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Expat Secrets: How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas & Make Giant Piles of Money
Mikkel Thorup draws on his 20+ years of overseas experience to bring you a complete guide to living overseas, saving money on taxes, obtaining a second passport and travelling the world as an Expat. This book will save you years of trial and error and will give you a comprehensive blueprint to planting flags around the globe. If Secret Vaults in Asia, Offshore Bank Accounts in Belize, Hardwood Plantations in Central America, Real Estate in China and Business Class Travel around the world excite you then this is the book for you.Expat Secrets is filled with timeless knowledge stemming from his travels to more than 100 countries. Mikkel brings you a No-BS approach to the offshore markets.Mikkel Thorup hosts the popular podcast The Expat Money Show and has interviewed successful entrepreneurs like legendary investor Jim Rogers and Oren Klaff, author of Pitch Anything.See what others in the offshore markets are saying about Expat "In 'Expat Secrets, ' Mikkel elegantly describes the many benefits that accrue to those that choose their country of residence and provides practical and timely tips and examples for doing so... this book is a game changer!" - Gregor Gregersen, Founder of Silver Bullion Pte ltd.“A huge thanks to Mikkel for a clearly written, concise description of the international experience as lived by a true global pioneer. Especially refreshing is the chapter on the benefits of raising children overseas. As the father of two 3rd culture kids, I can personally assure you that no education expands the mind more than growing up overseas.” - Michael K. Cobb - Chairman and CEO – ECI Development"Having incorporated hundreds of companies for clients over the last 7 years, this book is very helpful for those that are starting out" Edmund John Lowell - Founder, FlagTheory.com Incorporations.io“Having lived and worked overseas for more than a quarter century myself, I’ve seen Expats make every mistake under the sun... save yourself time and energy and learn from someone who has actually done it. Expat Secrets is THE BOOK to get you started on your international journey.” - Lief Simon – COO and Senior Real Estate Editor – Live and Invest Overseas
- GenresFinanceNonfictionTravel
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 11, 2018
This book will inspire you to internationalize your life!
Mikkel breaks down what it takes to internationalize your life. He shows how if you know the rules of the game, you can alter your reality by having multiple citizenships, bank accounts and overseas investments.
In addition to finance, he talks about the importance of speaking a second language and how to educate your kids abroad.
This is a really interesting book that I would recommend to anyone thinking about living and investing overseas.
Mikkel breaks down what it takes to internationalize your life. He shows how if you know the rules of the game, you can alter your reality by having multiple citizenships, bank accounts and overseas investments.
In addition to finance, he talks about the importance of speaking a second language and how to educate your kids abroad.
This is a really interesting book that I would recommend to anyone thinking about living and investing overseas.
August 9, 2021
Always on the fence about books in this niche genre, and that are explicitly part of a greater sales funnel to the 'meat' of what the author offers.
This book would be ideal for someone who has stumbled upon the concepts of internationalizing one's self in the last month or two; for those that are about to / have pulled the trigger on some of their plans, this is pretty shallow.
For $5 I'd give it 4 stars, for $10 I'd give it 3 stars, but the price, shallow depth, and grammatical errors considered together is not only irritating, but really makes me hesitant to consider working with the group in the future (if they're cutting corners on the very first step to entice us further into the sales funnel, what else are they going to cut corners on???)
I have to list some frustrations since the author indicates he is a native English speaker, since the book tells us to "always remember, endeavour to greatness," and especially (and ironically) since he emphasizes the importance of language:
-Why are words such as: entrepreneur, man, investor (and many others) randomly capitalized mid-sentence? Seems like a weak effort to inflate the importance, or their importance within the context of this book. Even these capitalizations are inconsistent throughout.
-even sub-titles such as 'WHEN IN DOUBT, CHOOSE GOLD BULLION IT'S LIQUID" [sic] have minor errors which is really irritating (p75)
-other types throughout, such as "In Latin American..." [sic] (p123) make for a very plodding read
-no numbers, quotes, or claims are referenced, there is no citation list, and legitimacy of the few individuals alluded to such as "Cody B" is questionable.
-There are so many paragraphs that start with either "Now, bla bla bla..." or "Listen, yadda yadda yadda..." that it still stands out and sometimes I thought I was re-reading a previous section accidentally
-no proof of purchase is required to access the 'bonuses' in the link (in other words, what did I pay for that someone borrowing or going to the site for free would not otherwise have access to??)
-with a title like "EXPAT SECRETS" I would expect to find a FEW things that I can sink my teeth into; for example, as a fellow Canadian, what online brokerage can I use to invest in stocks/ETFs in the exchange of the country I relocate to, since we cannot contribute to existing Canadian ones?? No, nothing, not even a hint of where to start looking for this, or maybe what minimum initial investments might be needed with broker A, B or C. Or, how does the CRA interpret these sorts of investments? Damn, reading this was like moving to Vancouver: I kept waiting for the hype to realize after all the buzz, and then the time came to move on to the next thing, and I'm still wondering "did I miss something???"
The good:
-seems to be a genuine effort to inform us of things to look into further
-font size/type is easy to read, and the layout is nice
-the bonuses seem to go more into detail on some things mentioned in the book, but I've only skimmed those so far.
-I think it would be more useful to give to someone to either inspire them to start this type of lifestyle, or to help them understand why a person might care to pursue it
-I was mostly inspired to start my own consulting company, since my second thought after finishing was, "This would be my competition? Easy peazy."
I will eventually check out the podcast but this really put me off of it.
This book would be ideal for someone who has stumbled upon the concepts of internationalizing one's self in the last month or two; for those that are about to / have pulled the trigger on some of their plans, this is pretty shallow.
For $5 I'd give it 4 stars, for $10 I'd give it 3 stars, but the price, shallow depth, and grammatical errors considered together is not only irritating, but really makes me hesitant to consider working with the group in the future (if they're cutting corners on the very first step to entice us further into the sales funnel, what else are they going to cut corners on???)
I have to list some frustrations since the author indicates he is a native English speaker, since the book tells us to "always remember, endeavour to greatness," and especially (and ironically) since he emphasizes the importance of language:
-Why are words such as: entrepreneur, man, investor (and many others) randomly capitalized mid-sentence? Seems like a weak effort to inflate the importance, or their importance within the context of this book. Even these capitalizations are inconsistent throughout.
-even sub-titles such as 'WHEN IN DOUBT, CHOOSE GOLD BULLION IT'S LIQUID" [sic] have minor errors which is really irritating (p75)
-other types throughout, such as "In Latin American..." [sic] (p123) make for a very plodding read
-no numbers, quotes, or claims are referenced, there is no citation list, and legitimacy of the few individuals alluded to such as "Cody B" is questionable.
-There are so many paragraphs that start with either "Now, bla bla bla..." or "Listen, yadda yadda yadda..." that it still stands out and sometimes I thought I was re-reading a previous section accidentally
-no proof of purchase is required to access the 'bonuses' in the link (in other words, what did I pay for that someone borrowing or going to the site for free would not otherwise have access to??)
-with a title like "EXPAT SECRETS" I would expect to find a FEW things that I can sink my teeth into; for example, as a fellow Canadian, what online brokerage can I use to invest in stocks/ETFs in the exchange of the country I relocate to, since we cannot contribute to existing Canadian ones?? No, nothing, not even a hint of where to start looking for this, or maybe what minimum initial investments might be needed with broker A, B or C. Or, how does the CRA interpret these sorts of investments? Damn, reading this was like moving to Vancouver: I kept waiting for the hype to realize after all the buzz, and then the time came to move on to the next thing, and I'm still wondering "did I miss something???"
The good:
-seems to be a genuine effort to inform us of things to look into further
-font size/type is easy to read, and the layout is nice
-the bonuses seem to go more into detail on some things mentioned in the book, but I've only skimmed those so far.
-I think it would be more useful to give to someone to either inspire them to start this type of lifestyle, or to help them understand why a person might care to pursue it
-I was mostly inspired to start my own consulting company, since my second thought after finishing was, "This would be my competition? Easy peazy."
I will eventually check out the podcast but this really put me off of it.
January 21, 2019
Not what I was hoping for. Possibly a good read for people who are considering a move overseas, or starting a business but not for someone who is already out there.
February 13, 2021
The information in here is really basic, and I think you can find better and more up-to-date information with a few Google searches and Blogs. Maybe it would be worth reading if you've never stepped foot out of your home country, but if you've spent any time abroad already, skip this and find something better.
September 27, 2022
Total crap book, just funneling readers to his website/business. No specifics, just claims not backed up by any data or fact. Filled with grammatical mistakes and typos; for someone “endeavoring for greatness” i would think he would at least hire an editor or proofreader. DNF. Glad I got it free from Kindle Unlimited.
March 28, 2020
5 stars for a newbie at this subject
I'd like to thank the author for sharing these valuable, specific enough information and open my eyes to things almost unthinkable to me before.
I'd like to thank the author for sharing these valuable, specific enough information and open my eyes to things almost unthinkable to me before.
November 10, 2025
Very short, basically a long blog article repackaged as lead generation for his website and email list. Also pretty light on information, just vaguely covering different benefits of living the expat life.
August 28, 2023
A great high level intro to get you started on your expat way.
February 8, 2024
This book falls disappointingly short of its ambitious title, offering little more than empty promises and superficial insights.
Upon opening the book, readers are met with a glaring lack of substantive content. Instead of providing in-depth analysis or practical recommendations, the author merely skims the surface of well-known topics, offering little to no value beyond what most individuals already know.
One of the most egregious shortcomings of this book is its absence of detail. Rather than delving into the intricacies of tax optimization strategies or the complexities of living abroad, the author opts for vague generalizations and oversimplified summaries that fail to provide any actionable guidance.
Furthermore, the book lacks credibility due to its failure to cite sources or provide evidence to support its claims. Readers are left to question the validity of the information presented, further diminishing the book's value and utility.
In essence, "Expat Secrets" is little more than a hollow shell masquerading as a guide to financial and lifestyle success. It offers no substantive insights, recommendations, or original ideas, making it a poor investment of both time and money for anyone seeking genuine guidance on living and working abroad.
In conclusion, I would strongly advise against wasting any resources on "Expat Secrets." Its lack of content and depth make it unworthy of consideration for anyone serious about navigating the complexities of expatriate life and financial management. Look elsewhere for more comprehensive and credible resources on these topics.
Upon opening the book, readers are met with a glaring lack of substantive content. Instead of providing in-depth analysis or practical recommendations, the author merely skims the surface of well-known topics, offering little to no value beyond what most individuals already know.
One of the most egregious shortcomings of this book is its absence of detail. Rather than delving into the intricacies of tax optimization strategies or the complexities of living abroad, the author opts for vague generalizations and oversimplified summaries that fail to provide any actionable guidance.
Furthermore, the book lacks credibility due to its failure to cite sources or provide evidence to support its claims. Readers are left to question the validity of the information presented, further diminishing the book's value and utility.
In essence, "Expat Secrets" is little more than a hollow shell masquerading as a guide to financial and lifestyle success. It offers no substantive insights, recommendations, or original ideas, making it a poor investment of both time and money for anyone seeking genuine guidance on living and working abroad.
In conclusion, I would strongly advise against wasting any resources on "Expat Secrets." Its lack of content and depth make it unworthy of consideration for anyone serious about navigating the complexities of expatriate life and financial management. Look elsewhere for more comprehensive and credible resources on these topics.
May 5, 2020
“In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.”
Over 50% of computer users use the same 25 passwords.
In the UK, USA, Canada and Australia you’re free to educate your child as you please. But in France or the Netherlands, you will have to prove your credentials as an educator in order to stay on the right side of the law. Meanwhile, in countries like Germany and Sweden homeschooling is illegal under any circumstances.
One of the greatest things you can do for your child if you plan on raising them with an Entrepreneurs mentality is to keep them out of traditional schooling.
Traditional schools are meant to teach you to conform to society, get a job and pay your taxes.
My simple answer to university is that unless your child would like to be an Engineer, Doctor, Lawyer or maybe a few other professions then university is a waste of time and of course money.
Thailand is the number one destination for medical tourism by a pretty wide margin.
Almost 1 in 3 South Korean women between 19 to 29 that live in Seoul have gone under the knife.
A study from MIT economist Albert Saiz revealed that learning German will earn you a 3.8% premium on your lifetime earnings versus a 1.5% and 2.3% premium for French and Spanish respectively.
Over 50% of computer users use the same 25 passwords.
In the UK, USA, Canada and Australia you’re free to educate your child as you please. But in France or the Netherlands, you will have to prove your credentials as an educator in order to stay on the right side of the law. Meanwhile, in countries like Germany and Sweden homeschooling is illegal under any circumstances.
One of the greatest things you can do for your child if you plan on raising them with an Entrepreneurs mentality is to keep them out of traditional schooling.
Traditional schools are meant to teach you to conform to society, get a job and pay your taxes.
My simple answer to university is that unless your child would like to be an Engineer, Doctor, Lawyer or maybe a few other professions then university is a waste of time and of course money.
Thailand is the number one destination for medical tourism by a pretty wide margin.
Almost 1 in 3 South Korean women between 19 to 29 that live in Seoul have gone under the knife.
A study from MIT economist Albert Saiz revealed that learning German will earn you a 3.8% premium on your lifetime earnings versus a 1.5% and 2.3% premium for French and Spanish respectively.
April 19, 2021
I really wanted to like this book more. Mikkel has an informative podcast full of information. I was a little disappointed that there were not more details on the three largest expenses like housing (renting vs owning), transportation (public or need a car) and food (expensive/cheap or boring/adventurous) for each of the countries.
Many times it directed me to read content on his website, which is not helpful if you are in an area with slow or no internet, which is where I take books to read. Most of the security advice would be known to anyone doing significant international corporate travel.
This would be a good basic introductory book for absolute beginners and young families - people who maybe have never been to other countries or even thought of living somewhere else and who are interested in living with other expats.
If you are retired or financially independent, there’s nothing in here about taxation of various retirement accounts and living off of savings in different countries. Maybe on his website? Once I get a better signal I’ll check it out.
Many times it directed me to read content on his website, which is not helpful if you are in an area with slow or no internet, which is where I take books to read. Most of the security advice would be known to anyone doing significant international corporate travel.
This would be a good basic introductory book for absolute beginners and young families - people who maybe have never been to other countries or even thought of living somewhere else and who are interested in living with other expats.
If you are retired or financially independent, there’s nothing in here about taxation of various retirement accounts and living off of savings in different countries. Maybe on his website? Once I get a better signal I’ll check it out.
May 26, 2021
This book contains very little useful information. I also get the impression that the author put very little effort into it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews