Join us in San Diego
Saturday, September 20, 2025 - The Westin San Diego Bayview
Saturday, September 20, 2025
The Westin San Diego Bayview
Free seminar event. Expert speakers on everything you need to know about moving to Portugal.
September Events:
Canadian & American Couple Move from the US to Portugal
Expat Testimonial
Alastair and Wesley tell us about how they moved from the US to Portugal and found their forever home.
Moving to Portugal from Los Angeles
Testimonial from an Expat
Adrienne Salermo tells us about how she moved from California to Portugal with hew family and now runs her own wine business Terra Doce.

Top 5 Benefits of Living in Portugal
- The world’s 7th safest country
- Low cost of living
- Inclusive and welcoming
- Great weather
- Affordable health insurance

At a time when the world feels uncertain, Portugal stands out — calm, steady, and ready to welcome you
Whether you’re looking to retire, invest, or raise a family, Portugal combines modern convenience with old-world charm — and all at a lower cost of living.

💡What You’ll Learn
– Step-by-step guidance for relocating to Portugal
– How Portuguese taxation and residency laws apply to US citizens
– Visa programs like the D7 Visa and Golden Visa (Residency by Investment), and more
– How to buy property safely in Portugal
– Insight into the current Portuguese real estate market
– Information about healthcare and health insurance
– Meet our expert speakers one-on-one
Meet the Experts
All under one roof you will have the chance to listen to live presentations by experts in the areas of residency, taxation, legal matters, healthcare, real estate, and many other aspects of life in Portugal.
You’ll also get time before and after each session to connect, ask questions, and get tailored advice.

Bruce Hawker
CEO - Open Media Group / Event host
Bruce has lived in the Algarve most of his life, having moved to Portugal from the UK as a child when his family relocated in the late 1970’s. His career has been mostly in publishing, as founder and CEO of the Open Media Group; publishers of the Portugal Resident newspaper and Essential Algarve magazine amongst other titles.
Whilst continuing in his role at Open Media, Bruce also has interests in real estate. Alongside his business activities, he is also a member of the board of directors of the Lisbon based British Portuguese Chamber of Commerce. Bruce is the host and a speaker at the Living in Portugal and Living in the Algarve events.

Jorge Pereira
COO - Fine & Country
Jorge was born in Angola but grew up in Setúbal near Lisbon before moving to Geneva, Switzerland where he completed a degree in Tourism Management. He lived and worked for five years in Ukraine before moving to Portugal in 2012 and started his career in real estate in 2015. Jorge has been with Fine & Country since 2018, initially as general manager of the central Algarve office and more recently as sales & marketing director for the Algarve region. Whilst based in the Algarve, Jorge works closely with his colleagues at the Fine & Country offices elsewhere in Portugal, from Porto in the north to Lisbon, Estoril and Comporta.

Henrique Pinheiro
Founder & CEO - Medal Insurance brokers
Henrique founded Medal Insurance in 1996 and has built the business with his family and a dedicated team to be Portugal’s leading insurance brokerage for expats.
His presentation at our Living in the Portugal seminars will focus on health insurance and healthcare in Portugal for foreign residents.
Medal was founded in the Algarve where it has three offices covering the whole coast. Medal also has offices in Cascais covering the Greater Lisbon area.

Iva Slavtcheva
Senior Business Development Manager – Moneycorp USA
Originally from Bulgaria, Iva joined the Moneycorp team in 2014 and has been instrumental in the company’s expansion throughout the US.
Specializing in personal money transfers, Iva has been directly working with individuals buying or selling properties internationally, emigrating, or simply covering overseas living expenses. She currently manages Global Partnerships at Moneycorp, provides education to real estate professionals, helping them grow their international business, and enjoys travelling with her family.
The Moneycorp group serves the growing foreign exchange needs of businesses and individuals, providing tailored solutions and a high level of customer service.

Calvin S Mazlumyan
Managing Director / Founding Partner - Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy
Calvin S. Mazlumyan, Esq., is a California-licensed U.S. immigration attorney and a seasoned Outbound Migration consultant specializing in both Caribbean Citizenship by Investment and European Golden Visa programs. He holds a California Realtor/Broker license with a focus on global real estate markets and is a licensed Investment Advisor Representative.
Mr Mazlumyan graduated from UCLA with College Honors and Departmental Highest Honors, and has pursued a career in Private Banking both in investment and lending areas prior to focusing on immigration and global migration matters.
Mazlumyan holds a Master of International Management degree with a concentration on global wealth migration patterns and is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, and the Investment Migration Council.

Duarte Calheiro e Menezes
Partner & Fund Manager - BlueCrow
Duarte acquired extensive experience over five years trading futures and options, before joining BlueCrow in 2014. This challenge was propelled by a common goal of maximizing investments in commercial companies, asset management portfolios and business projects with significant potential for growth. With a background in economics (Degree and Master's from Católica Lisbon University), he is specialized in financial asset management and risk hedging, in portfolio management, and in asset structuring.
BlueCrow Capital was founded in 2010, currently operating with two separate financial licenses regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). The emphasis remains on the creation of investment and divestment strategies, financing projects at different stages of their respective maturity, and the monitoring and management of financial assets.

Pedro Lino
CEO - Optimize Investment Partners
Pedro Lino holds the position of CEO in Optimize Investment Partners, SGOIC SA a Portuguese and independent Asset Management Company, where he is also the Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Portugal Golden Opportunities fund, Golden Visa eligible.
His interest in financial markets began at an early age. At 9 years old, he was already checking stock quotes on television, and he began investing in financial markets at the age of 16. In 2002, at the age of 26 he acquired a stake in a Portuguese broker company, that he sold in 2021.
Pedro Lino is a member of the Order of Chartered Accountants, the Order of Economists, a founding member of OPCR - Portuguese Observatory of Compliance and Regulatory Association, and a member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, founded under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic.
He graduated in Economics from Nova School of Business and Economics in 1998 and writes opinion articles and participates in television, radio, and digital platforms, discussing economic and financial topics.

João Richard Costa
Chief Commercial Officer - Ombria Resort
João has been managing the Ombria Resort sales team in Loulé since 2016. João has extensive management experience in real estate, having worked in several mixed-use luxury resort developments, namely at Pine Cliffs Resort, Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort and Westin CampoReal Golf Resort & Spa, in Portugal.
Ombria Resort is a luxury low-density sustainable development surrounded by nature, in the heart of the authentic Algarve and less than 25 minutes from the coast and Faro airport. It includes a 5-star hotel, an 18-hole golf course and several different types of properties for sale. Currently under construction, the completion of its first phase is scheduled for spring 2023.

Luis Duarte
Chief Sales Officer - Global International Relocation
Luís joined Global International Relocations in 2008, just 8 months after the company started trading. At the time he had just returned from the US and was settling in Portugal, a move that he considers to be the best one of his life. 14 years later he reflects on an exciting journey and continues to learn more and more about relocating international clients to Portugal from all around the world.
Today, GIR employs over 100 people with three offices and is the number 1 mobility company in Portugal. The company offers high-quality services in the areas of international moving, relocation, immigration, property services, special transport of pets and artworks, excess baggage service, storage and management of business archives.

Guilherme Valadares Carreiro
Partner - Oxy Capital
Guilherme is a Partner at Oxy Capital, where he leads the firm’s Golden Visa initiatives. Since joining Oxy Capital in 2018, he has been actively involved in private equity investments, executing over 10 deals across diverse sectors. In addition, he played a key role in the operational and financial restructuring of an industrial company with over €250 million in revenue. Since 2022, he has spearheaded the fundraising and execution efforts for Oxy Capital’s Golden Visa projects.
Prior to Oxy Capital, Guilherme worked as an Operational Consultant at Kaizen Institute, Europe's leading operational consulting firm, where he focused on process optimization and efficiency improvements.
Guilherme holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (Portugal) and the Technische Universität München (Germany).

Roberto Castro Mendonça
Lawyer - Newco
Roberto is a Portuguese Tax Lawyer with over 10 years of experience assisting expats and investors in Portugal.
He holds a Degree in Law from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, a master’s degree in Tax Law and a Post-Graduate degree in Tax Litigation from Universidade Católica Portuguesa. He has been a member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 2017.
He is active in all areas of tax law, particularly in the taxation of inbound and outbound investments in Portugal, as well as in tax litigation, VAT, real estate taxes, and the taxation of high-net-worth individuals.
He is the author of several publications, a local correspondent of the IBFD (International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation) and a member of IFA – International Fiscal Association.
In addition to his native language, Portuguese, Roberto is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Gonçalo Mendes Leal
Founding Partner - NSMLawyers
Gonçalo co-founded NSMLawyers and, with a team of expert lawyers, crafted thousands of golden visa applications in Portugal. A work with more than 10 years of experience that changed many lives.
In the last decade, NSMLawyers has become a top immigration law firm in Portugal. Recognized worldwide, the firm specializes in crafting residency visas. They have assisted clients from more than 80 nationalities seizing the opportunity of both investing and enjoying a Golden Country.

Dylan Herholdt
Sales Director - Portugal Realty
Dylan Herholdt is Sales Director at Portugal Realty and a Certified Realtor, with over a decade of experience assisting international homebuyers. Originally from South Africa, Dylan is known for his honest approach, deep knowledge of Portugal, and genuine passion for the Silver Coast, where he now lives.
He has extensive experience working with American real estate investors and families looking to relocate or purchase a holiday home, with a deep understanding of their expectations, lifestyle preferences, and the practicalities involved in buying property in Portugal.
Dylan is also the host of the 'Portugal The Simple Life Podcast', Portugal’s most popular English-speaking podcast, where every week he shares inspiring stories and authentic insights about life in Portugal.
Founded in 1995, Portugal Realty™ is part of Leisure Launch, a group of companies dedicated to helping international buyers find a simpler life in Portugal through a comprehensive, full-service property solution.

Vitor Rodelo
Director of Business Development - Sierra Canyon American International School Portugal
Vítor Rodelo has over a decade of experience helping international clients relocate to Portugal. As one of the earliest and most recognized agents of the Golden Visa program, he earned a reputation for providing strategic guidance to foreign investors. Since 2010, he has been active in global investment forums, showcasing Portugal as a leading destination for real estate investment and lifestyle migration.
With a degree in International Relations, Vítor began his career at Millennium BCP and later at the telecommunications and media group NOS. He entered the real estate sector in 2006, leading Lisbon’s Panoramic project and later founding Casa10, which grew to multiple offices across the country.
Today, Vítor is part of the team of Sierra Canyon American International School Portugal, bringing his international expertise to education and community development.

Christopher Gammill
CEO - Lighthouse Language School
Speaking at the San Francisco Seminar
A California native with a global outlook, Chris brings 20 years of international finance and 15 years of teaching and coaching experience to his work in Portugal. After relocating to Lisbon in 2024, he immersed himself in the language and culture before founding Lighthouse Language School to help foreigners learn Portuguese through real-world, interactive experiences.
The school emphasizes helping new residents and visitors engage in meaningful conversations from day one. Chris and his Brazilian wife, Leticia, once homeschooled their children while traveling the world for a year, deepening his passion for immersive learning. His approach blends professional expertise with personal experience to create a dynamic environment where learners build confidence and community while speaking like locals. Outside of work, Chris enjoys sports, exploring Portugal, and trying new foods—just not liver!
Your First Step to a Safer, Better Life Abroad Starts Here
Seats are free, but space is limited. Reserve yours now and start planning your future in Portugal.
Partners
Investment Management: BlueCrow Capital, Optimize Investment Partners, Oxy Capital,
Sierra Canyon American International School
Education: Lighthouse Language School
Migration/Citizenship: Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy
International Relocation: Global International Relocation
Realtors: Fine & Country, Portugal Realty
Insurance: Medal Insurance Brokers
Foreign Exchange: Moneycorp
Legal: Newco, NSMLawyers
Developers: Ombria
Organisers
The Open Media Group is Portugal’s leading publisher of foreign language media with print and online publications such as the Portugal Resident newspaper in English (established 1989) and Barlavento in Portuguese (established 1977). Our magazines include Essential Algarve, the Algarve’s luxury lifestyle magazine (established 2000) and associate publications Essential Lisboa, Essential Madeira and Essential Business, as well as Inside Carvoeiro and Inside Lagos, Clubhouse Algarve and Vivre le Portugal magazines.