Introduction
“Where were you when the world stopped turning…that September
day?” - Alan Jackson
My objective in writing The Swiss
Preserve Solution is to look at the 21st century
world we live in through the eyes, hearts, and vision of our
Founding Fathers, who gave so much in the struggle for
independence of the United States. What was their legacy to us,
in terms of liberty, government structure, citizen
participation, politicians and the electoral process? If they
were here today, would they be proud of the way we apply the
freedoms they provided, or would they be repulsed at the
degradation of their dreams for this nation? Ultimately, have we
and previous generations failed in our sacred duty to honor and
defend the American legacy?
I believe it is time to restore the legacy of liberty,
self-reliance, and total resistance to uncontrolled government
that motivated these patriots almost three hundred years ago to
do the impossible. Our Founding Fathers stood up against the
most powerful empire the world had known since the Roman Empire,
and with courage as their shields and ideals as their weapons,
they united in a battle for independence - and they won. It is
time to review our history to see what has happened since our
birth as a nation, from what began as a country with a
decentralized, limited government, to the political mess that we
have today.
Every American will always remember where they were on
the clear fall morning of September 11, 2001. It was the day
the world as we knew it suddenly collapsed and we wondered if
life would ever be the same again. Since then, we have found
that the answer to our question is no. Currently, U.S.
troops are fighting difficult guerilla wars in both Iraq and
Afghanistan, and much of the support that flooded into the
United States after 9/11 has now turned into distrust throughout
Europe and Asia, and pure outrage throughout the Middle East.
It is safe to say that as our foreign policy dissipated
into shambles in the years following September 11th,
the world was indeed turned upside down in other ways as well;
life is certainly not the same for the world of wealth
preservation, global investing or personal and financial
privacy. Following the September terrorist attacks, the
resulting “War on Terror” has raged around the world with
threats at home and abroad to privacy, confidentiality, and
asset protection jurisdictions. In other words, the War on
Terror has generated a cold disregard for personal freedoms and
civil liberties here in the U.S. without protecting us from
those who hate and want to destroy us abroad.
However, it is important to realize that while the
Patriot Act and continued terrorist threats have led to the
capitulation of many offshore guarantees of financial
confidentiality, all is not lost. Investors can still achieve a
high level of privacy and asset protection with offshore
investing within legal frameworks that are both safe and
convenient. This is possible through utilizing the best
advisors and consultants and by taking advantage of the unique
opportunities that exist in Switzerland, Austria and other
reputable jurisdictions.
Over the last three hundred years, the American legal
system has been transformed from one that rightfully defended
and protected property rights and personal wealth, into a giant
wealth transfer scheme that functions for the financial benefit
of the legal profession and avaricious politicians. With the
outrageous damages and penalties in court cases today, and often
with multiple defendants, it does not seem to matter if you are
guilty or innocent. Instead, today guilt or innocence is more
often decided based on who can afford to pay, rather than on the
facts of the case. This is a frightening time to be a
successful individual in America, and as a result, many
concerned citizens are taking action to remove as much of their
accumulated wealth as possible from the risk of the U.S. legal
system.
Moreover, our government, which was originally
established to protect and defend us, has been degraded into one
of the greatest threats to our property. Between the “war on
drugs”, the “war on tax havens” and now the War on Terror,
almost every activity in the United States could potentially
infringe on one of the thousands of laws that no one truly
understands but that nonetheless allow any government entity or
law enforcement agency the right to make an accusation and
confiscate our assets. It is then up to you--and ultimately how
much more money you are willing to spend-- to prove your
innocence. Sadly, with regard to your property and wealth, the
long-standing American legal tradition of “innocent until proven
guilty” has been twisted into “guilty and we hold your property
and money until you can prove your innocence.”
I understand that writing The Swiss Preserve Solution
is not exactly the best way to make friends with the U.S.
financial establishment, the American legal profession, and some
questionable third-world offshore jurisdictions. I am also sure
I will not win any popularity contests with those selling
expensive, “old style” asset protection structures, nor with
scam artists inhabiting some of the less regulated offshore
havens. Likewise, I imagine those financial “experts” on the
fringe of legitimacy in the U.S., who are selling questionable
structures as the mistaken solution for Americans wishing to
protect their wealth, probably will not be calling me for
drinks. Nevertheless, as I have said before, I feel an
obligation to help fellow investors make the right decisions now
that will lead to the best possible financial future.
Finally, I want to directly warn those of you who have
previously indulged in suspicious offshore activities that may
now be illegal, to avoid certain taxation issues or reporting
requirements. This will not be a caveat you will want to hear,
but it is one that you should listen to now and take necessary
action. Secret accounts and tax evasion have no place in the 21st
century. Like it or not, the blatant disregard for taxes or
reporting rules actually places you and your wealth in far
greater danger of confiscation, fines, and ultimately high
losses than had you done nothing in the first place.
Still, after all is said and done, Uncle Sam and his
revenue agencies are actually minor players in the field of
wealth confiscation. Believe it or not, the highest threats are
your spouse, business partners, closest friends and confidants.
They are the people who know your secrets and your business and
are most likely to sue you. Moreover, your assets are sometimes
more jeopardized from risky investments pushed by greedy
investment firms and high commissioned salesmen, than even your
worst litigants or scandalous lawsuits. Often the most
dangerous group to offshore investors and participants in asset
protection schemes are the actual promoters who have squandered
or stolen the funds. In addition, if you have already followed
poor advice in the past by attempting to protect assets through
questionable tactics, you can expect eventual disclosure and
harsh government penalties, including total confiscation and
perhaps even jail time.
Another
risk to your wealth that will be discussed later in greater
detail is the risk of future exchange controls during a
financial crisis, like another terrorist attack. It is
important to have your global diversification and wealth
planning completed before such a crisis, because it may either
then be too late to invest at reasonable prices, or completely
prohibited when you need to invest offshore. In upcoming
chapters I will outline the importance of establishing a solid,
long-term structure that does not require you to adjust your
wealth plan for every change in the law, policy, or market
trends. After all, a proper wealth planning structure is
flexible and allows for rapid changes in both allocation and
approach-- without the delays and restrictions that many
unprepared Americans may face due to U.S. regulations.
My point is that major threats to your wealth in this
century are not always rooted in the government and lawsuits,
but instead can stem from other individuals and concerns that
you would be wise to prepare for. A timely example is the
growing threat to U.S.-based investment portfolios from future
terrorist attacks that target our investment markets and
financial infrastructure. I will discuss this risk, as well as
the long-term risk of America’s gradual transition from a
constitutional republic to a world empire, in the chapters that
follow, focusing on ways to protect your wealth as the dollar
falls under increasing scrutiny over the next few years.
The information presented in The Swiss Preserve
Solution is the key to legally safeguarding your private
wealth for your family and for future generations. However, it
is important to remember that successfully protecting this
wealth is more than just a legal battle- it is also an
intellectual and philosophical struggle, and ultimately a
political war between those who value personal property and
those who are out to steal it. Remember, no man is an island in
this century’s fight for defense of liberty, property, and
financial autonomy.
Ludwig von Mises, founder of the Austrian School of Economics,
appropriately summarized our world situation many years ago when
he said:
"Society lives and acts only as individuals; it is nothing
more than a certain attitude on their part. Everyone carries a
part of society on his shoulders; no one is relieved of his
share of responsibility by others. And no one can find a safe
way out for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction.
Therefore everyone, in his own interests, must thrust himself
vigorously into the intellectual battle. None can stand aside
with unconcern; the interests of everyone hang on the result.
Whether he chooses or not, every man is drawn into the great
historical struggle, the decisive battle into which our epoch
has plunged." For more information about Mises, contact The
Mises Institute
www.mises.org
In order to help achieve final
victory in this historic struggle, and in philosophical
agreement with Ludwig von Mises, I have made arrangements to
contribute 5% of the profit of each print book sold to selected
501(c)3 organizations for the promotion and defense of liberty
and limited government. It is my wish and prayer that the new
information and strategies presented in The Swiss Preserve
Solution will help you defend your wealth and liberties in
our new 21st Century world.
I have done my best to present the threats to your
liberty and wealth and to introduce new wealth planning features
and solutions to counter each threat. Do I have all the answers
to the financial needs and concerns of high net worth investors?
Of course not. However, what I do have are insightful remedies
to the dilemmas we face in the post-9/11 world as we try to
protect our assets proficiently and legally. If you want to
preserve your wealth and liberties, then take a look at what I
have to say. The rest is up to you.
Ron
Fact, Book & Video Recommendations For This Page:
The 9/11 attack and the response of our politicians
and the federal government have changed our nation, the United
States more than the two World Wars, the Cold War or the Great
Depression. I believe the long-term impact could be very
negative and comparable in scope relating to expansion of
central government power and authority to the aftermath of the
Civil War for our Northern readers but what I prefer to call the
War Between the States. Like the War On Terror, this was an
earlier conflict framed in noble principles but actually a war
based primarily on wealth confiscation, economics, and taxes on
both sides of the conflict. I've included a link below to both
the 9/11 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
United States and Loose Change, a controversial alternative look
at 9/11. Who really was behind the 9/11 attack? It was either
Islamic terrorists, rogue or deniable operatives out to provide
the excuse for a change in foreign and domestic policies, an
insurance scam on the building or something to do with all of
the Wall Street investigations at the time as the SEC had a
major office in the building and most of the evidence was
destroyed. Your guess is as good is mine but the important
point for the book is how do we respond to the new regulations
and assaults on liberty that have followed the attack. - Ron
Holland
Human
Action by Ludwig von Mises. This is not an easy read but it
is essential reading for any supporter of free-market economics.
I am a quick reader but in comparison this made the Bible a
quick read and it took me many weeks to get through it.
The Swiss
Confederation Institute News
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news, editorials and reports relating to topics
covered in The Swiss Preserve Solution.
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(c) 2007 Swiss Confederation Institute
Page Key Words:
9/11 terrorist attack, Founding Fathers,
Patriot Act, restoring freedom, Loose Change video
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