If you're self employed you don't pay into SS and no benefits for you. That's fair. A guy works hard all his life and contributes money to SS and does well for himself........sorry sir but you worked too hard and were too successful..... no benefits for you. That is totally wrong.
Everyone's situation is different. Agents will always be around. What you call corruption is simply a way of life here. Everyone gets a piece of the pie.
I had issues with deposits at Bangkok Bank. Seems something called Credit Advices from the bank is needed to show gov money is a foreign transfer. If this works then fine I'll continue doing myself but if there's any hiccups then I'll start using an agent.
My main reason for not going the 800K route is not being able to put my daughter's name on account. For me it's either monthly deposit or an agent.
There was a time when some Florida areas were considered safe from weather but it seems those days are gone. I would imagine many homeowners there are perhaps dropping Insurance because of price hike.
Quite a few utube videos documenting the collapse of RE in Florida.
I heard Rubio explaining himself on this subject. What a skilled talker he is. Coming to this country on a Visa to study is a privilege. And, rightly so.