LatAm Inquiries About Cayman Growing: 10 on the Weekend – Sue Nickason

Ten On The Weekend is a semi-weekly feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different industry figure, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might in an ordinary business setting.

Our guest this weekend is Sue Nickason of Dart Real Estate.

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How do you spend the weekends?
The Cayman Islands have spectacular beaches surrounded by the Caribbean Sea with a rich marine environment. Living here means that most weekends include time spent outdoors and on the beach. COVID resulted in less travel time than usual and provided the opportunity for me to take up cycling, and I’m enjoying exploring Grand Cayman on two wheels. 

What are your top three business goals this year?
Continuing the momentum of the business successes we achieved in the last few years in promoting the Cayman Islands as a jurisdiction of choice for residency by investment.

Remaining customer centric; meeting and exceeding the expectations of our clients by serving as trusted advisors and providing exceptional customer service.  

Being innovative and flexible to keep pace with (and ideally ahead of) market trends. Our success in 2020 was due to how quickly we pivoted our business activities – it was a great lesson learned. We were able to do so thanks to the incredible support and resources available from working for a company like Dart.

What’s your biggest business concern right now?
On a global level, my biggest concerns are economic recovery and consumer confidence. For Cayman specifically, it is ensuring that our value proposition – our quality of life, modern infrastructure, low crime rate, tax neutrality, ease of access, and stable government and economy – is known and understood by our stakeholders and target market. 

Which book is on your nightstand right now? 
I have a lot of books there (I am hoping to decrease the size of the stack over the holidays). At the top of the stack, there is The Cayman Islands in Transition by J.A. Roy Bodden, Clay Water Brick by Jessica Ackley, The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich, and War & Peace by Leon Tolstoy.

How and why did you first get involved in the investment migration industry? 
The Cayman Islands is a premiere locale for globally mobile high net worth individuals looking for residency by investment through real estate. In the last two years, in response to increasingly dynamic global conditions, we have seen an increase in people looking to establish residency in Cayman so I was prompted by this market trend to learn more about investment migration and ensure our team is able to assist these individuals with their relocation needs. Earlier this year I completed the investment migration certification with the Investment Migration Council.

What was your proudest moment as a service provider?
I don’t think there has been a proudest moment but rather just an overall sense of accomplishment for myself and our team that we are now recognized by our colleagues as thought leaders on the residency by investment topic in the Cayman Islands. It is so rewarding when clients tell us how appreciative they are of the service we provide and the knowledge we share with them. It is that feedback that makes the work that we do so fulfilling.

Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?
The demand from new markets for RBI in Cayman has been surprising in a positive way. Historically, demand for residency in Cayman has been driven by people from Canada and countries in western Europe. In 2020, we have seen an increase in inquiries from the United States, India, and LatAm.

Cayman recently introduced a Global Citizen Programme. Given the incredible lifestyle here and modern infrastructure, and the fact so many people will continue to work online in 2021, we anticipate many will apply to “live the dream” and spend time working from home in our tropical paradise.

If you could go back 10 years in time, what business decision would you change?
I would have moved to the Cayman Islands earlier. There is so much opportunity here and it’s such a great place to live.

What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?
First, I admire the people in the Cayman Islands government for the thoughtful RBI programme they have produced. I think it’s one of the best in the world when you consider its benefits and the value offered by the Cayman Islands. Second, Denis Kravchenko from the Investment Migration Council; he has been so supportive in my efforts to learn more about this industry. 

If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?
Five years from now, I hope to be witnessing the positive impact that new RBI residents have made on Cayman’s economy and community. On a personal level, my goal is to continue trying to make a positive contribution to these wonderful Islands.