33 ans : Bilan sans pitié d'un entrepreneur expatrié

Celebrating his 33rd birthday, the speaker addresses approximately 30 questions on business, personal life, and expatriation. He provides authentic, unfiltered answers, emphasizing that his opinions are not always perfect but are genuine. Regarding expatriation, the speaker notes that the "best" country is subjective and has changed for him over time. Thailand, his initial choice at 21 due to budget constraints, is now more expensive. Bali is suggested for freelancers or new entrepreneurs who don't require extensive networking, though its taxation is not as favorable as Thailand or Dubai. Dubai is recommended for established entrepreneurs earning at least €10,000 per month, as the network and cost of living cater to a higher income bracket. Singapore is an excellent option for those in finance or entrepreneurs who don't need to network, but it comes with a higher price tag. Hong Kong is also a strong contender, having relaunched a residency program for investors. Reflecting on advice he would give his 20-year-old self, the speaker advises against excessive networking in the early stages of online entrepreneurship. He believes the initial focus should be on acquiring more customers and offering more products. His first five years were dedicated to content creation and developing new offers. He also emphasizes that some things take time, using his comfort with video as an example, which developed over years. He encourages a balance of patience and self-discipline, stressing the importance of self-assessment and challenging oneself. On managing personal and professional goals, the speaker admits his current focus is less on earning more money and more on intellectual stimulation and project execution. He acknowledges that money is vital due to the responsibilities and challenges of his online asset company. For his personal goals, he plans for 2026 to be heavily business-focused, making personal concessions for a year to achieve significant results from three years of work. For an entrepreneur earning €20,000 per month aiming for €100,000, the speaker advises increasing "financial capacity" by creating ultra-premium offerings. He suggests that wealthy individuals often opt for the most expensive option for convenience and assurance. Additionally, he recommends a strategy where 80% of time is spent on proven, profitable activities and 20% on exploring new markets or trends, likening it to worker and scout ants. Regarding discipline, the speaker finds traditional methods like dashboards ineffective for himself. Instead, he motivates himself by focusing on the clear "why" behind his actions, such as knowing that creating content for two hours daily will lead to client acquisition and financial freedom. He views discipline as a balance between effort, potential reward, and the suffering of inaction. His biggest lesson from 33 years is that life is unfair, but individuals bear responsibility for their circumstances, especially after age 30. He believes in making a difference on one's own scale and not solely chasing money, as it's not an end in itself and negative actions can have karmic repercussions. His next 33 years will be less work-focused and more on investment management and personal life, including family and happiness. For investing €2 million in the stock market, the speaker suggests allocating €1 million to the stock market, with €500,000 in an S&P 500 ETF (like VOO) and another portion in a tech-focused ETF (like SCAG). The remaining €1 million could be invested in private equity, which has historically yielded high profits for him and his affluent friends. He currently avoids real estate and private debt due to market tensions. On his marital future, the speaker shares a recent breakup, noting a significant lifestyle gap with past partners. He finds it challenging to date as his affluent lifestyle often changes women's expectations. He hopes to find someone who won't be swayed by his wealth. For making €50,000 net from €700,000 in one year, the speaker finds this goal complicated due to his long-term investment horizon. For a one-year timeframe, he suggests low-risk US government bonds (3.7% return). For longer horizons, he recommends stocks and private equity. Comparing Thailand and Japan, the speaker loves Japan for travel due to its unique culture, quietness, and cleanliness, but finds it unsuitable for living due to high taxation, language barriers, and business complexities. Thailand, especially for young, single individuals who don't speak Japanese, is preferred for living. Regarding AI's impact on his companies, the speaker explains that he manages an online asset private equity firm that buys, manages, and resells online businesses. AI is primarily used for data processing, collection, and report production, leading to significant cost savings and better decision-making. AI also aids in operational aspects like customer support and SAS development, accelerating business flips. His asset distribution is roughly 40% in real estate, 20% in private equity, 10% in private debt, and the rest in the stock market (including hedge funds). He notes a recent decrease in real estate liquidity in Thailand, with more people opting to rent. Networking in a foreign country like Thailand has been facilitated by his YouTube videos, attracting a community of entrepreneurs and investors. He also connects with people in classy bars and festive restaurants. For SEO, his company does everything in-house. Following recent Google updates, they focus on creating FAQs to appear in LLMs (like GPT Chat) and bolstering site legitimacy for higher Google rankings by having experts write articles and link their social media. His online asset exit strategies involve making businesses as independent as possible, maintaining clean financial records, and eliminating "black spots" (issues that make a business unsellable) and "red spots" (issues that reduce the selling price). Structurally, they use Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for fundraising, operating companies in the business's jurisdiction, and holding companies for tax optimization. For successful expatriation to Bangkok, the speaker recommends specific neighborhoods: Hompong for high-quality expats, Tonglore for nightlife and good restaurants, and Chitlom for a private, luxurious, and green environment (though very expensive). He advises careful visa selection, starting potentially with a DTV visa and then transitioning to a work permit or privilege visa. On real estate investment, he states there's no single "best" city. Success depends on in-depth market knowledge and access to discounted deals, which he has consistently secured, often from distressed sellers during economic downturns. The speaker believes the "golden age" of online training is over due to abundant free information on YouTube, fewer people searching for training, and readily available answers from AI. Increased competition also makes selling training without support very difficult. His annual investment return targets are around 5% for real estate, 15% for private equity, 10-12% for the stock market, and 7.5-8% for corporate debt. Overall, his highly diversified portfolio yields 7-8% annually, which is sufficient for his expenses, prioritizing capital preservation over maximum returns. He expresses disinterest in cryptocurrencies, viewing them as less relevant for his focus on capital preservation and access to traditional financial products. He finds the "digital gold" narrative for Bitcoin unconvincing given its short history. To attract ultra-high-net-worth individuals (those with over $30 million in liquid financial assets), the speaker notes their needs revolve around concierge services, real estate, and financial advice. He finds these individuals are often less focused on working and more on making informed decisions, often encountered in luxury hotels or through specialized concierge services. The "why" for entrepreneurs like him is "the game" – intellectual stimulation, achieving new financial "scores" to launch new projects, and the inherent drive to keep creating and investing. His top three beautiful Asian women are Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean, noting their values and beauty. He doesn't invest in Asian ETFs due to high fees but recommends investing in Asian sectors through private bank hedge funds, as the fees incentivize active management and align interests. The speaker strongly believes in understanding money before acquiring it, as many successful entrepreneurs mishandle their wealth by not investing, investing poorly, or lacking diversification. He stresses patience, continuous learning, and responsible capital deployment. With degrees becoming less valuable due to AI and automation, the speaker suggests a future in service-oriented roles, consulting, concierge services, and manual/artisanal trades. Investing in a private bank remains relevant, offering access to high-level advisors, unique financial products, and networking opportunities with ultra-wealthy individuals. Finally, he shares his skincare routine, which includes vitamin C, sunscreen, cleansing oil, pore-normalizing cleanser, a light cream, and retinol to protect, renew, and moisturize his skin. He also undergoes non-invasive treatments like hydra facials and invasive treatments such as Botox, hyaluronic acid injections (prophylaxis), and Herbium Laser for deeper, longer-lasting results.