en184

The company im question was barclayspencer.  They appear to be a very reputable company.  

Almost wish I hadn't turned them down.  

Anybody heard of them?

Web and Internet have become cheap commodities.  Used to be prized but now so many unemployed experts arround since the dot.com collapse.  

I used to test internet banking websites for a living..  That source of revenue has pretty much dried up now or is being done in India.

Luckily, as a European investor, the world has many other countries worthy of investment and property.

If thailand wants to make it difficult for farangs to come to thailand, we can go to Indoneia (formed dutch colony), malaysia (british / dutch colony), cambodia, laos, vietnam (former french colonies).

Indonesia is great and so are the girls.  Malay girls are good looking too.  Lao girls are similar to Isaan.

I invest in thailand because I love the country.  Studies show that countries with high foreign investment (UK, Ireland, Luxmbourg, Switzerland, HongKong, Singapore) tend to have higher GDP.  Surely thaksin would like thailand to join the global elite.  Free trade, property ownership and foreign investment as well as a large expat population = A wealthy country.

Anybody disagree that this is not worth the risk, and that actually living in Europe is quite comfortable really.

Why work in thailand without a work permit, and only a sales based commission, when life is actually very comfortable over here, and I can still have my holiday home in thailand and spend up to 6 weeks a year down there, enjoying the country.

I like your websites.  Looks like you don't need work.  Just design those cool teen art websites and collect the cash.

If you are interested in such a joint venture, please contact me on

[email protected]

I have a very small side business that is similar.

http://www.stkittsnevis.net/invest/citizenship.html

http://web.idirect.com/~stkitts/invest/citizenship.htm

St Kitts Island - 250,000 USD investment

http://www.goccp.com/ENG....ort.htm

http://www.escapeartist.com/passports/passports.htm

Dexia Bank, Luxembourg - transfer 8.50 Euros to thailand.  Transfers within the EU are cheaper.

www.dexia.lu

Hi,

I have worked in the "offshore" banking industry here in luxembourg.  Only a few banks have the reporting capacity to accept US customers.  

You could try obtaining a second passport from a different country and not declaring your US nationality.  Most banks would accept then.  It is at your own risk though.

Nationality can be aquired through marriage or perhaps you have an irish or german grandfather and can claim through blood relations?

In some countries you can purchase nationality for a fee.

Internet banking or a standing order.

I know dexia bank in luxemboug offers online transfers worldwide including to thailand.  Other banks must too.

I am qualified.  I have an advanced degree in finance and would make a good financial planner.

I strongly believe that alot of people are not saving enough for thier retirement and for rainy days etc which come to the unprepared.

layoffs and such are on the increase.

Given all the advice I have recieved, I have decided it is not worth the risk.  The commission offered, 3% would not be sufficient to cover my living costs and my visa would probably run out before my first commission is earned.  Working on the same basis as a Burmese immigrant is not clever.  Infact I am sure certain bar girls with the same status would earn more especially if they work arround the region.

While the company is offering an honest opportunity to be an independant financial adviser, selling policies to expats in thailand, I believe the market for such life insurance policies is not that good right now.  Certainly, the industry over here in europe has been facing less premium income than before.  

Having worked in the industry, in the section paying out the commissions, I know that some IFA's do earn alot of money.  I have seen the commission being paid out from the view of the life insurance co.

It would take 2 customers / month with 50k USD in assets to earn a reasonable wage.  My guess is even this number is quite hard to achieve in a small market like BKK and the large number of brokers chasing these dollars.

Probably easier to find 2 such customers in europe?

1 farang a day is arrested ?

the 360 figure is just to boost website viewership and so the revenues of thaivisa.

Alot of thai companies pay dividends in the range of 6-8%, so you would have 600-800k per year to live ooff.

Alternatively, some US companies also pay high dividends, Altria group for example.  

Perhaps buy a basket of high dividend stocks and a couple of rental properties.  

This would give you a monthly income stream.  For example, small studios in bangkok can still be purchased for just over the 1m bhat mark.  If you had 5 of these, you would have an income of 50k/month, and perhaps 20k month in dividends.

Please put the story online.

Or has the thai govt asked for it to be removed?

Or are they beggars, not illegal farangs?

Hi bart,

To get a job in Singapore, a good place to start would be through an agency like robert walters (website www.robertwalters.com -  I can give you the number via private message or email.  

The problem with IT in Singapore, is that there is alot of competition from India.  This is especially the case in Singapore where Indian IT contractors earn 3500-5000 SGD per month.  

Some people earning alot more than this.  

Getting a visa is no problem.  The company will sponser you.  Don't worry if the add says singaporeans only.  Apply anyways.  

Jobsdb and monster.com.sg might also be good doors of entry.

The jobs market is not good right now worldwide.  I think UK is still good, with unemployment below 5% and thailand should be good.  Its economy is doing well.

Financial services industry currently not hiring much.  This is causing alot of problems.

Rates of pay seem to have dropped to.  I experienced a 35% drop in pay in the last year.

Heard on CNBC, Thailand is forecasted for up to 9% GDP growth this year.

Is this possible?

I have no problems with paying taxes to the hai government, if they provide me with a visa.

Can I use investments in the thai stock market instead of bank deposits?  I don't like leaving cash sitting ideal not working.

Thanks for the advice butterfly.  I have my own concerns about the job, but on the plus side, the possibility to earn a very high tax free income from high sales exists, and the opportunity to live and work in thai.

Nothing wrong with boiler room brokerage outfits, as long as what they are selling is legal.

Hi,

I lived there for a year.  Singapore is a fantastic place to live.  You can work in Singapore during the week, and be in a bar in Bangkok before 9.00 PM on the weekend.

Plus, the people are friendly, the place is english speaking, the currency is strong, there are well paid jobs, etc.

I would highly reccomend singapore to anyone.

Plus flights are cheap.  You can go to singapore for under 300 SGD return from thailand.

Just commenting on my own experiences.  

Frankly, View Taly is not a bad choice of condo for a starter.  And at least if you buy a condo in thai, even if you loose all your money on the wrong stock, you can still live in the condo when you retire.

If you buy right, you can get a sunset view.

The seamico website is www.seamico.com..

Seamico is so good, that even thai stocks advertises in thier snake board.

for good investment advice, open an account with Seamico.  They offer an excellent online brokerage service, daily research direct to your inbox, voting rights on farang shares, dividends straight to your brokerage account or sent to your thai bank account.

I know PR will agree that Seamico are good, since he often advertises in the stock spot board on thier website.

You can aslo ask questions to the analyst.