TroubleandGrumpy

Cheers mate - again I agree 100% - especially that we must all do what we think is best for our own situation. Thanks for recognising that and not overreacting to my comments about why it does not suit myself at this time. Take care

Filthy rich as in a multi millionaire in $USD?

I know you feel obliged to answer, even though no one asked, but retired Expats with as large a fortune as one person claims to have, are very very unlikely to live full time in Pattaya Thailand. Cerainly rich Thais live here because they are rich and Thai - duh. But a multi millionare ($USD) retired Expat? That is why I asked. In answer to your and other's smug virtue signalling question, that really only an ignorant would ask a stranger, my Wife's Mother is very old and was very sick 2 years ago. We have no kids and all the other Sisters have family and work - so we moved back here for her to be around and look after her when needed. We will move back to Oz after she passes and/or if one of us gets a serious medical issue (cancer etc.). So I have 'less' and are not as good as you eh? Like I said - virtue signalling LTR fanatic me thinks - answer the questions instead of giving a lecture maybe. I agree with all those points - the LTR is a great Visa if it suits your financial arrangements (income shown in a tax return but not the actual details) and you have decent BOI approved health insurance. That only 6000 have one, means that there are issues that BOI has not addressed about their requirements. Plus I will again repeat my concern over the issue that affects me - to prove my income means fully providing details about my personal financial information - and if Thailand moves to a global taxation system (yes, if) then I dont want Thai Govt having that information. Read my extensive previous posts that detail why there could be income tax issues if Thailand moves to a global taxation system. IMO that snarky answer means your claims are false - no attempt to give any reasons or answers. I started another post on LTR which was rolled into this one and I asked questions - I was thinking of applying and have been 'talking' to BOI on and off this year - I was genuinely interested - until I saw the gotchas. When I decided to not proceed with the LTR application I posted that and the reasons why I made that decision. This resulted in being attacked and criticised and told I was wrong and just dont have enough money and was not good enough etc etc. Seems there are several posters here who have an LTR and refuse to believe that it is not a great Visa. They believe that anyone speaking anything negative about it is sacrilege and they defend LTR and themselves 'vigorously' I find it amusing and clearly some of them are 'inconsistent' in their claims - so I called them out. I like Thailand a lot - it has many problems and issues - but if I was a multi millionaire (in $USD) retiree I would be visiting not living here. Perhaps the LTR 'bars' will be lowered again next year regarding what they will accept as evidence of 'income', and maybe they will change the ridiculous 100K USD in a bank account, and maybe they will remove the Thai scam insurance requirement (those who have global insurance are lucky - keep it). But I doubt it. Plus maybe the global taxation system will be dropped and never implemented, and even if it is implemented, maybe the LTR Visa holders will be made exempt from that income tax obligation as well as their current exemption. But I doubt it.

They YET AGAIN miss/ignore the real story - because to do so would damage TAT and the Thai economy. Not only are the tourist numbers down, but their value to the Thai economy is dramatically less than the numbers TAT use (based on 2019) to calculate the value of tourism in their reports. In 2019 a large number of tourists came from China and 'wealthier' Western and Asian countries. Now the largest numbers are from Malaysia (lots of short stay border crossers) and India (cheap Charlies). Not only are the numbers down - the value per tourist is down too - but TAT as usual fabricates numbers towards meeting its own objectives (and what the Govt wants to hear).

That Comey got away with not prosecuting Hillary for destruction of evidence, and for not recording her interview/s, was incompetent and clearly biased, but unfortunately it is not a criminal charge to be incompetent or biased.

@angryguy Well mate - you certainly stirred things up didn't you? IMO older men can become very grumpy because they are not as relevant as they used to be and things have not worked out the way they might have wanted. Most old women tend to just give up and shut up - they know being grumpy and angry is not good for their health. Some of us grumpy older men are far too grumpy and become angry far too easily - often because they do not know that they are grumpy and angry. Hence my tag - Trouble and Grumpy. It is something my Thai wife and I share with each other - both as a laugh - but also to remind us both - her to not be too much Trouble, and me to not get too Grumpy.

Exactly. If Russia wanted to conquer Ukraine totally, they would have done it within a year. But that would have caused massive casualties and maybe have triggered NATO countries to respond with their military - hence WW3. However, that might not happen (NATO responding militarily) because Russia has strategic alliances with India and China and they would probably support Russia - they certainly do not want NATO on their borders. Plus it would probably trigger China to invade Taiwan while the rest of the World is otherwise occupied (same as Japan did in WW3). Big picture issues at stake - USA/NATO tried to 'convert' Ukraine into a NATO Nation - against Russia's wishes and the deals they thought were done when USSR broke up and became Russia and independent States.

Yep - going good again. Look over 10 years - note the surge from 2017 until that effin Covid hit. Starting to grow again after massive decline under Biden/Dems- with a blip down due to the tariffs, but in 70s when Trump/GOP arrived and now in 80s - was in 90s a short while ago and will be back there soon enough.

Good to see - about time USA stopped sponsoring the development of the world. The US market is the biggest in the world and the only reasons there are so many imports into USA is that they have in the past used trade dals to boost moves to democracy and to help develop other countries. Of course the real reason is so that manufacturers can make huge profits because it is cheaper to make things like medications in India. The 'humanitarian' and 'democracy' benefits of USA sponsoring the manufacturing of other countries has not been realised - it was all a huge scam by big business. Just look at China - when Clinton allowed China into the global markets it was all about growing them economically so that they would move towards a democratic form of Government - net result after 40 years - they are still Communists - even more so. Same with Russia. The USA should put the People and Economy of USA first and stop supporting the World. Over time once things settle in, then if any particular country can compete in the USA market and their Govt gives USA manufacturers the same access, then go ahead. But the last 30-40 years of USA lowering tariffs on overseas manufacturers, while those countries keep their tariffs on USA products and services, has failed to benefit the World overall and it has been at USA's expense. The real winners in this period, just like during Covid, has been the rich and wealthy - that is what they do - take advantage of massive changes in the world/country - and they will do it again (but inside USA this time).

Could I ask something - Why are you living in Thailand with that sort of money?? Serious question. Surely Singapore or Macau or somewhere like Malaysia, Portugal, Panama etc. where you can buy and own land? Or maybe even with that sort of money, back in your home country in an exclusive estate with all the benefits of a 1st class medical (ambulance and hospitals) and safer road system and less corrupt police and a decent unbiased Court system and not as much Xenophobia and Citizenship etc etc etc. My wife and I would definitely not live here if we had that sort of money - we would visit a lot - probably own a villa on an island - but we would base ourselves and citizenship elsewhere for sure - and so would most Thais IMO. Maybe I am missing something?

Thanks - it is obvious to me that many people here do not actually manage large amounts of money. What you are doing is what all people with money do - maximise their returns and minimise their costs (especially taxation). I once met Robert Holmes à Court in Sydney - he was a very intelligent and nice man. I was a young upcoming businessman and he talked to me for some reason. One thing in particular that taught me a lot in that conversion so many decades ago was - 'No on can afford cheap shoes'. I bought a very expensive pair of Italian shoes (over $1000 today) and they lasted me for all my career - resoled twice - son now keeps them as a pair for special functions etc. After that I bought good shoes only (not that good again), but only when I could afford it - after a few years I had 5 pairs and they lasted me my career. I took the same approach with suits - and most things. Even one of the richest men in the world knew that buying cheap shoes was expensive in the long run - that is how they think. PS - I backed his horse in the Melbourne Cup and it one - Black Knight.

I do not pay ANY income taxes on the money I earn or withdraw from my superannuation account - as I have said several times - try reading people's post more slowly and fully so that in the future you get all the information. IF I was to put my super money into a bank account that, as I have also said several times, will cause issues regarding taxation, and other Government stuff such as part-Pension payments I receive, and future issues when I move back there. BOI refused to accept that my Super account was acceptable, even though I showed that it takes less than 2 days for a withdrawal to land in a Thai bank account. They indicated that the 'earnings' I made in the super account could be acceptable as it was 'reported' by the Super Fund, but they could not understand why that money was not in my annual tax return no matter how I explained it. The BOI clearly have an extremely poor understanding of financial arrangements in other countries - that and several other issues clearly showed that. Now you may say that this is Thailand etc. and 'why should they' - and my answer is - 'because they are demanding the details of people's overseas financial organisations'. What is very clear from posters like yourself, is that you think you are 'better' than others who either cannot get the money to have an LTR (NOT ME), or who have decided that the LTR is either not suitable, or is a bit of a scam (ME). The other thing very clear is that people like you refuse to listen/hear that there are 'issues' with the LTR Visa - you are constantly attacking my comments about the negatives with LTR Visas. If you are so happy with getting an LTR why are you so concerned that I am criticising it? You have forgotten that this is a forum whereby people provide their views and opinions. You seem to 'need' everyone to agree with your belief that the LTR Visa is for 'better' people and that it is perfect. Well I dont believe that for me, and my comments are not an attack on you or your decision, it is a statement of what I think is wrong with the LTR (health insurance) and what is a massive risk (future income taxes). The topic is about the LTR now being available - and that BOI have lowered the bars for requirements - due to the very small demand. Only 7000 applicants after 3 years shows that either it is not such a great solution, and/or people have concerns about some of the requirements. It does not mean that very few 'special' people qualify. IMO it is the health insurance and future income tax issues - which do not exist with Elite Visa or the standard 12 month Extensions. I will also point out that I saw a video recently by Integrity Legal on Youtube that claimed the BOI does not have the authority to approve work permits under an LTR, unless the person is employed and paid by an overseas company and is working remotely in Thailand. I think that could also be a reason why another group who might want the LTR, did not push down the doors at BOI to get one. Please also understand that I am placing this post here, not just to answer you, but for others to read and to take into their decision making process about LTR. As stated many times - I can meet the LTR requirements - but the insurance I would have to buy in Thailand is way overpriced, and the taxation and Govt downsides back in Australia from putting 100K USD into a savings account would be financially stupid. Plus of course - in some future year (IMO far less than 10) Thailand will change to a global taxations system - TRD is working on it now.

I cannot understand that you cannot listen - in Australia bank savings accounts pay SFA interest - only an idiot would keep that sort of money in such account for 12 months or more. I knew a few very wealthy people - and they never wasted money by having large amounts in a savings account. I am thinking you are full of it - and that you see that many investment funds have 'cash' as part of their investment portfolios. That is not CASH as in a bank savings accounts - it means 'money' usually invested in Govt secure investment organisations (including banks) or Government Bonds. It is NOT cash in a savings account.

Yep - gravity sucks - especially when up a ladder Yes Thailand labour is cheap - as they say - better to buy a used house here and spend a bit fixing it up. But the wife always wanted a new house - so that is what we got - add ons are so cheap here. I gutted and rebuild the whole kitchen/room - cost under $10K AUD - would have cost $30K+ in Australia. Had a pergola/veranda build for well under $10K - that would have cost a lot more than kitchen back home (mainly labour).

I am basing those assertions on freely available stats and also my own observations. The stats show that 40-50% of western marriages end in divorce and 60-70% of second marriages. My own observations is that those rates are low and reality is higher - but that is in Australia and amongst my social circles which are wide - I was an Regional Manager but played football with Tradies. The difference is that in Thailand, the blokes are not screwed over as much as they are in the west by divorce laws.

Dont like the guy - comes across 2M as a loud ignorant conspiracy nutter way too much. However he did say some things that are on point, but IMO most of it was greatly exaggerated or completely misleading and some outright false. Having said all that, I now realise Jones was very much like WAPO, CNN and MSNBC. Either way - now he has been 'smacked' I am sure he will behave more within the ethical and legal boundaries he over-stepped before.

I did ask that question and they replied 'any cash savings account with any Aust bank' - they did not specifically say if a specific type of account with a specific Australian bank was acceptable. I am sure they would accept most savings accounts - but my issue is that it is not guaranteed (rules change here a lot) and that is a lot of wasted earnings. As someone already said, that option really only applies to someone that has already had over $150K USD in a bank savings account (although I cannot see why someone would). Some said that a term investment bank account was probably OK - but BOI said it must be an 'cash' bank account not a fixed term.

I am not going to disagree with all that - most of it is true - but I will say it is a very narrow base upon which you made your judgments - you should really look beyond your own experiences and families. The truth is that the divorce rates in the west are high and dont seem to be slowing - and the issue with that is because invariably it is the western blokes that loose out financially. In Thailand (to be somewhat specific) the blokes who do lose their money are not financially r**ped as in the west through a divorce, they voluntarily (foolishly) waste their money based on bad decisions. I have to agree that a lot of Expats do seem to have met their Thai GF/Wives that they wasted lots of money on, in bars and in other situations not condusive to her being a 'good person'. That is not to say some Thai girls in those situations do not turn out to be great Expat wives - I know 2 blokes like that (one knows, the other one doesnt). Good idea to sell the bike - falling at our age is not a good thing. Once you get past 70ish even a trip and fall inside the house can be catastrophic if unlucky. I recall going up a ladder earlier this year - it had been a few years and although it was good, I noticed my sense of balance was nowhere near what it was back in the day. Now either the wife does it - or we pay a Thai worker.

As I have stated several times, in Australia the difference between at-call bank savings accounts and interest earning investment bank accounts and retirement superannuation accounts in Australia is huge. I am not sure how it works for other countries, but for me that is a lot of wasted potential earnings. I just calculated $100K USD between my bank account and my super earnings- and it equates to 230,000 Baht - and more if it went into a Thai bank savings account Lets not go into the issue of millionaires having wasted cash in a bank account and living full-time in Pattaya (again). But for me it would be the insurance option - which I have said is not 'acceptable' given I self-insure (over 1 million Baht in bank accounts and some accident insurance) and have done so for over 10 years.

I actually asked that question, amongst many others. Does the income amount have to be maintained every single year, or can it be averaged over the first 5 years (some up and some down) therefore is $400+K income over the 5 years acceptable whenever it was received. They never answered that question.

So to be able to change from approved insurance policy to approved bank account, you must have had the money in that account for 12 months minimum and then you apply and if approved you can use it going forward. So to change from insurance, you have to make the $100K USD deposit and wait 12 months and hope the bank and account type is accepted or you have wasted a lot of potential interest earnings.

They cannot do that - Trump lives rent free in their heads. Musk was their 'hero' some years ago - but now they hate him - they have no 'topic'. They either Love (lefty, commie, greenie, pro palestine, pro trans, Dems, etc.) or they Hate (conservative. right wing, law and order, constitution, GOP, etc.). Mostly emotions and feelings - Very little facts and logic (like most women).

Took you long enough 😁

In fact Allen was one of the first of the 'elite' to marry a much younger Asian woman. Nowadays a lot are married to either Asians or 'non-westerns' (like Trump) - I wonder why?? 😉

Thai women (good ones) make excellent Wives/Partners - and I do mean Partners. Some blokes here treat them 'not so good' - but the majority have a good one and they treat each other well. So much better than the western ex-wife that many of us have experienced. If there is any advice I could give (and do) to any young man willing to listen, it is to avoid the western women 'trap' and stay single (including getting a 'reversible' vasectomy) and spend your 20s-40s building up your wealth. If you have done well and can retire early and want kids, then move yourself (not your wealth) to a country where the marriage laws do not enable a woman to divorce you after 5-10 years and take half your money plus get child support and alimony - Thailand fits that bill perfectly. Alternatively, if you decide in your mid-late 30s to change the situation and marry a western 'good one', then vasectomies are very reversible these days. Most blokes that get caught in the western women 'trap' do so early in life, and they 'lock you in' by having babies - and you have to pay for 20-30 years (the first 10 being normal, and the next 20-30 being for the kids). I will be 69 later this year - we will both be hitting the big 7 0 in 2026 😁. And yes, we dont bounce at our ages - a fall from 3 feet now is like from 15-20+ feet when 18. Yes it is hilarious was some Thais do with 'vehicles' - I agree that I will fit right in with all that.