Financial Blog For Expats In Dubai

Is a Will on your To Do List?

Expatriate life is busy. Sometimes even the important things get pushed back. A Will is probably the most important document you will ever sign. It is the one chance you have to have your say about what happens to your stuff after you die. Sure, no one wants to think about the inevitable. Some would like to believe they are immortal but deep down we know the truth.

In Dubai we have more choice…

10 Things Financially Prepared People Do Every January

Happy New Year!

So, here we are in 2019 and you have been thinking about your personal goals for the next 12 months. Whether you’ve been in Dubai 1 year or 10 it is a useful time to take stock of your progress towards your longer term targets. So what should be on your financial check list?

(more…)

Free Will Preparation Guide for Expatriates in Dubai

Our sister site, Great British Wills has just launched their FREE Guide To Wills.

Where a Will does not exist, local courts attempt to apply local law to assets held in UAE. If this is against the wishes of the heirs, legal disputes tend to be long, expensive and the outcome uncertain. It can also lead to higher tax and loss of control over who gets what.

This guide provides expatriates with…

As an employer, you may be concerned about the impact on your company of a key employee’s death. The loss of key relationships, specialist knowledge, impact on sales and profit could have serious repercussions for your business. (more…)

Sharia Law and Wills

For non-Muslim British expatriates, having Sharia applied to their estate can result in a significant increase in Inheritance Tax. This is due to the loss of important exemptions which would normally be used in estate planning. (more…)

Thank you to everyone who completed my dissertation questionnaire last Summer. I am delighted to tell you I received my final result this week: I have been awarded a first class honours degree in financial services. Thank you once again for your contribution. If any of you are thinking of studying whilst holding down a full-time job it is hard work but ultimately rewarding. Let me know if you…

Staying financially healthy, advice for millennials and a reminder for the rest of us.

A friend asked me what financial advice I would give a young person just staring out in the world or work. With my eldest leaving university this year, this is a topic I have given some thought to, so here are 10 tips and a reminder to the rest of us of how to stay financially healthy. (more…)

UK Budgets don’t normally have much of an effect on expats. They give us a bit of an insight into what life is like ‘back home’ and are important for those who have interests in the U.K. such as rental properties. But it does give me an opportunity to raise a couple of points which all British expats should be aware. (more…)

Platform or Savings Plan – Which is Best?

I have a social network group to thank for this question. A member wanted to know whether he should invest his money with a life assurance company regular savings plan or into an off-shore investment platform. This post should help him and others… (more…)

Bitcoin – The New Gold Standard?

Bitcoin has grown by 750% in US Dollar terms during the last 12 months. But what is it, who uses it and should you get in on the action? (more…)

Stick, Twist or Split?

When an investment is underperforming it is psychologically difficult to take the right course of action. This can be compounded by penalties levied by product providers and potentially paying fees on any new investment you make. So what should you do? This post will help you arrive at the right decision… (more…)

Can You Help Me With My Dissertation?

Dear Reader, Please can you help me with my dissertation? I am in my final year of a BA (Hons) Financial Services course run on-line by Edinburgh Napier University and I would be very grateful of your help. Can you spare 10 minutes of your time to complete my online questionnaire? I have not asked for any personal data so your response will be completely anonymous. The information provided will…

NHS Entitlement for UK Expats

As many UK Expats will be flying back to Blighty over the Summer, I thought a reminder to take your international medical insurance membership card would be helpful. Remember with the exception of A&E, treatment on NHS is only free to UK residents. (more…)

Update on UK Basic State Pension & National Insurance Contributions

For many years I have recommended all of my UK clients to pay voluntary national insurance contributions (NICs). Payment of voluntary NICs is important because some UK benefits like the Basic State Pension and the New State Pension are linked to a person’s contribution record. The New State Pension (NSP) which replaces the Basic State Pension is also based on NICs. The NSP  has a maximum benefit…

Salary Survey Results from Gulf Business

Gulf Business recently published their results of the 2017 salary review. Those of use resident in GCC cannot have failed to notice the impact of the ‘low’ oil price on demand for goods and services. Further research suggests that employers are devising other ways of motivating their staff. (more…)

Appointing an Adviser: Do Your Homework

Appointing someone as your guide in the financial jungle can be a daunting task. How do you assess whether they are any good? What pro-active steps can you take to make sure the person who you are dealing with has the knowledge and experience you want? (more…)

Happy 3rd Birthday Blog

This blog is now officially 3 years old. To celebrate I have given it a band new look. I hope you like it. Thank you for your support over the last 3 years, your input and feedback has been really useful. Please keep those comments coming.