Metis Taps Cook Islands Law for New Global Wealth Protection Plan

HONG KONG – January 16, 2026 – In a financial landscape marked by increasing market volatility and the complexities of global wealth, Metis Global (Cook Islands) Limited today launched a new product aimed at providing long-term stability and robust asset protection. The "Starry Pro Plan" integrates a disciplined savings model with the formidable legal framework of an international trust, targeting clients with medium- to long-term financial planning horizons.

The plan, a subsidiary of the Metis Global Group, combines a 20-year regular contribution schedule with a sophisticated trust structure established in the Cook Islands, a jurisdiction renowned for its powerful asset protection laws. This launch signals a growing demand among investors for financial tools that not only generate growth but also build a resilient legal fortress around their assets.

The Cook Islands Advantage: A Fortress for Assets

The central pillar of the Starry Pro Plan is its use of an international trust domiciled in the Cook Islands. This small South Pacific nation has cultivated a global reputation for having one of the most stringent asset protection legal frameworks. Unlike many other financial centers, Cook Islands law does not automatically recognize or enforce foreign court judgments. This provision creates a significant legal firewall, forcing any potential creditors to initiate new, often costly and complex, legal proceedings within the islands' own court system.

Legal experts note that the jurisdiction's International Trusts Act 1984 sets an exceptionally high bar for anyone challenging a trust. To prove that assets were transferred with fraudulent intent, a creditor must demonstrate it "beyond a reasonable doubt"—a standard of proof typically reserved for criminal cases, not civil litigation. This is a far higher threshold than the "preponderance of the evidence" standard found in jurisdictions like the United States. Coupled with a short statute of limitations—typically one to two years for claims to be brought—the legal structure is designed to provide powerful and timely finality in protecting trust assets.

This framework allows individuals to plan for their legacy with greater certainty. Through a "Letter of Wishes," clients can appoint beneficiaries and outline their intentions, significantly simplifying the often-protracted process of asset transfer upon death and bypassing potential challenges related to forced heirship rules in their home countries.

A Disciplined Structure for Long-Term Growth

Beyond its protective legal shell, the Starry Pro Plan is fundamentally a structured wealth accumulation tool. It requires clients to make consistent contributions over a 20-year period, a design intended to foster a disciplined financial rhythm and leverage the power of dollar-cost averaging across various market cycles.

To cater to different risk appetites and financial outlooks, the plan offers two distinct underlying asset options. Clients can choose a portfolio that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, offering broad exposure to the U.S. equity market. Alternatively, they can select a portfolio managed by a third-party professional institution, where allocation decisions are made according to established investment strategies.

Metis CI has also incorporated flexibility to accommodate life's unpredictability. The plan includes provisions for a "Contribution Holiday" of up to 24 months, allowing clients to pause payments during periods of financial strain. After an initial contribution period, clients also have the option to reduce their regular contribution amount or apply for partial withdrawals, ensuring the long-term plan can adapt to changing personal circumstances.

Security Through Segregation and Custody

To further bolster security, the plan employs a dual-layered approach that separates legal trusteeship from asset custody. While Metis CI, a licensed and regulated entity in the Cook Islands, acts as the trustee, the actual assets are held in independent custody by DBS Bank in Singapore. The press release explicitly states that these assets are "fully segregated from the assets of Metis CI."

This segregation is a critical security feature, ensuring that client funds are insulated from the corporate finances of the trustee company itself. The choice of DBS Bank and the jurisdiction of Singapore adds another layer of confidence. DBS is one of Asia's largest financial institutions, with top-tier credit ratings and significant backing from the Singaporean government. Singapore, as a global financial hub, is governed by the stringent Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which enforces rigorous standards for client asset protection and account segregation.

Navigating the Complexities and Considerations

While the Starry Pro Plan offers a compelling combination of growth and protection, prospective clients must understand its inherent complexities and trade-offs. The formidable asset protection of a Cook Islands trust is contingent on the settlor—the person creating the trust—genuinely relinquishing direct control of the assets to the trustee. Any arrangement where the settlor retains too much influence could be deemed a "sham" by a foreign court, potentially nullifying its protective benefits.

Furthermore, the era of absolute offshore secrecy is long past. Cook Islands trusts are subject to international transparency initiatives like the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the global Common Reporting Standard (CRS). These agreements mandate the automatic exchange of financial account information with the tax authorities in a client's country of residence. Therefore, such a structure should be viewed as a tool for asset protection and legacy planning, not for tax evasion or hiding assets from regulatory bodies. For U.S. citizens, in particular, ownership of a foreign trust triggers complex and burdensome annual tax reporting requirements with significant penalties for non-compliance.

Finally, the costs associated with establishing and maintaining such a sophisticated international structure are typically higher than for conventional investment plans. While the press release did not detail the specific fee structure of the Starry Pro Plan, these products generally involve setup fees, annual trust administration fees, and investment management fees. The plan is therefore best suited for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and professionals in high-risk fields who prioritize long-term asset security and are prepared to navigate its legal and financial complexities.