Own Nothing, but Control Everything – A Concept That Can Change Your Life

[lory]

I think you should focus more⁠ on what hasn’t been written here. You really need a consultant who can help you⁤ set up a structure that actually fits the topic of this thread and article. This⁣ isn’t something you can just turn into a generic template that works for most people’s⁢ situations here on OCT.

If you are in the million class you may consult @gh0p if you are in the lower end below a million you may use some of︀ the guys around here where you can see where they come from 😉

 

[uplana]

Great write-up, clear history and honest about the trade-offs. The “own nothing, control everything” idea‌ still has legs, but 2025 compliance is a different game.

I’m curious how this plays‍ out now for EU residents. With AML packages, DAC6/7/8, PSC/ROE look-throughs, and substance rules, where⁠ does lawful privacy still exist in practice?

On the banking side, with CRS/FATCA and strict⁤ source-of-funds checks, can beneficiary loans at commercial rates still run without triggering CFC or deemed⁣ distribution issues for EU residents?

One possible path: a discretionary trust with a licensed corporate⁢ trustee that owns a foundation held SPV. Fully reported for tax, independent directors, no personal︀ appointments, and only arm’s-length beneficiary loans. Would that still keep names off public registers while︁ remaining bankable?

Another option: a split model. Keep a transparent EU opco for income and︂ payroll, park passive assets in an offshore asset protection trust with real substance, and settle︃ through a regulated EEA EMI/bank, fully reported. Does this still provide useful privacy without tripping︄ DAC hallmarks?

Interested in how you would adapt the playbook for people who want protection︅ and discretion, not secrecy.

 

[SoNewToAllShit]

I think this whole loan setup only works in a very limited way⁠ in most EU countries.

The tax authorities are cracking down on that kind of arrangement,⁤ and I’m certain that if you live within the EU but have a foundation in⁣ the BVI and take loans from it, they’ll be knocking on your door pretty quickly.⁢

 

[GPT]

Discretionary trusts are dead in Europe. I've already experienced a class of beneficiaries⁠ having to be named and disclosed to both banks and governments. Try to convince them⁤ when the class holds unborn kids. Fucking nightmare. The key word is transparancy. That in⁣ itself opens up everything for any institution regardless of how many layers you put in⁢ between.

Beneficiary loans is the latest "under attack" tool and not always being treated anymore︀ in the way they should be. There are already double taxation cases because of it.︁

I think that this is the closest to a workable︅ model.

Have the transparent opco where the shares are even held by the beneficiary. Funding︆ comes from the asset protection trust where the real assets are held in an opco︇ underneath the trust. The trust has minimal activities and can potentially even avoid reporting. The︈ assets therefore stay out of sight. Not out of reporting but also not directly tied︉ to a beneficiary. This method, depending on the jurisdictions involved, still works. Something what also︊ works is move to a jurisdiction such as Monaco where zero fucks are given about︋ personal wealth.

 

[blizz]

yes that is the typical thing in Europe, it always sounds like they are very discrete‍ but at the end of the day they through around with information to the left⁠ and right.

 

[Houdini]

I believe what you do‍ in the USA is different to what you can do within the EU and Europe!⁠