The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup

It’s no secret I am a big fan of Latin America. I’ve called Panama my home for the past five years, and my last two children were born in Chile and Brazil. Why are so many freedom-minded individuals and families choosing Latin America as their expat destination? Today’s guest, my good friend Andrea Martinez, is here to share her insights. Originally from Ecuador and now living in Panama, Andrea ha...

Many dream of quitting their jobs to travel the world, but few actually do it—especially after spending a decade climbing the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 company. That’s exactly what today’s guest, Xenia Schneider, did when she left a thriving corporate career at WalMart to pursue a life of full-time travel and personal freedom. In this episode, Xenia shares how she went from boardroom meeti...

How often do you get to meet a sitting president ? Well, last week, I did just that when I had the incredible opportunity to meet Santiago Peña, the President of Paraguay. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on two major experiences from the past week—my in-person interview with Panamanian immigration officials as I work toward citizenship and an exclusive luncheon where I met President...

As many of you know, I’ve been a resident of Panama for over five years, and I’m now in the process of pursuing my Panamanian citizenship. In today’s episode, I share an update on my latest (and somewhat nerve-wracking...) step in this journey. If you’re one of many listeners considering a second citizenship in Panama, you’ll definitely want to hear about this part of the process. I also provide a...

Long-time listeners know I was born in Canada, but it’s been a long time since I’ve considered it “home.” Today’s guest is a lifelong Canadian who has been podcasting for the past six years about faith, family, life in Canada and the topics that divide us. Shaun Newman has spent years questioning the systems around him, from the hockey rink to the political arena, offering his unique perspective f...

Many of us love exploring off-the-radar countries few people have even heard of, but how many actually invest and build businesses there? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Rafael Millan—better known as Rafa—has been doing for nearly two decades. From Europe to Africa and eventually South America, Rafa’s journey is packed with both invaluable lessons and crazy stories. In this episode, Rafa shares...

Do you remember your own 'red pill moment'—that eye-opening experience that made you question everything you'd been taught and see the world through a new lens? For this first episode of 2025, I sat down with members of the Expat Money team to discuss our personal 'red pill moments.' From education to healthcare to legal systems, we share pivotal experiences that challenged our beliefs and reshape...

Another year has come and gone, and this show has been a running log of my travels, adventures, and conversations with some of the brightest minds in the offshore world. Today, we’ll look back at the highlights of 2024—from my adventures to places like El Salvador, Chile, and the Balkans to the invaluable insights shared by guests like Joshua Sheats, Laszlo Kiss, and more. So grab a coffee—or mayb...

Political upheaval in France, Trump’s threats against the BRICS nations, and Panama’s historic move to join Mercosur—there’s no shortage of major headlines to unpack in the month or so since the last edition of Expat News.  The geopolitical winds have been shifting rapidly - from the collapse of Macron’s fragile political coalition to the sudden fall of Assad’s regime in Syria. Meanwhile, Panama’s...

What if you had a crystal ball and could see ahead into the next year? Well, I may not have a crystal ball, but I do have my good friend Doug Casey, who I welcome back once again this year to peer into his crystal ball and share what he sees coming in the world of geopolitics and international investing in 2025.  Doug is the founder of International Man, a best-selling author known for his High Gr...

What’s it reall y like to be an expat living in Panama? Today, we’ll hear from someone who has gone through the experience firsthand. Expat Money’s Executive Administrator, Susan James, joins the show to discuss her experience living as an expat in Panama for the last five years. Enjoy!   TODAY’S PRESENTATION BY SUSAN JAMES Listen in to learn why Susan decided to move to Panama at the age of...

Could you imagine a thriving South American country with robust economic growth, a high demand for modern rental properties, and an unparalleled coastline with endless sunshine? Imagine no more, as this perfectly describes why Brazil's northeast region is becoming a hotspot for savvy investors seeking stable returns. Today's guest, my colleague and trusted partner Michael Kruger, has spent the pas...

Could you imagine a small Latin American country with a favourable tax regime, an easily attainable residency program, no woke nonsense, and that is still off-the-radar enough to stretch your dollars than most popular expat destinations? Imagine no more, as this perfectly describes why Paraguay is beginning to garner some attention as an expat destination. Today’s guest, my friend and trusted part...

No matter where you live or where you’re from, it’s hard to avoid the U.S. election. Whether we like it or not, whoever holds that office has tremendous power and will undoubtedly affect the geopolitical landscape over the next four years. In today’s episode, I am joined by two of my Expat Money team members, Marc Clair and Remso Martinez - who happen to be Americans and experts on U.S. politics....

Nearly everyone insures their body with health insurance or their car with auto insurance. But how do you insure yourself against the machinations of greedy politicians, taxing and regulating your hard-earned wealth away at every turn? This is exactly where an offshore Plan-B comes into play. In today’s episode,  I share with you a recent conversation I had with my friend Tom Bodrovics on his show...

Living off-grid doesn’t have to mean “barely getting by” and going without our favourite life amenities. In fact, today’s guest, Patrick Hiiebert, is building luxury, freedom-oriented, off-grid communities right here in Latin America.  Like myself, Patrick was born in Canada and now lives in Latin America. He is the CEO and one of the founders of EcoVillages and VidaVerde AgroForestry. Through his...

Huge news broke regarding Panama’s Investor Visa this week, as the investment minimum will now remain at $300K, pausing the previously planned increase to $500K for at least two years. Plus, will Donald Trump really end the double taxation of American expats if he’s elected? These are the news stories at the top of my stack for this week’s edition of Expat News. After nearly six weeks of travel, f...

The next stop on my recent European trip was the little-discussed but incredibly interesting country of Kosovo. I had the pleasure of spending a few days with a super cool guide named Ilir in the capital of Pristina, who taught me about this small Balkan country.  In today’s conversation with Ilir, you’ll learn what you need to know about Kosovo and what makes it a welcoming place for expats and t...

The Expat Money Summit is going on right now! If you're listening to this episode and somehow weren't aware of it, pause this podcast right now and head over to ExpatMoneySummit.com to claim your free ticket to this incredible event.  You can still watch the remaining presentations for up to 24 hours after they air live, or even upgrade to a VIP ticket to have access to them for life. Since we are...

Have you been dreaming of internationalizing your life or just protecting your wealth offshore but haven’t been sure where to start? Well, look no further than the 2024 Expat Money Summit! In today’s episode, I provide an in-depth update on this year’s Summit, which will take place entirely online from October 7th through the 11th. I am beyond thrilled about this year’s lineup - which includes fam...

As I made my way through Europe on my current trip, I had the chance to spend some time in Northern Cyprus and meet my friend Soylem Coli.  We were able to take a few minutes to record a quick conversation about Northern Cyprus. We discuss everything of interest to expats -  the food, culture, language, safety, residencies, real estate, and more! Enjoy this episode and get a taste of what Northern...

During my recent trip to the beautiful Balkan nation of Montenegro, I had the chance to sit down with my good friend Ladislas Maurice, who has lived and invested in the country for years. In this conversation, we talk a bit about immigration, taxes, company formation, etc. Enjoy this first-hand account of living in this gorgeous hidden gem in the Balkans.   TODAY’S DISCUSSION ABOUT MONTENEGRO...

With stock markets crashing, record inflation, and soaring global debt, more people than ever are coming to realize that the key to growing their wealth lies in owning tangible assets. The Expat Money Show audience, in particular, is wiser to this idea than the average person, and that’s why I knew this past weekend’s webinar would be a huge hit. If you somehow missed it, return to the last episod...

Imagine holding in your portfolio the keys to the urbanization of an up-and-coming city center in one of Latin America's most promising countries. Those who attended this past weekend’s live webinar know exactly what I’m talking about -  many have already acted on it. That’s why I had my team turn this audio around quickly and release it a day early to the podcast so that more of you can take adva...

“Why Panama?” I get this question every day, especially in a world where the word “expat” is still often associated with countries like the UAE, Portugal, Singapore, and others. It was not an easy decision, and it was not one my wife and I took lightly. When we decided to leave the UAE several years ago, we spent countless hours debating the pros and cons of several countries before deciding on Pa...