ARTICLES AND RESOURCES

Read expert articles by Dan Merriam sharing his insights on entrepreneurship, real estate investing, investment migration, and living and investing internationally.

Building My First Startup: Excitement, Pain, and Failing Foward

Building my first startup, ICAREUM, was one of the most ambitious projects I had ever undertaken. As a PropTech startup, it was designed to revolutionize the real estate industry by offering a cloud-based 3D sales enablement platform for commercial leasing and pre-construction developments. After 18 months, over US$500,000 invested, and countless challenges, ICAREUM became one of the worst startup failures in my career. However, as with all failures, the experience provided invaluable lessons that have shaped me into a better entrepreneur and investor.

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Canada Tax Planning Strategies for Investors

Navigating Canada's tax system and staying on top of things as a business owner or investor can be difficult, and there are a lot of complexities. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the game, understanding the basics of tax law and planning is crucial to success. In this article, I'll share the essentials of effective tax planning, from reducing taxable income to maximizing deductions and tax credits.

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Top Countries for Wealthy Expats to Live and Invest

My decision to leave Canada in 2020 and move to Antigua and Barbuda was the culmination of a life spent exploring and doing business across the globe. My travels took me to over 50 countries, including extended stays in the US, Asia, Europe and various Caribbean islands. This global journey wasn't just about exploring new places but about discovering and capitalizing on unique investment opportunities, shaping my skills and perspective as a Wealthy Expat.

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Dan Merriam Dan Merriam

A Penny Doubling for 30 Days: The Power of Compounding Interest

The concept of “A Penny Doubled for 30 Days” has been around for many years and continues to be a popular topic among finance enthusiasts and real estate investors. The idea is simple: if you start with just one penny and double it every day for thirty days, the final amount will be phenomenal. This concept can be used to demonstrate the power of exponential growth and how small changes can make a big difference over time…

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Why I Left Canada to Live and Invest in the Caribbean

In 2011, I started investing in real estate in downtown Hamilton, an up-and-coming city near Toronto, Canada. When I first started, I knew nothing about construction, property management, or investing, but I quickly learned. Once my portfolio required me to be less hands-on, I started working remotely and travelling the world and focusing on growing my real estate portfolio internationally. I quickly realized that I wanted to live a life of global freedom. After exploring over 50+ countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, in 2020, I saw a big opportunity in the Caribbean region.

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Dan Merriam Dan Merriam

Jimi Hendrix Died at 27 — I Decided to Start Living

That trip completely changed my life. Exploring some of Europe’s greatest cities, staying in hostel dorm rooms, drinking and eating like broke students, and just relaxing on the beaches on a Tuesday was incredible. I met incredible people on that trip, some of which I still keep in touch with. And for the first time in my life, I finally felt free.

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Dan Merriam Dan Merriam

Travel Hacking Tips from a Nomad Entrepreneur and Investor

Travel hacking is a popular strategy used by many successful entrepreneurs and investors to save money and travel better. I’ve always loved hunting for deals and finding new ways to travel smart, but I didn’t realize how resourceful I was until I was stuck in Bali in 2020 during the onset of the global pandemic…

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How to Get Rich With a Normal Job by 30: Step-by-Step Guide

Becoming a millionaire at 30 is not just reserved for the privileged few. Anyone can reach millionaire status. The reality is that learning how to get rich with a normal job just requires hard work and smart planning. This is a guide on how to get rich with a normal job while you are still young enough to enjoy it…

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