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Planning retirement abroad must as much as is possible be a "Do-it-Yourself" exercise. Offers of costly help will always be met. In the early stages of any investigation it is important to recognize and to avoid expensive help. There is free information available from multiple authorities which makes good choices possible. A skeptical attitude towards all comments and reports must be adopted unless supporting and independent sources are available. Anything taken at face value without corroboration is often dangerous. Opinions offered are usually given by those who have a bias or an ulterior motive. Only personally collected experience may be fully trusted. This gives rise to the "Golden Rule" applicable when attempting to choose a retirement haven. This rule states that it is not wise to make any permanent move or irrevocable action without at least one trip and preferably more visits to the country of choice. Details of immigration requirements for a short-term or tourist visit will usually be available at travel agents. Descriptive brochures of destinations are also normally obtainable and at larger establishments staff who have visited one or more of the target countries may be present to answer questions. Some travel agents host events at local hotels to promote destinations, package tours or other trips. Such gatherings are often not free. It is not immediately necessary nor will it likely be useful to go to such marketing meetings. The interests of travel agents is to promote the attractions of destinations. No adverse comments will be heard from such firms about any places being promoted. In the area of financial advice high fees are often demanded for unnecessary or even spurious advice. Payment for the offer of an introduction to a bank to open an offshore account should never be entertained. All that will be forthcoming for a three or four figure fee will be a freely available application form. No valid introduction will be or could be made to a bank by an organization which has "met" clients only via a web site and which has carried out no identity or credit worthiness checks. The first, best and most obvious place to go for information about an offshore bank account is one's current bank. If it has been normal to have banked with a credit union then it is possible that offshore facilities will not be available. Directions to a "full service" bank and a good financial reference can usually be obtained. Such a banker's reference attesting to reliability, loyalty and financial responsibility is always a useful introductory document. At this stage arrangements with respect to current loan or overdraft facilities, and credit or debit cards must be maintained. Establishing an offshore account need not be any more difficult than opening any other kind of account with a new bank. Setting up complex financial vehicles, such as company or trust structures, will require the payment of fees to specialist organizations. Without specific and detailed knowledge of the laws in any particular jurisdiction a financial adviser or a lawyer will be necessary. It easy to glean just what such firms advertise in offshore tax havens by visiting their web sites. Costs will increase according to the degree of complexity, privacy, anonymity and accessibility to funds. Total confidentiality with safety is becoming more difficult to arrange because the days of anonymous numbered accounts have become things of the past in most places. For the average retiree who is simply looking for a place in the sun in a country with a low cost of living and adequate social and environmental conditions such financial arrangements will probably not be necessary. It is best to deal with government departments in person when possible. Documents such as birth, marriage, death and police clearance certificates can usually be obtained directly from the relevant authorities. There are small charges for many such certificates but police clearance certificates are often expensive. This is especially so if courier services are used. In some countries where the civil services are inefficient or simply corrupt it may be necessary to have applications securely shepherded through all stages and safely returned. Language problems may make dealings with governments possible only via the services of a lawyer. Some governments will deal only with legal firms and will accept only documents that have been translated into the national language. Legal and translation services are expensive but usually need be used only when submitting final documents supporting an application for residency. An estimate of charges for any legal work should always be obtained in advance. If it is possible getting reports from previous clients who have recently had similar dealings with the lawyer is helpful. Many publishing firms offer internet or printed magazines, books and seminars. Most are expensive and will add little to the elimination process necessary when selecting a country that will make a good retirement place. Some of these publications and events are more useful when the choice of a country in which to retire has been narrowed to one or two places. Books and magazines have annual subscription rates that are rarely be less than $50 and are often in excess of $100. Specific books will often cost in excess of $100 each. Fees for seminars will exceed many hundreds of dollars and air fares to the locations will be an additional cost. Inexpensive options exist and these must explored in the early stages of planning and investigation. One offer of help to be avoided is of a less formal kind. Local expatriates who are already residents have been known to augment their income by confidence trickery at their favourite bars. This warning should not be necessary if common sense prevails. Losses may amount to just a series of unreturned rounds of drinks or a meal. The more unfortunate victims may incur heavier financial losses at the hands of experienced criminals. Alcohol is a major cause of loss by those in "holiday" mood to those practised at taking advantage of unsuspecting visitors. Business and social events should never be mixed. Retirees should avoid the sort of help described here by the people and organizations mentioned above. Experience will make those who are investigating retirement abroad very discriminating with regard to the acquisition information. With care the gaining of that experience will not be costly. There is no need to rush into buying expensive and superfluous help and advice. Les Johns has worked, lived and traveled in all continents. The benefit of his experience can be had at hisweb site which should be visited by all considering retirement abroad. Also available from this site are the inexpensive country specific books which can be read on an Amazon Kindle or a Barnes and Noble Nook. Much research time and money will be saved by visiting this site.
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