AboutUrsula Kiener Expertise I can answer questions regarding Insurance, Real Estate, Mortgages, Investing, Relocation, Retirement, Types of Visas, Laws, Places to go to, Night Clubs, Restaurants, Hotels, and Tourism in general.
Experience My company has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Founded in 1976, Forlacol is a family oriented company, with me (Ursula) as the third generation in the business. I obtained my insurance license in 2004 and I am qualified to sell personal, property and casualty, and guarantee bonds in the country of Panama.
I also have worked in Real Estate in Panama.
Most of my friends and clients are foreigners so I'm pretty used to being a tour guide.
Organizations International School of Panama Alumni Society (Vice President 2002-2005)
Florida State University Real Estate Society
Florida State University Insurance Society (Vice President 2005-2006)
Publications Panama Real Estate Magazine
Building the Best
The Pananole - FSU Panama’s Online Newspaper. (Founder and writer 2002 - 2004)
Education/Credentials I went to college at Florida State University with a scholarship. I graduated with a double major in Multinational Business and Human Resource Management. I took my Real Estate course in 2004 and my Insurance Course in 2003.
Awards and Honors Florida State University 2 2 Scholarship
Hispanic Honor Society
Past/Present Clients My clients are mostly foreigners. Countries of origin include: the US, Canada, Europe, and Central/South America.
Expert: Ursula Kiener Date: 4/28/2008 Subject: questions about relocating to Panama
Question Hi Ursula, My husband and I are investigating the possibility of moving to Panama. This past winter here was wicked with more snow than in the past 75 years. It was also a very dreary winter with very little sunlight. Don't want to go through that again. We are in our mid fifties, he's retired and receives a pension of roughly $2,000. /mth from his company. I am still working as a registered nurse and would not be retiring if we stayed here for another ten years.(Yech!!!) I don't know if I would work there or not as I have no idea what would be available for nurses there. I have done other things including running a couple of small businesses in floral arranging and another in travel which is my passion. Perhaps I could get into something like that. Once I turn 65 I become eligible for my Canadian pension which comes from 2 different sources. That, combined with my company pension,(if I left my job now) would amt to about $1500.00 a month. My husband would also get the Canadian pensions that would amt to another $800.00 to $900.00 a month on top of his company pension. If we came there we would sell our home here and try to purchase one for cash (or at least 75% cash) there if possible. We have other investment income as well but that would be tied up until we reached age 65 or pay big penalties. We are taxed to death here. We have an 11 year old daughter who we would like to send to a school that operates in English at least 1/2 the time. We aren't interested in living in a really big city (we live in the country here)and have been looking at the area around David as we understand that there's an American school there. We are having problems finding much info on the school(fees,etc). Can you help with this? We also have a 22 year old son who is autistic and lives with us as well. I don't imagine there is much of anything for people who have special needs like his. Another concern we have is health insurance. We have universal insurance here in Canada so it's not a big deal but we know it must be purchased there. How expensive would that be for a family? Is other insurance (ie house, car) very expensive? Sorry to be asking so many things but I looked at some of the other questions asked and you were so helpful. Thank you in advance.
Answer Hi Joan.
At least you are in luck in the fact that starting up a business in Panama is very easy - you need a Sociedad Anonima (which is the main model for a corporation) which cost $800 with a lawyer and $25 - 50 I forgot for the exact cost to get your commercial license online.
And we are growing so much - we need more EVERYTHING - as long as you provide good customer service you are golden! So go crazy and be happy - our turism sector is HUGE - we are getting people from everywhere in the world and you would not necessarily have to live in Panama City.
Medicine - and you being a nurse is a field that is growing a lot. Medical turism is very oportune at the moment.
Apts in the city are more expensive like $110.000 up but in the interior you can get a huge house and lot for that price. Like in David. I love mountains in Chiriqui - like Volcan or Boquete - the weather is perfect - except it rains a lot for 2 months of the year but it is cool, David is very hot. In Boquete there are English schools and it is like a melting pot from different cultures.
Another city I like a lot would be Chitre - it is growing but I think I would prefer it over David. But it is a matter of visiting both and seeing which one is for you.
Schools outside of Panama City do not have websites it is very rare. You would just have to go and ask around. But schools are opening everywhere since the demand for education has increased. Education here is better than in the US - private schools. But private schools are not that expensive - outside of the ISP and Balboa in Panama City. Public schools are aweful.
You are right about your son there are not many special needs centers in Panama and outside the city I seriously doubt you are going to find one. But he is out of school so at least that is easier. What exactly are you looking for him?
I have a lot of Canadian clients that have actually given up their citenship because they don't want to pay taxes anymore. You would qualify for the pensionado visa with what you have describe. You not only won't have to pay taxes but you get a series of benefits - I wrote an article about this in my health insurance website.
And you are in luck my real job is selling insurance. You don't pay for health insurance in Canada but it is a lot cheaper here than in most places, life is more expensive than in Canada or US - but you need it if you get a mortgage, car is around the same rate - people drive badly in Panama, fire/content is a lot cheaper.
