Jason Hartman is joined by Yapta President and CEO, James Filsinger to talk about how Yapta is able to save travelers millions of dollars in airfare and James demystifies the automated yield management systems used by airlines to establish pricing.

James explains how the Yapta website works, from finding the best deal on a flight to obtaining a refund or credit voucher if Yapta finds a cheaper flight than a traveler first booked. James’ knowledge of the business sheds light on the complexity of searching for the best airfares. He defines airline change fees, explains why airfare prices fluctuate, and talks about “Guaranteed Airfare Policies.” Yapta recently launched FarelQ, an airfare price tracking solution for companies with large travel volumes.

James has more than 16 years of experience in the travel industry with proven success in CEO, M&A and Business Development roles within global startups and Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Yapta, James was CEO of EZYield.com, Inc. where he was responsible for orchestrating the sale of the company to TravelClick in November 2011. Earlier in his career, James was CEO and General Manager of Moneydirect, an international joint venture between Sabre Inc. (USA) and Amadeus IT (Spain) that processed over $2.5 billion in travel payment transactions annually. Prior to Moneydirect, he spent more than a decade at Sabre Holdings where he served as VP of New Business Ventures, among other roles within the organization.

Kevin Wessell is the president of The Hope for Congo Foundation, which is dedicated to the belief that education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty to give children around the world hope for a brighter future. He believes that every child should have the opportunity to have an education. Mr. Wessell has been an advocate for the free enterprise system because, when operated properly, it has proven to be the best system in the world for providing for the needs of the widest segment of the population.

Kevin teaches seminars in the US and Canada on subjects ranging from asset protection to real estate investing, primarily educating attorneys. With the lopsided lawsuit count in the United States compared to other countries of the world, it just makes sense for a US person to erect and maintain a legal fortress to ward off such an attack. By holding assets properly, you can live a comfortable lifestyle, yet, as the lyrics of the Bob Dylan song "Rolling Stone," say, "When you ain't got nothin', you got nothin' to lose."

A discussion about how the international travel is being adversely impacted by the global threat of terrorism. Robert feels the terrorism threat is very real, describing it as an easy way to have your way when you can’t have your way democratically. Robert advises people to travel light because of the long security lines in airports around the world. International terrorism plays a part in Robert’s new novel, which, in essence, describes how easily things can get out of hand and how complex the terrorist factions are around the globe.

Jason and Robert also talk about TSA issues. Robert feels there will be continued body searches and profiling, but that travel will become easier and terrorism less of a threat over time. In conclusion, Robert and Jason discuss Cuba, Burma and North Korea, contrasting the good and evil in some of the most beautiful places. Robert hopes that through books like his people will continue to be curious and seek the beautiful and interesting places in the world.

Born in Hungary, Robert Landori (whose full name is Robert Landori-Hoffmann) was, for most of his professional life, a senior public accountant, mergers and acquisitions specialist, and a trustee in bankruptcy in the Cayman Islands. But behind the facade of the quiet man of numbers lay a life of intrigue and mystery. He traveled widely throughout South America and the Caribbean, where he came into contact with international financiers, notorious con-men, well-known artists, famous entertainers and members of several countries’ intelligence communities.

The Seychelles are one of the few jurisdictions in the world which continues to maintain its clients’ privacy, despite pressure from the U.S. government. Bobby explains where to start depending on how and why a client wishes to set up an offshore or domestic asset protection plan.

Bobby Casey is the Managing Director for Global Wealth Protection, LLC. He is an entrepreneur, investor, and student of life. He travels the world and visits several countries each year, allowing him to seek new information and opportunities that benefit both him and his clients.

Bobby holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro: a BS in Finance with a minor in Economics and a BS in International Business with a minor in Russian. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship from MIT. Bobby began his first business at the age of 21 in the consumer services industry. The company was grown organically and through acquisition over the years, and was subsequently sold a few years ago. He has also owned a restaurant and a commercial real estate investment firm.

Bobby says that entrepreneurs and investors are the drivers of the world economy. Wealth creation and preservation is the only way to truly improve the world in which we live.

The power of the mind is a fascinating thing, a complex circuitry that scientists endlessly explore and attempt to understand. Jason Hartman is joined by Eldon Taylor, host of Provocative Enlightenment and best-selling author of I Believe, for a discussion of beliefs. How are beliefs acquired?  How many are conscious or unconscious?

Eldon describes the brain’s need for stimulation and how the media has systematically desensitized people. He also talks about conditioning and how much science has advanced in the study of the brain.

He gives the example of an MRI study being able to show up to six seconds in advance how someone is going to react to a given situation. Eldon talks about the influence of personality on physical characteristics and conditions. He shares examples of numerous situations where beliefs have had an influence on life, including physical phenomena in multiple personality disorder, eye color changes, and changes at the molecular level.

Eldon Taylor is the host of the popular radio show, Provocative Enlightenment. He’s an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of more than 300 books and audio and video programs. His most recent works include Choices and Illusions, Mind Programming, What Does That Mean?, and What If?

Eldon is also the inventor of the patented InnerTalk technology and the founder and president of Progressive Awareness Research, Inc. He has been featured as an expert in films, print, television, and radio. He’s been called a “master of the mind” and has appeared as an expert witness on hypnosis.

How do you choose a country in which to relocate or invest? In Part I of this interview, Gary Scott, publisher of Ecuador Living, urges people to “seek the places they love instead of running away from the places they fear.” By way of global travel and investing, Gary and his wife Merri found Ecuador in the 1990s, when it was still a little known place.

They found phenomenal business opportunities in real estate. The prices in Ecuador were better than anywhere else and included the benefit of spectacular weather year round. Gary shares his global investment experiences leading up to this, beginning in the 1960s with Hong Kong’s emergence in the markets. His goal is and always has been to stay on the leading edge of investments. His primary interest is in real estate, catching the emergence of real estate markets around the world.

The asset protection industry has been growing by leaps and bounds with more and more financial companies recommending moving assets offshore to protect oneself or business from high taxes and lawsuits and a variety of other reasons.

There is a growing number of instruments to choose from to accomplish this and on this episode, Jason Hartman talks with Wayne Kurtz, President and CEO of Karlsberg International Insurance Corporation LTD, regarding a unique strategy to grow and distribute assets tax-free in Belize. Wayne explains how FACTA compliant offshore life insurance works, which ultimately allows clients’ continued ownership of assets inside of a universal life insurance policy.

Wayne also discusses the benefits of offshore protection in Belize, and defines the requirements and disclosures that are necessary to set up a plan. Wayne Kurtz has 24 years of senior level experience in financial services organizations including operations management, marketing/sales, fiscal planning, M&A, P&L management. He has been recognized for articulating vision and direction, turning around poorly performing divisions, guiding joint ventures, and establishing strategic alliances.

Jason Hartman is joined by Larry Grossman, Managing Director of Sovereign International Pension Services, for a lesson on offshore IRAs and why anyone would want to diversify their assets outside of their own country, particularly the United States. Larry shares the many reasons for this, including concern people have with the direction of our country’s economic future.

He states that IRAs are the most common to take offshore and are least likely to raise red flags with the IRS. Larry defines offshore plans as actually having the assets, the investments and the custody of the assets outside of the United States. He also defines “Custodian,” “custody,” “administrator,” and many other technical terms associated with IRAs and pension plans.

Larry attempts to untangle the complicated web that is often the case with IRAs and pension plans, and talks about options people have for moving their retirement funds offshore, including some of the most popular places that assets are moved to throughout the world. Some of the options are quite interesting, including reforestation projects. Of course, real estate is a leading offshore investment.

Jason Hartman interviews real estate broker, Tay Oz about what is making the Dominican Republic more and more attractive to foreigners. Tay says the D.R. is the least expensive in the Caribbean, with temporary and permanent residency much easier to obtain.

The cost of living is even more affordable than America, with a slower paced lifestyle. Tay shares that many Americans are expatriating or investing in the Dominican Republic because they’re fed up with the political climate in the United States and tired of working to live. Jason and Tay also talk about the business and investment climate, which is currently thriving with retirees and expats moving to the D.R.

Join Jason Hartman as he interviews Josh VanDyk, investment adviser located in the Cayman Islands, about life in the Cayman Islands, where there are nearly 600 banks and trust companies, including 43 of the world’s 50 largest banks. Jason and Josh discuss the scrutiny by the U.S. government, the reasons people wish to invest offshore, and some of the best options and advantages for going offshore.

They also talk about the necessity and risks of asset protection, addressing different mechanisms for moving the assets out of your name and how to access it. Josh explains the various types of products available for international investors. Due to so many regulations in the U.S., hedge funds, mutual funds, etc, find it too expensive and too tedious to do business in the United States, so many funds are tailored for international investing. Jason and Josh also explore the reasons why so many people are taking their IRAs offshore and what is involved in doing so.

Joshua VanDyk specializes in offshore hedge funds, portfolio/asset management, foreign currencies, natural resources, precious metals, and brokerage. His services assist in raising financial capital for IPO’s, private placement and investment banking. After completing studies at Michigan State University he moved to Chicago, and began working as a licensed broker in the futures and currency markets. He spent four years in GFT’s private client group advising clients on futures and currencies markets. He went on to obtain his Series 7 license for stocks, bonds and options trading and began working in the active trader group at TradeStation Securities.

Join Jason Hartman as he interviews Investment Director and Editor of The Sovereign Individual, Jeff Opdyke. While the middle class is shrinking in the United States, Jeff shares his global observations of a new emerging middle class in other previously oppressed countries, such as Asia and Africa, and how online international trading is becoming so much easier to do.

Jeff and Jason talk about the various pockets in different countries that are becoming more attractive to foreign investors, the ease or difficulty of investing in real estate in those areas, and how rates of return compare with the United States. Despite the economic condition of the United States, investing here is still the easiest and most affordable, offering higher rates of return on investment. But as things continue to change around the world, more and more global markets may become friendlier to foreign investors. Jeff says looking for these lucrative pockets is one way to approach real estate investing overseas.

Jeff D. Opdyke is the Investment Director and Editor of The Sovereign Individual, and an Emerging Market Strategist and Global Growth Strategist. As a lifelong world traveler, Jeff has been investing directly in the international markets since 1995, making him one of the true pioneers of foreign trading. These days, he is the editor of the Emerging Market Strategist investment advisory and The Sovereign Individual, the Sovereign Society’s monthly asset protection and investment newsletter.

Life is about experience and global travel is about awakening to unlimited possibilities, especially when traveling with a group of people whom share your aspirations and sense of adventure.  Join Jason Hartman and Todd Sullivan, founder of Globetrooper.com, as they talk about the rewarding experiences of group travel, from planning exciting trips together, to making new friends, to really living and learning with the local people of your destinations.

Todd has a private equity, finance, and software engineering background. Before co-founding Globetrooper, he was a professional investor with a private equity firm in Australia. His team was responsible for investing $55 million into successful Australian businesses.  Prior to that, Todd ran a software development consultancy. He led a team of seven engineers on a highly classified military project and led the development of a proprietary learning management system, used by over 20,000 emergency medical training students.

Todd studied at the Australian National University and holds a master's degree in finance, a master's degree in management and a bachelor's degree in software engineering. Todd's appetite for adventure developed in Australia's Blue Mountains with annual rock climbing, canyoning and bush walking jaunts.

It’s time to expand your thoughts on vacation hotspots! Jason Hartman and Robert Reid, US Travel Editor for Lonely Planet, embark on a conversational tour of numerous vacation ideas, both within the States and abroad.

Robert brings a wide variety of travel types and locations to the table, such as Civil War Reenactments, Route 66, New England, and a new route, called the Trans-Labrador in Canada. He also touches on the subject of safe travel, in places such as Mexico, Russia, Denmark, and New England. Looking for the best beaches?

Robert has the inside scoop on the best beaches on the best islands, and discusses an increasingly popular type of travel: slow travel, where people prefer to stay longer in one place and experience local life. There’s something for everyone packed into this interview. Robert Reid is the US Travel Editor for Lonely Planet and sole occupant of the Lonely Planet New York City office. A guidebook author veteran, Robert regularly discusses travel stories and trends for national media including the Today Show, CNN, Fox, MSNBC and the Weather Channel. In addition to writing two dozen Lonely Planet guidebooks (eg New York City, Eastern Europe, Central America, Southeast Asia), he has written for publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, CNN and World Hum.

Do you want to know the secrets of living longer? Join Jason Hartman on this episode of the Jet Setter Show as he interviews Leslie Martin, Ph.D. and Howard Friedman, Ph.D., authors of “The Longevity Project.” Find out who lives longest and why. The answers may surprise you!

HOWARD S. FRIEDMAN is Distinguished Professor at the University of California in Riverside. LESLIE R. MARTIN is Professor of Psychology at La Sierra University, and Research Psychologist at UC Riverside. They met when Leslie began graduate study in 1991 at UC Riverside, where she became a key and continuing associate in Howard’s then-launching lifespan longevity studies. Here are some facts about their work, their interests, and their qualifications.

Their scientific research on health and longevity has been published in over 150 influential and often-cited scientific articles and chapters in leading books and scientific journals. In addition, Professor Friedman has authored or edited ten academic books about health and one prior trade book, The Self-Healing Personality.

Join Jason as he interviews Billy and Akaisha Kaderli about their powerful, practical, and substantive book, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement. Billy and Akaisha talk about why they retired at the age of 38 and discuss how others can do the same.

Billy was a trained and certified French chef, having trained in The Celestial and La Masisonette restaurants in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Billy and Akaisha met and married in Santa Cruz, California, 33 years ago. They spent six months traveling Europe, pursuing Michelin Guide restaurants with the intention of buying a restaurant and incorporating the food, wine, and research they had gathered. In late 1979, they purchased Luther’s, a 43-seat restaurant in Santa Cruz, which they owned and operated for ten years. Dean Witter took a keen interest in Billy and recruited him for their brokerage firm, where Billy eventually became Vice President of investments and branch manager of the Aptos office.

In 1989, they assessed their lives, their dreams, and their bank balance. They decided to make some bold choices and get on track to becoming early retirees. In January of 1991, at the age of 38, they retired and moved to Nevis, West Indies. From there, their perpetual gypsy lifestyle began, traveling through the West Indies, Venezuela, US, Canada, Mexico, and many nations in Asia. In 2005, they wrote the book, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement, A Common Sense Approach, which sold in 40 countries and is now in its 3rd edition.

Jason Hartman talks with Phyllis Stoller, Founder of The Women’s Travel Club. Phyllis was named the top agent for women’s trips by Travel & Leisure Magazine, 2006 and 2007.

Phyllis Stoller has a BA from Tufts University, MA from New York University and a Finance Degree from the University of the South Bank, London England. She has lived overseas and traveled extensively. She now resides in New York City. Phyllis is as an expert in the needs of women travelers and has appeared on local and national TV including CNN, The Today Show and Lifetime Television for Women. She was mentioned in Faith Popcorn’s book: Evolution.

She believes that travel is a life changing experience and that traveling with women is a privilege. She still lends her expertise to the Club, and designs many of the tours. Founded in 1992, The Women’s Travel Club is the leading tour operator for women and women’s organizations in North America, with trips from 4 to 14 days.

Specializing in small groups, personalized service, and special attention to solos. Spa weekends, European destinations and exotic locales on all 5 continents. All tours are value-driven and 4/5 star hotel based. As a division of nationally known ABC Destinations, our buying power and quality benefits our members.

On this episode, Jason and Tim talk about their recent trip to Belize including offshore investing, overseas retirements, and their impressions of life in Belize. 80% of privately owned land in Belize is owned by Americans and English is a the national language.

Belize offers numerous advantages for those who enjoy aquatic adventures including boating, fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling on one of the largest reefs in the western hemisphere. Originally part of the British Empire, Belize shares a common colonial history with other Anglophone Caribbean countries. From 1862 to 1973, its name was British Honduras. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1981, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of State.

For additional episodes see: http://jetsettershow.com/category/podcast

Jason Hartman talks with Robert Landori about money laundering – the world‘s third largest business. It is so prevalent that the world‘s various authorities fighting this criminal activity hesitate to name a total figure. They only offer tentative estimates. Depending on whom you ask the figure ranges between US $600 Billion and $1.5 Trillion worldwide per year.

According to the International Monetary Fund, this represents between two and five per cent of the world‘s gross domestic product. The lower figure is equivalent to the value of the total output of an economy the size of Spain‘s.

This massive sum of illegal money usually finds a home in geographical areas that have lax control over their financial institutions (off-shore tax havens) where it is invested principally in ‘passive’ i.e. non-tangible-asset producing, ventures. This has a very serious impact on international economic development. Money laundering can only flourish where some sort of banking system exists that is willing to cooperate with money launderers. Because banking for money launderers can be extremely profitable many bankers cannot resist the temptation to participate.

Jason Hartman talks with Kathleen Peddicord, Founder and Publisher of Live and Invest Overseas/International Living, as they discuss retirement and better living destinations worldwide.  Have you ever considered a move to Panama, Europe, Argentina, Ecuador, Belize or other low-cost high-lifestyle destination? 

For more than 22 years, Kathleen was Editor and Publisher of International Living. In 2007, she decided to take a break, during which she did two things. First, Kathleen began work to launch a new publishing group, Live and Invest Overseas, and a new free e-letter service, the Overseas Opportunity Letter. In addition, during her recent sabbatical, Kathleen and her husband, Lief Simon, made an important geographic decision. Specifically, they decided to make a third international move with their family and Kathleen’s new business. In the summer of 2008, Kathleen moved from Paris to Panama City, where they’re currently reside.

Jason Hartman talks with Franz Wisner, a reformed cubicle worker and the author of Honeymoon With My Brother, the true story of how Franz was left at the altar, then decided to take a two-year, 53-country honeymoon with his younger brother, Kurt. The best-selling memoir is currently being made into a movie by Sony Pictures. In addition, Franz has penned numerous articles and opinion pieces for The San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Redbook Magazine, and Coast Magazine, among others. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tracy Middendorf Wisner, and their children/future backpackers, Calvin and Oscar.

In 1999, he was dumped at the altar, just days before his scheduled wedding. The guests were en-route, the food and wine were on location, and the whole party was pre-paid. So he chose to have a weekend wedding bash anyway... just without a bride. He then decided to go on the planned two-week honeymoon to Costa Rica, substituting his brother Kurt for the Runaway Bride. They had such a good time exploring the country and reconnecting as siblings that they opted to extend the festivities for two years and fifty-three countries in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and Africa.

Throughout the "honeymoon," he penned a series of emails to family and friends about the quirks and oddities of travel. Until then he'd written for others (PR clients or politicians) but never for himself. Some of the essays made their way into newspapers and magazines thanks to a few encouraging friends in the media.  If you're interested in becoming a travel writer, this is your show!

Jason Hartman talks with About.com Budget Travel Journalist, Mark Kahler, on low cost travel to London, New York, Paris, Vienna, San Francisco and other expensive cities.

Mark Kahler is an American journalist and writer with more than two decades of professional experience. Jason and Mark will also explore some innovative ways to get free upgrades from airlines, hotels and rental car agencies.

Mark is an avid traveler who has visited all 48 contiguous U.S. states and 25 other countries around the world. He has traveled from the former Berlin Wall to the Great Wall of China to cover stories. In his experience, spending large sums of money does nothing to bring people closer to the places they visit. He helps readers save their money for enjoyable travel expenditures. He has been the Budget Travel Guide at About.com since 1999. Frequently interviewed for print, radio and television stories about budget travel, Mark has taped segments for the Fine Living Network and KING-TV's "Up Front"; done live interviews with Fox News Sunday, Retirement Living TV's "Daily Cafe" and Good Morning Memphis; and has been quoted in print publications such as Family Circle magazine, The Sacramento Bee and Indianapolis Star.

Margarita Gokun Silver discusses the unique advantages and challenges of becoming an expert expat. Margarita is the Principal and the Founder of the Global Coach Center, a coaching firm that specializes in Executive and Life Coaching for expatriates, multinational managers, global leaders, and those involved in multicultural relationships.

As a certified Expat Coach Margarita shares her insights and advice for those who are seeking to create a great life and career abroad.

Welcome to the Jet Setter Show!