Italy’s Economy is Latest in EU Debt Crisis
Italy is stuck in recession mode through a combination of EU policies and its own internal follies. What are the implications of this to the EU and the world? May 20, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP Some red flags are going up in the EU, and those flags are coming from Italy. Economic discord plagues that country, and the simple answer is: one camp wants out of the EU, the other does not. Here are some statistics on Italy's economy: 2.3 Trillion Euros in debt (i.e. 132% of GDP, second highest to Greece)1.74 … [Read More...]
If Banks Took Your Money and Ran (Like This)…
Many take their banks for granted, never considering they could close unexpectedly. Are you prepared for what happens if your bank closes? May 17, 2019 Imagine if you woke up, got a steaming cup of coffee, and went to your computer. You open up your online banking portal to transfer funds and get the following message… “Sorry, we cannot process your transaction at this time. Please try again later.” No big deal right? Computers have issues, at least that’s what could be happening. So you try again a few minutes later. Same … [Read More...]
Major Cities Crack Down on Airbnb
Cities cracking down on Airbnb and other home-sharing models are really just obstructing opportunities for people to serve the market demand and make some money. May 13, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP A little over four years ago, Ross Ulbricht was convicted of money laundering, computer hacking, conspiracy to traffic fraudulent identity documents, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics via the internet. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus forty years. The one charge that has a victim tied to it … [Read More...]
U.S. Is a Tax Haven for Everyone EXCEPT Americans
Many American citizens consider themselves privileged, but that privilege doesn't extend to tax protection. That is reserved for everyone EXCEPT Americans. May 7, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP It’s well known among digital nomads U.S. citizens are not treated well by their own government when it comes to incorporating and banking. What may surprise you is, non-U.S. citizens consistently take advantage of much better opportunities in the US than its own citizens. In some regards, the United States is fast becoming … [Read More...]
Occupational Licensing Revisited in Some States
Not all states are embracing reforms to their existing occupational licensing laws. Those that are, are helping their respective economies. March 6, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP By and large, our lives don't involve the government that much. Most of our plans and activities have nothing to do with it. Day-to-day interactions are voluntary and unencumbered. Where the government does get involved, they make it count. And it hurts. It hurts not just individuals, it hurts the economy! Time and again occupational … [Read More...]
Limited Time Opportunity to Max Out Offshore Trust!
Trump’s tax plan came with a generous leap in the estate and gift tax thresholds. Now is the time to set up a trust and max out your benefits before the door closes! April 30,2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP Every election cycle, Americans sit around wondering what's coming next. That sort of uncertainty affects the stock market, and even general market activity. Sadly, the government is so intertwined with the US market, confidence in who takes (or might take) office is inextricably linked to consumer … [Read More...]
Gerrymandering & Rigging the System
When people say the system is rigged, they are referring to gerrymandering, cronyism, and favors for the few disguised as do-gooder programs. April 29, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP I'm well past the idea of believing the US system is a "few reforms" away from being adequate. There's no simple structure to elections. It differs from state to state and party to party. I mean, the DNC has "super delegates", whatever that means. I'm no Democrat, but I saw what the DNC did to Bernie, and if that's happening on their … [Read More...]
How to Protect Your Assets from “Shadow-Banks”
"Shadow Banks" pose a serious risk to the market and your assets because they are non-banks that lend like banks, but with far less oversight or accountability. April 25, 2019 At the heart of the last U.S. financial crisis in 2008 was a $52 trillion “non-banking” industry that lent unqualified borrowers money for mortgages and refinancing. You might think U.S. officials would learn a lesson from the Great Recession, and make this form of “non-banking” illegal. Alas, this industry thrives in 2019, and it appears a similar “script” … [Read More...]
Is Legalization a Full Victory?
Cannabis legalization comes with terms and conditions, like cryptocurrency legitimization. That might not prove to be the full victory people were looking for. April 22, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP A big topic, especially this year, is cannabis legalization. As a staunch opponent of prohibitionist policy, I welcome that discussion and the lifting of these drug war laws. Prohibition, time and again, creates more danger than it assuages. You don't have to agree with how someone exercises their rights, to defend … [Read More...]
The Death of “Innocent Until Proven Guilty”
April 16, 2019 Asset forfeiture happens at all levels of government, which is why asset protection is essential. According to a Cato Institute study, 84% of Americans oppose an idea called “civil asset forfeiture.” The study provides the definition as: ... police “taking a person’s money or property that is suspected to have been involved in a drug crime before the person is convicted of a crime.” Now you might be thinking, “If this idea applies only to criminals, what makes it so bad?” As you’ll soon read, it doesn’t just … [Read More...]
DEA Surveillance: It’s Never Really Over
The DEA is the biggest thief in the US (after the IRS), and is notorious for extending its surveillance capabilities to other agencies. April 15, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP All along, we've been pointing out the government's critical examination of cash transactions, and the countless people who have been wrongfully caught up in the dragnet of asset forfeiture. The mere fact that cash transactions greater than $10,000 -- and sometimes as low as $5,000 -- has drawn the unwanted attention of government … [Read More...]
Antigua & Barbuda Could Make a Great Tax Home
If you are a digital nomad, in search of a friendly tax home, Antigua & Barbuda might be what you're looking for! April 11, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP In these times of economic scrutiny, it's getting difficult to navigate the regulatory waters. Let's be honest, governments hardly need an excuse anymore to "crack down" on offshore activity. The Panama Papers made headlines as if they were evidence of some nefarious underworld, despite the lack of any evidence to that effect. This is one of the reasons I … [Read More...]
Dangerous Protectionist Precedent to be Set with Dairy
Large and established dairy industry players are seeking congressional protection from their non-dairy competitors. April 8, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP Plant based dairy alternatives have been around for a good while. Nobody made much of a stink over them. They have been coming out with myriad alternatives ranging from rice, soy, coconut, hemp, almond and cashew based milk alternatives. Quaker recently even got on board offering oat milk. They've come a long way, and have tried to rival the flavor of animal … [Read More...]
It All Starts with a WALL…
April 2, 2019 A wall poses risks to individual liberty, so it's time to think about setting up a second residency or citizenship before it's too late. The construction of Trump’s wall along the southern border of the U.S. continues to gain momentum. The latest news is that the Pentagon is reallocating $1 billion to help build the wall. Keeping illegal immigrants out of the country is a good goal, if for no other reason than to reduce crime. After all, people who break the law to enter a country are more likely to break the law once … [Read More...]
Response to Andrew Yang’s UBI Platform
Andrew Yang is pushing the idea of Universal Basic Income as his primary platform for his 2020 run for POTUS. Where does this idea fall short and why? April 1, 2019 By: Bobby Casey, Managing Director GWP I discussed Andrew Yang's flagship policy: Universal Basic Income (UBI) in some earlier blogs; but I took the time to listen to his interview with Joe Rogan, to give him a chance to expound on his ideas. Here's what I got... I want to start by saying, I don't disagree with what he identifies as problematic. Where we … [Read More...]
