By Patrick Winters Privacy, Asset Protection and greater freedom of movement are just some of the qualities that lure investors offshore. Some people are happy to have their money safely locked away, an insurance policy against volatile stock markets, currency fluctuations and avaricious authorities. Others see investing offshore as a way of maximizing their return, in other words they want to see the investment pay for itself! You have or are thinking about opening an offshore bank account - how can you make your money work for you? *Disclaimer* Even the best offshore investments will carry a degree of risk. If you are comfortable with taking that risk then continue reading... Gold - In addition to being one of best financial reserves you can get, gold can actually increase in value during a bear market. If you had bought an ounce of gold in 2003 you would by now have nearly tripled your investment in only 6 years!!! Gold has its own intrinsic value unlike paper monies which can fluctuate wildly, especially in economic downturns when countries 'compete' to devalue their own currencies. Imagine having your very own 'plan b' stored in a safe deposit box, anonymously, out of reach of creditors, greedy lawyers, the taxman and anyone else with a covetous eye on your assets. Best of all its value is quietly multiplying... Certificates of Deposit - Rather than let your offshore assets sit idly by while inflation gobbles them up, invest in a certificate of deposit. Ranging from a couple of months to several years, these will pay you interest, usually based on a fixed annual rate. Sometimes you can get much better interest rates in a different country - this is one of the primary reasons for moving offshore - but remember to do your research beforehand. There have been countless cases of scams where investors were promised fantasy interest rates and ended up losing everything to a ponzi scheme. Part and parcel of 'soft-touch' regulation in tax havens is that you will come across schemes like these. The best method of research is to ask other banks who have had contact with the institution to give their professional opinion. Always remember the maxim - 'if its sounds to good to be true, it probably is'. A bank offering interest rates of 10% when the benchmark is set at 2% is either a fraud or in serious financial trouble. Tax-Free Trading - Once you have invested in an offshore bank account, think about expanding further and trading stocks. Most banks and brokerages will charge you for opening a brokerage account, but some might even do it for free! From a trading account you can buy and sell shares in all the major markets- anonymously- and since your account is offshore your gains are also tax free! Fees will vary greatly depending on the brokerage, but the best ones will give you an online platform so you can manage all your trades from the comfort of your own home, and with low overheads they can afford to charge nominal premiums on each trade. Exotic Investments - Exotic investments are usually more risky than average, and may consist of financial instruments such as sovereign & corporate debt, high-yield investment schemes and other investments which are outside of your domestic reach. The best bet here is to find a broker you can trust to advise you in this area. If you are willing to accept a high degree of risk, exotic investments may just be for you, since in return for high risk the results can be spectacular. Are you ready to take a giant step forward, and start making your money work for you? Don't waste precious hours looking for good brokers online, Capital Conservator has done that for you! Not only do our bank accounts offer a level of anonymity which you cannot find anywhere else, we give you the tools to seamlessly invest offshore. Anonymous gold, tax-free trading, CD's and exotics with no markups. Try our [http://www.capitalconservator.com/investing/]offshore investing, you'll like it + Get our exclusive offshore banking 'risks & rewards' email series, 100% FREE. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Winters