International Living Reviews 292

No regrets about attending this or any other International Living conference. They have done all the legwork, gathered the experts to show us beautiful presentations of more locations than I knew existed in Panama. From modern metropolitan city life to remote beach living and everything in between. If you have ever thought about living in Panama this conference was a must see. Packed with vital information and day trips to various sites available so you could put boots on the ground in areas that piqued your interest. Not to worry if you missed it, They will be back this was too good.

Attended the Fast Track Panama conference. This was well organized, provided insightful information and covered useful topics. The speakers were knowledgeable and approachable. Everyone was very open to sharing information and lessons learned from their own experiences. Being introduced to reliable professionals for real estate, legal and medical needs was a bonus. This conference was better than we had hoped for. As a result of this positive experience, we now have plans to attend another Fast Track.

I did finally receive a response and submitted my ad on Mar 6. I was also given a second free month for my ad for my trouble So I am glad that this issue is now resolved.

I am long time subscriber. I enjoy their monthly magazine as I am a frequent traveler.

My problem is they did a lifetime promotion, which I joined, then changed their publication to digital only.

Now I never read it any more because this was a casual coffee table reading for me. I already spend enough time on computer and the last thing I want to do to relax is go on my computer again.

They did this outside the refund window of my lifetime subscription.

So now I am stuck with a subscription I no longer want.

PS a number of 5* reviews here are obviously fake/totally irrelevant spam. What is going on with TrustPilot to allow these reviews?

They got me too!!! I took out a subscription and made the payment, guilty here.. But now I cant get away from these people. They billed me a second time, used my credit card without my authorization and continue numerous unwanted emails. I found their product to be inferior, basically worthless but am now spending hours of my time trying to disassociate from these people!! You have been warned.

Afra Schimming-Chase has been appointed as Benchmark Retirement Fund’s new chairperson.

She has been a member of the fund’s board since 2011.

Schimming-Chase has served as the chairperson of the death claims committee in the past.

She says she aims to ensure the fund lives up to its motto of being efficient, trusted and Namibian.

“I envision Benchmark as the premier provider of pension fund benefits for discerning investors, including participating employers, individual members, and pensioners. I see the fund as the epitome of excellence in retirement solutions, akin to the Rolls Royce of retirement funds.

“Our emphasis is on capable and competent management, ensuring a laser focus on mastering the fundamentals, while staying relevant and adaptable in a complex and occasionally uncertain environment,” she says.

The fund was established by RFS Fund Administrators in 1999.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy – subscribe now!

The forthcoming Avengers film will have its title “changed” after lead star Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault.

On Monday (18 December), The Independent learnt that Majors, 34, was dropped by Marvel Studios in the immediate aftermath of the verdict, which saw a jury find him guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania trailer
Get our The Life Cinematic email for free
Email

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
The forthcoming Avengers film will have its title “changed” after lead star Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault.

On Monday (18 December), The Independent learnt that Majors, 34, was dropped by Marvel Studios in the immediate aftermath of the verdict, which saw a jury find him guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

Majors’ presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was in question after several charges were filed against the actor, who was set to play the main villain in the new Avengers film.

The 34-year-old was found guilty of one count of third-degree assault and one count of harassment, but was acquitted of another count of assault and one aggravated harassment count. He is due for sentencing on 6 February and faces up to one year in prison.

Majors previously played the role of Kang the Conqueror in the TV series Loki as well as 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Both projects set him up as the next big Avengers villain designed to follow in the footsteps of Josh Brolin’s Thanos. The fifth Avengers film was called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Absolutely totally false information regarding real estate prices in places like Portugal and Spain! I know because I have lived in Spain near Portugal for many years. You will never find a 3 bedroom apt in Porto for €300 euros, this magazine is a scam!! I am sure they have never even been to the places they recommend, and use false expat profiles for promotion. Stay away from from this scam publication! I subscribed for a year, and it was a total waste of money!!

IL is a pyramid scheme. They sell you on the 'magazine' (which is no longer in print - online only), so they can continue to bombard you with more attempts and tactics to sell you more stuff. Absolute crap! I ordered a 1 year subscription and was charged for 2 years. This was over a year ago and still no refund. Save your money and do your own research on travel destinations with reputable sources. Maybe contacting the US government (State Dept?) for information on other countries would be the place to start. If you subscribe to IL, you only have yourself to blame.

The Sun is experiencing a sudden increase in activity, with a significant increase in the number of sunspots and sending clouds of hot plasma into space, the effects of which will be felt on Earth in the form of magnetic storms that cause radio interference. It is expected. Newsweek magazine reported, citing a NASA model

Thank you everyone for your honest reviews and saving me before I became yet another victim of this scam company. The last thing retires need is to be ripped of buy unethical companies.

If you enjoy reading a few mildly interesting articles on various parts of the world and possible ways to become an expat, then stick to the online magazine subscription and what the website provides ONLY! Better yet, just use the free IL postcards service to get some flavor of what possibilities exist abroad and then do your own online research about foreign places of interest to you and how to obtain Visas and plan a move overseas or consult your local library. If you are serious about moving abroad, then wisely spend your money visiting the location, and consulting a legitimate global Visa service or law firm or individual consulates here in the USA, not wasting it on fluff services.

What we have discovered is that International Living has a multitude of high cost programs on all kinds of investments and services and their main aim is to sell sell sell and get a chunk of your retirement savings, all under the guise that they are trying to save you money and help you live a “richer” life outside the USA. Beware that many of the low-cost countries they champion are not particularly safe or developed, so of course they are cheaper. Just because they can find a handful of Americans who have carved out a niche life in a remote location doesn’t mean it is generally a good life plan. Unfortunately, many of the safe & sane expat locations, such as Portugal, have become so popular that they are becoming just as crowded and expensive as many popular retiree locations in the US. So just know what it is YOU are looking for and be realistic because all of IL’s claims are not that! Their job is to sell you a product (or many), not provide you a better life, so do not be fooled!

Most of what International Living provides is unrealistic hype and a sales job! Beware of any of their Free Webinars because they are experts at long convincing commercials aimed at taking more of your hard earned dollars for very little usable substance in return and after you watch any of the Free Webinars, they will email hound you relentlessly to sign up. Many of their offerings will
only divert your time and money away from your original purpose of exploring an overseas retirement.

AVOID GETTING SUCKED IN DEEPER AND DEEPER!

RESIST feeling like you need to buy more and more from them to get “VIP/Lifetime status” or “take advantage of their best deal ending at midnight” or become a valued “charter member” or join their newest “mentoring” service etc. Most of their books and videos are low quality and you can find similar for free at the library or on YouTube. I could provide detailed accounts of multiple negative experiences we have now had through International Living’s offerings from their website to their recent in-person Denver conference to their real estate arm (RETA) to their many mentoring services and subscription services, not to mention their terrible customer service.

BEWARE of the MASSIVE UPSELL and EMAIL BOMBING!

DO NOT be persuaded to buy any additional products or programs unless you conduct your own outside massive due diligence and you are prepared to potentially waste or lose your money.

DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR REFUND GUARANTEES!

I have been lied to 3 times now by 3 different “customer service” reps about a $5000 refund I am due for a program I could not attend. I cancelled over the phone within 24 hours (there was a 30-day cancel period allowed) and was told I would receive my refund in 5-7 business days. Well, that did not happen and it has been nearly a month now since I originally cancelled. Over the weeks, I have spoken by phone to IL’s VIP Team, Concierge Team, Customer Service Dept. as well as sent a detailed email and still no refund. Today I received an email stating it will now be another 7-10 business days before I can expect to see my refund. What a joke!! This is now the 4th time I have been told just to wait a number of days and my money will be returned. Still no refund in sight and no one at IL has been willing to lift a finger to investigate why my refund is never quite processed, which leads me to believe this is simply the way they operate.

DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR MONEY!!!

They seem all nice at first, but make no mistake, this is a MARKETING COMPANY, not a company interested in the welfare of retirees. Their business is not to save you money in retirement, but to get you to invest as much as possible in their products and programs, which claim to have all the answers to a low-cost retirement.
I am speaking from experience over the last few months as my husband and I have invested time and money into many of IL’s offerings.
There are some good people working through International Living, also just trying to make a living, but overall I would recommend a huge dose of caution and recognize from the get-go that this is all about selling! Choose very carefully, if at all.

I used to love getting my magazine each month, then after renewing for a 2 year subscription I have found out they no longer print the magazine, it's only online. I don't want to read on a device, I like to read magazines. This was not made clear in the subscription contract, and the price was the same. IL has refused to refund any portion. I believe that such a significant change in the subscription should be made very clear when it comes to renewal. very disappointed

I'm writing a review about the reviews.
All the 5 star reviews are articulated in a way that normal people don't write...
It seems hokey..
Things that make you go hmmm 🤔.. just sayen

This magazine is a joke they never tell you how to get a home or land in a foreign country they just try and sell you more information at some ridiculous price or video this magazine is a joke will not renew my subscription. They are only interested in selling you more junk.It is only about supposed people that bought a home somewhere.STAY AWAY FROM THIS BS

They swindled my friend out of $150000 lying saying they had a good foreign investment when later admitted some were not what they thought or projected. Will mot refund.

I continue to receive a deluge of emails from Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, at International Living.
My innumerable attempts to unsubscribe from daily emails (often, I receive 2 emails per day) and change to weekly, have gone completely ignored. I have now asked to unsubscribe totally.
I am tired of being bombarded - it is a particularly agressive company which completely alienates me, I’m afraid.

Pakistan you want to do it again soon and I will be there in about the election results ok thanks for letting me know you got this YouTube channel my view is not coming back from the link

Overall the magazine is ok, but very repetetive for the locations they cover, and they have gone to digital , something I didn't know when I signed up , I really wanted a physical copy to read. The customer service is absolutely non existent. They say you can ask the staff questions about the articles and get answers about other topics, however they NEVER answer you. They have facebook pages set up as well for the different locations, but they don't answer comments on those pages either, so trying to get a question answered is pointless. So in my opinion it is for casual reading but you can't really rely on what they write as truth , because they don't really cover the nitty gritty about a place.