Investment convictions bring benefits of a global life.

A reader sent this note in response to our series on how the younger generation is investing more I their convictions.

“Hello Gary, This is a good series of posts re the guy who accused you  of silver spooning your kids.  Maybe this was envy talking.  I wonder why  you identified your kids via location and pictures with job descriptions.
 

I feel the envy factor could operate here. In any case, I hope you are  all well and happy in what you are doing.”

This was a good perception. Any time anyone shows any type of success,  the result can be inspiration or envy. Nothing much can be done about this.

However there was a method to my madness.  The first goal in this  series is to show in realistic terms what we have shared for years about changing markets. 

The expanding opportunity in wealthy markets lays in services that  provide authenticity, meaning and roots.

There is a shift from people being interested in doing something to  make money to being interested in doing something that is meaningful.

Yet beneath this message I wanted to make a comment about the global  life and family.  I started traveling when I was 21 years old.  I was away  most of the time and rarely saw my folks and never thought much about this.
 

Then when my father unexpectedly passed the absence, the years we were not together hung heavily.  This caused me to look at the other end of my  life as I was away so much from my kids.

This bothered me a lot until I observed a neighbor who was the perfect, stay-at-home, little league coach, boy scout leader. He was with his  kids all the time.  Even so his son turned out to be a drunken dope addict, crashing cars (bought by mom and dad), getting in trouble with the law  and so forth.  The last I knew, the son was estranged (though still in the  same town) from the dad.  This helped me understand that quality and love,  not quantity and physical proximity, are what counts.

The subtle point I wanted to get across is that people can have a  global life and still have a happy, loving family even though it is scattered around the world. 

There is a reason why I wanted to share this thought.

A recent article in Barrons entitled, “A new life in Panama” by Bob  Adams tells the story of two young professionals with young children who quit their jobs and immigrated to Panama. Yet the article was much more. It  told of “a silent immigration of Americans retirees and more, seeking to  work and live in other nations.”

I have been writing and speaking and urging people to consider an international life for 40 years next May. Yet the scale of the  immigration that is taking place now surprises even me.  The author of this article  did a survey with over 115,000 respondents.

They eliminated any relocating for less than two years or because of military, government or their jobs.  They discovered that 1.6 million  households have already made the decision to relocate. 1.8 million households are seriously considering relocating and 7.7 million households are somewhat seriously considering relocating. The survey suggests that in total, an astounding 10% of American households are considering relocating abroad and another 10% are considering owning a home to either vacation or live part time abroad. More surprisingly the largest group who are making these plans are in households aged 25 to 34.

If this survey is anywhere near correct (I will assume that Barron’s vetted this at least a bit), then the wave of Americans headed abroad are larger than I thought.

Since this separated family has bothered me so much, yet turned out so well, I wanted to share this fact and included those pictures of me and the kids.

Another reader sent a note about quality versus quantity in family life that I found inspiring so I’ll end this message with it here.

“I really enjoyed today’s message in your newsletter. It’s nice to see that regardless of a family’s financial status or station in life, Moms and Dads only have 2 real gifts to extend to their children — self-reliance and unconditional love.

“These two gifts materialized in a very stark way for me during the summer of 1976. I was only 18 years old at that time.  I had just returned home to Virginia after my first year at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. I was a Chemical Engineering major and, by my own admission, defiantly blew off the entire year and didn’t apply myself. My mom and dad sat me down in the living room to ask what my plans were.

“I gave them the typical 18-year old response. “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”  My Mother rolled her eyes in disgust. But my Dad stared at me, leaned forward in his chair after a few moments and then said the following:

“Son, your Mother and I love you very much. We know your heart wasn’t set on going to Georgia Tech, but it was your decision to fail. So if you think you’re going to stay here in this house and sponge off of Mom and Dad while you ‘find yourself’, you are sadly mistaken. Go get a job.” He finished by saying, “Oh, and by the way. Once you start working, YOU will pay off your student loans…not me or your Mother. You’ve got 2 legs, a backbone and a good head on your shoulders. Stand up straight and use them.”

“I got chills all over my body. But I knew he was right.

“So the next day I went to the Army Recruiting Station here in town and told the recruiter that I was interested in enlisting and began my 25-year career as a linguist - 10 years in the Army as a Russian linguist and 15 years as a Russian and Serbo-Croatian linguist at the Department of Defense, Fort Meade, Maryland (NSA).

“Now I’m back in school (studying online) pursuing a new career working for a Medical Transcription service as an independent contractor from the comfort of my home. I will be self-employed and have full control over my hours and my income.  Starting salaries are in the $30,000 to $40,000/year range, but as one gains experience and proficiency you can ultimately earn as much as $300,000/year (or more) by becoming your own transcription service.

“My point is this, Gary: none of this would have been remotely possible if my parents and I had not had that conversation during the summer of 1976. It was the most valuable thing they’ve ever done for me.  It is truly
remarkable what a little well-placed unconditional love and self-reliance can do. I’m living proof.

“And did I mention that I turn 50 years old in November? Age is no excuse and the journey of learning never stops… Anyway, today’s edition of the newsletter inspired me to share this with you and Merri. I hope you enjoyed it. All the best to you and your family, Gary.”

Until next message, may all things in your life and family be good.

Gary

PS. The Barron’s article supports the thinking I have been having about Ecuador, that real estate and opportunity will soar. Join us in Ecuador at our Hotel Meson de las Flores for International Business & Investing Made EZ in Ecuador, November 9-10 and 11 and see for yourself.
http://www.garyascott.com/catalog/IBEZec/

Stay on for our real estate tour and shamanic mingo and save $398.
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