swissie

It is not unusual that Farangs realise that after having built a lavish mansion for the family, they discover that any private health insurance in Thailand costs about the same as in their home country.

On the other hand, I tryed to sell some Thai Gold in Switzerland a couple of years ago. (Jewellery). Banks woulden't touch it. Gold deales wanted to send it to an "assayer" first. Best offer finally was 30% below Gold price per Oz. Sold it eventually in Thailand for a fair price. Apart of this: In a time of "crisis", how much would one get for Gold on the black market? 1 loaf of bread for 1 Oz of Gold? Seems that shortly after WW2 the Germans that had US $ fared better than "Gold-Owners". But that's another story.

For most people, easiest way would be to buy mining stocks. Problem is, to open new mines costs a tremendeous amount of money. Takes 10 years to bring a new mine on line. Ore content of new mines generally lower. So, instead of opening new mines, the big mining companies rather try to buy themselfes out. (!!??!!) This doesn't help the "supply leg" of the equasion. Better to go with futures/ETF's. PS: Looks like Copper is ready to correct some more. For this occasion I raised some cash. I sold my kitchen sink and I sold my 8 daughters to a harem in Saudi Arabia.

My Ex-Wife wants me to stay healthy. She forces me to walk every day. After 500 meters I developpe strong pain in my lower back. (in German; Kreutzschmerzen). The Doctor says: At the age of 72 you must expect all kinds of things. Furthermore, surgeons shy away from "surgical-corrections" as 1 "wrong" cut in this bodily aerea can send you to a wheelchair. So, they rather do nothing. So I stopped walking, replacing it by increased drilling in my nose and scratching my ass.

Dear JT. I too have been looking for "alternative places" to live in old age. You are not the only one. For sure, there are still some countries that offer relatively liberal "visa-conditions", mainly if one can prove that the potential future resident has a sound "financial-background". I found out, that regardless where one ends up in old age, outside of the home country, health care costs/health insurance are very expensive, no matter where one ends up. Balmy breezes from the ocean and palm trees will not lower the cost. On a personal note: You an US Citizen. Nobody can deny you any "old age benefits" as a US citizen. Arizona is nice all year round. Mobile Home Parks affordable. With interesting people as your neighbors. Caution: Once you get "the feel" of Arizona, you may ask yourself why you spent the last 500 years in S/E Asia. Otherwise: The US offers so many geographical variations/cimate and different cultural "inputs" like nowhere else in the world. By driving 500 miles you end up in a different world. So, what is the (true) reason for you not wanting to live in your home country anymore in old age? It can't be "financials" only, as health care costs will eventually bankrupt you under some exotic palm trees. No matter where the exotic palm trees grow. PS: With sufficient irrigaton, palm trees also grow in Arizona.

Whatever we do, it's 30 years too late. Period.

Before "the correction" of late, Copper was up 25% this year. SUPPLY AND DEMAND is still the name of the game, or is it? Demand increasing, supply not keeping up. An upcoming discrepancy between supply and demand of this magnitude is very rare and comes across only every 20 years. Any further short term weakness in Copper must be considered as a gift from heaven. If your life-expectancy is at least 5 years and you are aware that the "carrying-charge" of Copper is around 6% per year, you should stop "dancing with wolves" and start to dance with Dr. Copper instead.

In Pattaya, every 300 meters there is a Gold shop. How do you tell a "reputed" dealer from a "non reputed dealer"? The Thai community in my home country prefer to buy Gold here and not in Pattaya. Among other considerations, a Kruegerrand coin is marketable globally as opposed to some mysterious "Thai-Gold".

In case the ETF is backed by physical Gold/Silver a "carrying-charge" is incorporated in the price of the ETF. Currently the carrying charge for Gold and Silver is near 8% per year. Few people realise this. In the case of futures, this carrying charge is reflected in form of a "Contago-Situation". (Every time you "roll" a future to a more distant contract, you pay a little more for the new contract). The opposite is a "backwardation-situation". Very rare! At the moment only happening in crude oil futures. = There is no free lunch!

DELIVERANCE AT LAST ! I must no more earn my living in Pattaya as an Elvis impersonator. I'l just buy a Gold testing device (see post from david555 above). Equipped with this device, I will hop from bar to bar, adressing the ladies with: "Hey sugar babe, for 100 BHT I will test your Gold". I will get rich, get a lot of free drinks and get a lot of admiring looks from the ladies. Maybe more. Eureka!

Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

That's just the problem: Just to scratch the surface won't disclose what's inside. Tungsten/Molybdenum? I know, this hasn't made the headlines yet, but there are Mafia-Structures emerging, specialising on this scam. The profit margin is phantastic. - Above, "david555" has provided a link. A must read for all that are involved in buying/selling physical Gold on a regular basis.

Gathering information by way of internet, only far away Americens would consider such a place. There are no European Seniors, that would even consider Albania. Outside of the capital, even today, "blood-revenge" juristiction is the rule. The only natives that have made any significant money have made it by "traffiking" to Europe. Developping tourism as the only source of (legal) income. Yacht ports mushrooming at $ 150 a day for "parking the yacht". Such a concept does not accommodate future low income "immigrants", no matter where they come from. To disclose some "gay-tendencies" in Tirana is dangerous. In the coutryside it's basically a death sentence. Even today. No investigation by the local police willl ever take place. Having "feelings" toward a Albanian female must be approved and constantly observed by a family member. Rats! No "fast sex" available. All of this very good reasons that no Europeans want to take residence in Albania.

And how much does a private health insurance cost in Thailand for a family of 3 on a monthly basis?

Crime is everywhere. Fake Gold on the increase. As I gather, with the help of Bismut/Wismut the specific weight of Gold can nowadays be imitated. Therefore only the surface must contain Gold, what's inside is not Gold. Final proof can only be detected, when a Gold-Bar is sawed in 2 to see "what's inside" (for example). True/False? Some true "Gold-Bugs" here (having worked in the jewellery/gold business) may be able to shed some light on this.

It's called "trading". My trading platform is very honest. Disclosing that 76% their retail trading-customers lose money year after year. So, who is winning? The big "trading houses" (Banks, Insurance companies, funds) that have constantly new funds coming in, enabeling them to "average down" until the cows come home.

Again: "How would this affect your investments / your portfolio?" Spill your guts. I am no good at deciphering cryptic messages.

If Farangs only would start to understand the most basic thing about marriages between a Farang and a Thai lady: - In the best of cases, a Farang can reach the same standing as the rest of the Thai family. That is the best case, as "the family" remains the center of the universe for a Thai lady. This constellation does not change, even if the Farang builds 17 mansions for the family. - It is not considered "immoral" that the family encourages the wife to milk the Farang for all he has got as long as it benefits her plus the family. Quite the opposite: If she doesen't act this way, she is likely to "lose face" in the eyes of the family. How long will it take before Farangs finally understand this concept?

The November elections in the US will decide, how the world will "function" afterwards. Always keeping in mind that US voters vote by their wallet. Should inflation / gas prices should stay high, combined with a possible slowdowdown of the economy, chances are that a change of governement takes place. How would this affect your investments / your portfolio?

Eureka, it has happened. Went to an old folks home and declared that the swiss economy will grow by 9.5% this year. Predictably, the old ladies tore off their clothes and asked for some "Chippendale" dancers. Enthusiasm total. Within this environement it was easy to sell some life insurance to a bunch of 95 year olds. Backed by a insurance company, domiciled in Eastern Timbuktu.

As I like to buy low and sell high I am not really a happy camper these days, as "everything" seems "high". I am trying to focus on "fallen angels /turnaround situations". I found out that it takes a lot of work for the individual investor to find such (viable) situations. Usually "run of the mill" advisories find turnarounds only after they have risen 30% already. Question: Any research institute / broker / newsletter that spcialises in fallen angels / turnaround situations, BEFORE they have gained 30% ? Anyone?

While the US Russel 2000 is holding up quite well. Who is buying the "small-caps"? Or: Who is not selling the "small caps"?

If they eventually have to "roll-over" their 1% loans to (new) 5% loans, their balance-sheet may not look so good anymore.

Brothers, let's face it. Not much economic growth in the west and meager productivity increases for the last decade. What kept the party going? 0% interest rates (money for free). In the meantime the world has accumulated a mountain of dept, that would even make John Wayne shake in his boots. To keep the party going, we need "free money" again, one way or the other. It's an addiction. What does the world need? Cocaine, Heroin, Extasy? No, what the world needs is "free money" once more. Otherwise the party will end.

64% ? About same as Switzerland. BUT: Thailand (with the help of China) still has the potential of strong economical growth. In Switzerland, if ever we should see annual economic growth over 3%, our 65 year old women will dance naked in the streets. Exclaiming: Halleluya , the Gods are with us.