costly mistakes.)

Even though the retail value of this program is $850, we won't charge you anywhere near that for access…even though it's worth every penny.

In fact, we'll offer you a special discount right now.

We're pricing this comprehensive program at an already discounted $499.

We know there is lots of interest in top-ranked Panama right now, and we'll make you this special one-time offer.

We'll give you Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle for just $499. That's far less than half the value of the 13 videos alone. And remember, we're throwing in the SEVEN SPECIAL COMPANION REPORTS, that complement the comprehensive videos, for FREE.

Now's the time to take advantage of this special savings deal. Should you decide to ask for a refund, you've got a full 30 days to do it.

As you know, there's only so much you can absorb when you're reading about and researching a place. You do a “Google search” and tens of thousands of links come up. It's so hard to know whose opinion to trust. And the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming.

But that's what makes Panama 101 so special—and so useful. Jessica Ramesch shares her real-world insights directly with you via video. She cuts right to the chase, right there in living color, and she answers every question you have about Panama, the world’s top retirement destination.

I guarantee it.

In fact, place you order now and you'll be in line for…

Another SPECIAL FAST-REPLY BONUS…

Here's how I'm so sure Panama 101 will answer all your questions: We’ve compiled the most commonly asked questions about life in Panama. A couple weeks from now, I’ll send you a special Q&A Session I’ll host with Jessica where she'll answer those questions in detail.

We'll also archive this special “Panama 101 Maestro Session” so you can watch it any time you like.

As Always, Your Satisfaction is Triple Guaranteed—There is No Risk for You

Guarantee # 1—I guarantee this Panama 101 will help you find the perfect Panama lifestyle that's right for you. A place where you can live better than ever… stretch your retirement dollars… and have the time and funds to travel, relax, and enjoy life…

Guarantee # 2—I guarantee it will deliver the real-world solutions you need to get from where you are now to where you want to be…so that in just a handful of months, you could have "boots on the ground" in a part of Panama you love. But if you feel the solutions we offer aren't for you, we'll give you a full refund. In other words, the risk is all ours.

Guarantee # 3—Should you decide to ask for a refund, you've got a full 30 days to do it. If you don't feel that Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle will help you to a new life in Panama, just let us know and we'll refund every penny. That's how confident we are in the depth and breadth of information this mega-resource provides.

The warm, welcome of Panama…the laidback lifestyle, the lower cost of living…but with all the modern pleasures and amenities at hand…

All this makes Panama hard to beat.

The good news, of course, is that it's all within your grasp. You don't need millions in the bank to capitalize on the opportunities in Panama—one of the best-value retirement options you'll find. With so much to offer.

In Panama, you can have the life you've been dreaming of…

If you're looking to be close to home…yet far from the turmoil, stress, and skyrocketing expenses you'll find in the States these days…and instead, live amidst friends and neighbors that will welcome you with open arms…where you can actually afford top-quality healthcare…have access to farm-fresh, healthy food…and a great year-round climate…all with an amazingly low cost of living…

You'll find all that and more in Panama.

And in Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle, Jessica Ramesch shows you exactly how to make it happen…how you can settle into a far better, more affordable, healthier life and do it seamlessly, enjoyably, confidently…

Find out for yourself why Panama is the world’s best retirement destination...

Think about it: A handful of months from now, you could be sitting on your own terrace, a hot cup of rich Panamanian coffee or a frosty, delicious cerveza in hand, watching the sun play against the mountains or set over the gorgeous blue ocean…

I hope you'll let us show you how…just click “Add to Cart” now and we'll get you started.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher,
Senior Editor, International Living
January 2022

P.S. If you have any doubt that Panama offers a top-quality lifestyle—at a very affordable price—your mind will definitely be changed after you've sifted through the 13 professional videos and the seven comprehensive special reports, including the hefty resource rolodex, that make up Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle.

(And be sure to send us your follow-up questions and be watching your e-mails for details of the special Q&A Session hosted by Jessica Ramesch just a couple weeks from now.)

If you've always loved the idea of retiring in real comfort…where you don't have to worry about rising healthcare costs and crime rates, out-of-control government spending or crazy politics…

Then I encourage you to take a look at Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle. It was created with you in mind.

Follow the blueprint Jessica has created for you. Let her introduce you to the special places she's discovered. Let her share her expert insights with you and help you shave months…even years…off your learning curve.

Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle is like taking a whirlwind investment and lifestyle tour of Panama. Only instead of paying thousands of dollars for the travel fees and expert advice, we hand it all to you right there in the comfort of your own home for just $499 when you take advantage of this first-access offer and order your Panama 101: Your Blueprint to a High-Quality, Low-Cost Lifestyle now.

Remember, there's no risk to you. You have our 30-day 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

But act now. This offer expires soon. Click “Add to Cart” now to get started today.

Singles Report

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:03:00 GMT

Discover the Advantages to Being Single Overseas…in the World’s Most Romantic, Affordable, and Friendly Havens

Dear Reader,

If you could travel anywhere, with nothing to hold you back...where have you always wanted to go?

You could enjoy the quiet, turquoise waters of the Caribbean…a mountain retreat with views of lush cloud forests…or an elegant pied-à-terre in an historic World Heritage destination…

How about a part-time escape to Belize and the 200 Caribbean islands scattered off its coast...where the attractions include the friendly English-speaking people, the natural beauty, and the air of freedom and opportunity. Others who have settled on these beaches and islands include divers, sailors, and anyone looking for an affordable way to enjoy Belize’s laissez faire “live and let live” approach.

Maybe safe and stable Costa Rica, where you’ll find the happiest people in the world…and a land of stunning beaches and rushing rivers, with communities where neighbors watch out for and help one another…

Or perhaps the beaches, mountains, fabulous cities, and colorful festivals of a sunny Spanish town—with one of the lowest costs of living in Europe…

You see, not only is it more affordable than you think to spend time in these places...but as a solo traveler you have the freedom to get more out of these destinations.

In fact, there’s a special new resource you should have at your fingertips if you’re planning to take full advantage of being single overseas.

It's called Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad, and with it you can learn all about the best ways to enjoy a fun-filled life in the romantic, affordable, and friendly havens of Europe, Latin America and even exotic Southeast Asia.

With in-depth and frank contributions from dozens of solo American and Canadian retirees who live overseas (or who were happily single when they first moved overseas), this unique resource shows you International Living's top-ranked countries packed with great destinations, including:

Mexico: Fun and Filled with Single Expats

Mexico has more North American expats than any other country in the world. And no wonder. It’s close and convenient, it’s largely First World, and it offers a cost of living as low as half that of the U.S. or Canada.

Mexico’s popular expat destinations have established communities that can make building a new social network much easier. Mexico has expat communities all over the country, so be as picky as you like in your requirements—you’ll find someplace in Mexico to suit your single lifestyle.

Right now, some of the best destinations for new expats and singles include the Mexican highlands—home to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato—and the Riviera Maya, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Panama: Well-Established Expat Communities Across the City, Highlands, and Pacific Coast

Author of Single and Ready to Move Overseas Jessica Ramesch, who lives in Panama City, says "Panama truly is special. In large part, I feel safe here because it is very international and welcoming. I have wonderful friends in Panama and a wonderful life. Being single hasn’t hindered me. On the contrary—here, more than anywhere else, I feel like I can truly be myself.”

Panama boasts cool mountain havens and country hamlets…miles and miles of beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean…and, of course, a modern capital famous for its sparkling skyline. Many locals speak English—among them doctors and white-collar execs. There are well-established expat communities across the country, and they boast high-speed internet, cable television, reliable power, and potable water.

Belize: The Small Caribbean Nation Welcoming North American Retirees

Belize, the little Central American nation, casts a spell—especially on those with a spirit of adventure. Very popular thanks to its friendly, English-speaking people (who greet you with a smile and a cheerful "Good Day"), the natural beauty, and the air of freedom and opportunity. For many years, the country has drawn people from all over the world who want to live in the sun while taking advantage of the country’s real estate bargains and reasonable cost-of-living options.

Although the island of Ambergris Caye and mainland Cayo are considered good places for singles, you will find single expats all over… in Caye Caulker, Punta Gorda, and the increasingly popular Placencia.

Costa Rica: The Easiest and Most Proven Retirement Destination

This country of just over five million may truly have it all: a year-round tropical climate, quiet rural areas, hillside villages, Caribbean beaches, Pacific coastline, rainforests, lush valleys, and mountains.

There’s a climate and location to suit every taste. Cool Central Valley towns, surrounded by coffee farms and lush green mountainsides…Pacific Coast beach towns where you can doze in a hammock in the afternoon sun, with clear waters lapping the shore nearby…and the dramatic volcano backdrop of Lake Arenal, home to a close-knit community of expats.

In Single and Ready to Move Overseas, we’ll show you where to find plenty of other communities full of fellow expats where friendships come fast.

Portugal: Europe’s Top Retirement Destination

All the romance and culture of Europe, plus modern services, efficient transport, and excellent healthcare. You'll also find a lively, outgoing lifestyle and some of the best food and wine around. Portugal is a magical place. And the fact that it’s Western Europe’s most affordable destination is a happy bonus.

Portugal’s got a little bit of everything: myriad beaches, great golf, history and culture, amazing food, stunning mountains...and low costs. It's the top retirement haven in Europe and is the third safest country on earth, according to the 2020 Global Peace Index.

As you lunch seaside sipping a chilled glass of vinho verde, it’s not unusual to overhear conversations in Danish, French, Russian, or, of course, English. In fact, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, and others are starting to look to Portugal.

Thailand: Low-Budget Luxury

North American expats aren’t as huge a presence in Southeast Asia as Europeans and Australians, but the low costs, excellent, affordable healthcare, and beautiful beaches make it increasingly attractive. You can also get by with English in these countries—another big plus.

Making friends is easy. Expats are genuinely welcoming to newcomers, share what they have learnt, are highly social, and demonstrate an adventurous nature. Life is always busy, or as busy as you want it to be.

Thailand is incredibly popular with single expats of both sexes. Bangkok attracts a great many, as does Chiang Mai, with a very active singles social scene for both men and women. Also popular are beach destinations like Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin.

There are expat destinations in countries around the world to suit just about every taste. It can be difficult to decide what you need. What kind of climate do you like best? Do you want a small town or a large city? Mountains or beach? How social are you? And are you willing to learn a new language?

Once you get your hands on this brand-new Single and Ready to Move Overseas…you'll have all the information at your fingertips that will help you to decide. There are a lot of organizations that take masses of facts and figures and crunch them for publication.

We take a more personalized approach, talking to our far-flung team of experts and editors about every aspect of their lives as expats. They aren’t sitting in cubicles doing online research; they’ve got boots on the ground and are eminently qualified to make judgment calls.

And in Single and Ready to Move Overseas, we’ve gathered their favorites. In it, we share all the details about where you can embrace this good life for less… And I guarantee it will help you determine which country is right for you.

What Happens When You're Single Overseas?
(We Asked People Like You Who Contributed to This New Guide)

"There's so much to do, I could be out every night!"
— Linda (Cuenca, Ecuador)

"I've never had a network of support like I have here, and I've traveled all over."
— Tari G (Salinas, Ecuador)

“Without a doubt, moving to Spain was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. Today, my social life is on fire. My health is fantastic. I’m learning a new language. I’m seeing the world. I have more friends than I can count. My late-life adventure is in full swing.”
— Marhsa S (Madrid, Spain)

"I like going to our local pizzeria, where the waiters know my name, attending yoga classes at the Atenas Yoga Center, and having lots of local expat community groups to join if I want."
— Shannon F (who met her now-husband in Atenas, Costa Rica)

"In general I find people here just have more time for each other—it's much easier to get together with friends than it is in New York."
— Kathy B (Guanacaste, Costa Rica)

"The laidback atmosphere on this charming little island immediately brought me back to my childhood in rural New Hampshire. Small children frolicked in the quiet, unpaved streets…everyone knew everyone. People greeted each other with smiles and banter. And photography and fly fishing, my two passions, are world class here."
— Dennis G (Caye Caulker, Belize)

The Easiest Way to Take the Next Step

Once you identify the friendly haven that's right for you, you'll be amazed at how much your cost of living could change for the better. In this one-of-a-kind resource, we’ve also included sample budgets. For example…

By far the most popular place with expats in Costa Rica is the Central Valley. It offers a nearly perfect climate. The best hospitals and top doctors in the country are a short ride away. And in Costa Rica, your monthly budget could be as little as $1,615.
Lagos is in the western Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, where the beautiful rock formations of Ponta da Piedade and inviting sands lure beach lovers with the promise of perfect weather. Summer temperatures range from around 68 to 82 and drop by 20 in winter on average. And it'll cost you less to live in Portugal than you probably imagine: from $2,020 a month (including a maid to call twice a month).

In 2005, author of Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad, Jessica Ramesch, began writing about life in Panama for International Living.

"It turned out to be the perfect way to get out there, meet new people, learn about activities and more," says Jessica. "Everywhere I went, I asked questions, in the hopes of gleaning some new, interesting detail for my articles. At a new restaurant I would ask who the chef was, and if I heard someone was planning a trip to a little-known beach, I'd ask if I could join. But I soon realized I wasn't the only person doing this. After a while, it seemed as if every new single expat I met—every happy single expat—put herself out there in the same way."

International or expat communities—like the ones covered in this guide—lend themselves to networking. There's no call to feel embarrassed. "Veteran" expats expect to be approached by newbies, and many of them are happy to share tips, recommendations, and more.

Today, Jessica has wonderful friends in Panama and a wonderful life. "We've all come from such different backgrounds, but we all came here in search of a better life. People in my new 'international' family are generous with their time and happy to help me whenever I need it. And, of course, I'm always ready to reciprocate."

And in the newly-updated Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad, Jessica and her friends and contributors document everything they know about retiring solo in the world's top singles-friendly retirement havens.

Interactive Online Community for Solo Travelers

PLUS, we’re including FREE access to a private online forum for solo travelers who would like to interact with other singles overseas when you take us up on this special offer. This group is hosted by Jessica Ramesch, and is an ideal way to network, ask questions, and learn from others who are already happily living single overseas or plan to do so soon.

It’s a forum where you can get your questions answered and gain the confidence you need to take the leap…

You’ll get feedback and help from fellow members who can bring their advice and experience to the table and share useful insights you won’t get anyplace else.

The Best Move You'll Make…

You know, when Marsha S moved to Madrid in Spain when she was 70 and single, her friends thought she was extremely daring. Of her life in Madrid, she says: "Spain ticked a lot of boxes on my list: warm weather, affordable cost of living, great food, wonderful wine, fascinating culture, dependable infrastructure, and most important: warm, welcoming people. I found it easy to make friends, and by the end of my first trip, I already had about a dozen friends in Madrid.”

Marsha is riding a trend, one of thousands of singles from the U.S. and Canada who are moving abroad to enjoy a more affordable lifestyle…and discovering that being single isn't holding anyone back.

And now you can too.

The Best Deal On
Single and Ready to Move Overseas

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All it takes is $59 today and you'll have in your hands everything you need to discover your own friendly haven where you can be yourself and connect with like-minded welcoming people.

When you order your copy of Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad, you’ll also receive access to a private online forum for solo travellers who would like to interact with other singles overseas, hosted by author Jessica Ramesch. Invitation-only access is yours FREE.

And as always you're covered by our…

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And of course, your full satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied with the experienced insights Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad offers you, just let us know within 30 days for a full refund.

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Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living

December 2020

P.S. Single and Ready to Move Overseas: Your Guide to Joining Happier, Healthier Expats Abroad will save you time and money and make your transition to your ideal retirement haven as easy and carefree as possible. Remember…your satisfaction is guaranteed. Today it's yours for just $59. Don't miss this opportunity.

Social Security Secrets - How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:41:01 GMT

This message is NOT approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Social Security Administration. All information regarding Social Security discussed or mentioned here is available for free from the Social Security Administration.

What if You and Your Spouse Could Get an Extra $111,000 in Retirement?

You Could Lock in Six Figures in “Extra” Social Security Benefits Over the Course of Your Golden Years

Just 4 out of every 100 retirees claim their maximum retirement benefit.

This REVEALING BOOK shows you strategies that could hand you tens of thousands—or even $100,000 or more—in EXTRA dollars, funds you have to know when—and how—to ask for.

Dear Reader,

Chances are, you qualify for extra money from Social Security but don’t realize it.

If you’re already collecting benefits, you may be eligible for tens of thousands more.

If you’ve not yet claimed your Social Security—now’s the time to get the lay of the land so you can maximize what you’re eligible for and minimize the taxes you’ll pay on it.

According to a recent study, just 4 out of every 100 retirees are claiming the maximum they could. That means a whopping 96% of retirees could be pocketing more each month. They don’t claim at the right time to maximize what they could receive or else there are additional benefits they’re eligible for—based on birth date and marital status, for instance—that they don’t realize they can request.

That’s additional money that could be spent on anything from living expenses to meals out every week to annual beach vacations or even trips abroad.

Or these extra funds could simply be that cushion you need to secure a worry-free retirement. Now more than ever—with the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 shutdown and the economic situation we’ll find ourselves in as this craziness begins to wane—it’s important to understand how you can be most strategic about how and when you claim your Social Security benefits.

Because we're not talking chump change that’s in play here. The average retiree household leaves $111,000 on the table over the course of their retirement. Money they simply never see.

To put it plainly: This could be the difference between pocketing, say, the average retiree benefit of $1,548 a month, or as much as $3,895 a month—which some people will receive.

“Even a minor Social Security misstep can rob your nest egg of tens of thousands of dollars in retirement benefits.” – MoneyTalkNews

We’re talking about just over $18,500 a year in Social Security benefits versus more than $46,000 a year.

I don’t need to guess which end of that spectrum you’d prefer to be on. And let me just say, for the record—and I’ll get into this more in a minute—but yes, even in what are likely to be the economically challenging times of the post-pandemic period—Social Security is going to be there for you. (I explain why, below.) So it is well, well worth your attention now.

The good news is: All sorts of provisions and rules exist that can allow you to increase what you receive. In the brand-new 2021 edition of my book—I show you how to explore your options.

Let me give you an example:

This Couple “Found” $70,000

Consider Laura and Bob. They’re both 67 years old. Laura started to collect her Social Security benefit when she was 63—collecting $570 per month. Bob started his when he turned 66—and he collects $2,200 a month.

But what this couple did not realize is that they should, in fact, have been collecting more.

They didn’t know to ask if they were eligible.

You see, not all Social Security benefits are automatic. It’s up to you to request the funds you’re due—and you don’t know what you don’t know.

My name is Steve Garfink—I’m the author of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement and I hold a National Social Security Advisor Certificate and am also Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies, and hold the Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies (CSSCS) designation..

Social Security is complicated. Sometimes the rules work in your favor and sometimes they don’t. But forewarned is forearmed.

Take the “Tax Torpedo,” for instance. Never heard of it? You’re not alone. Most investment advisors and retirement planners are unlikely to explain this to you since it runs against the grain of their primary advice: Avoid drawing down from your tax-deferred accounts as long as possible.

Your Social Security is subject to preferential tax treatment under IRS rules. In fact, lots of people will never pay any income tax on their benefits. However...others WILL pay tax. And that’s where the “Tax Torpedo” comes into play.

Once your other income—apart from benefits—exceeds a certain level, then for each additional dollar of such other income, up to $0.85 of your benefits become taxable. Think about that for a moment: $1 of “other” income results in $1.85 of taxable income.

Yikes. In Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement I explain how it works in detail—and show you how you could avoid it!

When Laura and Bob followed a bit of guidance I share in my book, they were able to take advantage of a provision in the law they’d never heard of before.

Turns out that Laura should have started collecting $905 a month after Bob filed, an increase of 59% in her benefit, or $335 extra per month. Yet for some reason that adjustment in Laura’s favor did not happen.

So the couple contacted the Social Security Administration and, having reviewed the situation, the SSA corrected Laura’s claiming basis. They credited her for six of the 16 months since Bob had filed, and an additional $2,010 showed up in her bank account in one lump sum.

However, the other earliest 10 months she should have been collecting more—those funds were lost because, well, that’s the rule. Laura and Bob are out $3,350 because they were not aware of this provision earlier.

Still, they were thrilled to get an entirely unexpected $2,010 at once, plus $335 more per month. That’s $4,020 more each year!

If Laura and Bob each live to their average life expectancy of 85, they will have collected over $70,000 more, just because they got smart about exactly how the Social Security system works.

I share this story because you could find yourself in Laura and Bob’s shoes.

As I said before: You don’t know what you don’t know.

You Could Be Eligible to Receive Up to $50,000 in Extra Benefits

And that’s why I wrote my book, Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement. Because I wanted to lay out—in plain English—the important facts and show you how to take full advantage of the opportunities to maximize what you’re due without having to comb through the Social Security website.

Whether you’re already receiving Social Security, eligible to collect it soon, or that time is still a decade or two away. It’s important to understand your options.

But before I get to that, let me say: When it comes to maximizing the Social Security funds that are due to you, time is of the essence.

And this is true whether you’re already collecting Social Security, will be soon, or it’s still on the distant horizon. It really can pay—and pay big—to simply be informed.

In fact, if you are 66 or older, right now, you could be one of hundreds of thousands of Americans eligible under a specific provision to receive as much as $50,000 in additional Social Security over the course of your retirement if you meet the right criteria, but you have limited time to claim it.

Meet Author and Social Security Expert, Steve Garfink

Steve Garfink, author of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement brings to the table 40 years of work experience in finance, strategic planning, and management. He holds a National Social Security Advisor Certificate and is also Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies.

Steve speaks regularly about smart Social Security strategies at International Living’s conferences and with financial planners, helping them to better serve their clients. He’s helped hundreds of readers like you to understand the options available and to maximize the Social Security income they have coming. You have more control over your retirement than you may think—and Steve shows you why that is and how you can best capitalize on it.

Whether you’re already collecting Social Security, will be soon, or it’s still a decade or two ahead—it’s worth your while to get informed. You don’t know what you don’t know—and having a smart plan in place could be worth tens of thousands of dollars to you—or even more.

You or your spouse (or any of your friends) could well be due these funds. In fact, even if you are divorced but were married for at least ten years, you could qualify for this benefit.

But you have to take action now.

You have to get in touch with the Social Security Administration—sooner rather than later—if you want to claim the maximum benefit available to you.

And it's up to you to know if you're eligible to receive this payout. It’s not automatic.

This particular provision relates to a significant Social Security loophole. A patch was made to it in 2016, which locked out a certain number of people—but hundreds of thousands more could still benefit from extra payouts…quite possibly you among them.

But in order to claim as much as $50,000 in EXTRA income—if you qualify—you have to know you’re eligible and you have to file a claim to request it. Just like Laura and Bob had to know to ask.

Now I want to be absolutely clear: I don't have anything to do with the Social Security Administration. And, in truth, the Administration has comprehensive information about this—and all their programs—posted online for free.

You are more than welcome to go ahead and wade through it. There's nothing to stop you from figuring out your eligibility on your own.

Their publications are available to you if you have the hours and the patience to spare. And you could, certainly, call an agent on the phone to inquire as well…

But the thing is…when it comes to this particular benefit, you have limited time to put in a claim for it if you qualify. Hesitate and you may well end up with only a partial payout—or none at all.

So for the sake of your retirement…don't delay!

I'm talking about regular payments—extra money you simply have to request in order to receive. It could be an extra $1,505 paid to you, month in and month out, for four full years, for example.

Just think about what you could do with that extra income in retirement. It could buy a better quality of life, mean more travel, or simply shore up your nest egg.

I'd be happy to email you all the relevant details. I’ve written an extra “Bonus Chapter” to my book, which focuses on exactly this provision and shows you how to know if you qualify and, if you do, exactly how to claim the extra funds that may be due to you, and I’d be happy to email it to you as a part of this special offer.

Your Timing is Critically Important—
and Can Be Worth Tens of Thousands of Dollars to You...or More

But understand that this provision is just one of many ways you can maximize the benefits due you from Social Security.

Experts estimate that the vast majority of people leave Social Security benefits on the table. Retired couples right now are missing out on an average of $111,000. Money that they could be claiming over the course of their retirement years.

They simply don’t take the steps necessary to maximize their benefit.

And that's the rub: You have to KNOW to ask. And you have to ask in the right way, at the right time.

But I can show you in plain English what you need to know in the pages of my book, Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

Consider, for instance, Frank and Maria:

They’re both 62 and want to retire. They could claim their Social Security benefits immediately—which would give them $2,700 a month (the equivalent of $32,400 a year).

So that’s one option—and they’re considering it.

But it’s NOT the smartest way to go if they’re interested in maximizing their Social Security and living worry-free over the long haul, as I explain in my book.

After all, the average older household spends $45,756 a year in retirement. They’d be starting out behind...

So what should Frank and Maria do instead? They’d like to start enjoying retirement—sooner rather than later.

Well, the good news is that they have some smart, nuanced options.

For instance, Frank and Maria could be eligible for “extra funds” from Social Security they aren’t currently aware of...they could put a “bridge plan” in place that would allow them to live well and enjoy life in that gap between now and their Full Retirement Age for Social Security purposes. I explore lots of options in my book in detail, in plain English, and with plenty of examples.

In fact, there’s a claims strategy Frank and Maria could make use of that would hand them about $4,700 a month in Social Security benefits (that’s $56,400 a year)—and, at the same time, they could watch whatever modest savings they have actually increase.

So instead of worrying they might run out of funds in their latter years, they could watch their nest egg grow as they age. (And this strategy assumes their savings do nothing more than keep up with inflation.)

By applying the secrets I reveal in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement, instead of counting pennies and worrying they might outlive their funds, Frank and Maria could pocket a Social Security benefit that’s 76% more than what they would have claimed at 62. And with their nest egg expanding, they’d gain the flexibility and the comfort of worry-free years.

That is the power of having a claiming strategy that pays close attention to the timing of a claim and which takes into account your WHOLE retirement picture—not just Social Security in isolation.

In Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement I explore all kinds of scenarios with case studies and examples so you can see situations that might apply to you and understand how certain claiming strategies could work in your own retirement life.

Financial security over the long-term without any sacrifice to your lifestyle. That’s the end goal.

And rest assured that even in the wake of this pandemic, you’ll still have sound strategies at your disposal. We’re going to be facing a ravaged economy, and I’d argue that getting the most out of your Social Security is going to be more important than ever.

Financial Security: Your Social Security Is Just One Piece of the Puzzle

In my book, you’ll hear about how all kinds of folks—in all kinds of situations—can do it, by putting a smart Social Security claims strategy in place and by understanding how that Social Security claims strategy works as a “puzzle piece” of the bigger retirement picture.

For instance, I’ll talk about...

How Gwen, a single woman with very modest savings who has had it with the cold and snow, could safely retire years earlier than she thinks she can and lock in that “endless summer” lifestyle she dreams about in Florida.
How—after medical bills emptied Sarah and Stuart’s savings and he passed away too young—Sarah can safely recoup and make the best choices when it comes to Social Security’s survivor benefit. (Note: The survivor benefit is a double-edged sword and claimed incorrectly, the cost can be devastating.)
How Diane and Curtis—who, lucky for them, have plenty of money saved—could make the most of their Social Security. If they do what their financial planner is telling them to, they’re likely looking at a “Tax Torpedo.” But there’s a MUCH better way to proceed, which lowers their tax bill and maximizes their Social Security.
How Nora and Ted can rearrange the pieces of their financial puzzle to get at their goals faster, more securely, and with intangible benefits—like having their kids and grandkids close by.
How Tracy, a single woman with no kids, could cleverly leverage the large family home where she lives (inherited from her parents) to put a smart claims strategy in place, which can quickly shore up her financial future so she doesn’t have to worry about ever running out of funds or being a burden on anybody.
How Peggy and Ben—he recently left his job and she’d like to—could play with the idea of downsizing and how that, combined with their modest savings, could allow them to increase their Social Security benefit and retire earlier and better than they think they can.
AND MORE... what sound (and attractive) choices Janet has when she loses her job at age 60... what Vanessa and Keith can safely do to “call it quits” at 62 and start living life... how Duke (a 34-year-old surfer) could put a claims strategy in place now, start surfing every day, and retire at least a decade earlier than he thinks he can...

How to Ensure You Can Enjoy Your Retirement, Worry-Free

Social Security can be complicated—I won’t pretend it’s not. But it’s not rocket science. There are simple, proven strategies you can make use of that will help you maximize what you receive.

You know, if you’re like me—and like most folks thinking about retirement—you have a few “umbrella” goals:

You want to maintain—or even improve—your standard of living.
You want to be able to afford to pivot to your “future life,” that retirement life you imagine in your mind’s eye, sooner rather than later.
And you want to enjoy greater financial security as you age—so you never have to worry about running out of money.

Those goals may feel ever-more-distant in our current circumstances, but in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement I’ll show you how you can put a plan in place that will deliver exactly that.

So you have the freedom to retire when you want, where you want, enjoy days that look the way you want them to look...and never have to worry that you’ll outlive your nest egg.

You Have More Control Over How Much You Get Than You May Imagine

When it comes to your Social Security benefits, you in fact have a lot more control over how much you receive than you probably think.

Most people assume that, after having paid into the system for all their working lives, the payout is pretty much automatic, within certain clear parameters.

But that is NOT AT ALL the case.

It's really up to you to navigate what is a genuinely a complicated system. Social Security has nearly 3,000 rules governing benefits…thousands of additional rules explaining that first set of rules…and a tangled web of red tape around claiming them.

At various junctures, you have opportunities to cash in—to secure EXTRA income.

But if you don't request it in the right way at the right time, you may automatically forfeit your right to certain funds.

I'm talking about funds that often add up to tens of thousands of dollars for a single person and even hundreds of thousands of dollars for a couple.

“Americans are woefully unprepared to take full advantage of the Social Security benefits they’ve earned.” – Yahoo Finance

That’s why I partnered with International Living to publish my book—because I wanted to get the word out there. And International Living is in the business of helping people get the most out of their retirement.

The truth of the matter is: Social Security—while you may think about it as simply a "safety net"—might, in fact, be the most valuable tool you have in ensuring your "golden years" are not just comfortable…but actually hand you a retirement better than you ever imagined.

I'd like to help ensure that's the case for you.

Take Advantage of This Special Book Offer on the Table Today

And that's why I'd like to send you a copy of the new 2021 edition of my book called Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement, which will hand you a blueprint for how to maximize the Social Security benefits you're eligible for. (Right now, it comes with a bundle of FREE extras.)

And when you request your copy of the book as part of this special offer, not only will it arrive at your doorstep in the mail—but I'll also email you the details about that provision I mentioned, which could hand you as much as $50,000 in EXTRA income if you qualify—based on your birth year and your marital status.

All the specifics are in my “Bonus Chapter,” and I’ll happily email the details to you just as soon as you request your copy of Social Security Secrets.

This book shows you how to put a plan in place that allows you to retire better, and quite possibly earlier, than you ever thought you could.

And frankly, even if you opt not to request a copy of my book, I strongly encourage you to review the complimentary materials the Social Security Administration provides about their benefits. Chances are you'll leave money on the table if you don't get informed about what you're eligible to receive.

That said, this valuable book is unlike anything else out there. I know. I wrote it because the guidance I found was, frankly, incomplete (and, in some cases, downright confusing).

I have more than 40 years of work experience in finance, strategic planning, and management. And when my wife and I were approaching retirement age, one of the first things I did was to turn my attention to sorting out our plan for claiming Social Security. I figured it would be a pretty straightforward task and one I was highly qualified to do.

Only I discovered that—despite an Ivy League education and my long professional background in finance—Social Security wasn't nearly as straightforward as I'd assumed.

So I dove into it with great focus, and today I hold a National Social Security Advisor Certificate and am certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies and hold the Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies (CSSCS) designation.

Social Security is incredibly complicated. And, as I've said, the vast majority of people leave money on the table.

But you don't have to.

I put this book together to ensure you have the straight story. Again, I am not associated with the Social Security Administration. But I’ve done a deep dive into the minutiae of the system and I’ve come out with a strong understanding of how it all works.

The Baby Boomers who have heard me speak on this subject say in overwhelming numbers that they'd recommend my valuable insights and clarifications.

For lack of a better way to say it: I’m plain-spoken. I don’t believe in complicating matters. Social Security is complicated enough as it is.

Frankly, I pride myself on bringing a plain-English approach to Social Security.

Insights, Recommendations, Advice—Even Revelations—that Nobody Else Tells You

Here's the thing…part of the reason that what I have to say is so powerful is that basically NOBODY else is saying it. There's a lot of rotten, inaccurate information out there about Social Security.

“Your research showed me a way to do something that I had no prior conception of and gave me a new direction. Not only that, but the focus has given me new energy and excitement. It was a decidedly uplifting experience!” – L.E.

Not to toot my own horn here, but as my publisher said to me once, “People hear you explain the fundamentals of the claiming strategies you recommend…and it feels like a revelation.”

The advice I have to share isn't just eye-opening…it could be worth thousands of dollars to you over the course of your retirement.

Here's what you have to understand…

For starters, the good folks at the Social Security Administration, while they aim to be helpful, are busy—too busy.

Between 2010 and 2019, the administration’s operating budget fell nearly 11 percent in inflation-adjusted terms. They lost 12 percent of their staff over that period while the number of beneficiaries grew by 17 percent.

Workers are often hamstrung. There’s a backlog of behind-the-scenes work. And in the last decade, many field offices have closed while office hours have been shortened in the ones that remain open. All the while, roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers a day reach retirement age.

Now, the pandemic forced the agency—like so many other organizations—to adapt to doing business virtually. That’s been a positive development overall with increased services to the agency’s 800-number, more than 6,000 new frontline workers, and the availability of more phone and video appointments. No question, we’re seeing some much-needed improvement.

But that doesn’t change the fact that the benefits the agency provides remain complicated and it’s up to you to understand them.

It’s all just more reason to get a handle on your situation yourself—and my book is designed to help you do that.

A study done by the Government Accountability Office revealed that people looking for advice from Social Security employees about when and how to best claim their benefits weren’t getting key information they needed from employees to make well-informed decisions and maximize what they might receive.

The Social Security Administration has lots of information that's useful—but ultimately, it's up to you to dive in and navigate your way through it. It’s critical that you understand the lay of the land and know what questions to ask. And neither of those things are obvious.

The SSA website has more than 45,000 web pages. Meditate on that for a moment and you can see why I think it's useful for you to get some practical insights from somebody who has spent a lot of time under the hood.

Information is one thing. Knowing what to do with it is another entirely.

In Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement I translate the "facts" into practical, real-world guidance.

I am on a mission to show people how to increase their Social Security benefits…and plan for a retirement that's more comfortable—and often earlier—than they ever thought they could have.

In fact, in partnership with my publisher, we’re undertaking a national push to show as many Americans as possible that they have more power over the value of their Social Security benefits—and their retirement—than they probably think.

We Believe Strongly in the Promise of this Book…

Claiming your Social Security benefits at the wrong age and in the wrong way can cost you dearly.

Now there are plenty of folks out there claiming the proverbial "sky is falling" when it comes to Social Security. They'll tell you that you better grab your benefits as quickly as you can—the minute you're eligible—since there's no guarantee Social Security will be there in years to come.

In fact, it has become so common to question the viability of Social Security that it's difficult to know where to begin to push back against the assumption that it is bound to fail.

But push back we must…because this wrong-headed belief results in costly mistakes that are destroying the last—and most excellent—chance for Baby Boomers to establish a financially secure retirement. And once you understand how Social Security really works, you can use that knowledge to create the best strategy for the retirement you deserve.

I’ll show you how in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

Let's start with the bottom line: The chance is exceedingly small that Social Security is going to run out of money, either for the 10,000 Baby Boomers starting benefits each day or for the Gen Xers and then Millennials following on their heels…

You Should Count on Social Security Being There for You

Social Security touches more people than just about any other federal program. And it is arguably the most popular government program in existence.

Enthusiasm for it holds up strongly across party lines with 93% of Republicans, 99% of Democrats, and 92% of Independents all agreeing that it’s an important program.

Which brings me to my point: Even though Social Security is incredibly popular—you might even say "beloved"—you get lots of people saying that it is on the chopping block…and that it's bound to fail.

But the dirty truth of the matter is this: When public figures tell us that something very dear to us is threatened, it gets our attention. Politicians speak hysterically about Social Security because it is a reliable path to votes and money.

Consider this: If you are a politician and you want to reach out to voters, which of the following appeals seems, well, more appealing?

Option A:

"Social Security is fine. Don't worry about it. Please vote for me and send me money."

Option B:

"Social Security is going bankrupt. The [NAME OTHER PARTY] is out to destroy it. Together we can save it…if you vote for me and send me money."

Clearly, Option B gets more people's attention. And the press tends to repeat the "Option B" stories because "hysteria" sells more newspapers and magazines and page views online than "boring" stories do.

Those people directly threatened by the specter of an unstable Social Security system—and I'm talking here about the more than 69 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits right now—they fret and stew.

The other couple of hundred million who don't yet collect benefits…they certainly don't feel great confidence in the future.

Really, it's not surprising that we're all left with the impression of a program that is tottering like a boxer about to go down for the count.

So it stands to reason that people close to claiming their benefits might logically figure they had better do so as soon as they're eligible and collect before the system runs out of money.

Younger folks might understandably conclude that the program isn't going to be there for them, so why bother to plan for it?

But here's the thing: It's all nonsense.

The likelihood of Social Security going belly-up is incredibly thin. And if you panic and just collect as soon as you can in the most obvious way available to you, figuring you better "get yours while the getting is good," you are bound to lose out on tens—if not hundreds—of thousands of dollars.

The current bluster isn’t to be discounted—that’s not what I’m suggesting. It never hurts to send a note to your representatives and tell them how important you believe Social Security is. I am simply saying that, because Social Security touches so many people, it’s a topic around which tens of millions of voters are ready to rally. And because of that rallying, it’s not likely to disappear.

Social Security is "Off Course" But Readily Fixable

The truth of the matter is that Social Security is slightly "off course." And there are simple, reasonable ways to fix it, as I explain in detail in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement, so I won't belabor the discussion here.

I'll simply say that recent forecasts for Social Security indicate the program will lack enough to pay the full benefits beginning in the mid- to late-2030s..

“Discovering that we qualified for a particular benefit through Social Security was a pleasant surprise. We could see how that allowed us to create a filing strategy that brought the maximum benefit possible. This information has helped us be much clearer in our planning and decision making.” – M.L.

If nothing is done to remedy this situation, then the program would have to cut benefits across the board by about 21%. After that cut, the program would be solvent at that reduced payment rate as far as the eye can see. That includes payments to Millennials…and to people who aren't even born yet.

But here's the important bit to understand…

A 21% across-the-board cut would be painful and shocking—which is why it won't happen.

Remember, those 69 million current beneficiaries—they vote in huge numbers.

For as long as Social Security has been around, it's needed tweaks now and again to steer it along a more stable course. And we've made those tweaks.

Back in 1983, for instance, the Social Security Administration found itself facing an eminent shortfall. So what happened? Ronald Reagan appointed a commission to come up with a solution, which they did. Then he and House Speaker Tip O'Neill pushed the commission's proposals through Congress with strong bipartisan support. Crisis averted.

Now we find ourselves in a similar situation—not, in fact, nearly as pressing. Lawmakers will fix it, and they aren't going to do it by causing an uproar among tens of millions of voters. That would be bad politics.

I won't go into all the possible ways a fix could be made since I take you on the butler's tour in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

But I will leave you with what Alan Greenspan said about this situation almost 15 years ago…

"If you get beyond the political rhetoric" and assembled a group to solve Social Security, "it would take them 15 minutes. It would take them 15 minutes only because 10 minutes was used for pleasantries."

I'll say it again: This "Social Security is bankrupt" line…this "sky is falling" hysteria…it's all bantered about for political gain.

If you take it to heart, you're almost certain to make poor decisions about your Social Security benefits that will cheat you out of funds you're due…funds that could make a huge difference in the quality of your retirement.

Don't be taken in.

Social Security will be there for you in full throughout your retirement. That's the smart bet. And you should plan accordingly.

I explain how, exactly, you do that in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

You Need a Plan to Ensure a Better-Funded Retirement

I show you how to navigate your options…maximize the benefits due you…and position yourself to take best advantage of your retirement years.

And I’d like to send you a copy of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement,

Inside my book you'll discover—

How men very often inadvertently short-change their wives when it comes to Social Security benefits. (They wouldn't if they fully understood the impact of their claiming decisions. In Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement, the pitfalls are laid out clearly so you can plan wisely, whether you're single or married.)
How to know if a “Tax Torpedo” is aimed at you. You can’t avoid it if you don’t know it’s coming! Turns out Social Security is treated in a peculiar way when it comes to taxes. Coupled with just a little additional income (say from IRAs or 401k accounts or rents, etc.), you pay zero federal income tax on it. But once that additional income reaches a certain level—and it’s not very high, in the $10k to $20k range—it not only adds to your taxable income, but at a certain point, it does so at a punishing, multiplied rate. So $1 of additional income could result in up to $1.85 of additional taxable income, even kicking you into a higher tax bracket! I lay out the strategies you need for reducing or even eliminating this “Tax Torpedo.”
How certain wording can mislead you. For instance, it sounds like—over the long term—you're likely to pocket the same amount of funds whether you claim your retirement benefit as soon as you're eligible or you wait some years. But that's not necessarily right. Find out the real story…what it means for you…and how to plan accordingly.
Can you work and collect Social Security or survivor benefits? “Yes” is the short answer. I’ll walk you through how the rules work, what tax implications you should be aware of, and how earning in your retirement years can, in fact, give you an advantage in the long run.
How to ensure your deferred-tax savings don’t end up delivering your kids a massive tax bill. New rules stipulate that almost anybody except your spouse who inherits your deferred-tax accounts is required to draw the entire amount (including any earnings) down to zero within 10 years. That’s likely to hit your kids when they’re in their most productive earning years (that is: at the highest marginal tax bracket)! I’ll show you a strategy for making sure this doesn’t happen.
The Social Security Administration employees know the facts. And they'll be as helpful as they can be. But they're busy. And they’re understaffed. In 2019, they handled 56 million calls on their national 800 number. Given your personal situation and your priorities, find out how you calculate the optimal time between ages 62 and 70 for you to begin claiming. Nobody is going to be as strong an advocate for your retirement income than you are. So let me help you get your ducks in a row.
Not all Social Security benefits are automatic. For certain benefits, both you and/or your spouse must qualify and then file in a timely fashion—otherwise you could forfeit funds rightly due you. I show you the roadmap you need.
Sometimes the Social Security Administration rules don't seem to make sense. For instance, while it can pay to get married, it can also be costly under certain circumstances to remarry. Better to live in sin? In some cases, the answer is "yes"—at least from a financial point of view.
Divorced? You may well be eligible to claim spousal benefits based on your ex's work history…find out the parameters, the questions you need to ask, and how and when to file a claim.
How to create a personalized claiming strategy that takes your current situation—as well as your long-term goals—into account to ensure you're activating your Social Security benefits in a way that'll provide for your comfort in retirement (and that of a widowed spouse, too, should that happen) and make sure you're not leaving money on the table.
Why women need to be even more cautious than men when planning their Social Security claims in coordination with their draw on other financial assets. The tax implications can be significant for everybody—so smart timing is critical. I’ll show you how to keep more of what you deserve.
How to use your Social Security claiming strategy to "super charge" your retirement and not only increase the amount of money you put in your pocket, but retire better…and quite possibly earlier…than you imagined you could.
How to use the Social Security website to your advantage—what tools are there, how to make smart use of them, how to understand what the SSA is telling you, and how to use their calculator to run various “scenarios” for yourself so you can begin to see in concrete terms what your claiming options are and how each one delivers a different bottom line.
How to arrange your affairs so your Social Security benefit rises over time—and is tax-free.
How to integrate your Social Security strategy with tax-deferred withdrawals of your savings so you’re spending wisely and saving more.
How—if your spouse receives Social Security retirement benefits—you can receive them, too...even if you’ve never worked under Social Security.
And much, much more…

Smart Planning Isn’t About Social Security Alone

This book shows you how to consider your Social Security as part of your overall retirement plan—because if you look at it in isolation, you’re likely to shortchange yourself. I want to help you create a budget for the rest of your life.

Considering what you want your next decade or two to look like is a critical piece of the puzzle. And it has bearing on when you claim your Social Security benefit and when you spend any pre- or post-tax savings you may have in your nest egg.

You want to create a plan for yourself that soundly funds a life that looks the way you want it to and will allow you to live worry-free. Rest assured: You can do that—even on your Social Security alone.

Social Security Secrets shows you how. Inside, with my guidance, you’ll consider how you want to spend your time: Will you travel, will you work, will you do both? And, then, with an end goal in mind, you can begin to put together a sound plan to fund that vision.

For example, you should know: Social Security usually offers a pretty sweet tax deal. But not always. Few people have a good sense for how benefits are taxed and, as a result, retirees often pay more in tax than they need to. (Sometimes thousands of dollars a year more.)

In Social Security Secrets, I show you how various financial elements at your disposal can “play nicely” together so you can save (and spend) with confidence. And enjoy a long and worry-free retirement.

…in fact, there's so much more in this book, I don't have the space to go into all of it here.

Give This Valuable Book a Try

Fundamentally, this book is about value.

It shows you how to ensure you're not leaving money that's rightfully yours on the table.

And it explores just how valuable your Social Security benefits really are. Consider, for a minute, that if you were to purchase from an insurance company an annuity that paid you a monthly $2,000 (adjusted for inflation) from age 66 on—that annuity would cost you about $550,000 if you’re male or $600,000 if you’re female.

My point is: Your Social Security benefit really IS valuable. For many people—it's worth more than their savings and more than their home.

So you can see why I believe that it deserves a measure of attention and management. You wouldn't leave a nest egg worth more than half a million dollars to chance. Nor should you neglect your Social Security benefits.

You need a smart claiming strategy, and that's exactly what I map out for you in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

Plus, Discover How to "Super-Charge" Your Retirement Benefits

There's something else important I talk about in my book—a way to "super charge" your Social Security benefits and use these funds to gain not only a better retirement…but potentially an earlier (and longer) one, too…

I'm talking about a way to effectively double, or even triple your disposable income in retirement so you can retire sooner…and better…than you ever thought you could.

Let me explain.

There's no question that one of the best ways to stretch your Social Security benefits is to make sure you're claiming every cent you're due. And that means having a thoughtful claiming strategy in place. As I said earlier, experts say that 96% of retirees aren’t getting as much as they could. The average retiree household leaves $111,000 on the table over the course of their retirement. Money they simply never see.

You don't want to be in that group.

In addition to having a smart claiming strategy, you can ensure your benefits go further by lowering your cost of living. You see people do this all the time in retirement. They downsize to a smaller property to free up assets and simplify life.

And of course, depending on your circumstances, if your retirement income is modest (maybe, in fact, limited to your Social Security benefits alone), then you could find yourself cutting back…skimping a little…making sacrifices.

But here's the good news…

When you "super charge" your Social Security, you don't have to give up a single thing. In fact, you could retire in luxury.

“We want to thank you for your time and effort in explaining the Social Security system...The charts you provided ...for early filing and waiting until we reached the best time to start collecting our Social Security helped make our decision on when and how to file very easy.” – K.K.

Here's how it works: You can access your Social Security benefits from all over the world. And this gives you options for retirement living that you may never have considered before. Or thought possible.

If you like the idea of traveling in retirement…if you'd like a little adventure in your life…if you like the prospect of never having to worry about money again…

…then you should consider "super charging" your Social Security.

You see, when you take your Social Security income to the right places overseas…rather than trim your lifestyle in retirement, you can watch it expand.

And this is something you could do for just a year or two if you wanted—buying yourself some big-adventure, low-cost living abroad, which could allow you to delay taking your Social Security benefit until the time is right for you.

Now yes, I realize we’re all hunkered down for the moment. But this craziness will pass, and while you sit it out is a smart time to not only dream about pretty, safe, low-cost escapes, it’s also a time to learn about where they are...

In the Best-Value Places Overseas, You Can Live Twice as Well for Half as Much

In the best-value destinations beyond our borders, you can live way better than you do at home, for half the price. That's because your dollars can go much, much further than they do in the States.

And that can hand you the power to not only retire better—but to retire sooner, too.

In welcoming, beautiful, good-value destinations from Latin America to Europe to Southeast Asia, you can live like a king on your Social Security income alone.

You see, in places where the cost of living is so much lower than it is in the States, you could have excellent healthcare and insurance you can afford, a housekeeper to clean for you, funds to travel when you feel like it and eat out whenever you want. You could live right on the beach with a water view.

A lifestyle that back home would cost you six figures can be yours on your Social Security income alone in the best-value places overseas.

Take Ed and his wife, Olga, who traded a stressful, expensive life in Pennsylvania for a better, lower-cost one in an arts-rich city overseas.

"Our only income is my Social Security, but we're living better than we ever have before," says Ed.

"We pay $350 a month in rent for our new, 1,616-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. And the monthly cost for utilities is equally low: Electricity and trash removal, $12.70…water, $6.61…propane for hot water, gas dryer, and gas stove, $4.64…phone/internet, $30.11.

"We have a full-time maid who does all our chores and a gardener who cares for the yard. We spend our days going to the gym, taking Spanish classes, horseback riding, hiking nearby volcanoes, going to the beach and exploring the country. "And we do all this for less than half the cost of a moderate lifestyle in Atlanta." – J. and N., maximizing their retirement overseas

"Today, we live in this beautiful, affordable city, surrounded by its many majestic churches and old buildings, and enjoy a wonderful climate.”

They say they stay entertained by going to symphony performances, museums, theaters, and exploring historic landmarks.

Theirs is one of thousands of stories of people like them who've chosen to "super charge" their Social Security benefits and retire better…and earlier…overseas.

The bottom line is this: On as little as $1,700 a month, housing included, a couple can live very comfortably in the best-value locales overseas, and a single person— on even less.

This book is all about giving you options in retirement…options that hand you more money and more possibilities for living a better, richer, freer—worry-free—life. A life where you're in control of what your retirement looks like…

Just one important piece of intelligence you gain in Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement…just one single recommendation…could be worth tens of thousands of dollars to you.

But I'd like to send you this book for just $24.95 plus shipping.

That's less than you'd pay for a pizza and a couple of beers. Yet it could completely change the course of your retirement…for the better.

And that's not all.

Request your copy of Social Security Secrets now and I'll send you four more valuable resources as well.

They're all yours with my complements, and they're not available any other way…

I'll Also Send You Two FREE Gifts

Because I want you to be as prepared as possible to get the most out of your retirement years—not only in the income you receive, but in the quality of the life you enjoy—I want to send you four more special gifts when you request your copy of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement today…

FREE GIFT #1: BONUS CHAPTER: How to Grab an EXTRA Social Security Payout of up to $50,000

I mentioned up front here that a specific provision in play right now in 2021 is paying out as much as an extra $50,000 to qualifying recipients. You have limited time to figure out if you could be due the maximum funds under this specific provision.

If you qualify for these extra Social Security benefits—and hundreds of thousands of people do—you have to request them in a timely manner. If you don’t, you could find you’re out funds that could have been yours.

This special Bonus Chapter—which I'll deliver immediately via email—tells you exactly how this benefit works, who qualifies, and how to request the extra payout due you should you be one of the many people who qualify for this special benefit.

When you request your copy of my book now, it’ll take a little while to wend its way to you in the mail—but I’ll send you details on how to access this Bonus Chapter so you’ll have it almost immediately and can take action.

FREE GIFT #2: The Workbook—Nuts and Bolts for a Luxury Retirement on Your Social Security

There are a series of questions you'll need to answer and calculations you'll need to make in order to come up with a Social Security claiming strategy that makes the right sense for you. Social Security is complicated—but I’ve broken it all down so it's simple and straightforward for you.

This digital workbook—a companion guide to Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement —gives you the worksheets to fill out and resources you can use to get answers to questions, and more…

And when you take me up on this special offer today to get your own copy of this important book, I’ll toss in this second bonus, FREE, as well.

FREE GIFT #3: Special Report: 8 Countries Where You Can Live Like a King on Your Social Security Income

My publisher, International Living, is in the business of showing people how to upgrade to a better life while spending less. Maximizing your Social Security benefits…that's just one piece of it—the piece they invited me to explore in my book for your benefit. But you can maximize your lifestyle too.

In some places, you really can enjoy a Rolls Royce quality of life on a run-down Chevy budget. The kind of high-end living that might set you back $10,000 or $15,000 a month in a big city at home could be one-tenth that in the right places overseas. And the editors have pulled together a list I think you’ll find enlightening in these troubled times.

In one spot we like, for instance, expats Keith and Lisa rent a stylish three-bedroom, three-bath sea-view apartment of 2,200 square feet for about $950 a month. It comes with a shared pool and gym and sits on a private beach. Keith says, “A similar apartment in Los Angeles or Miami would cost at least $8,000 per month .” When you “super charge” your Social Security and take it with you overseas, it really can allow you to live better, retire sooner, and get more out of your “golden years.”

This special report is also yours—FREE—when you order my book today.

FREE GIFT #4: How to Take Your Social Security Overseas: Useful Resources, Answers to the 5 Most Common Questions, and Stories from People Who Have Done It

It’s straightforward—and completely legal—to take your Social Security with you overseas. In fact, more than half a million people do it already. And lots more simply continue to bank at home while they enjoy living well for less abroad for all or part of the year.

Point is: Your Social Security funds are yours, and you can spend that money in any way—in any place—you like, wherever in the world you choose to spend time.

Still, if you’re intrigued by this option, you probably have a few questions. And since we’re in the business of educating you about your options, we answer the most common ones in this special bonus report, which is also yours—at no cost—with this special offer.

Our Guarantee

So that's four free gifts: the Bonus Chapter, the workbook, and the two special reports. As I said, you can have all of these gifts at no cost—via email—when you order a copy of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement to be sent to your home, now.

Simply click the "Add to Cart" button to get your paperback copy on the way to you immediately for just $24.95 plus shipping.

Once you’ve received it, I believe you’ll be impressed. But, if you’re not, please send it back for a no-fuss refund, minus the shipping fee. The bonuses are yours to keep, forever—my gift to you.

We’re Giving This Package Away for a Reason…

I really am on a mission to set the record straight about retirement today. So many people feel as if they won't ever be able to retire. Or, if they do retire…that they'll have to endure a lifestyle that's much less comfortable than the one they'd always hoped for.

But it's just not true.

You have way more control over the amount of income you receive from Social Security than anybody ever tells you. Experts estimate that almost every retiree household today is leaving money on the table—an average of $111,000 per household over the course of their retirement. They just don't claim it, because their timing is off—they make a claim too early—or else, they’re eligible for additional funds, based on their specific situations, but they don’t realize it. I’d like to make sure that doesn't happen to you. This book addresses not only Social Security claiming strategies—but it shows you the full context in which you should consider your Social Security. It talks about how Social Security fits into your bigger retirement-planning task and shows you ways to think about how you can put it to work for you in the most powerful ways.

I believe strongly in the importance of putting in place a sound claiming strategy that allows you to maximize your Social Security and retire worry-free.

And I believe my book is the most effective way to get this intelligence into your hands.

The bottom line is this:

You get all the intelligence you need about how to put a smart Social Security claiming strategy in place in the book, Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement.

Simply click the Add to Cart" button to get your paperback copy on the way to you immediately for just $24.95 plus shipping.

Again, you'll receive digital copies of the Bonus Chapter (with all the details of the claiming strategy that is paying out as much as $50,000 to each qualified person) and the workbook, after you place your order.

Then, soon after, a printed version of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement will arrive at your home in your mailbox.

I look forward to sharing all this intelligence with you—and to helping you understand the easy ways you can increase your income (and improve your lifestyle) in retirement.

Sincerely,

Steve Garfink
Author, Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement
(and long-time International Living subscriber)
October 2021

P.S. We'll toss in something extra when you click below right now to order your copy of Social Security Secrets: How to Maximize Your Income for a Worry-Free Retirement and your free bonuses.

We'll not only drop a copy of the book in the mail to you. But we'll email you a link to my book in digital form, too. That means you'll have almost instant access to it and can read it online or download it to your computer or tablet.

Click on "Add to Cart" to let me know where to send your package.

Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:54:50 GMT

Here's How You Do It…Find Out How YOU Can Experience The Very Best Of Spain On Your Own "Exploratory" Trip!

Dear Reader,

If you’re excited about the opportunities in Spain today—then you’re going to want to check out your options there for yourself, and we can help.

Whether you have one, two, three weeks or more to explore the opportunities on offer in Spain today—you’ll want to use your time (and travel funds) wisely. Our Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide will show you the way.

Marsha Scarbrough, our IL Spain correspondent, created this guide to give you a framework for a variety of trips—with day-by-day recommendations.

Inside, she shares her most useful tips and insights for planning and enjoying a successful expedition.

Spain is a diverse country that offers many options to potential expats. From beaches in the sunny south, to historic pueblos, to green forests in the rainy north, to wild nightlife in throbbing cities, this dynamic country has something for everyone as well as excellent public transportation designed to let you adventure in ease.

Six useful apps to have on your phone to make getting around easier...
A cheap, easy way to get your phone to work in Spain so you avoid expensive carrier charges but gain the conveniences of having a working cell while you’re there...
On-the-ground tips for cheaper train, hotels, home rentals, and air in Spain, plus what you definitely need to know about tickets for some museums to ensure you get the best deal—and get in when you want to, and more...
Seven easy, door-opening phrases to know in Spanish before you go...
PLUS where to go, what to see, what absolutely not to miss, what’s overrated, what you can expect to pay, and lots, lots more...

Find out how to make the most of your time on the ground, people to connect with, and more.

Why Wait To Get In On This?

The Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide is priced at $79.

Just click the 'Add to Cart' button now.

Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed

If you are not completely satisfied with the Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide for any reason whatsoever, just let us know within 30 days for a full refund.

No questions asked.

I hope you'll take me up on this offer to get yourself a copy of the latest digital edition of the one-of-a-kind resource Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide.

Like I said, you have our no-hassle guarantee if, for any reason, you are not satisfied.

Order the Spain Scouting Trip Itineraries and Travel Guide by clicking 'Add to Cart' now.

Spotlight on Belize

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:54:48 GMT

This Caribbean Safe Haven May Be the Lifestyle Bail-Out You Need

With a tiny population, there’s plenty of room to spread out, English is the official language, and it remains remarkably affordable.

Dear Reader,

I want to let you in on a little secret that’s never been more important: If you’re looking for a sweet spot to escape the rest of the world, it’s closer than you think.

It’s the kind of place you see in dreamy travel magazine photos or music videos...palm trees swaying in time with the gentle ebb of clear warm waters caressing soft white sands. Where there’s no horizon because the sky and the water are the same shade of blue.

People are quirky and kind. They greet you with a smile and a cheerful “Good Day.” They’re genuinely happy. And why wouldn’t they be? They live in paradise.

There’s fresh fruit for breakfast, fresh fish for lunch, and the end of a blissful day is celebrated by the sun casting pink goodnight hues across the tranquil landscape.

Worries are few. It’s an outpost of low taxes, sleepy stability, and buoyant opportunity yet still sufficiently uncrowded and undiscovered that visitors and settlers feel they have happened on a place everyone else has overlooked.

When you know its secrets, it can cost you very little to live here...30% to 50% less than the U.S. or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Expat couples say a budget of as little $1,500-$2,900 a month will do, depending on your tastes and where you settle.

But the main attraction is that here, little more than a two-hour flight from Miami, you can escape the rest of the planet’s reality and ease into a languorous lifestyle based on a reggae rhythm...played on the off beat and joyfully intoxicating.

And it very well may be the kind of “retirement bail-out” you need.

Take the “Now” to Craft Your “Tomorrow”

I’m Jackie Flynn, International Living publisher.

No one knows what the future holds. Except that it won’t be what you expect.

If there’s anything I know for sure, it’s that this current global crisis is pushing all of us to take stock and consider the direction our lives are going.

So why not take the “now” to craft the “tomorrow” you want it to be?

Many of us are looking for a simpler life. A happier life. In a place that’s comfortable and safe...where there’s a steady supply of fresh food, the climate won’t kill us, and the scenery—and serenity—is delightful.

I can’t think of a better place than the small commonwealth country of Belize, the Caribbean’s best-kept “secret.”

Maybe you already suspected Belize was the country I was describing. Here at International Living, we’ve been high on Belize for many decades now...since even before the former British Honduras won its independence from Britain back in 1981.

We’ve watched the small country transform from a crown colony to a full-fledged sovereign and democratic nation. In some ways, the country’s British heritage still lingers. It’s why English is the official language and why parliamentary procedure prevails and English common law is the law of the land.

In other ways, Belize more closely aligns with Canada and the U.S. They drive on the right hand side of the road, for example. And the currency—the Belize dollar—while prominently displaying a picture of Queen Elizabeth, has been pegged 2:1 to the US dollar since 1978, making conversions effortless. The US dollar is just as freely used. And Belize is in the Central Standard Time zone, with no daylight savings time changes to contend with.

Another benefit of Belize is that although it’s made up of 200 small islands, the country itself is part of the Central American isthmus. Just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, its culture is far more Caribbean than Latino. You can actually drive to Belize from the U.S if you’ve a mind to. Drive time from the Texas border to Belize is about 35 hours, less than the time it takes to drive from Phoenix or Las Vegas to New York City.

Best of all, It’s uncrowded and there’s room to spread out. Only about 400,000 people live in Belize, about the size of Massachusetts.

Ready to Shine Your Spotlight on Belize?
Let Us Help.

Just before the COVID-19 outbreak in the western hemisphere, I reached out to our International Living correspondent in Belize, Laura Diffendal.

I asked her if she’d be willing to spend some time with a professional video crew, creating a series of videos to show you what life in Belize is really like. There are plenty of tourism videos you can find on the internet, for sure, but that’s not what we were after.

Little did I know that the videos Laura and her crew created for you would now be more relevant than ever. If you’re taking stock of your life and your future, as many of us are doing today, you’ll want to take a serious look at Belize. And there’s no one better to show you the “insider’s Belize” and explain its secrets than Laura.

It’s her mission, after all, to be your eyes and ears in Belize. She’s been living in Belize for seven years now, with her husband Dave. They own and operate two businesses there and she’s constantly on the lookout for opportunities in every corner of the country, from north to south, from the Caribbean coast and the many “cayes” and islets to the rolling farmland of the interior Cayo district and the pine ridge forests along the western border.

Over the years, Laura has interviewed dozens and dozens of expats in Belize...some are business owners like she is, but many are contentedly retired...just soaking up the sun and happily enjoying life on their own terms.

So when I asked Laura to take a video crew and go out and capture a slice of real life for you, she jumped at the chance.

As she says, “One of the draws for us in coming to Belize was that we get to play a role in the foundational aspects of a young country. There are so many opportunities and chances to step up and be proactive and really make a difference. As an example, I've had the opportunity to help develop private groups of businesspeople with shared interests and through business groups like the BTIA—the Belize Tourism Industry Association. This is so meaningful to me and something I never would have experienced in a city like Cleveland, where I’m from.

“I expect to see Belize come roaring back, better than ever, from this current global downturn. You’re going to see some amazing bargains for travel here, for sure. Belize really is a sanctuary...a completely unique little hideaway. It’s rewarding for me to help other likeminded people find what we’ve found here.”

It’s exactly because of that attitude that I asked Laura to take on this video project. No one knows the lay of the land better. She splits her time between her two homes and businesses in Belize’s most popular expat destinations and that makes her the perfect person to take you on a guided tour and focus a light on the opportunities waiting for you, whether you’re looking to retire, start a business, work online from paradise, or just reconnect with nature and the gentler, happier way life is supposed to be lived...

If you’re ready to discover Belize’s secrets...and the best destinations for a total life makeover...

Let Laura Diffendal Take You on a Personal, Guided Tour of “Her Belize”... From the Comfort of Your Home

Maybe you’ve already been to Belize. If you have, you know it’s a magical place. And if you haven’t been there, put it at the top of your bucket list right now. When we’re able to travel again, make it your first stop.

Until then, the next best thing is to settle in and immerse yourself in “Laura’s Belize”—those two special communities she calls home...the art and culture, friends and neighbors, movers and shakers, and the fun places and activities that await you there.

I think you’ll like what you see. As I said, Belize is only a few hours from where you may be right now. It’s quick and easy to get to there...but it’s a world away from the stress and uncertainties of the rest of the world.

What you don’t know about Belize may surprise you. Laura reveals the secrets in this new video project, called Spotlight on Belize: The Low-Cost Caribbean Safe Haven.

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Watch, No Worries

Looking for privacy and freedom? Where no one pays you any mind? Where you can ditch your watch, your shoes, your cares? In Belize, all you really need is a hat, a bathing suit and a t-shirt or two…

As film director Sofia Coppola, whose father Francis Ford Coppola owns a resort in Placencia says, “It’s nice to be able to be a bit of a slob and feel fully relaxed in a place so removed from busy, modern life.”

Placencia, she says, “is unlike any place I know. It feels like an undiscovered small town—authentic and not at all touristy.”

In Spotlight on Belize, you’ll see exactly what she means—and not only in Placencia, but well beyond.

This has been no small undertaking. Laura has spent years getting to know the ins and outs of both Ambergris Caye—Belize’s most popular and well-known island—and Placencia, a gorgeous paradisiacal peninsula on the mainland in southern Belize.

For this project, she dug deep and called on expats and locals alike living in these areas. And through the magic of video, you’ll meet them and see and hear their tales of life in Belize...benefits and challenges alike.

Laura’s also put together a comprehensive primer presentation that gives you all the nuts and bolts details you’ll need to consider if you’re thinking of making a move to Belize yourself.

For instance, did you know that Belize makes it incredibly easy to gain residence there? It offers tremendous tax benefits, too, even if you only spend one month a year there.

At age 45, you can qualify for the Belize government's Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) Program, that gives you residence in Belize. And as I said, you can enjoy these benefits even if you spend as little as one month per year there or you're far from retirement.

Benefits include permanent exemption from Belizean taxes, including income tax, capital gains tax, estate tax and—during the first year after obtaining your visa, you are exempt from import tax on household goods, automobiles, boats and even airplanes….

Here’s What You Need to Know About Belize’s Top Two Destinations for Chilled-Out Good-Value Living...

If you’ve been to Belize, you may have spent time on Ambergris Caye, the biggest, most well-known and most-visited of Belize’s archipelago of islands.

It’s quintessential Caribbean—rustic and charming. Streets are lined with gaily painted wooden buildings and humming with golf carts as the main method of transportation. The crystal-clear waters that surround the island are bath-water warm and great for boating, fishing, snorkeling, diving, and more. The scenery will literally take your breath away...white sand beaches giving way to the turquoise sea and the immense blue sky beyond...

As one Californian transplant there says, "I love the balmy weather, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 degrees most days. The aquamarine water and nearby reef are stunning. The breeze coming off the Caribbean Sea has a cooling effect, so we hardly ever use our air-conditioning. It is comfortable to swim all year round, and nature is ever present. It's a small community and everyone is friendly. I walk to the beach, where I run into friends. Our normal attire is shorts, shirts, and flip-flops."

Placencia, on the other hand, is a 16-mile sliver of land along Belize’s southern coast. Pristine sailboats glide through the turquoise waters alongside local fishing boats. Fresh seafood is available year-round, as are healthy fruits and vegetables…and at a fraction of what you’ll pay in the U.S. or Canada.

The Great Barrier Reef is a bit farther offshore here than it is at Ambergris Caye and holds the swells at bay. Placencia is said to have the best beaches in Belize, with silky-soft sand and warm shallows too sleepy to bother raising a wave.... a perfect place to slow down, relax, and recharge.

Living here is easy. As one expat says, “We have one road that runs down the peninsula and one sidewalk that runs the length of the beach in the village. On a typical day, I will grab a coffee in the village. I’ll buy three $1 pies for breakfast from John the Bakerman and head to work, a 10 minutes’ drive by golf cart.

“I love that everyone takes Sundays off here, and all the locals are out for barbecues with their families and swimming in the sea. A group of us get going by about six o’clock on a Sunday morning, run a trail to a waterfall, swim and meditate, and are back in the village by 10. It’s a great way to start the day.”

Because of their popularity, the cost of living on Ambergris Caye and the Placencia peninsula aren’t the lowest you’ll find in Belize. Still, it’s easy for a couple to get by on just $2,500 to $2,900 a month, including rent, utilities, food, entertainment, and so on. Singles can get by on about 30% less than that.

“There’s just not a lot to spend money on,” one expat says. “You don’t need expensive clothes or a car. We get around by bicycle or golf cart, and bars and restaurants tend to be low-key and casual. It’s a good way to live.”

Like what you’re hearing?

Here’s How to Take Your Virtual Guided Tour...

If you’re ready to take a look at Belize...up close and personal, but right now, and from the comfort of your home, there’s no better resource than Spotlight on Belize: The Low-Cost Caribbean Safe Haven.

Unlike anything else you’ll find on the internet or anywhere else, you’ll travel along with Laura and her professional video crew as she introduces you to Ambergris Caye and Placencia...two of the best communities in Belize that make for easy and affordable expat living.

Laura believes these destinations are well worth your attention right now. These are places not yet discovered in large numbers. Prices are low and opportunities are sky high.

in this Spotlight on Belize, Laura takes you by the hand and not only introduces you to “her” Belize, but she gives you the tools to make it “your Belize.”

Here’s what’s included as part of the Spotlight on Belize: The Low-Cost Caribbean Safe Haven package:

A welcome video from Laura, filmed with her camera phone to give you updated input on what’s going on in Belize today... You’ll discover how Belize has responded to the coronavirus crisis, and why there’s so much optimism for the future.

5 professional videos to introduce you to Ambergris Caye:

Begin your tour with an introduction to Ambergris Caye—Northeast of the mainland, it’s Belize's largest island at about 25 miles long. The famous Belize Barrier Reef is just offshore and the island is known for its Caribbean beaches, abundance of sea life and watersports including scuba diving sites such as the 124-meter-deep Blue Hole. San Pedro town is the beating heart of the island of Ambergris, where you’ll find the most action, including bars, restaurants, and shopping.

Explore the area north of the bridge from San Pedro town, including Secret Beach—Take a trip north of the bridge and meet Robert, one of the expat owners of Marbucks Café. He explains why he feels the north end of the island is the best area for growth and he shares his advice about starting a business in Belize. You’ll take a brief tour of Ak’Bol yoga retreat center and journey farther north (about 45 minutes from town) to laidback and off-the-grid Secret Beach on the leeward side of the island, a popular entertainment spot with bars, restaurants, a live music venue, and more. You’ll meet Ben, a California expat who explains why he and his wife chose Belize and how they found their niche and built their business.

Over-the-water bars, live music, and volunteering—Tag along to Rum Dog, the first over-the-water bar north of the bridge from San Pedro town. Next up is Crocs, a sports bar on the leeward side of the island that offers beautiful sunset views. Continue the bar hopping back in San Pedro at Palapa Bar—one of the island’s most popular retreats, which regularly features live music. Owners Scott and Jodi share tips for potential business owners and explain how they and others are making a difference for this small community. You’ll want to hear their inspiring story...

Ambergris Caye is all about the water—You’ll start at the Sandbar, the iconic landmark in the heart of San Pedro, where you can grab a beer or a stay for the night for just $30-$40. From there, you’ll get a birdseye view of the reef just offshore and Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where you can enjoy some of the world’s best snorkeling, diving paddle-boarding, swimming.... Then, recharge at Iguana Juan’s and discover how expat Brad—a former stand-up comedian in Las Vegas—found a neglected business and turned it into a success. Musicians will appreciate input from part-time expat, Russell, happily making a good living here.

Where to live and what to do—Start north of the bridge and see some examples of condos for rent or sale, short- and long-term, with sales prices as low as $120,000. Back in town, Laura’s husband Dave shares his thoughts about regional travel by puddle-jumper plane to and from San Pedro and the rest of the country and why it’s such a unique and safe experience. Then you’ll make a stop at one of the island’s best cocktail bars, perfect for a cocktail at sunset, and another at the island’s “must-stop-at” dive bar, Crazy Canuck’s. You’ll meet the owner, Rob, who explains how he came to Belize with just $50,000 and was able to open one of the island’s most successful businesses—a great place to meet expats and locals alike when you travel to the island.

5 professional videos to introduce you to Placencia:

You’ll start with a birds-eye view of the beautiful 16-mile-long Placencia peninsula, with gorgeous turquoise water on either side and the mystical Maya mountains off in the distance. Historically a series of remote fishing villages, you’ll still find only about 6,000 residents on the peninsula itself...about 1,500 of them in picturesque Placencia village. The stunning beaches will take your breath away. If you’re a watersports lover...a fisherman, diver, snorkeler...or you just like to while away the hours with an ocean view, this is the place for you.

Discover beaches, businesses, and bungalows—Where are the best beachside spots to grab a bite or a cold drink? Maybe rent a paddleboard or jet ski? You’ll discover that and more, and also see some of the beachfront hotels and guesthouses where you can stay for under $40 a night. You’ll see neighborhoods popular with expats and some typical island homes. And if you’re looking for that “Zen” beach experience, Laura takes you to the gorgeous North Beach area, a residential area with a stunning beach you’ll often have all to yourself. This is where Laura lives, and she gives you a guided tour of her home and business. You’ll see how you can cheaply, but chicly, build your own home here. And you won’t believe how little it costs to rent an upscale 3-bedroom condo. Pack your bags...

Take a tour of the business heart of the village—Just north of the village, you’ll find Atlantic Bank and Top Value Supermarket, where you can buy all your local and imported groceries. Laura explains how shopping like a local can save you money, and she directs you to the local pharmacy where you can get your prescriptions filled easier and more affordably than in the U.S. or Canada. Meet Bobby, the proprietor of popular Buba Wuba’s bar and grill and get his advice on starting a business here. By the way, if you’d like to park your boat in your front yard, Laura points you to the neighborhood where you can do exactly that.

Happy hours and happy living—Is Belize the Wild West? Somewhat... Laura and her husband Dave explain the duties (and leniencies) of the tourist police. They discuss the price of gasoline, show you where to set up your cable TV, and even pop into the local hardware store. After all that, it’s time for Happy Hour, the most popular part of the day in Belize. Don’t miss the Pickled Parrot. Laura speaks to owners Walter and Melinda, and they explain why they chose Belize. You’ll also see the Placencia airport, where regional aircraft (true puddle-jumpers) will fly you to Belize City and beyond.

Explore the art and culture—Like to shop? You’ll find a different kind of shopping experience in Placencia. Laura introduces you to local artisans using local hardwoods to make handcrafted furniture, accessories, jewelry, and more. She shows you where to buy fresh produce and even explains what the island is missing when it comes to shopping...although we have a feeling you won’t miss it at all. And meet Frankie, a legendary local character who landed here on a sailboat in 1968 . He explains a bit of the “morality and freedom of expression” of the local culture...not what you might expect.

★Special Addition to your Spotlight on Belize: After you’ve seen all that Belize has to offer you, there’s no doubt the wheels will start turning. If Belize is calling you, we’ve included a special overview presentation that explains everything you need to know to make your home in Belize.

It’s called Belize: An Easy Transition to an English-Speaking Rustic Paradise. In it, Laura drills down into the nuts-and-bolts details of making a life in Belize, benefits and challenges alike. She explains your housing options, provides a general overview of climate and weather, and other considerations for making a long-term life here. Discover the steps to take to make a home in Belize. It’s easier than you think.

But that’s not all...

You Also Get the New Digital Edition of the Comprehensive Manual: Escape to Belize: Everything You Need to Know to Retire Better, Invest Well, and Enjoy the Good Life for Less

International Living Belize correspondent Laura Diffendal recently finished a complete overhaul and update of the hefty and all-encompassing 202-page manual, Escape to Belize: Everything You Need to Know to Retire Better, Invest Well, and Enjoy the Good Life for Less.

As you’ll see when you watch the Spotlight videos, Laura is not one to just scratch the surface. In this newest edition of the Escape to Belize manual, she gives you every detail…all the nuances, tips, insider secrets, and every little tidbit that normally slips between the cracks…everything you need to know if you're considering relocating to Belize.

She explains exactly what you need to do to qualify for the Belize Qualified Retired Person (QRP) Program. This is the latest information straight from Laura’s contacts in the Belize government. It's verified and up to date. (That's important, as much of what you'll find in an internet search can be dangerously outdated.)

What's more, she explains how you can become a permanent resident of Belize, which offers you even more advantages, including the ability to work and earn an income there.

If you're interested in finding your place in the Caribbean sun…but you'd rather not pay typical Caribbean prices…you need this manual in hand.

Here's Just Some of What You'll Discover in Your Escape to Belize Manual:

Location, location, location. You'll learn about the top spots in Belize for expats…including Ambergris Caye and Placencia, but also others you may have never heard of, including a quiet, tidy town on the ocean (but with all the amenities you need) where you can live more than comfortably on $1,950 per month or less, including rent… (Chapter 2)
Contacts, contacts, contacts. From expat organizations in Belize to those people who can help you streamline your move… Laura gives you names and contact info, so you'll have both business and social circles in Belize before you ever leave home. (Appendix A—your complete Belize Resource Rolodex)

How much you can expect to pay for things like telephone, internet, cable TV, and household help…including a gardener. Remember, in the tropics, one plant can quickly turn into a jungle. You'll be happy to have affordable help in your garden! (Chapter 5)
The nitty gritty details about healthcare in Belize: the country's best public and private hospital options, where to get medical insurance, the ins and outs of evacuation policies, how to get your prescription medications, and more. (Chapter 6)
What about moving your household goods to Belize…does it make sense? What are the best shipping companies? What about your pets? All the information you need about these important issues is found in Chapter 7.
What about taxes? Income taxes, sale tax, capital gains tax…business taxes for you entrepreneurs. All your obligations, exemptions, and benefits are fully explained in Chapter 8.
When you travel to Belize, you'll want to make the most of your time and money. You’ll get all the details of where to go, how to get there, how much it will cost…from hotels to restaurants to shopping…and you’ll discover how to save big time on all your travel expenses. Chapters 11 and 12.
And of course, in Chapter 3, we provide detailed information about real estate in Belize. What the buying process is like…where to go and who to talk to in order to find the best bargains… I’ve already explained that prices for a nice, well-situated condo on Ambergris Caye start at about $120,000. And you’ll find similar, sometimes even lower, prices in Placencia. But look beyond these areas to find even better deals. In northern Belize, the Corozal area—on the ocean—is a bargain hunter’s hotspot. A brand-new two-bedroom home, built of gorgeous Belizean mahongany can be had for just $99. In the interior Cayo district you’ll find similarly low prices. Want to live self-sufficiently? A 25-acre parcel of riverfront land, bordering the Mopan River near San Ignacio Town in Cayo, is selling for just $125,000. And all these prices, of course, are well negotiable.

By the way, global real estate analyst Ronan McMahon says he expects you’ll see big discounts in Belize as we emerge from the current global crisis.

“Belize has always attracted those looking to escape the crowds, get back to nature, and enjoy an excellent quality of life,” he says. “Once travel is back it will be business as usual in that regard. What will have changed is that you will be able to buy real estate at 30%, or more, off.”

Because I Feel So Strongly That All of Belize Deserves Your Attention Right Now, I’ll Also Give You Two Very Special Bonus Videos—for FREE

What will happen as the pandemic subsides? My guess is that even more people will be purposefully looking for a safe haven. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in Belize, where the “live and let live” culture, the accommodating climate, low population and low cost of living, and wide-open spaces beckon...not to mention the stunning Caribbean landscape.

But Belize is more than islands and coastline, as I’ve explained. Little more than 90 minutes from the coast is the Cayo District. If you’re looking to truly escape from the rest of the world and live a bountifully simple life, turn your attention here. Instead of beaches, you’ll find mountains, rivers, waterfalls, caves, and ruins. You can spend your days hiking, biking, canoeing, tubing, and more. You can spread out, live off the land if you like, and truly enjoy life. And prices for just about everything are lower than you’ll find on the coast and islands. Expat couples report a monthly budget of just $1,600 covers it all.

When you order Spotlight on Belize now, we’ll give you, for FREE, two special videos to help you understand the potential of this unique region:

Low-Cost, Laidback Rural Cayo is a special video that takes you to San Ignacio and Santa Elena, the two picturesque side-by-side hamlets that anchor the Cayo district in the Macal River Valley. You’ll see the gorgeous landscape firsthand and learn what this geographically rich part of Belize has to offer you.

Destination Cayo: Happiness Found in Belize’s Heartland is an additional special video created for you by International Living senior editors Dan Prescher and Suzan Haskins. They first travelled to Belize 30 years ago and they know the country well. “If I were looking for a bolt hole easily accessible to the U.S. but far from the stress and uncertainties of the rest of the world, Cayo is a place I’d seriously consider,” says Dan. “There’s plenty of fresh water and large swaths of very fertile land. You’ll never go hungry here. If you love nature and the outdoors, I can’t think of a better place.” In this video, Dan and Suzan drill deep and give you insights to this opportunity-rich region that you won’t find anywhere else.

Get Started Today, Crafting Your New, Better Tomorrow in Belize. Reserve Your Copy of Spotlight on Belize: The Low-Cost Caribbean Safe Haven

Just to re-cap, here's everything you get as part of your Spotlight on Belize:

Online access to the 10 professional videos that take you on a virtual tour of both Ambergris Caye and Placencia. These are yours to access any time, from anywhere, as long as you like.
The special video presentation, Belize: An Easy Transition to an English-Speaking Rustic Paradise that hands you the details about making a life in Belize...general cost of living and where to live to reduce your expenses, climate overview, housing options, and more.
The newly updated 202-page manual Escape to Belize: Everything You Need to Know to Retire Better, Invest Well, and Enjoy the Good Life for Less (Value: $99)
The two special Cayo videos, Low-Cost, Laidback Rural Cayo and Destination Cayo: Happiness Found in Belize’s Heartland. To round out your research on Belize, these are free with my compliments.

I guarantee this valuable information will fast track and streamline your travel or move to Belize. (More about our rock-solid money-back International Living guarantee in just a moment.)

Get it all and get started now. As soon as you place your order we'll send you an email that explains how to access all of it…the comprehensive manual and all the Special Videos that introduce you, up close and personal, to the best that Belize has to offer you.

All this will be available to you online…digitally…so you'll have access to it as soon as your order has processed.

Click the "Add to Cart" button now to get started.

Now, about that guarantee: We're so confident that you'll be so pleased with what you find in your Spotlight on Belize that we're giving you a 30-day, no-hassle, money-back guarantee. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied with the depth and breadth of information you find in Spotlight on Belize that we'll refund your purchase within 30 days, no questions asked. No matter what you decide, your special Bonus Videos are yours to keep.

With this risk-free guarantee, you have nothing to lose.

Just click the "Add to Cart" button now to get Spotlight on Belize on the way to you immediately for just $367.

Spotlight on Belize is the best resource available to help you get to know the very best of the Caribbean paradise that is Belize. The next best thing to being there in person right now, you’ll see it all via video. And in the Escape to Belize manual, you’ll discovering all the nuts and bolts details you need to make Belize your home—how to find a place to live, qualify for that benefit-rich QRP retirement program and obtain your residence visa, your healthcare options, and much more.

You'll see for yourself how to invest, travel, live, retire, and start a new business in Belize. Spotlight on Belize will show you the way…

Keep in mind…this special guide to "all that is Belize" is the result of seven years of research by International Living correspondent Laura Diffendal, who maintains homes and businesses on both Ambergris Caye and Placencia.

Think how much it would cost you to travel to Belize and dig up all this information yourself. For sure it would take months and thousands of dollars to compile. I can guarantee you won't find anything like it on the Internet or in a bookshop.

And when you are able to travel to Belize, you’ll be well prepared, thanks to the guidance you get in Spotlight on Belize. You’ll know exactly where to go, what to see, and who to reach out to for guidance and assistance. (You’ll find Laura’s email address in your Spotlight on Belize materials so you can reach out to her directly, any time, with any follow-up questions you have.)

So go ahead: Try it out. From the comfort of your home, explore everything Belize has to offer…

But hurry, this excellent-value deal is only available for a limited time.

Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living
August 2021

P.S. Simply click the "Add to Cart" button now to get Spotlight on Belize on the way to you immediately for just $367.

These 10 new special videos created for you by IL correspondent Laura Diffendal, the 202-page Escape to Belize manual, and the two bonus videos showcasing the Cayo District are not available anywhere else. If you’re interested in planning for the future and getting the inside track on Belize…in gaining a foothold in one of the most beautiful and affordable destinations in the Caribbean, if not the world...let us help you.

With International Living's rock-solid money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose. And much to gain.

Click on "Add to Cart" to let me know where to send your package.

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