1. Pre-departure security training for the expatriate;  What activities, locations, and behaviors should be avoided in the host country to stay out of trouble.  This should be integrated into cross cultural training.
2. Emergency security plan for expatriates.  Does the host country need an emergency security plan for expatriates in case they need to leave the country or stay safe during an incident?  For example, if expatriates are in the U.K. an emergency security plan may not be necessary.  If they are in India, after what happened in Mumbai a few years ago yes, an emergency security plan is in order.  No matter how “safe the country” we learned after 9-11 that expatriates should be given security instructions and guidelines for just about ANY host country.
3. Making sure expatriates don’t know about the existence of a Kidnap and Ransom insurance policy, yet expatriates should be ready and able to call the emergency phone number if they feel threatened.
4. Host country work site assessment by an international security professional.  Again, the urgency to assess the safety of the work site will vary by country, and even by region in the host country.
5. Misc expenses related to proper host country security.  Drivers | Alarms | Security enhanced SUV | Local body guards, etc.

Unfortunately, most employers that send people to work internationally as expatriates only score a C on the above, including kidnap and ransom insurance.  Universities sending faculty to travel or work abroad get the worst grade and do very little for their employees from a security perspective.

However, the kidnap and ransom scenario is the classic “it will never happen to me case.”  No matter how much one reads up on the need for kidnap and ransom insurance for the expatriate family, there is that little voice inside us that says, it will never happen and that is the next guy’s problem.  A movie like Taken is one of the few things that can get the adrenaline pumping and can make us actually consider, “what if that was my child.” 

We find it amazing how many high net worth individuals take their entire family to places like Kuwait, Mexico, Philippines, Egypt and 20 other highly dangerous places without even checking up on kidnap and ransom insurance.  Many won’t even question their own employer about what security plans may be in place in the event of an incident. 

Of course, under a real kidnap and ransom insurance program the company is not at liberty to discuss the particulars and even inform the expatriate about the existence of a kidnap and ransom insurance plan, but the point is very few even ask, at least this is our experience.

It’s too late to make plans once something happens.  A private kidnap and ransom insurance plan may only cost a family $2,000 a year.  If you are a high net worth individual working away from home, this is money well spent.

If you have a net worth of over $1,000,000 it's not worth saving $2,000 to get this type of call from your daughter

Rightly so, there is more and more interest from high net worth individuals looking to use an international kidnap and ransom insurance policy, and security program to protect themselves and their families.  These global kidnap and ransom insurance policies are no longer just for the Exxon-Mobiles of the world, but are being purchased by individuals.  These are the most common reasons individuals purchase international personal security plans for themselves and their families no matter what their employer is doing for them:

1. High net worth individual looking for an international security program because they travel extensively around the world.
2. Expatriates looking to protect themselves and their families on an expat assignment in South America, Middle East, or the old Eastern Europe.
3. A high net worth individual in the EU or U.S. has a son or daughter doing a semester abroad, semester at sea, or just backpacking after college. 

The cost for most high net worth expatriates to protect their family globally, about $1,600 to $2,500 per year!  Season tickets at the Raiders are thousands more as are 15 things hanging on the wall at home.  What’s more important?

Do most high net worth individuals think of these types of international personal security programs before their daughter leaves to see the ruins of Machu Picchu and then backpack Argentina and Chile… unfortunately, not many do.  Thinking you have the money to meet any ransom demand is naive.  It’s the expertise and international consulting that is more important in bringing these people back alive, not how much money is in the bank account.

Once a family member is taken, it’s too late to make plans.  If you call an international security expert they may or may not have time to take your case because they have an obligation to serve their existing clients first, and not clients that call only after something has happened.  In addition to being placed at the end of the line, the cost per day could be $2,000 and the total bill $250,000 or more.