Tag Archives: Independent financial advice in the UAE

UK Autumn Budget 2018 – the facts for expats

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This is just the second UK Autumn Budget and unusually it was on a Monday, the first time since 1962.  Budgets are normally on a Wednesday but that would fall on Halloween this year so too much of a gift to headline writers.

This is the last Budget before Brexit and not too much was expected as the UK Government is dealing with complicated Brexit issues although there will be a Spring Statement that can be upgraded to a full Budget if deemed necessary.

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. The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of this is not directly relevant to expats so this article focuses of the relevant points for us. Continue reading →

How to save money on your currency transfers

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Most expats have a need to move money between currencies and it makes sense to find a way to do this securely, easily and where you can save money.

The online services offered by retail banks are rarely competitive and even if they do not charge a fee they make their profit on the poor rates of exchange offered – but there is a better way and you don’t even need to leave your home to get much better value for money. And all savings are good, right?

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Credit cards – friend or foe?

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Credit cards are a fact of modern life but are they friend or foe? Should you have one, or are they to be avoided?

When used sensibly and responsibly they can be a useful tool with benefits but too often they are used to support a lifestyle, the balance is not repaid in good time, and they become a very expensive burden.

This article is a quick look at both the pros and cons of this type of consumer debt.

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Higher education costs – the facts and how to plan

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This article has been superceded so please see the latest version published on 1st April 2021/

Higher education costs – the facts & how you can plan

Teenagers & Money – 10 useful tips

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There is no doubt that many youngsters leaving school this summer are lacking in practical knowledge about their finances. It is important to have some financial knowledge to safely negotiate the adult world so here are some points that every young person should know about money.

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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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When your investments are more than just money

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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.

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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