This article was published in the Escape Artist Weekly Newsletter on July 17, 2018. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.
When you tell your millennial child(ren) or friends that you are planning to relocate and/or invest internationally, how do they react?
Are they happy for you?
Scared?
Confused?
Envious?
Worried?
There is a saying, “Monkey see, monkey do,” but in some cases, that is not always true.
If your 20-something-year-old is the one pushing you to globetrot, good for them and good for you.
If they call you crazy for wanting to retire in Belize or invest in Panama, this note is for them.
Being in the hardwood industry, I often receive the following response from older folks to the longer-term investment model, “If I was younger, I would do it.”
Millennial teak owners and Luis from GeoForestal.
But if you were given this opportunity 20 years ago, would you have taken it?
Most people would not have, because they didn’t know then what they know now. Being able to share your experience with the millennials in your life is tremendous, especially as the traditional methods of investing and retiring are becoming obsolete or less attractive.
With the capabilities and expansion of social media, the commonness of cultural blending, and the willingness to travel, the world is becoming smaller and will only continue that way.
Today, with one touch of a button, you can be talking in real time, face-to-face with someone thousands of miles away. Wow. Take your knowledge of international opportunity and assist those who may not be familiar with this market.
A visit to Ambergris Caye from my NY-born-and-bred cousin, Andy.
When I started exploring Latin America close to a decade ago, there was an enormous amount of questioning and skepticism from my parents and millennial/Gen-X friends. 
Every other question was something along the lines of:
What’s wrong with America?
Do you have rights in those countries as a foreigner?
Is it safe?
Aren’t you scared to invest in a foreign country?
What these questions really showed me is that there is a perception problem of the region.
If your family and friends are not on the same page as you, do not worry. You are not wacky. They just need to understand what you see. Here are 3 effective tips to help your millennial (or person of any age) gain interest:
- Introduce them to other people their age who are on the same wavelength as you.
- Share with them an interesting opportunity and explain why you think it would serve them well.
- Bring them to a Discovery Weekend, conference, planned tour, etc. to see the countries you are considering up close.
Dan Wilhelm (Escape Artist Publisher) and Rachel Jensen visiting Paris.
The flexibility of working from a computer or phone, the desire to have international experiences, and the understanding that the world is full of opportunities have more and more millennials thinking globally. Although not all of them know where to start, you are in a unique situation to help them. You already understand the importance of being international. Share the knowledge with the youngsters in your life. They will thank you later.
This article was published in the Escape Artist Weekly Newsletter on July 17, 2018. If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.
