You’ll hear from…
Dan Prescher, IL senior editor. Based in Mexico part-time today, Dan has also lived full-time in Ecuador, Panama, and beyond. He and his wife, Suzan Haskins, headed south after too many cold winters in Omaha, Nebraska. Today, they’re our down-to-earth and practical-minded eyes and ears on the ground in Latin America.
Dan will be our emcee and also lead several panel discussions. Having reported from destinations all across Latin America, there’s nobody better qualified to lead you through a comparison designed to help you pinpoint the place that would suit you best.
Jessica Ramesch, IL Panama editor. Panama always earns high marks as one of the world’s top destination for retirees, in part because of its Pensionado program, which is designed to entice foreign retirees with such perks as 50% off closing costs for home loans…20% off medical consultations…15% off dental and eye exams… 25% off airfare…and more.
Jessica will detail the benefits of this program for you and also point to the very best opportunities in Panama for living-city picks, beachfront havens, and mountain retreats as well.
Tricia Pimental, IL Portugal correspondent. Portugal, from its cosmopolitan north to its beachy south, may be the best-value retirement haven you’ll find in Europe today and our woman on the ground will show you why. White-washed villages with terra cotta roofs…cobblestone streets and elegant palaces…sandy beaches and green golf courses…
Portugal may be small, but it’s rich with variety, filled with friendly locals, and it’s a place where you can live comfortably on a budget of $2,200 a month or less, housing included.
Sally Pederson, Resident Expat, Spain. Sally, who hails from Canada originally, is based today in Barcelona. She’ll share her favorite spots for pampered, good-value living in Spain, which represents one of the most affordable options for retirement in Europe. Having traveled as a pet-sitter all over the world (visiting more than 30 countries and 130 cities), she’s got lots of points of comparison. She’ll talk about why she’s chosen Spain and show you where to turn your gaze…like the warm coastal Spanish town of Alicante on the Mediterranean—where you could snag a renovated three-floor villa in town right in the heart of things with great views and lots of little cafes and squares nearby for just $188,000.
Suzan Haskins, IL senior editor. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more savvy, seasoned expat than Suzan, having lived overseas with her husband Dan Prescher for nearly two decades now—in multiple countries and several communities in each.
This October, she’ll be on hand to lead many of our how-to sessions and discussions. She’ll hand you proven strategies for narrowing down your just-right options abroad in an effective, stepwise way. She’ll help you focus on how to get your financial world in order before you head overseas. And she’ll give you a roadmap to what comes next—how, practically speaking, you get from the end of our live event to actually enjoying a new, more international life.
We’ll have a resident expat on hand to share insights about Ecuador. We’ll show you why this country represents one of the best-value retirement havens on the planet…and help you discern if you’d like it there—or not. From hot-and-sunny beaches to cooler-weather mountain retreats, you have options in Ecuador. And in many of them, you can live extremely well for under $1,845 a month, housing included. From the music-rich city of Loja to the beaches at Salinas to the highland city of Cuenca and the lush valley of Vilcabamba…expats have settled all around Ecuador and our on-the-ground expert will show you why.
Nancy Kiernan, IL Colombia correspondent. Colombia remains a country largely misunderstood in the mainstream…which, frankly, means opportunity for you. Remarkably sophisticated, you’ll find all kinds of interesting options for living well in Colombia, from coffee country to warm coastal retreats to our top city pick: Medellin. Right now the exchange rate equates to great bang for your buck.
In Medellin’s best neighborhood, for instance, you’ll find you can grab a well-appointed two-bedroom apartment in a great location right near the central park with lots of restaurants, super markets, gyms, and bars nearby for just $127,500 and it’s the sort of place you could easily rent out when you’re not there.
Wendy Justice, IL correspondent in Southeast Asia has been an expat in that part of the world since 2005, based in Thailand and in Malaysia prior to landing in Vietnam. This October, she’ll be on hand to share her many insights about Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bali.
If value for money is at the top if your priority list—this is a region of the world that might suit you well. In vibrant Penang, for instance, you could live in a high-rise that looks and feels as sophisticated and swank as something in high-end Miami…but pay less than you would in Boise, Idaho. A couple can live here comfortably on $1,300 a month and that’s including rent. Shop at the local markets and a big bag of fresh fruit will cost about $4, reliable high-speed internet is $30 a month, and you can hire a maid for four hours a week for just $12.
Laura Diffendal, IL Belize correspondent. Here’s an interesting fact to chew on: The average condo in Bermuda sells for $850,000…yet you can own a waterfront condo on the beach in Belize’s Ambergris Caye (with its palm-lined Caribbean beaches, fine white sand, and turquoise waters) for just $279,000.
For true Caribbean value, Belize is hard to beat…but it’s only one of the reasons this English-speaking enclave makes sense today. Laura will talk about why she likes life there…and take you on a virtual tour of a few special spots where you can live better—for less. Like a little-touristed waterfront community where one couple reports, “We live on about one-third of what it cost us to live in Pennsylvania.”
Kathleen Evans, IL Costa Rica correspondent. A native Chicagoan, Kathleen and her husband were tired of the “corporate grind” in the U.S., and began to explore their options with one goal in mind: To find their sunshine and start truly enjoying life. In 2013, they moved to the lively beach town of Tamarindo, Costa Rica on the NW Pacific coast to do just that.
Since moving to Costa Rica, Kathleen has written a novel, hosted a local expat radio show, and traveled extensively through the country. She’ll bring with her to Las Vegas her own story to share, plus a whole basket full of opportunities for you: great-value destinations…good-living options…real-world intelligence…and Costa Rica secrets you won’t hear about anywhere else. Plus she’ll share his picks for the best coastal deals…the interior, cool-weather towns she likes best…and more…
Tuula Rampont, IL France correspondent. France is a land that seduces quietly. One minute you’re a tourist, gazing up at the craggy peaks of the Alps, or wandering through a picture-perfect medieval village, or biting into a warm, flaky pain au chocolat in a Parisian café. And the next moment, you realize that you’re in love. And you never want to leave.
From sunny Provence to rugged Normandy and everything in between, France offers a sophisticated, foodie, arts-rich culture. And it doesn’t have to break the bank. Tuula is based in the south and will be on hand to share her picks for the best-value escapes in this romantic country and help you figure out which one might be right for you.
Chip Stites, IL Italy contributor will be on hand to share insights about Italy. The Italian lifestyle is undeniably alluring. A nation that puts emphasis on good food, human interaction, and simple pleasures is definitely doing something right. That’s what draws many expats in – that and the gorgeous landscapes, historic sights, and the slow pace of life.
This fall, we’ll fill you in on the many lesser-known hideaways where you can still embrace the spirit of the Italian lifestyle without breaking the bank. As one local expat reports, “I pay about 75 cents for an excellent espresso, 70 cents for a package of pasta, and can pick up a whole bag full of fruit and vegetables for around $3.” There’s a distinct difference between “tourist Italy” and “affordable Italy” and we’ll show you how to navigate this nation, where you can live well for as $2,000 a month, rent included.
And we’ve invited other experts as well…
Ronan McMahon and Margaret Summerfield of Real Estate Trend Alert and Pangea, International Living’s preferred real estate advertiser, will be on hand. From them you’ll not only get the important insider guidance (and cautions) on buying overseas, but you’ll also discover secrets like…
• Ronan’s four-step approach to finding profitable real estate overseas. His system is designed to help you save money and make money when buying overseas, and to give you the best possible chance to see a 100% gain in five years or less.
• What’s going on in Europe today —and where to find the pockets of opportunity there in real estate, including the most historic town on Portugal’s Algarve, where, when you buy right, you could watch your condo increase by $100,000 in five years.
• How—and where—to profit from short-term rentals. With annual gross yields in the double digits, owning a place you can both enjoy a few weeks a year and rent out at a profit when you’re not there can be an excellent option in the right markets. They’ll show you where those markets are and what makes them prime.
Warren Hardy of the Warren Hardy Spanish School in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico is coming as well. And if you like the idea of a Latin American retirement…you’ll find his guidance invaluable. Many of the countries you’ll learn about in October are Spanish-speaking—and that can feel like a roadblock for many folks. But it shouldn’t…and Warren will show you why.
His specialty is teaching expats—and he gears his programs specifically for older learners. This fall, he’ll talk about why it’s important that you learn the local language wherever you end up…and will show you—right there on the spot—some tricks to make it a lot easier than you imagine.
Ron Elledge, Medicare expert, will join us in Vegas as well. Ron is a senior market insurance agent and has been a consulting Medicare planner in Arizona for eleven years. He is up-to-date with Medicare regulations, coverage options, and enrollment protocols. Medicare for expats and travelers is his unique forte, and Ron will share his proven strategies regarding Medicare application to expat living and how you can escape the pitfalls of enrollment penalties and delayed coverage while staying compliant with Medicare rules and regulations.
Winton Churchill, founder of Barefoot Consultants, will be on hand to show you how you could add to your retirement funds—and even bankroll your life overseas—with an income you take with you wherever you decide to go.
You may not think you have a “portable” skill, but don’t be so sure.
Winton will show you how you can tap into the 30-70% of opportunity most folks leave on the table.
Steve Garfink , author of Retire in Luxury on Your Social Security, will be on hand to talk about what, specifically, you can do to ensure you’re positioned to claim the maximum retirement benefit due to you. Experts say couples leave an average of $120,000 in benefits unclaimed… simply because they don’t know to ask for them.
Steve will talk about savvy claiming strategies and the questions you need to ask to make sure you’ve got your “ducks in a row” so you’re tapping into the greatest retirement payout you’re eligible to receive. It can make a big difference in how early—and how well—you retire, no matter where in the world you may end up. Remember: Your Social Security benefits go with you.
John McGee, President of Expat Global Medical, a firm that focuses on offering medical insurance for expats, will be on hand to share his insider strategies for getting quality, affordable health insurance that’s customized for your particular needs.
He’ll talk about the benefits—and pitfalls—of different kinds of coverage and help you understand the lay of the land so you can begin to identify your own best strategy for insurance and care when you’re living and traveling overseas.
Beth Carson, author of Profitable Vacation Rentals Abroad will be joining us for a special add-on session to show you the insider strategies she’s perfected for turning vacation rentals into cash machines.
Your overseas home could do more than just pay for itself…it could actually earn you an income—often a very nice one—when you’re not there enjoying it. Beth will talk about how to choose a property and what to do with it when you have one. Plus discover ways you can turn your house back home into a money maker, too, and use your U.S. property to fund your travels.
And the speaker list for this Retire Overseas Bootcamp goes on…with attorneys joining us from the countries where they work…developers…investment and overseas experts…real estate agents…and more…