Category Archives: Life Assurance

Family matters: some things never change

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Winston Churchill is a towering figure in British political history but was also an orator and writer. What I want to focus on is a quote that is relevant to most of our lives, even now, over 100 years after he said them:

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What has a financial adviser ever done for you?

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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.

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Five Financial Tips for New Parents

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When you have a child, you get lots of advice and tips from everyone but one area that tends to be overlooked is the financial aspect. In the excitement of impending parenthood, or the crazy first few months (or years!), you can forget this essential topic so this article is designed to be a useful guide to some of the issues you need to consider.

Multiple surveys have put the cost of raising a child at eye-watering levels over their first 18 years and expats working in the UAE have the added cost of education and medical bills to contend with. Let’s look at some of the financial practical steps you need to consider.

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Can you afford to survive a critical illness?

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I have two simple questions for you. Could you and your family survive financially if you suffered a serious illness and were unable to work? Even if you could, would it decimate your savings and future plans?

Being diagnosed with cancer, heart disease or having a stroke is something you don’t expect and is often a matter of bad luck, but you can take steps to make sure you and your family can manage without any financial problems, taking away a major cause of stress.

Let me tell you about a true story. This happened to a client of mine.

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Is your family financially protected if you die? Six common errors.

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If you die and leave your family behind, you can’t stop the heartache, but you can make sure that they don”t have financial worries, that they can stay in their home or have enough money to relocate, and that your children can continue their education. Protecting your family in this way, should the worst happen,  is one of the kindest things you can ever do for them.

There are various reasons why people don’t take out life cover so in this short article I want to address some of these.

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Life Assurance and Coronavirus – your questions answered

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With the spread of COVID-19 around the world, it is no surprise that people have queries about their existing life policies and that we have seen an uplift in applications in recent weeks. People have also been asking specific questions. Is it still possible to get life cover? Will my existing policy cover COVID-19? Will my premiums increase?

In this article I want to give you answers to many of the common questions I am being asked at this time.

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Expats in The UAE & Money. 10 mistakes you want to avoid

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This articles has been update so please see the below link for the article from August 2024

Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

 

 

 

Sharia law & your money in the UAE

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Whilst most people are aware that Sharia law is the legal framework used in the GCC countries, not all expats have realised that this can affect them and their money.

  • Did you know that on death your bank accounts and assets in the UAE will be frozen?
  • Did you realise that your spouse, or other family members, may not get access for many months? Or that they may only get a small percentage?
  • Are you aware that your assets may not automatically go to your spouse?

November 2020. Some information in this article has been superceded by new legislation so please see this article for the lastest details regarding the laws on death while in the UAE:

New personal laws in the UAE but what do they really mean for you?

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Need to know: Your financial priorities

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Many of us muddle through our financial lives, not focusing on what matters the most, so this article is designed to help you sort out your financial priorities.

You have probably thought that there are some issues you need to address but it is common to be stuck in limbo, not quite sure what to tackle first, or a to have a vague to-do list but are unsure where to start.

I am often asked what are the most important topics to focus on so this is a guide to what you may need to look at if you haven’t reviewed your personal finances before, or haven’t done so for some time. What should you do now and what is most important?

All too frequently I see people who have been sold long-term savings plans without having been given the right advice to address more immediate issues. The most important consideration is to focus on what could go wrong tomorrow and then to take steps to protect you and your family. This doesn’t have to be expensive but this is what proper, ethical, financial planning is all about.

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