Here’s an Escape Route from America’s Decline …

Beginning last week, 800,000 federal employees had to explain to their families that they are furloughed.

National parks are closed, passports are no longer processed and war veterans are being turned away at their memorials …

All because the charlatans in Washington D.C. can’t agree to put the interests of our country above their own.

I keep hearing one question from folks here at the Total Wealth Symposium in Las Vegas:

“How is it possible to live in a country where our voices aren’t heard and the ruling elite sacrifice OUR bottom line for their own benefit?”

Think about it:

• Our national debt is increasing by $1,800,000,000 a day.
  
  
• The Fed’s money-printing addiction has been diluting the dollar for years.
  
  
• Near 0% interest rates are pummeling savers, while enriching the big banks.

That’s why it’s important to invest a portion of your wealth offshore, where the strongest growth opportunities exist in assets that help you retain (or even gain) purchasing power.

And it’s easier than you think …

 There is Hope for Americans … if You Know What You’re Doing
When Sovereign Society legal counsel and former U.S. Congressman, Bob Bauman, took the stage, you could hear a pin drop as the audience sat quiet in rapt attention.

Attendees, like most of us, are worried that the U.S. has crossed a point of no return.

That’s why learning about Bob’s Five Flags of Freedom is more important than ever:

Flag #1 – Get Residency or a Second Passport

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that U.S. citizens have the right to multiple citizenships.

The first step in obtaining dual citizenship is to check your family tree. Several nations offer bloodline-based citizenship – if you can prove one of your parents, or even grandparents was born overseas. (For the full list of participating countries – be sure to listen to Bob’s talk.)

Gaining residency is much easier than securing a second passport, and you should NEVER attempt to buy a second citizenship online.

Flag #2 – Set Up Your Offshore Business Base

One of the most important steps is to set up a foreign bank account, offshore international business corporation or offshore limited liability company. There are many benefits to doing business in overseas jurisdictions, including: affordable, abundant land; interest-free loans; tax holidays; and minimal regulation.

Flag #3 – Residence & Domicile

The next step is to find a country that does not impose taxes. Panama is a great example; it does not levy an income tax as long as your income is earned outside the republic.

Flag #4 – Asset Protection – Trusts and Foundations

There is still sufficient and much stronger bank secrecy in many countries than in the United States.

For a list of five countries that offer the greatest banking secrecy, privacy and asset management, as well as the best way to legally defer taxes offshore, be sure to download Bob’s PowerPoint presentation.

Flag #5 –Choose Your Haven Wisely

Finally, Bob recommends you get to know your haven well before making any permanent decisions. Make sure the climate, geography, culture and leisure activities excite you – and make you feel “at home.”

Everyone walked away from Bob’s speech with a Master Plan on how to get “off the grid” and protect their privacy and wealth from legal predators, identity thieves — even the U.S. government.

The Greatest Investment Trend of Our Time

As the U.S. continues its downward spiral, all the prosperity we once knew is happening overseas in developing countries.

In the next five years, almost a billion souls will emerge from poverty around the world, eager for the lifestyle and products we take for granted.

The Sovereign Individual Executive Editor, Jeff Opdyke, sees huge opportunities for investors who look beyond America’s borders.

I’m talking about getting in on the ground floor with tomorrow’s McDonald’s, WalMart and Coca-Cola.

Jeff revealed two of his favorite plays to take advantage of with the rise of prosperity around the world.

Play #1: Big Profits From an Unlikely South African Firm …

The next Kraft Foods is emerging in Africa because of rising prosperity throughout the continent. Some 300 million Africans have already risen from poverty, and another 200 million are set to enter the middle class over the next decade.

And they all want one thing – better, more easily prepared food. And this South African canned-food firm is delivering the goods to this massive pool of demanding buyers.

This company has averaged 16% annualized returns since 2004, pays a 3% yield and it’s poised for even more rapid growth as it continues to expand its sales outside of South Africa.

Jeff believes this is a stock you buy, forget about and collect profits for years to come.

Play #2: South America’s Next Success Story …

It’s not Brazil, Argentina or Ecuador …

It’s Colombia, of all places. With the worst of the drug wars over and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) pleading for a truce, Columbia is rich with investment opportunities.

Jeff recommends one bank that pays a steady 3% yield and has significant growth potential as more prosperous Colombians open bank accounts and obtain more car and home loans.

This emerging bank is a play you don’t want to miss if you’re serious about growing your wealth in the coming years.

To get the ticker symbols that Jeff revealed to the attendees, click here.

Then, to top off the session, Knut Anderson of Swissmetal Inc. showed us the easiest and fastest way to potentially double your money with strategic metals like tungsten and tantalum.

These metals are crucial, basic necessities for most of today’s booming industries and emerging technologies such as smartphones, LCD monitors and computers.

Tell You What …

The buzz here in Las Vegas is contagious. There is a feeling of energy and purpose in the air. Everyone seems to be excited and focused.

And we’re just getting started!

This afternoon, I’ll fill you in on our next pair of popular speakers: Harry Dent and Eric Roseman.

Until then …

Your Conference Insider,


Mike Crespo

Handeling employess in Ecuador....it´s not as it used to be......

"Hey, step into my office for a minute."

"Don't sit down, this will only take a second." I continued.

"You're fired, get the f**k out."

OK, so this wasn't exactly how it went down eariler this week.

But can't blame a guy for dramatizing once in a while.

If you've met me, you know Im a soft-spoken guy, don't think I could  do it like that.

But due to a change in business circumstances, I unfortunately had to let someone go.

In Spanish, as in Ecuador, its very clear cut.  Someone either quits (renunciar) or you fire them (despedir).

Theres no wishy washy middle ground like "laid off" or "let go".

And when you have to let someone go, as I did this week, its a little different down here.

You have to "liquidate" them meaning pay them a final one-time "severance" payment equal to 25% of all the salary you've ever paid them plus any unpaid bonuses due to them.

But first, when you fire someone in Ecuador, or if someone leaves your business voluntarily, you have to go see an accountant who makes the official document (Acta de Finiquito) that needs to be filed with the Social Security Department (IESS) and Ministry of Labor (Ministerio de Trabajo).

Then, a date is scheduled when both you and your employee will have to go in front of an inspector where you will have to pay your employee their liquidation (severance) settlement and both sign off.

Theres really no way to get around this legal process nowadays in Ecuador or your employee can sue you.

Except if you hire the right way.

Which I didn't this time around.  In my case, for an employee I hired making a bit more than the minimum wage who worked for me for 3 months, Im going to have to pay her around $450 for her liquidation.

For instance, one loophole i recently discovered that will allow you to legally not pay the extremely costly 25% lump sum severance payment to your employees in Ecuador when you let them go is to hire your employees on a temporary limited time contract... say for one year.  At the end of the year you let them go for reasons of "contract ending" and then you don't have to pay them the 25% lump sum liquidation of all the salary they've earned while under you.  You will only have to pay a much smaller amount equal to any unpaid bonuses due to the employee for that year.

You can then do like most and maybe give them a few weeks off and then hire them back.

Til next time,
Dom Buonamici
Quito Airport Suites
AirportHotelQuito.com

Dom´s best hotels deals in Ecuador.

Come on.

Just admit it.

One of the main reasons you are even interested in Ecuador is because you want to improve your lifestyle while at the same time lower your cost of living.

At least the possibility of such intrigues you.

Well, here are my hand-picked top 7 best-value hotels in Ecuador.  Bargain, nice places that should charge a lot more than they are.

Places where you can feel pampered and pay a small fraction of the cost you would back home.  

But most of these aren´t easy to find nor easy to book beforehand (many of them don´t even have websites!)

Maybe these aren´t the cheapest choices out there, but they are the best bang for your buck in their given area.  Here goes...

7. Hotel Prado Internacional (Loja, Ecuador).  This hotel conveniently located right on the other side of the river from the old town in Loja is a four star quality hotel at two star prices.  There is an elevator, an elegant, open full time yet often empty rooftop restaurant with amazing food (try the bacon-rapped Filet Mignon in mushroom sauce for $6), a very friendly staff headed by the owner, Lucia, who speaks English.  The hot water is good, WIFI in room and the rooms are elaborately decorated.  Can´t beat the value for price, singles start for $26/night and doubles start around $39/night.

6.  Hotel Canoa Mar (Canoa, Ecuador).  This hotel is right on the beach in Canoa within walking distance of the town center yet just far enough away not to hear the discos blaring music.  The style of the hotel (laced with bamboo) is just what you´d expect from a hotel in the area.  There is hot water, WIFI in room and each room has its own carefully thought-out design... all for $10 per person.  I stay here when I´m in town.

5. Hotel Hugo´s Place (Montanita, Ecuador).  One block from the beach and a girl´s throw from the center of town, this 2013 newly inaugurated hotel in the center of Montanita is hard to beat for the price.  The rooms have a beautiful oceanview and are nicely finished with cement (to prevent noise and critters from entering), WIFI and hot water are available and rooms start at $10 per person ($12-15 on weekends).

4. Copalinga Nature Lodge (Zamora, Ecuador).  No trip is complete to Ecuador without venturing into the Amazon, yet most eco-lodges (like Kapawi) charge upwards of a hundred dollars a night.  Copalinga has beautiful cabins available right in the thick of the rainforest and within a short walk from the National Park Podocarpus.  Amazing for bird watchers, as dozens of Hummigbirds often buzz around you as you dine for breakfast in the morning.  Prices start around $23.50 per person for one of the older cabins available, newer more luxury ones are also available for about double the price.  Worth every penny.

3. Posada del Rio (Cuenca, Ecuador).  For me, the most stunning area of Cuenca is where the old town meets the Tomebamba river.  Thats where I want to be whenever I go to Cuenca, plus you are right in the middle of everywhere you want to go.  Built into a refurbished old colonial, just as you´d expect from Cuenca, the Posada del Rio is right along the river and several rooms have stunning views of the trickling brook.  This is another lodging option with rooms much nicer than what you would expect they rent for, hot water, WIFI and room service is available.  Rooms start around $15 per person.

2. Izhcayluma (Vilcabamba, Ecuador).  As a hotel owner myself in Quito I have the chance to chat with travelers almost everyday, and almost everyone I talk to who has stayed in Izhcayluma has nothing but great things to say about it.  Pamper yourself getting a treatment in the Spa, soak in the pool, horseback ride, bird watch, hike the trails through the green hills or even visit a sugar farm and watch the process of sugar making.  The service is top notch, the grounds well maintained... single rooms with private bath start around $28, doubles $38, shared dorm beds are also available for $12 each.  Hard to beat the value for your buck in Vilcabamba.

1. Hotel Gala (Baños, Ecuador).  This hotel, mainly frequented by local Ecuadorian tourists, has gorgeous mountain views and is right on the edge of the quiant town of Baños.  Its my pick whenever I´m in the area.  The rooms are borderline luxury, some may even hint at four star quality, and are very spacious.  The hot water is good and plentiful and the decoration is elaborate.  You are also within walking distance of the town center and the spas in Baños.  The only drawback is as of writing there is no WIFI, but sometimes its good to disconnect.  All for bargain prices starting around $12 per person.