Every day for the last few weeks, my routine has stayed the same.

Wake up early, go through my morning routine, have some fresh coffee, spend time with my wife and kids, do some exercise, and then start getting to work.

I think about my goals, my work, my clients, and all the things I’m going to do to work on myself so I can be the best version of myself, both personally and professionally.

Honestly, just writing all of that right now sounds pretty sweet. 

I’m incredibly blessed to live the life I have. 

None of it came easy, though; everything that it took to get here was a deliberate action I knew would deliver the results I wanted.

One major shift, nearly six years ago, was leaving the UAE for good and relocating my family and business to Panama City, Panama.

I’ve spoken and written about the decision to leave for Panama at length in the past, but one major factor that kept me up at night was that if there were a war with Iran, being located right in the middle of the hot action was not good for my family.

Particularly as there are U.S. bases located in the UAE, they would be an obvious target if a regional war were to break out in the Middle East, not to mention the UAE's four nuclear reactors.

The last thing I want to think about is trying to scramble to escape as missiles are raining down.

The last several weeks alone have shown me that one particular decision could have been the difference between the life I live now and an utterly different situation.

During the beginning of the military conflict between Israel and Iran, I posted a reel on Instagram of Iranian civilians fleeing Tehran.

Imagine how many of the people cramming their loved ones into their cars knew where their next destination was. 

I wondered if they were just running to run, as if they felt that if they got far enough away, they’d figure out a safe place later after they stopped hearing the missiles strike from a far enough distance.

As a son, husband, and father, my heart broke for all the families on both sides of this conflict who had to shelter in place or evacuate without a plan.

What if instead of waking up to a peaceful life where I could focus on the things that bring me and those I care about joy, I had to wake up to the reality that everything I cared about could disappear in an instant?

Civilians have no control, no say, and no real decision to make in war, the moment the violence begins.

This was a harsh reminder to us all, though, that the perfect moment to make a Plan-B is now, not when war is breaking out outside your windows.

Witnessing the escalating regional conflict in the Middle East over many years, I knew my decision to leave Abu Dhabi was a responsible one.

This “ceasefire” Trump has been able to force is on unstable grounds because you’re expecting Israel and Iran to both behave reasonably. 

As of this writing, missiles have still been shot both ways but seem to have calmed down in the last few days, while Iran and Israel have both claimed victory in what Trump has proclaimed the “12-Day War.”

Depending on what outlet you get your news from, we’ve either avoided WWIII or WWIII is already here.

For now, I know this: my family is somewhere safe, far, far away from the major hotspots of the world.

I’m in a country that has a geopolitical position of strength, allowing it to be diplomatic with all the major superpowers and, most importantly, has good relations with its neighbours.

This wasn’t by accident; it was by design.

Panama was my Plan-B.

Peace, safety, and distance were the goals.

If you’re not in a position where you could say the same, I strongly encourage you to read this important letter.

Speak soon,

Mikkel

PS. We only have 3 days left to get Early Bird pricing on VIP tickets for this year’s Expat Money Online Summit: The Future is Latin America. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, protect your wealth, escape the tax-and-control regimes of the West, and build your future in a jurisdiction that respects liberty, this is the one event you cannot miss. Early Bird pricing expires Monday, June 30th, at midnight Panama time. Secure your 50% off VIP tickets now.

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