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Panama Inside-Out
(Warts and All)
Let on-the-ground experts, expats, and insiders
introduce you to the real Panama... Here's your chance to uncover the opportunity
that's right for you in the world's top retirement,
lifestyle, investment, doing-business, and embarking-on-a- new-adventure haven... Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader, There's the Panama of the marketing hype... There's the Panama of the Internet... There's the theory of Panama...the idea of Panama... Then there's the real Panama... 
Panama continues to improve Beyond the much-touted advantages of this country's pensionado program...beyond the excellent infrastructure...the high standard of health care...the affordable cost of living...the enviable geographic position... Beyond the banking advantages...the doing-business incentives...the tax breaks...the sustained economic prosperity... Lies a squiggle of a country with two long coastlines. All the benefits exist, of course, and there are many, many others... But with so much on the table, the idea of Panama can become overwhelming...and, at times, misleading... For, just as there is a wealth of information out there on Panama today...so, too, are there lots of mistruths and inaccuracies, misrepresentations and misunderstandings. Some of this is a result of sugar-coating, misinformation intended to make a buck from the unsuspecting, inexperienced gringo. More is a function of how quickly this market has been moving in recent years. Once information is published on the Internet, it becomes immortal, knocking around in cyberspace for all eternity. Even if it were true when first published, it can be misleading at best by the time you stumble upon it with the help of Google.
To get the best out of Panama--to determine which opportunities might be right for you--you need to know the full story...you need to understand all the facts, straight and complete and current... You need to see Panama for what she really is. You need to open your eyes to the good, the bad, and the ugly of living, investing, banking, and doing business here. Only then can you set yourself up for success. You Need Help!
As a publisher of information on living and investing overseas for more than two-and-a-half decades, I've been traveling to Panama for a long time now. And, today, I feel lucky to call this country home.In the past decade, I've opened offices here (twice). I've purchased, rented, and renovated property...apartments and a whole building...river-front and beachfront...in Panama City and beyond. Nearly four years ago, Panama City became my family's primary residence. My husband and I conduct our businesses here, and my son attends one of the city's international schools. The most important thing I've learned, in all my experiences travelling, living, and doing business all over the world as well as here in Panama, is that you can't do it alone. At least, not if you want to avoid making costly mistakes. 
Panama hides the smartest beach, river, and mountain property buys anywhere on the planet today… This is such a shame. I appreciate how much Panama has to offer right now...and I believe in the potential of this country at such an important turning point in its history. But that doesn't mean you're guaranteed a good experience here. Quite the contrary, to take advantage of what's on offer in Panama today, you need reliable help that you can trust. You need not information...at least not only information. More than information, you need judgement. Here's Our Promise:
For sure, I couldn't have gotten to where I am today all alone. Over the years, I've made lots of contacts in Panama. Some have turned out to be no use at all (these I politely discontinued doing business with)...while others proved to be goldmines of information. I continue to work with and to count on these resources today. Some have become good personal friends.
No Rose-Tinted Glasses 
Panama has the world's Gold Standard program of special Now, to help you pursue your own dreams in this country, I'd like to share my experience--and that of my most trusted friends and advisors--with you... With the help of the network of resources I've developed over more than a decade of living and doing business in this country, I'd like to tell you the truth about Panama...without any sugar-coating. My Panama Letter, a monthly e-zine from the Panama-based staff of Live and Invest Overseas, will make it possible for you to get up to speed and to stay current, in real time, with current opportunities in the real Panama...opportunities that would be impossible to uncover, to vet, or to act on on your own. My new Panama Letter doesn't deal in theory or rhetoric. It isn't produced by researchers or editors sitting in some far-off office who may have visited Panama once or twice. My Panama Letter is packed with information from expats living in this country and from my personal team of in-country advisors and professionals, including the attorneys, real estate agents, offshore experts, and tax consultants I trust personally. You can be assured that everything you read in the Panama Letter is current, accurate, and real. More important, it's delivered by people with real judgement...judgement born of real-world experience. Meet Your Panama Letter Insiders
Kathleen Peddicord -- Publisher, Expat, and Contributor to the Panama Letter  More than 24 years a publisher of information on living and retiring overseas, Kathleen has been traveling to Panama for 13 years. In the past decade, she's opened an office in Panama City twice; rented, bought, and renovated property in Panama City; and has made a number of investments elsewhere in the country. Since mid-2008, Panama City has been home for Kathleen and her family. Living and working in the city, she's experiencing all angles of an overseas expat life--from educating her son at an international school to dealing with a foreign health-care system (fortunately of an excellent standard)...even venturing lately onto the chaotic streets of Panama City behind the wheel of a car! Experience the expat lifestyle every month in Kathleen's column in the Panama Letter. Christopher Powers -- Expat and Managing Editor of the Panama Letter 
Christopher Powers moved from Ohio to Panama in 2009, after the recession in the States got the best of him. Worn out by his search for a nine-to-five job in a floundering job market (with only a military background), he decided, finally, to heed his wife’s pleas, pack up, and move his family, including four small children, to his wife’s country of Panama. Unlike the typical expat who moves to this country, Chris doesn’t have a retirement fund or investments ready to pay off to help support his new life. He needed to earn a living. An enthusiastic 30-something, Chris found a job working the call center circuit, the most readily available position for a non-Spanish-speaking expat in Panama City. He spent his free time pursuing the things that really interested him, including playing American football (yes, they do have American football in Panama) and, his secret ambition, writing. Finally, he got in touch with Kathleen Peddicord and took the leap from nine-to-fiver to full-time writer as Assistant Editor for the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group and Editor for the Panama Letter. Now Chris gets to travel to a new destination in Panama each month, mingle with locals, seek out other expats making a go at it, and explore the beaches, mountains, and the valleys of this beautiful and diverse little country…and then report back to Panama Letter subscribers in each monthly issue. His Panamanian wife travels with him when she can to help with translations and to take photographs. Alberto Miranda – Local Insider and Advisor to the Panama Letter
Alberto is an honest-to-goodness Panama City expert. His colorful stories, common sense insights, and invaluable insider tips are important to us here at Live and Invest Overseas. As a Panama Letter subscriber, you’ll be able to benefit from them, as well. Where to find a mechanic to repair your car…where to go to have a key made…how much to pay for a gardener…where to find replacement parts for home appliances…where to get the best deal on new tires or old furniture… Now, every month in the Panama Letter, Alberto will be answering questions from Panama Letter subscribers…sharing his insights and wisdom for how to succeed as an expat, a retiree, or an entrepreneur down here in the Hub of the Americas. Get Up Close With The Real Panama
You probably know at least a little of Panama City. It's a vibrant, electric place of business, banking, and entertainment. A wonderful hub from which you can easily reach most major cities in Latin America. I like Panama City for its First-World infrastructure and amenities for doing business. That's why we've chosen to make it our home, right now.
Up-To-Date Information From The Front Line
Little Las Tablas is one of our favorite budget choices in this country. When we report on the cost of living in Las Tablas, we always get the same reaction: "You've got to be kidding me!" 
Already home to thousands of retirees, Panama is a safe and welcoming destination for retirement…
Yes, a little place like Las Tablas can be affordable, but it's made even more so when you know where to go to get the best deals. For instance, you could never find the US$300-a-month rental by searching on the Internet. Such deals are circulated purely by word-of-mouth among the locals. If these kinds of super-deals make their way to agents, the prices are inflated for the gringo market. Chris has the benefit of what he calls his "Panamanian family." His wife is a native, so he's immersed in the day-to-day life of the real Panama...interacting with the neighbors, eating traditional, home-cooked Panamanian specialties, getting invited to parties of Panamanian family and friends...christenings, weddings, birthdays...
Cities, Beaches, Islands, And Hills:
Of course, anyplace featured in the Panama Letter will have more going for it than affordability. Chris, like our entire Panama Letter team, understands what it takes to build a rich and rewarding life in this country, and they're every one committed to vetting every destination they consider for coverage accordingly. In addition to details to do with cost of living and cost of real estate, you also need to know all about things like good medical facilities, leisure and entertainment opportunities, safety issues, who your neighbors would be...Find The Piece Of Panama To Suit You... Chris and the Panama Letter team will cover all these lifestyle concerns in every issue, introducing you to the best of Panama from end to end and from coast to coast. Over the coming months, the Panama Letter will introduce you to:
That's part of what makes these places so special and an important part of the reason you should know about them. They remain blissfully undiscovered and therefore temptingly cheap. For such a small country, Panama offers an enormous range of diversity. You couldn't possibly discover it all on one whirlwind trip...or even several. It could take you years of travel on your own to get to know all the faces of all Panama. We understand that you likely don't have years to invest in that kind of research. So our mission with the Panama Letter is to help you to narrow your search...to target the locales that make the most sense for you. Go In With Your Eyes Wide Open
Like anywhere in the world, Panama has its pitfalls. With its high standard of infrastructure and capital city that feels like a U.S. city, you can easily forget that you're in Central America...at first. But spend a little time here, and you'll remember! For all its advantages and benefits, Panama remains part of the developing world.This is the Land of Fiestas and Mañanas. As I write, we're all sitting, smoldering, in our downtown Panama City office. The air conditioning system went on the fritz last week. The air-conditioner repair guy was due two days ago. No sign of him yet... 
In Panama, you can afford the retirement of your dreams…maid, gardener, dinners out… Things don't work here in Panama as you might think they should... sometimes it'll seem that they don't work at all. I couldn't be more committed to this country or more impressed by what she has to offer. But I'm no fool either. I see Panama's downsides as well as her advantages. I know about the frustrations and the limitations of living and doing business here. I face them every day. I've got my eyes wide open. And still I choose to be in Panama. And I speak for my entire Panama Letter team. We're not dummies. We know the real Panama. And we're here to stay. In the virtual pages of the Panama Letter each month, we'll help prepare you for the downsides and the hassles of life here. Forewarned is forearmed. It's easier to let the frustrations roll off your back if you know to expect them. In fact, once you're prepared for them, the cultural differences are easier to accept. After a while, you may stop noticing (even start embracing) these little quirks. Forget Noriega:
Welcome To The New (Open-For-Business) Panama Noriega: the word that haunts Panama politics. Yes, he was responsible for serious corruption. And, two decades since his ousting, the international press is still consumed with digging up any bit of dirt on the former military dictator and his cronies. But Panama itself has moved on. Now the rest of the world needs to, too. Since taking office July 1, 2009, President Martinelli has made ground-breaking changes...all of which forward Panama further along the path of progress and of political and economic stability.  His first week in office, the new President, in work shirt and blue jeans, appeared, unannounced, at the waterfront site where a wealthy local businessman who owed the state of Panama US$11 million in unpaid rent was building a new marina for himself, without approval, on land he didn't own but was leasing from the government. President Martinelli, with his own hands, tore down the wall surrounding the marina construction site. Then Martinelli posted a police guard, who was instructed to arrest anyone who attempted to continue construction efforts on the leased land.Other business owners who owe back taxes and back rent are now scrambling to pay up. Panama already boasts the best infrastructure in the region. But The Martinelli Plan calls for Panama to compete not regionally, but globally. President Martinelli is committed to building a First World Panama, a country to take its position on the world stage. Watching him at work is like watching time-lapse photography. Every day, The Martinelli Plan makes more and bigger news. Recently, the President showed up late to a meeting of investors, bankers, and businessmen, again in his work clothes. He offered his apologies, explaining that he'd been delayed handing out checks for his new "US$100 for 70's" program. Thanks to this new pension plan, the 11,000 of Panama's elderly population 70 years old or older, who had not been eligible for any state pension previously, are now receiving monthly checks for US$100. Meantime, since taking office, Martinelli has donated all but US$1 of his own US$11,000 salary each month to local charities. Martinelli is a showman, no question. But he's making his point. He's not only putting on a show and making speeches; he's taking action. And the good people of Panama are taking notice. Their new President has taken a zero-tolerance position against fraud, corruption, and theft in government, and his constituents are cheering him on. Panama is a country loaded with potential. I've been making this point for years. The trouble in this part of the world is that potential is more often squandered than realized. Funds are misappropriated or misplaced. Money ear-marked for public services and infrastructure projects--everything from transportation to education and health care--often disappears before it can be spent. People look the other way, and usually no one is held accountable. President Martinelli is not interested in doing business that way. Right now, like many expats in Panama, I'm taking great pleasure in watching this little country work so hard to continue along her path of peace, prosperity, and growth. Smartest Real Estate Buys On The Planet
The country beyond the capital is a different market altogether. In fact, it's many different markets, some of which make solid sense right now for the would-be investor. Which ones? Why? How much should you pay for beachfront, ocean-view, river-front, farmland...raw land for development...a lot in a private community? We'll tell you, local market by local market. Panama beyond Panama City hides some of the smartest real estate investment opportunities on the planet today. Stay On Top Of All Panama Events With
Up-To-The-Minute Alerts I say again: Panama is one of the fastest-moving markets on the planet today. While much of the world is mired in recession and worse, Panama is pushing ahead. And opportunity abounds. Why You Don't Want To Miss A Single Issue Of The Panama Letter
Every month, in the virtual pages of the Panama Letter, you'll read...
Practical And Actionable Information Every Month To Your E-mail In-Box
The Panama Letter isn't a dreamy travelogue or glossy lifestyle magazine. It doesn't paint a rosy picture of life in Panama. It gives you a real feel for what it's really like to live, retire, invest, and do business in the world's top overseas haven.The pages of the Panama Letter are packed with practical information, everything you'd need to launch your new life or your new business...all the know-how, experience, and judgement you could possibly require to realize whatever Panama dreams and objectives you may have. Every feature destination report in the Panama Letter will include:
Try My New Panama Letter Today...And Receive New Subscriber Bonuses Worth US$192.78!
To get you up-to-speed with Panama as quickly as possible, I'd like to offer you a number of special bonus reports, simply for giving my new Panama Letter a try.First, I'd like to send you our complete Panama Starter Kit. This is our most important package of Panama resources and sells on its own for as much as US$147.88. However, it's yours free when you take advantage of this special launch promotion. In fact, the Panama Starter Kit is seven important Panama resources...and they're all yours with our compliments as part of this special launch invitation.
But wait, as they say, there's more. For this special launch offer, we're bundling together every resource we can imagine you might need as you consider and prepare for a new life in this beautiful little country. In addition, therefore, to the complete Panama Starter Kit, when you take advantage of this limited-time launch invitation and subscribe to the Panama Letter for two years, we'll also send you two other important bonus reports: Additional Two-Year Bonus Report #1:Top 5 Medical Insurance Options for the Expat in Panama (a US$19.95 value) introduces you to Panama's health care systems, both public and private. This country boasts some of the best health care facilities in region. In fact, Panama is increasingly recognized as a leading medical tourism destination. And the top-notch medical facilities aren't limited to the capital city. Certainly, you'll find the best services in Panama City, but some smaller towns also offer good public and private hospital and clinic options. This report shows you where, beyond the capital, you can find them...plus it also details your top in-country health insurance options (including policies that could provide all the coverage you need for as little as US$50 per month... Nine Special Panama Reports With A Total Value Of US$192.78--Yours Free!
To regroup, this limited-time launch invitation includes nine special premium reports in all when you subscribe to my new Panama Letter for two years:
That's nine special reports with a total value of US$192.78. The Panama Letter will sell for US$189 for one year, US$289 for two years. Nine Special Panama Reports With A Total Value Of US$192.78--Yours Free!
Subscribe today for two years of the support, insider information, judgement, experience, and real-life know-how you'll gain with the help of the Panama Letter, and you'll pay only US$179. That's less than the regular one-year subscription rate...a savings of nearly 40% off the regular two-year subscription rate...and almost US$20 less than the cost of the nine special bonus reports if you were to purchase them on their own! Go here now to take us up on it (before we change our minds).   Kathleen Peddicord Publisher, Panama Letter P.S. One more important thing: If you've already bought the Panama Starter Kit from us, you can upgrade that purchase to become a one-year Panama Letter subscriber for only US$66 or a two-year subscriber for only US$100. Simply click the button below and follow the special link for Panama Kit buyers you'll find at the bottom of the next page. Subscribe Now--100% Risk Free The Panama Letter is the most complete and current resource to living, investing, retiring, and doing business in Panama available anywhere. I guarantee it. If you are disappointed in any way with the information, insights, recommendations, and discoveries shared in your Panama Letter subscription, simply say so. If you do, we'll promptly reimburse you for any issues remaining in your subscription. No questions asked. The Special Reports are yours to keep, no matter what. |
You need to see Panama for what she really is. You need to open your eyes to the good, the bad, and the ugly of living, investing, banking, and doing business here. Only then can you set yourself up for success.
Over the last dozen years, Lief has personally bought and sold property in 17 countries. And few people know the Panama real estate market as intimately as Lief. As the founding editor of Global Real Estate Investor and the staff Real Estate Editor for International Living for 10 years, Lief was one of the first investors to identify (and alert his readers to) the potential of Panama when the Panama City real estate market was just warming up. Nowadays, Lief's focus in Panama is west and south of this country's capital, on the Azuero Peninsula...though he still turns up the odd deal in Panama City (also his home these days). When Lief finds a worthwhile real estate opportunity in Panama, you'll hear about it first in the Panama Letter. 
Alberto is an ex-taxi driver here in Panama who recently joined the Live and Invest Overseas team as our driver and go-to guy for getting things done on the ground here in Panama City. Taxi drivers can be one of your best sources of information about a place. They're connected to their city at the street level. They know their way around, of course, but, more than that, they also know how to get things done.
Rainelda obtained her law degree with honors from Santa Maria La Antigua University in Panama and a Master of Laws from Cornell University Law School in Ithaca, New York. Since 1989, she has had her own private practice, specializing in the areas of corporations and commercial and shipping law--as well as administrative matters such as taxes, contracts, real estate transactions, immigration, labor permits, etc. You can be sure that any information of a legal aspect you read in the Panama Letter (including details of residency visas and real estate law) has been double-checked by Rainelda and her staff.
Joel is the founder and managing partner of Nagel & Associates, a boutique legal firm focused exclusively on international issues. Joel's focus is on helping clients to select the right jurisdiction for a transaction and the best vehicle to reduce taxation and to protect assets. He has pioneered the licensing of international structures for foreign banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, and insurance companies. He created his firm's Personal Asset Protection Program and has developed sophisticated international estate plans encompassing trusts, corporations, partnerships, and insurance products. Joel brings all this experience to bear as he helps Panama Letter subscribers understand the current opportunities available in the world's premier offshore jurisdiction. 
"Panama 101: 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama" (a US$9.99 value)--This is the guide I'd love to have had when I first came to Panama some 15 years ago. It would certainly have saved me embarrassment, hassle, delay, and headaches...not to mention a whole lot of cash. In these pages, you'll learn vital lessons, including the absolute maximum you should ever pay for a taxi ride across Panama City...what not to wear if you want to be taken seriously by your new compatriots... where to go to shop for books in English...a guide to festivals and seasons...and helpful Panamanian-isms...
The Special Retirement Report "El Valle de Anton, the World's Top Retirement Haven" (a US$9.95 value)--To get you started on your Grand Tour of Panama, this special report features the little mountain town of El Valle de Anton, conveniently located 30 to 45 minutes from the beach and about two hours outside Panama City...so you can regularly enjoy the best of the city, without its heat and humidity...