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Finding Offshore Accounts - Don't Leave Yours to Chance

Finding offshore accounts is as simple as using the right information to find the best choice for your investing strategy. However, choosing the wrong offshore bank could result in a number of senseless headaches and additional fees. In addition, it may not be a good vehicle for your investing strategy. Therefore, we have included a few tips to help you do a better job of finding offshore accounts which will be the best for you:

1. Pick an offshore bank that uses the common law over the civil law.

For most Americans and British investors, you will want to choose offshore jurisdictions where they follow the English common law. This is the system that is most like your current legal systems. Generally, you will find this in countries which were formally a part of the British empire. Some examples include the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Guernsey, Jersey and many others.

2. Choose a bank whose time zone is similar to yours.

This will help make it easier to make transactions and will not require you to stay awake in the middle of the night so you can contact your offshore banker. By choosing an offshore bank in a time zone that is similar to yours, you make it far easier for you to do business.

3. Avoid banks that have high wire transfer costs.

Wire transfers will most likely be your main course of sending money back and forth. Depending on how much money moving you anticipate for your investing needs, these wire charges can add up really quickly. For this reason, be on the lookout for offshore banks that offer reasonable rates for them.

4. If privacy is very important, make sure your offshore jurisdiction is strong there.

For many investors, privacy of their transactions and funds is their highest priority. For this reason, you should only select banks which have very strong privacy laws and regulations. However, even after selecting one, you must actively watch the jurisdiction for news that they may relax their privacy regulations. For investors that want the most privacy, you will have to stay vigilant.

By keeping these tips in mind, finding offshore accounts to meet your needs should be much easier. Remember spending a little time upfront with good research can you save you serious time, energy, and money down the road.

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