An offshore structure or wrapper is used by many investors as a means of simplifying and streamlining the administration of a portfolio of investments, particularly where the underlying offshore investments are domiciled in multiple jurisdictions. In these days of high due diligence requirements when investing your money, the establishment of such a wrapper would normally remove the requirement to submit laborious amounts of paperwork every time you invest.

Correctly established, a portfolio structure can provide all of the following benefits;

1. Enable you to obtain institutional discounts from fund management groups and stock brokers.

2. Create one single point of reference for dealing in the underlying investments of any class.

3. Enable the appointment of a professional portfolio manager with fees payable from the structure.

4. Asset protection

5. Privacy

6. Simplify the process of passing control to your intended beneficiaries in the event of your death.

7. Avoid 'forced heirship' rules.

8. Avoid delays associated with Probate.

9. Create a single domicile for all your investments.

10. Legally mitigate or eliminate certain taxes.

Portfolio Bonds

Offshore insurance company portfolio bonds are generally offered by subsidiaries of UK Life Assurance Companies operating out of Isle of Man or the UK Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey. These jurisdictions offer a combination of confidentiality, security and legislative protection in the event of default of obligations by the issuer. 

The treatment of these products as bona-fide Life Assurance contracts by the UK Inland Revenue means these products are particularly popular with the British expatriate and anyone intending to reside in the UK in future as they qualify for beneficial tax treatment under current legislation.

Guardian Investment Wrap 

Offers all the advantages of the Portfolio Bond but without the Life Assurance element. The Guardian Investment Wrap is constituted as a personal Trust under Jersey law. It offers both bespoke investment options as well as 'off the peg' solutions.

Guardian Portfolio Trust

This is broadly the same as the Guardian Investment Wrap but does allow the inclusion of real assets such as real estate property, fine art and such like.

Nominee Service

A bank or stock broker can normally establish a nominee account thorugh which they wil invest in offshore funds and stocks and shares on your behalf upon your instruction. Virtually the same as the portfolio bond but with no life assurance attached.

BVI Company

A BVI Company is surely the cheapest way to do the same as the above products but will NOT reduce the anti-money laundering requirements and may actually be looked at suspicously by some jurisdictions.