Blog: The Lesperance Letter
The Cost of Failure vs The Cost of Doing it Right: Selective Listening to and Following of Advice
This is a clear...and totally avoidable...example of an immigration failure caused by a couple who thought they were being clever. They purchased the absolute minimum advice for a complicated situation then tried to save money by executing themselves. Along the...
Tax Billionaires out of Existence?…. A Fantasy that is sure to Backfire
When I became a lawyer almost 30 years ago and started to deal with High Net Worth clients, I quickly discovered that those targeted by "Tax the Rich” policies don’t just meekly await their fate. Just the opposite - they anticipate, prepare and react prior to the...
Almost Time for an IPO? What Founders, Early Employees and Venture Capitalists may want to Consider.
I have spent almost three decades assisting High Net Worth Americans put together their personal Back-Up Plans which, in some cases, included properly leaving the US tax system. Throughout that time I have dealt with individuals from a wide variety of groups including...
Did you receive or apply for a US EB-5 Visa? If yes, you should realize that the IRS may be hot on your trail!
When the US EB-5 Visa Program was introduced in 1990 it was predicted to be a significant development in the Residence by Investment market. However, it was almost 14 years before the program began to reach its annual quota of 10,000 visas. The “game changer” for this...
Did you acquire Canadian Permanent Residence under the Investor category? If so, Canada is checking up on you … and that’s very bad news!
In my blog posts For HNW Chinese the need for a Back-Up Plan is profound: Don’t leave yourself and your family under two storm clouds of risk! and New Immigrant Tax Evasion: It works right up to the moment it stops working! I described some of the dangers that those...
New Immigrant Tax Evasion: It works right up to the moment it stops working!
During my almost three decades of providing professional advice to HNW individuals, I have observed a disturbing phenomenon. Some - thankfully not my clients - look for the benefits of a back-up plan for themselves and their families, but want to skirt the tax...
For HNW Chinese the need for a Back-Up Plan is profound: Don’t leave yourself and your family under two storm clouds of risk!
Yesterday the global public was able to catch a glimpse of the reality facing HNW Chinese businesspeople when a video of US citizen Cynthia Liu was smuggled out of China and released to the media. Ms. Liu, a 28 year old Harvard Business School grad who works in NYC ...
Should I stay or should I go? A Four Step Decision Process on whether to Expatriate from the US
Since 1990, I have assisted literally hundreds of HNW Americans in deciding whether they should take the steps to legally and properly leave the US tax system by either renouncing their US citizenship or giving up their Resident Alien status. This is a complex...
Freedom is a Common Goal…but Seasteading is currently not a Viable Way of Achieving it.
Freedom is a Common Goal…but Seasteading is currently not a Viable Way of Achieving it. Throughout modern history, many people have dreamed of freeing themselves of what they perceive to be the shackles of their government. Excessive taxation, over-regulation of...
Case Study: Brazilian HNW Family Almost Replicates Friend’s Poorly Conceived Back-Up Plan
Case Study: Brazilian HNW Family Almost Replicates Friend's Poorly Conceived Back-Up Plan Like many wealthy Brazilian families, this client had multi-generational experience with changing political environments and their impact on the economy, including the...
Britain’s Wealthy are packing Parachutes and that spells trouble for the rest of the UK!
Britain’s Wealthy are packing Parachutes and that spells trouble for the rest of the UK! The Times recently ran a feature noting that a large number of the UK’s wealthiest individuals have fled for more favourable fiscal climates. It also noted that this trend has...
Seven Ways Golden Geese self-sabotage their own Back-Up Plans (Part 3)
Seven Ways Golden Geese self-sabotage their own Back-Up Plans (Part 3) In almost three decades of assisting Golden Geese (aka High Net Worth individuals) with their Back-Up Plans, I have often observed certain behaviours by the clients themselves that undermine their...