The timing in moving assets offshore can be critical.

To be completely unavailable to creditors in the future, funds must be transferred before you are aware of potential claims or possible bankruptcy.

Assets moved into a trust AFTER their original owner learns they are in danger are not fully protected. This type of scenario may be declared a "fraudulent transfer" of assets or a “sham trust”. In these cases, claimants may be allowed access to financial information surrounding the offshore vehicle in question.

Of course, asset protection is one of a wide variety of reasons an individual might consider going offshore. In truth, any professional and any international company is losing investment income, unnecessarily risking their assets and probably paying too much tax by keeping their financial affairs completely onshore.

Experts agree, if you have money to protect - now is the time.