Global Investments
International Limited

THE NEW OFFSHORE PERSONAL PENSION PLAN
Is It For You?

Yes, it is! It doesn't matter how old or young you are or your level of income. At some time in everyone's life we want to slow down and possibly retire. This is the point where all the finer things in life come into being. The "new" offshore personal pension plan is geared to provide you with what you need at this time. The personal pension allows you to set up a plan in a secure offshore environment. A portable plan that will travel with you wherever life or work takes you. The convenience of monthly contributions via credit card eliminates all wire transfers and delayed bankers drafts. 

The investment choices for "your" plan are only limited to your imagination. Stock and bond markets in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America are within reach in a timely secure manner.

Have a US Dollar-, Euro- or Sterling-denominated account. Make money on currency trading. Precious metals, natural resources, it is all available. Most Mutual Funds in the world are available to you. The advantage of a "tax free" environment where your plan is held gives limitless advantages year after year. Setting up trusts to manage and hold your plan is a simple change of request form.

Receive the finer things in life when you most want them. Whether you retire, semi-retire or want to work till the end, the personal pension plan gives you what you want when you want it. No age is too young or old to start. No age is too young or too old to withdraw money. Do what you want when you want it completely independent of others. The companies that administer our recommended Plan are in the top 50 fortune companies of the world. Security and anonymity is their motto.

INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE
Are You Really Protected?

Top of the range healthcare plans are full of benefits which cover most eventualities, as Global Investment's recent survey reveals. 

Healthcare insurance cover can be bought in levels. At the bottom there's standard care - enough cover, one hopes, to cover any emergency surgery and/or treatment which might be necessary for the unfortunate. Moving up a level, the treatment covered becomes more expansive. But to get the full works, expatriates have to look at the top of the range cover - plans which are labelled such as Special, Gold, Premier Plus and Prestige. 

But even on this level, there are several key areas of cover to check up on. Here we have listed three: 

Emergency evacuation, complementary medicines and elective treatment
In the first instance, most, if not all expatriates, will find that emergency evacuation is an important add on. It's one matter covering against unexpected illness or injury, but quite another imagining every last detail of how such misfortune will occur. You need to check whether your plan includes this benefit or whether it is an optional extra. 

Complementary therapies have become widespread. Treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and osteopathy are now fairly standard inclusions. These benefits are usually included in the out-patient list of benefits. Make sure you're covered. 

The third key area to look for with top of the range plans is what is called elective private medical insurance. This is when the policyholder elects the location of treatment. Vital if the healthcare provision is not of a standard you would trust or care to undergo. Some plans allow you to choose where you have that care. Some plans limit cover when travelling to America for a certain number of days per year. Check the small print by finding out the maximum ceiling for medical treatment in the US under this option. 

Costing out a healthcare insurance policy requires foresight and patience. While we all love a bargain, when it comes to selecting healthcare insurance cover many expatriates make problems for themselves by choosing a policy because it was the cheapest on the market. We hasten to add that while cost is a factor, it is not the only consideration. And this is where research pays off.

In our table we have published annual premium quotes for a single male aged 35 for standard care: 

Another cost consideration which must be weighed up at the outset are 'excesses'. Excesses are predetermined figures stating the amount the policy holder must pay before receiving benefits from the insurance company. For instance, with dentistry some plans will ask for the policy holder to pay the first $75 towards whatever treatment is required. In some cases, taking on an excess can reduce the overall annual premium of a plan. 

If you have a thing for rock-climbing or bungee jumping in your spare time, make sure you sign up with a policy which includes the term 'hazardous sports injuries'. Across the range of policies on offer, some providers will pay out for medical treatment of such injuries, while others won't. 

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Please contact Global Investments for more information
on Tel. (+66-2) 662-2009 or e-mail at info@globalinv.org.