This article has been superceded so please see:
FinancialUAE – Why investing can be more than just money
For advice and assistance on the widest range of personal financial planning issues, to make an appointment, please contact me at keren@holbornassets.com and see other articles on this website for more useful information.
There is no doubt that we live in interesting times on many levels and naturally people will have financial concerns. High on the list of worries is the potential adverse effect of a geopolitical event but it is the potential repercussions of this and how issues impact us locally and well as globally that we need to consider. There is not much most of us can do about these global issues but we can take steps to protect ourselves and our families.
Life in the UAE has its own pressures and challenges and whilst there is usually a lot of optimism, right now there are issues facing us. It is no worse here than in the rest of the world but being an expat can have its own demands. To find out what UAE residents are thinking and feeling as we start the new year, I put together a survey and this article is about the results. All responses were anonymous.
Following some months of speculation it has been announced that IFGL, which owns RL360°, will acquire FPIL (Friends Provident International Limited) from the Aviva Group, subject to regulatory approval.
Buying a property in the UAE can be daunting, especially for the first-time buyer. Expats have only been able to buy here since 2001, and only in specific areas, so many people are unfamiliar with the process as it can be quite different to a home country. As buying a home is the largest purchase most of us will ever make, it is important to get the facts.
I have an excellent in-house mortgage department and we can walk you through the full process from finding a property, getting mortgage approvals, the final offer, to dealing with the Land Department at completion.
This article is a guide to what you need to know when buying property in Dubai. I have already written an article on the buying process in the UK and there will shortly be another about the tax issues to consider in respect of UK property ownership.
With the turmoil in the markets in the last couple of weeks it is understandable that many people have been worried about their investments. The fall in the Chinese stock market triggered a knock-on effect in other global markets and all looked a little worrying for a few days although we have since seen some upward movement.
Is this enough to stop you panicking? Should you be worried?
With so much in the press about investing, as well as lots of conflicting opinions and information, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction, or even wishful thinking. I have therefore put together a simple guide of seven practical tips that are both logical and easy to follow.
Risk is a term much bandied about by those in the world of finance, but it means different things to different people.
There are numerous investment options and you can ensure that you choose the right ones for you by having an understanding of the concept of risk as applied to investments, so you can make informed decisions.
What is investment risk?
Risk is essentially uncertainty and unpredictability. Share prices fluctuate, interest rates rise and fall and whilst we can make educated guesses, there are no guarantees how markets may move in the future. Inflation is another unknown quantity, but one that you need to take into consideration when calculating the real return on investment or savings
The guidelines to remember
Different types of risk
Attitude to risk
Only you can decide how much risk you are prepared to take. Some people are willing to aim for high growth and accept capital risk, whereas others are uncomfortable with losing any money, even in the short-term. Once you understand what the risks are, you can invest appropriately as the biggest risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.
How to manage your risk
You won’t be surprised if I say that you need to deal with an experienced independent adviser who understands investment risk and how to manage plans and portfolios over the long term. Most people have neither the time nor inclination to do this for themselves, but it will make a big difference to your investments.
It is my view that investors should be comfortable with the level of risk taken with their investments and to this end I will spend a significant amount of time discussing what is right for each person. After all, it is your money and you want to be able to sleep at night. I use a questionnaire to establish your view on certain issues and although there are no right and wrong answers, this can tease out how risk averse a person may be. To that we chat about what risk means, areas of investment and if any areas are of interest to you. A portfolio is then constructed that is appropriate for the individual.
Sadly, I have come across too many people who have been put into investment funds that have a far higher risk profile that they actually want and who did not realise the risk to their capital. Also of great importance is to annually review and rebalance a portfolio to ensure that you are invested appropriately as what was right two years ago, may not be right for you now.
Is the risk profile of your investments right for you? Have your investments been reviewed in the past year or so? If in doubt and you want to get some unbiased advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
A subject that is of interest to many, particularly in the Middle East.
Here’s an article that I wrote for the October edition of Esquire Middle East magazine – Is Gold still worth buying? What is it all about and how do you do it?
If you have any questions about investing in gold, or anything else, please contact me.