Best Posts in Thread: Just curious

If money wasn't an issue I'd likely be someplace else. Philippines just gets to dull and drab for me after so many years. Not much for options considering circumstances with age, money, and current relationship though and even if was just age and money still not much for options.

If I *had* to do something here though even considering risk with the lady and do longterm rental with option to sublease contracts and buy land in suitable areas for apartments and a nice house built to my own standards up in Valencia likely with solar, a deep well, and making sure I can get a solid fiber connection.

 

I am very risk averse in financial matters. I prefer renting as it gives me flexibility to move whenever I wish at short notice (if, for example, but hopefully not, there was a local disaster and the infrastructure took years to repair) even though you will see later I include property ownership as an investment idea. I dislike the stock market because it is a gamble - and, unless you invest in managed funds, you are at a serious disadvantage against people who use sophisticated computer systems and, sometimes, advanced knowledge (by the time you know something the party is over). The rises seen in many stock markets are often due to a small number of shares and we the general public usually do not own them.

Cryptocurrencies are the latest fad but then so were tulip bulbs. And at least if you water them tulip bulbs grow into something.

The biggest threat to wealth, however invested, is inflation. So put $50K into a bank and serious inflation (e.g. Zimbabwe/Venezuela) would see it buy one halo-halo eventually. I think in that case, property and gold (and/or other commodities) might be the best long-term bet as they can both recover value in time. But you have to look at the quality of the gold you buy as there are scammers out there and buy property at, or preferably BELOW, market value of the right quality, type and location. My hesitation with property is that it can be illiquid (difficult to sell again quickly) and affected by events such as natural disasters and political events (such as expelling foreigners en masse).

As for businesses to invest in, that is a very difficult one - depends on skills and luck. In my previous business career I saw easy-to-run, extremely low-risk businesses that others were running and copied them. In my first business I repaid my total investment from the profits of the first day. If my business had sunk, I could have walked away with no loss whatsoever. That was the skill of spotting an opportunity but the luck of being in the right place at the right time to see it and exploit it.

I know of a new company set up here in the Philippines by three ex-pats who are selling turn-key (or almost, I think) internet-based businesses but I can only give that information here if Mr Wyre first approves. And it would come with the warning to do your own research on it.