On 24th February, we woke to the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine. The situation had been deteriorating for a while but now we have the terrible reality of military conflict.
The article is about financial matters, not politics, but they are closely aligned and I want to tell you why you shouldn’t panic about falls and fluctuations in stock markets – and what you must not do.
Many of us make New Year resolutions, but how many of those are about our finances? And how many of them do we really keep?
Invariably, we could all do a little better and some focus rarely goes amiss. With that in mind here’s a list of 10 steps you can take to get yourself financially fitter in 2022.
In an uncertain world, it is understandable that we have seen an increase in interest in investing in property. It is human nature to want to put your money into something that you can see and touch.
Property markets are not equal and the legalities and potential for growth and/or income vary hugely but Europe still presents many opportunities for long-term investment and yield.
Surveys have shown that many expats are keen to invest in property in their home country either as they consider it a more secure place than where they are currently living, or as a potential base should they need to move back.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a passport that allows them to travel around the world with minimum hassle and without having to apply to a visa wherever they go. If you don’t have that privilege, did you know that there are options for you?
Citizenship and residency by investment is available for many countries and I can assist you in obtaining global mobility, and ultimately a second passport, for a more secure and beneficial future.
If obtaining a second passport, that gives visa-free entry to 186 countries to you and your family, that allows you to live and work where you want, is of interest read on…
It is estimated that in the UK alone more than £8 billion is languishing in under-performing investment funds. Add all the money in offshore funds and other jurisdictions and the number is worryingly large.
These poorly performing funds, known as dogs, can be found in all sectors but action can be taken. If your money is stuck in the dog house you can do something about it.
The days of most expats having their children’s school fees paid for them are gone and even if you have an education allowance as part of your salary package it will stop on finishing secondary school. If they then want to go on to tertiary education, whether that is university, college, or vocational study someone has to pay and the burden is likely to fall on to parents.
Have you thought about how much may be required, or how to fund the additional study that you children may want, or indeed may need, in order to do what they want in life and be successful?
Statistics show that over their working life someone with a bachelor’s degree in the USA will earn, on average, almost twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. Source: US Census Bureau
For a significant number of investors, investing in shares and funds can feel like a dance with the devil as they have to compromise personal values to achieve a return. With the growing awareness of the environmental impact of modern life, interest in ethical and environmental funds is increasing, and you can get a good return on your investment without troubling your conscience.
There has been a substantial increase in interest in this area, and accompanying press coverage, in the past year but there has also been a lot of ‘jumping on a band wagon’ and there is more to this kind of investing than picking a fund with a name that seems to fit.
In this article I aim to give you an overview of what these funds are, why cryptocurrencies do not fit in this sector, and how you can invest and feel good about it.
We all know that we need to invest our money to make it grow but the options for expats in the UAE have been a little limited, until recently. Following changes in legislation, I am now delighted to offer fully flexible investment options, with negligible penalties, and a very wide range of fund options.
Paraphrasing Monty Python, purely to get your attention, but it’s a valid question. I am in an industry that is frequently criticised in the UAE, often for good reason, but let me explain why using a qualified adviser (rather than a salesperson pretending to be an adviser) is a good thing and how you can benefit.
Yes, such a thing is available and it is something very different to the usual apartments on offer. I have a new investment for clients with yields of over 10% per annum.
