Many of our readers are interested in offshore investing and offshore investment funds, and they frequently contact us for advice. The question we are most frequently asked is: Do high yield investment programs really exist?

In this article we look first at offshore investing scams and how to avoid them, then we will move on to the topic of genuine alternative offshore investment opportunities that can legitimately generate high returns for investors.

Of course,  programs referred to as HYIPs (High Yield Investment Programs) do exist, but most of them are scams – or more specifically ponzi schemes. There are internet HYIPs where you can invest $10 and get $20 back the next day. And there are more sophisticated scams, involving complicated terminology like ‘bank debentures’ or ‘standby letters of credit’. There are whole websites dedicated to scam concepts like ‘offshore fund leasing.’ People frequently lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to these more sophisticated rip-offs. Such funds, once lost, are almost impossible to recover.

One of the ironies about such deals is that the scammers often claim that they are making money with exotic named things inter-bank trading, seasoned notes, and other mysterious offshore financial instruments… some so secretive that ordinary bankers don’t know they exist!

Years ago we used to ridicule such ideas. We used to say that the bankers didn’t know about them simply because such things don’t exist. But the last few years have proven us wrong – there are indeed weird things going on behind the scenes that most bankers don’t understand or even know about! For starters, most bankers don’t seem to realize the facts about the giant Federal Reserve scam, a privately-owned company, printing money backed by nothing, that is responsible for the devaluation of the dollar. And very few bankers understand or have even heard of the mysterious forex operation CLS Bank that settles around $5 trillion worth of transactions every day. The lesson here is that all good scams have an element of truth.

But, here at Q Wealth we like to accentuate the positive. So let’s rephrase the question a bit. Are there any legitimate offshore investment funds where you can make say 10% or 15% return with little risk? The answer is yes, such opportunities do exist. But it does take some work to find them. And once you find them, you should be prepared to dedicate some time to monitoring them.

The general rule is that the higher the rate of return, the higher the risk. Some people are happier than others to accept risk. For example you might dedicate a small part of your investment portfolio to high risk ‘play money’. Younger people can generally afford to accept a higher degree of risk than persons approaching retirement. Absolutely the worst thing you can do, of course, is to put everything into one offshore investment because the worst can always happen.

So where do you find such opportunities? In Q Wealth Report of course! We are constantly on the lookout for genuine investment opportunities and funds that have the offshore advantage. What is the offshore advantage? Since there is no tax deducted at source and no automatic reporting, you can often roll over profits and reinvest them, rather than paying tax on the income. Over a period of five or ten years, the compounding effect can be huge.

The rule of thumb is that with onshore investment funds you might take three steps forward, then two steps back as the tax is deducted. With offshore investing funds, you take three steps forward, then the next year you take three steps forward again… and so on, and so on.

In our flagship Q Wealth newsletter, we frequently spotlight offshore investment funds and opportunities that we have done full due diligence on. There is always a risk, but we can help you minimize it. Since the investments we feature are generally managed offshore, you can participate as a sophisticated investor or via your offshore corporation, foundation or IBC.

Frequently Q Wealth Events also turn into incubators for great offshore investment ideas, that have a potential for high return. Getting together for a few days with like minded, free thinking individuals and simply brainstorming is a fantastic way to get these offshore income generating opportunities off the ground. Our next event will be in Ireland in September, and we will be focusing it even more than ever on offshore investments. Even if you only have a small amount to invest, consider coming along. Contact us to be put on the list and we will let you know as soon as the dates are fixed.

Finally, if you are interested in our offshore investment advice and are new to this site, don’t miss the opportunity to sign up for our free five part course Secrets of the Super Rich, delivered free and without obligation to your e-mail inbox. You will also receive a free subscription to Q Bytes newsletter, which from time to time features serious high value opportunities too.

Here at Q Wealth we strive to bring you the best offshore banking and asset protection options – and tell you important facts about them that you may not read elsewhere. Our advice is impartial as our business is selling subscriptions, not asset protection or offshore banking setups.

We have a small but highly select and dedicated team of experts beavering away behind the scenes seeking out important informatiomn on behalf of our freedom-loving members. And one of the benefits of being a full member is getting access to this exclusive material at no extra charge.

Today we would like to introduce you to a new Q Wealth expert, New Zealand trust consultant John Allcard. He has just finished, co-authored with Peter Macfarlane, a brand new report on another recommended offshore asset protection strategy: “Trusting in Trusts.”

Some offshore asset protection options stand head and shoulders above others. Peter Macfarlane’s exclusive report demystifying Panama Private Interest Foundations (sometimes incorrectly known as Panama Asset Protection trusts) was appreciated by many readers, and is available free to members for immediate download.

But many people have asked us about trusts – specifically things like asset protection trusts, living trusts, medicaid asset protection structures, investment protection trusts, etc.

Why would you want to use such a trust?

Below is a checklist John and Peter developed regarding what you can do with offshore wealth and asset preservation trusts. See if any of the following requirements apply to you…

• You want to protect your assets offshore, keeping them private and confidential
• You want to invest offshore for growth and wealth accumulation
• You want to achieve financial freedom and not be bound to the economic woes of any one government, country or currency
• You want to safeguard your business, assets and family against malicious or unwarranted lawsuits, seizures or criminal charges
• You want to legally pay as little tax as possible
• You want to place a legal defense barrier between you and the government – in other words, to gain the offshore advantage
• You want to protect your assets against the risk of divorce
• You want to leave a tax-free inheritance to your children’s children and beyond
• You want to support good causes – to choose where your money is put to good use, rather than letting the government make that choice for you.

Trusts are one of the most important asset protection tools used by elite or Super Rich families all over the world. Trillions of dollars’ worth of assets are likely held via trusts – but there are no statistics on them. Can you guess why?

Anyhow, if you are serious about protecting your hard earned wealth, you should read this exclusive free report on how to use offshore trusts, “Trusting Trusts” is our first new research report for 2010. But as a Q Wealth member, you can get an advance copy right now, within the next few minutes. You can download it in our Members’ Area.

The first part of this report explains in general terms what is an offshore trust, and most importantly how you can use a Trust to achieve the offshore asset protection and wealth protection benefits listed above, besides many others.

The second part of this report focuses specifically on New Zealand as a jurisdiction for offshore asset protection trusts. As you will discover, New Zealand is one of the premier jurisdictions today for setting up wealth preservation structures.

If you are thinking of setting up an offshore asset protection trust or any similar offshore asset preservation structure, whether in New Zealand, the Cook Islands or elsewhere… but are not yet sure if it’s right for you… then this report is essential reading. Your investment in time will be well worthwhile.

You will learn to get the most out of your trust, and at the same time it could save you from making potentially disastrous and costly mistakes.

For further information, simply sign up now or visit our new Offshore Asset Protection Trusts information page.