The whole idea brings up a bad image in the general public's mind. For many people, the whole idea of offshore investing brings up a picture of shady investors looking for places to hide their money where the tax rates are more to their liking at next to nothing, and while that may be the deal for some investors who paint the whole bunch badly, there are many more honest businessmen with offshore account that play by all the rules. Once you understand what it is and what it isn't, you might even consider offshore investing in the same way that you put your money into a local bank.