JacobsReport
on International Financial Planning

The JacobsReport is a free email newsletter that will discuss investment, business, tax and financial planning in an international context. Reports will be issued as the author's work schedule permits, but will usually be issued on a weekly schedule.

Asset Protection Books

QUESTION: Of the many, many books on the market dealing with asset protection, can you list the few, Mr. Jacobs, that in your view have some merit?

REPLY: If you search for "Asset Protection" on Amazon.com/Books/ the first title will be "Asset Protection: Concepts & Strategies for Protecting Your Wealth" by Jay D. Adkisson and Christopher M. Riser. Both of them are authors and advisors to Offshore Press. I've read their book and consider it to be one of the easiest to understand, one of the most comprehensive and also one of the least expensive.

Another book I recommend is "How to Legally Protect Your Assets" by David Tanzer. (http://www.davidtanzer.com/asset-protection-planning-guide.asp)  It is sold as a package with a 100 minute video tape for $79.95

One of the most comprehensive references for asset protection lawyers is the two volume "Asset Protection Strategies; 2007 Edition" by Lewis D. Soloman and Lewis J. Saret. I have their 1996 reference series, but since I don't provide legal services, I haven't had much reason to get the more recent editions. Also, the set is $305, which is probably reasonable if you need that much legal detail.

A book I refer to frequently is "Preserving Your Wealth" (1993) by F. Bentley Mooney, Jr. I've had occasion to work with Mooney on behalf of a client and was impressed with his skills. The book is available from Probus Publishing, 1925 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, IL  60614 -- but it seems they have been acquired by Richard D. Irwin, another legal publisher. I'm not sure if a more recent edition is available.

I would be remiss not to mention my own book "Risk Management for Amatuer Investors" which was written in 2003. It's about asset protection, tax avoidance and dealing with multiple kinds of investment and economic risk. Details are available at http://www.offshorepress.com/info-rm4ai.htm  I'm out of stock on the printed edition but an e-book is available for $25. It's also available as part of the Offshore Press Wealth Protection Library which includes dozens of shorter books and reports on various asset protection subjects.

There is also a free web book on asset protection that I provide at http://www.offshorepress.com/protection/  It's not as complete as the books mentioned above, but it's a good introduction to the subject.

As you say, there are "many, many" books on asset protection but there are quite a few of them that offer questionable advice and some of them are promoting patently illegal schemes. Rather than trashing all the bad ones, I'd suggest that anyone who is serious about the subject begin with the ones mentioned here.

Vern
http://www.offshorepress.com/protection/