Tag Archives: expat pensions

Financial resolutions – get your money in shape for 2019

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At this time of year it is popular to make New Year resolutions, but how many of those are about our finances? Making sure you are financially fit is as important as vowing to visit the gym regularly but once you’ve taken the initial steps is less time-consuming and you can do most of it whilst sat comfortably on your sofa.

We all have to spend money but can you do it more smartly? Invariably we could all spend less and save more and a little focus rarely goes amiss. With that in mind here’s a list of 10 steps you can take to get yourself financially fitter in 2019.

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UAE Public Holidays for 2019

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These are the official dates of public holidays for the UAE for the coming year, as well as notable dates, so you can make a note in your diary now and plan ahead. Actual days off work for both the public and private sector should vary less than in the past and these are the dates announced by the Government so far.

This article was edited in September 2019 following an announcement by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR).

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The 12 Days of Christmas – the cost of recreating it in the UAE

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It’s the time of year for seasonal cheer and goodwill to all men so for a little fun I’ve put together something a little different. It can be tough to decide what to buy for your significant other, particularly when they seem to have everything, so sometimes you just need to be creative. Most people know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas so to show someone that they really are your true love you could go all out and recreate it!

Here is your guide  to how to find the appropriate gifts for all 12 days to your beloved. This is the UAE so we just have to do things a little differently but if you really want to impress the love of your life this Christmas here’s how you can do it, and most importantly what it is likely to cost you.

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Have you forgotten or lost a UK pension?

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This may sound like a silly question but research from a major British insurance company has shown that up there are up to 2.5 million forgotten UK pension plans.  Furthermore, the UK government estimates that the size of these forgotten and unclaimed funds could exceed £400 million.

Among those with a forgotten pension, the majority believe they have misplaced one pot (77%), although 17% think they have forgotten about two and 6% have forgotten three or more.  At the same time, almost three in five (59%) UK adults are worried about not having enough money to last them in retirement. If this is you, there are steps you can take.

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Are your funds in the dog house?

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This article has been updated so please see link for the latest version:

Are your investment funds in the dog house? | Financial Planning in the UAE (financialuae.me)

If you would like a chat about your investments and are interested in active future management, or have queries about any aspects of personal financial planning email me at keren@holbornassets.com

 

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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2018 – how will it be for you & your finances?

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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.

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UAE Public holidays for 2018

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These are the official dates of public holidays for the UAE for the coming year so you can make a note in your diary now and plan ahead. Actual days off work for both the public and private sector will vary but these are the dates announced by the UAE Government so far.

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UK Autumn Budget 2017 – the facts for expats

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This is the first Autumn Budget after it was announced that the main one would be issued towards the end of each year. This time there is little that directly affects expats and much of the focus was on the UK housing market with a surprise announcement about Stamp Duty.

This article is a brief overview of some of the main points with particular reference to any changes that have relevance to those living outside of the UK.

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What’s your financial personality type?

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We all have certain beliefs and behaviours that guide us in our choices in life, whether that is in respect of the food we eat, how we live, the way in which we work or bring up children, our political views etc,  so it stands to reason that these personality traits cross over to our financial identities.

Although the financial services industry tends to pigeon hole people into various categories such as balanced investors, retirees, young married, cautious types and more, I believe that there is a whole other set of identities that relate to how we run our financial lives.

You may have heard people claim that they are a ‘spendthrift’ or that they are ‘saver’ but I think it is a little more complex. In reality we rarely have such black and white styles of money management.

There have been a number of studies with authors listing up to 20 different personality types but I have narrowed it down to seven which I think cover most of us.

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