There’s a lot of content that goes viral on popular short-form video app TikTok these days. Think pranks, dance challenges, lifestyle tips and even the trolling of former US president Donald Trump thanks to a merry band of K-Pop fans and Tiktok teens. But there’s one surprising sector that Gen Zs and millennials are also embracing: personal finance advice. Dubbed FinTok, youth are flocking to TikTok channels that offer a range of entertaining smart money tips that help them understand the comple...
Feb 04, 2021•25 min
While the Covid-19 crisis has decimated the finances of some people, it has been kinder to others. Some have lost jobs or had their incomes slashed, while others have managed to retain the same wage level and actually build up a healthy savings pot because restrictions have prevented them from spending. So, how should the young handle their new Covid cash piles? With vaccinations set to ease restrictions in 2021, is now the time to splurge that cash or to build on that savings base? Host Alice H...
Jan 27, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Investing your money is a tricky business, particularly when the financial markets are trying to factor in a global pandemic. Wild swings in equity prices can cause emotional reactions, with some investors buying or selling without thinking about the long-term implications. While an army of DIY investors in the UAE now adopt a long-term approach by investing in exchange-traded funds, others prefer a helping hand from either a regulated financial adviser or digital investment platforms, known as ...
Jan 20, 2021•23 min
The UK left the European Union on January 1, more than four years after the country voted to leave the economic bloc in a 2016 referendum. Britain’s exit from the EU comes at a very challenging time for the country’s economy. Not only are businesses adapting to a raft of new rules from the trade deal, they are also enduring a third national lockdown in England as the surge in Covid-19 cases intensifies. Britain’s economy is expected to contract by about 11 per cent in 2020 because of the effects...
Jan 13, 2021•23 min
After soaring 300 per cent last year, Bitcoin’s value is still on the rise , as investors pile funds into the leading cryptocurrency. The prices of many other digital coins have also increased sharply, as cryptocurrencies experience a mini boom. While some analysts are making wild predictions about Bitcoin’s price rising as high as $400,000 from its position of about $31,000 at the time of recording, new investors should tread cautiously. In December 2017, one Bitcoin was worth almost $20,000, u...
Jan 06, 2021•23 min
The coronavirus pandemic came as a surprise to us all, making 2020 one of the most challenging years of our lives. From a financial point of view, it has hurt some but benefited others. For those who lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced, it has made the last 10 months a struggle. For others who managed to retain their salary, movement restrictions offered a chance to build up their savings and rethink how they wanted to live their lives. No matter how your finances were affected, the New...
Dec 22, 2020•26 min
For many, 2020 will be a year they would rather forget. Whether the pandemic affected their health, their families or their finances, its effects will be evident for some time to come. Investors across the globe also suffered a rollercoaster ride in 2020, with markets experiencing some wild swings over the course of the year. And while some people managed to save money during the Covid-19 outbreak, others faced job losses or lower incomes. Now, with a vaccine set to return life to some semblance...
Dec 15, 2020•23 min
Like many parts of the world, the UK property market has experienced a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs as it absorbs the effects of Covid-19. While there was a total halt in transactions at the height of the pandemic when the country first went into lockdown, the second half of the year saw mortgage applications and transactions surge on the back of UK finance minister Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday. Add in pent-up demand and a desire for more space, along with an expected increase to sta...
Dec 08, 2020•17 min
Over the past few weeks, the UAE has seen a number of legal and immigration changes that will have a big effect on life in the Emirates. Among them is a very significant expansion to the UAE’s golden visa scheme, which offers a 10-year residency visa to expatriate workers in certain professions. So how does the visa work? How do you find out if you are eligible to apply and why is this important for the country? Host Alice Haine is joined by Haider Hussain, partner in the UAE office of immigrati...
Nov 26, 2020•18 min
The UAE government has embarked on one of the biggest overhauls of the legal system in years. Among the changes are amendments to family and personal law with new regulations covering divorce, couples living together and other areas affecting people’s daily lives. From a personal finance perspective, however, one of the most interesting changes centres on wills and inheritance. So how significant is this change? When will it take effect? And what does it mean for people looking to write a will n...
Nov 17, 2020•25 min
With life expectancy rates rising rapidly across the globe thanks to advances in healthcare and better living standards, many of us will get the chance to celebrate our 100th birthday. But the financial implications of hitting such a milestone mean that the concept of traditional retirement is fast disappearing. After all, can we really afford to fund our golden years for up to 40 years when you factor in the average retirement age of 65? So how do we fund our longer lives? Are retirement funds ...
Nov 10, 2020•29 min
As the world waits for the outcome of the US presidential election, investors have every right to feel nervous. Last week saw global markets spiral downwards on the back of uncertainty about the election result and heightened restrictions across Europe due to a rise in the number of coronavirus cases. Some analysts say that political risk is now a major issue for investors because markets respond far more aggressively to political outcomes than they did before. So, how much difference does a Joe...
Nov 02, 2020•24 min
For Generation Z - those born between 1996 and 2015 - brushing up on personal finance know-how is something many carry out through financial apps or by watching videos on YouTube. With boosting financial literacy levels a key aim for governments across the globe, and the world still gripped by the devastating financial effects of Covid-19, there has never been a better time to equip the young with skills to manage their money more effectively. Host Alice Haine is joined by Monica Mahoj from Finl...
Oct 27, 2020•25 min
The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 40 million people worldwide and damaged economies, industries and employment levels. But women are being disproportionately hurt by the economic fallout of the crisis. With sectors that typically employ women, such as retail and hospitality, badly affected by Covid-19, women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to the crisis than men’s, according to the global consultancy McKinsey & Company. McKinsey’s research during the pandemic has also foun...
Oct 20, 2020•24 min
There are numerous asset classes you can invest your money into – from stocks and bonds to exchange traded funds, mutual funds, gold, art, cryptocurrencies and more.But one of the favourites, particularly in the UAE, is property – mainly because it is a tangible asset. Investing in real estate is sometimes considered a more solid and secure investment, partly because you can actually touch your asset. But how does a property purchase compare to investments into stocks and bonds over the long ter...
Jul 21, 2020•30 min
For people new to the world of investing, buying stocks can be a scary concept, particularly during periods of extreme volatility. But according to SimplyFI.org , a non-profit community of personal finance and investing enthusiasts in the UAE, investing does not need to be complex at all. It says the process can actually be quite simple and you can master the basics in a couple of hours. To help residents achieve this, the group has launched its first guide to investing. Called Index Investing &...
Jul 14, 2020•29 min
Sending money to family members in your home country is something many UAE residents do on a regular basis. But as the world struggles with the effects of Covid-19 and some people have lost jobs or experienced a salary cut, actually having the money to transfer is an issue in itself. With so many of us now focused on keeping costs down, what is the best way to transfer money from the UAE? How do you compare the options available? And how do you negotiate the best rates? Host Alice Haine, the per...
Jul 07, 2020•30 min
When it comes to investing, UAE residents generally have two options: use the services of a financial adviser or go it alone and invest on their own. However, a new wave of low-cost digital investment platforms that gauge an investor’s risk tolerance and assigns them a tailored investment portfolio of exchange traded funds have emerged in recent years. Known as robo-advisers, the FinTech platforms generally charge lower fees than traditional financial advisers and wealth managers. They aim to ma...
Jun 30, 2020•33 min
With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting salaries and jobs across the globe, it’s very important that residents in the UAE stay on top of their finances and in turn their credit score. The Central Bank of the UAE's Dh256bn Targeted Economic Support Scheme helps lenders handle problem debts during the pandemic, with many residents receiving payment holidays on credit facilities such as loans and mortgages. Now as the economy starts to open up, those who have lost their job or are struggling financial...
Jun 23, 2020•29 min
With universities across the globe forced to shut their campuses amid the pandemic, many students are learning remotely. For those finishing their studies this year, it can also mean attending a virtual graduation ceremony. But what happens to graduates once the university learning experience is over? Normally, those ending their higher education would now be wrapping up their assignments, polishing their CV and meeting potential employers at career fairs. But with the global jobs market in jeop...
Jun 16, 2020•28 min
Andrew Hallam, the author of Millionaire Teacher and Millionaire Expat, is famous for building up a million-dollar portfolio of low-cost stock and bond index funds on a teacher’s salary. Since retiring from his profession in Singapore in 2014, the personal finance author now blogs about his experiences and delivers talks to investors across the globe. What’s unique about Mr Hallam’s method is that he shows investors how to manage their own money or how to find a suitable financial adviser who wo...
Jun 09, 2020•35 min
The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. With so much turmoil in the global economy, it’s no surprise that our investment portfolios have taken a big hit. Over the past few months we’ve seen share prices crashing, livelihoods destroyed and governments rolling out generous stimulus packages to prop up economies. While stock markets have rallied from the lows we saw in March, the road ahead is still very unclear which can leave investors uncertain about what steps to take next....
Jun 03, 2020•24 min
The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives dramatically. And with many in the UAE and around the world now dealing with a salary cut or job loss, there has never been a more important time to diversify how you earn your income.If you only rely on the salary you earn from your job to support yourself, it can leave you and your family vulnerable if that income suddenly reduces or stops coming in entirely. So what is the best way to diversify your income streams? And how do you identify what sk...
May 26, 2020•26 min
As Ramadan draws to a close, many residents in the UAE would traditionally be scouring travel websites for the best offers on Eid breaks. But with hotels in the UAE only just starting to open their doors to guests following the Covid-19 pandemic and global travel restrictions grounding flights across the globe, going away for a few days is not as straightforward as it once was. Social distancing measures are still in place across the UAE and the rest of the world, which makes checking into a hot...
May 19, 2020•23 min
If you have lost your job or are considering a career move, you might feel that now isn’t a great time to secure a new position. Movement restrictions across the globe have caused many to lose their jobs after schools, malls and businesses shut up shop to help contain the spread of coronavirus. Here in the UAE, movement restrictions have seen malls, schools and businesses close to help curb the spread of Covid-19. While the restrictions have eased, some residents have been affected financially e...
May 12, 2020•29 min
As we approach the hotter summer months and the end of the academic school year, a number of UAE residents will be planning their relocation either to their home country or another destination.But while shipping is a standard process many of us deal with, things become a little more challenging when you are trying to move during a pandemic. So what is the best way to move your possessions at this time? How do you get a shipping quote in this era of social distancing? Will there be any restrictio...
May 05, 2020•28 min
As we approach the summer, many UAE residents are thinking about their travel plans. But while we would normally be discussing the exotic destinations we are heading to, or the journeys we are planning to our home countries, this year is very different. Rather than hunting for the best deals, many of us are more focused on either securing a refund on the flights and holidays we have already booked but cannot take, or moving travel plans to much later in the year. So, what is the best way to secu...
Apr 29, 2020•23 min
It’s that time of year when many residents in the UAE consider buying a new car – mainly because the market is flooded with Ramadan offers.From price reductions to zero financing and offers of free maintenance, registrations or insurance, they are all kinds of ways dealerships lure in customers. But buying a new car might not be a top priority for many in the Emirates at the moment who are still observing movement restrictions as the country works hard to curb the spread of coronavirus. So how a...
Apr 22, 2020•28 min
With the coronavirus outbreak still dominating our lives, stock market volatility looks set to continue as the markets struggle to interpret the economic fallout from the crisis. While some investors may naturally want to flee the carnage and stash their money in the safest possible place, there are still options out there. Airlines, hotel chains, entertainment operators, car manufacturers and oil companies may have been hammered, but some will be better placed to bounce back when the crisis sta...
Apr 14, 2020•24 min
As the number of coronavirus cases and deaths escalate around the world, the virus is affecting our lives and our finances in one way or another. Containment measures in the UAE, such as stay-at-home directives, cancelled flights and the closing of schools, malls and beaches could lead to a drop in revenue for businesses and a cut in income or job losses for residents. With this in mind, many banks in the UAE have rolled out new relief measures to help individuals cope with the fallout of the cr...
Mar 30, 2020•26 min
