Tag Archives: financial planner

UK Budget November 2025 – a summary for GCC expats

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Here we go again! This is a widely-anticipated Budget following weeks of media speculation.

I think we are all a bit fed up of the “leaks” and media briefings that are the hallmark of all Budgets in the past few years. It is also very unprofessional that The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) unexpectedly published its growth forecast ahead of the Chancellor’s statement. This contains market sensitive information so let’s hope there is an enquiry and action

The UK media frenzy and contact conjecture really helps no one.  A little more decorum all round might be nice.

Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have major relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC.

The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to expats, to people who are no longer tax resident in the UK, so my summaries focus on the points that will be most relevant to us.

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7 Retirement planning mistakes that could cost you thousands

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We all know that we need to plan for our future but few of us want to contemplate getting older so it is easy to keep putting off the topic. The fact is that planning for retirement is one of the most important financial steps you’ll ever take. Despite good intentions, many people fall into common traps that can delay or even totally derail their retirement goals.

These mistakes may seem small now, but over time, they could cost you a huge amount of money; tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds or dollars.

Here are 7 retirement planning mistakes you should avoid, with action points.

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Investments in 2023. Where are we now?

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When it comes to investment we are still living in interesting times. With so many unexpected global events in recent years and those that are ongoing, investing has not been a great deal of fun of late, and I fully appreciate the frustration of clients, of all investors.

This article is designed to provide some context and comfort. So read on…

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10 sensible steps for smart investing

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I have put together a simple guide to 10 practical and logical steps you need to follow when investing so to find out more, read on…

It is too easy to side-tracked from planning your future, our lives are busy after all, but it rarely needs to be as complicated as some might make out. My role is to make this simpler and easier for you so while we discuss serious topics, so our conversation is friendly and the language straightforward.

The financial services industry is full of jargon and sales messages so sometimes it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction, the reality from the adverts and the sales pitches.

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UK Mini Budget September 2022 – a summary for expats

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When a new Prime Minister takes office, it is usual for them to want to put their own stamp on things and Liz Truss and her team are doing just that. Kwasi Kwarteng, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, has made a few announcements today, a mini-budget if you will, or an oddly named ‘fiscal event’ according to the government.

As has been the case in recent years, many measures have already been announced or deliberately leaked so this was largely about clarification.

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 and especially in the GCC. The UK press will cover many points in detail but many of the points will not be directly relevant to expats so this article focuses on the points that will be most relevant to us.

EDIT. As this mini-budget went down so poorly, and did such dmanage to UK financial markets, Kwazi Kwateng was replaced by Jeremy Hunt and many of the announcements have since been rescinded so I have commented under each section to clarify.  Added comments are in italics.

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Sitting tight – the importance of remaining invested

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There is no question that we are in interesting times for investment markets and we have all seen falls in the value of our portfolios This article is designed to explain why you really should not worry and why you need to remain invested.

The key thing to remember is that to make money over the long-term it is not about timing the market, but about time in the market.

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Stock markets and investments – what not to do in volatile times

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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.

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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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News: Minimum age to access UK private pensions to change

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This information has been confirmed on the UK Parliament website following an exchange in the House of Commons today, 3rd September 2020.

The exact wording is as follows:

“In 2014 the government announced it would increase the minimum pension age to 57 from 2028, reflecting trends in longevity and encouraging individuals to remain in work, while also helping to ensure pension savings provide for later life.

That announcement set out the timetable for this change well in advance to enable people to make financial plans and will be legislated for in due course.”

The change will not take place for some time so no need to panic now but it will mean that some people who had intended to access their personal pensions at age 55 years, per the current rules, will have to adjust their plans for two years.

This is simply about personal plans and is not linked to the UK’s State Pension

To arrange a discussion about your retirements plans, your UK pensions, or any aspect of your personal financial planning, please email me at keren@holbornassets.com

I write articles such as this one as part of the holistic personal financial planning service and that I provide to expats, and the general consumer, financial and legal information that I provide in The National newspaper, on Capital Radio UAE, and on the Facebook group British Expats Dubai.

Please take a look at the other useful articles on this website.

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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