WEALTH MANAGEMENT

The Cook Islands has been providing wealth management to individuals and families across the world for over 30 years. The Cook Islands offers modern, innovative and robust legislation together with service providers who bring experience and expertise to the structuring and management of private wealth. Structures ranging from simple standalone vehicles to complex, sophisticated wealth management plans incorporating trusts, companies, foundations and partnerships to meet the needs of a global client base.

​

Trusts

Cook Islands international trusts, established pursuant to the International Trusts Act 1984, can be structured as discretionary trusts or with fixed income beneficiaries or for a purpose, whether charitable or non-charitable, and with powers being reserved to the settlor. The Cook Islands trust laws have made it a leader in the preservation and protection of wealth.

​

Companies

The Cook Islands provides flexible, easy to administer corporate vehicles, through its international and limited liability companies, that can form an integral part of a wealth management plan. The Cook Islands has developed a wealth protection framework through its legislation, with this important aspect of wealth management being evidenced in the Cook Islands International Companies Act 1981-82 and Limited Liability Companies Act 2008.

​

Foundations

Through the Foundations Act 2012 the Cook Islands has combined some of the technical and practical features of its trust and company legislation to provide a foundation that is internationally recognised, in civil and common law jurisdictions, for its flexibility and ease of administration.

BANKING

The Cook Islands is able to offer a full range of retail and commercial banking options to its residents as well as non-residents.

Non-residents establishing trusts and entities through the Cook Islands’ international legislation can also access private banking and asset management services in a number of the world’s leading financial centres.

Banks in the Cook Islands are established pursuant to the Banking Act 2011 and are licensed and regulated by the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission.

INSURANCE

A full range of insurance business is permitted in the Cook Islands including; life, health, accident, property, marine, aviation and travel.

The Insurance Act 2008 requires any one carrying on insurance business, whether as an issuer, a broker, agent or manager, to be licensed. The Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission licenses and regulates all insurance business in the Cook Islands and those who carry on insurance business. Those persons licensed to carry on insurance business can carry on that business internationally or from within the Cook Islands.

In addition, by virtue of the Captive Insurance Act 2013, the Cook Islands can provide captive insurance services to organisations looking to self-insure. By creating a licensed Cook Islands captive, organisations can provide their own insurance coverage thereby avoiding the use of traditional commercial insurance companies, reduce costs and insure risks that might otherwise not be insurable. A Cook Islands captive can provide greater control over risk assessment, policy content, premium levels and the use of funds in the insurance premium pool. A licensed trustee company will need to be engaged to assist in establishing and administering a Cook Islands captive structure.

SHIPS REGISTRY

The Cook Islands operates an Open Register for all vessels including merchant and fishing vessels and commercial and private yachts. Maritime Cook Islands Limited performs the Flag State responsibilities on behalf of the Cook Islands Ministry of Transport. Registrations are compliant with the Cook Islands Ship Registration Act 2007 and IMO Conventions. Upon registration, a vessel can fly the Cook Islands flag in international waters.