To Invest Or Not

Ever lost or gamed away money in Thailand? There’s a new bible for investors: Your Investment Guide to Thailand. I had a word with the author Bruce Bickerstaff who has more than twenty years experience in professional and management roles in both the Australian government and private sectors. Over the past decade Bruce has been an active investor and part-time resident of Thailand. In his guide – with a foreword by the Thai finance minister, Korn Chatikavanij – Bruce shares the knowledge and experience he has gained in both roles.

Everyone reading this has probably heard the saying “Never invest more in Thailand than you are prepared to walk away from.” Scary stuff for the newbie to LOS. Yet it’s true that many Westerners have seen the funds they brought here dwindle away to nothing. This situation can’t be blamed on the Thais though, as many of these investors simply paid the price for making hasty and poorly thought-through decisions.

“Due diligence” is the process used to investigate and evaluate potential investments. Why is it that so many farang seem to exercise less of it when it comes to Thai investments, than they would in their own home countries? Well there are several reasons, but one is the difficulty encountered when trying to research investment options. There is of course the language issue, plus people find that much of the English-language information they come across is so full of discrepancies that they are soon pulling their hair out in frustration.

By Bruce Bickerstaff, Your Investment Guide to Thailand

In Thailand there is often a huge chasm between what you will be told (by public sector staff for example), what you find written (in websites or reports for e.g.), and what actually happens in the real life. Scan any online forum and you will find many investors commenting on this problem of securing a precise or exact answer to important investment-related questions.

Further, much of the written English-language information tends to focus on upscale property investment (often with a bias towards wishful thinking). There are however, many other potentially more appropriate investments on offer in Thailand. These include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, gold, and buying or establishing a business. Just as in your home country, different types of investments are more (or less) suited to each individual investor. There are however some significant differences when evaluating potential Thai investments, particularly in terms of legal requirements.

One significant and growing group of investors are foreigners who have retired to Thailand. These folks need to exercise the utmost care in their choice of investment, as any mistakes could have considerable repercussions in terms of their future lifestyle choices.

Thailand certainly presents some challenges to the farang investor, but these are generally not insurmountable. The Thai government can do things to transform their country into a more appealing investment destination generally, with political stability, better coordination between public sector agencies, and a more clearly enunciated economic strategy, being at the top of the list.

The farang investor can greatly improve their financial returns by undertaking appropriate research, and developing an investment strategy based on their own individual characteristics. While this may often involve seeking professional guidance, it certainly pays to first ramp-up your general knowledge by reading widely and talking to other expats with relevant experience.

Here’s some more information from the publisher’s site:

Your Investment Guide to Thailand is essential reading for foreign investors as well as anyone considering relocating or retiring to Thailand. It will also serve as an invaluable resource for Thai officials seeking to better understand the mindset of the foreign investor.

No other source, either in print or online, encompasses the range of information and advice contained in these pages. The book avoids jargon and sales-pitches in favor of plain English and easy-to-understand tables, graphs and checklists that are supported by real-life examples.

The book focuses not just on wealth creation, but also on the protection of existing assets. It introduces the major investment choices in Thailand – real estate, gold, stocks, bonds, managed funds and investment in a business – and gives details of past performance for each, together with practical information about how to make an investment. The book also provides advice for those moving to Thailand, including legal issues like visas and work permits, and an overview of key economic, political and social trends.

The book adopts a critical and unapologetic approach in its consideration of Thailand and Thai investment opportunities, exposing potential risks and benefits to ensure that investors make the most appropriate investments for their individual needs.

Through its comprehensive, step-by-step approach Your Investment Guide to Thailand will provide you access to the rewarding opportunities that await you in the fascinating Kingdom of Thailand.

And what others are saying:

“Bruce Bickerstaff makes the insightful point that “shrewd” in Sydney or San Francisco does not necessarily mean “shrewd” in Thailand. This is an excellent book for anyone not only interested in investing in Thailand but also for the general reader wanting to obtain insight into how Thailand operates.” – Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman, Templeton Asset Management

“Bruce’s book has no competition in the way it comprehensively discusses the various investment options available to foreign individuals from equities to debt instruments and derivatives as well as the all-important purchasing of real estate in Thailand. Serious investors will appreciate the assessment of Thailand’s monetary and fiscal policies as well as the impact of the global recession on the country’s economic prospects.” – Supavud Saicheua, Managing Director, Phatra Securities

“This book can’t replace the real life experience of the joys and pitfalls of investing in Thailand—but it’s the next best thing! It is a must read and valuable reference manual for the newcomer to Thailand as well as the seasoned expat, and should be kept close by and referred to every time a different investment comes along.” – Andrew Durieux, President, Australia-Thai Chamber of Commerce

“There must now be many foreigners who have failed to successfully capitalise on the investment potential of this country who wish that this book had been available earlier.” – Graham MacDonald, Vice Chairman, British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand

Your Investment Guide to Thailand has just been released in Thailand, and is available in most good bookshops for 695 baht. It will released in other countries in March 2010, but can be purchased directly from the publisher in the interim. Further details can be found here.





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January 5, 2010 | Filed Under Books & Movies, Business & Economics, Culture Shock, Property & Investment 

Comments

One Response to “To Invest Or Not”

  1. Jack on January 9th, 2010 5.35 pm

    Thanks for this review. I would have ignored a book on investment from someone “who has more than twenty years experience in professional and management roles in both the Australian government and private sectors.”

    But with glowing reviews by Mark Mobius and Dr. Supavud, as well as the intro by the finance minister, the guy must be serious. I’ll pick up a copy.

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