2023-03-07 07:17
Savings accounts are great ways for banks to steal your money.
In most cases, the money doesn’t disappear.
It just dissolves like a penny… immerged in a cup of acid.
Some of… Read More
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The voice of the only Corporate Chartered Financial Planners in the Middle East, AES International’s blog seeks to educate and inform expats with respect to pensions, savings and investments in the offshore marketplace. A key instrument of its mission of ‘Positive Change’, AES International’s blog tackles some of the toughest topics, often challenging the status quo maintained by international life companies and unscrupulous international financial advisers.
2023-03-02 09:30
We live in extraordinary times.
Breakthroughs in neuroscience, medicine, and even how we make, save, and spend money, happen daily.
And yet...
While it's never been a more exciting or il… Read More
2023-03-01 11:04
You could quite easily calculate your net worth by adding up your banking and investment accounts and then deducting any debt.
But really, that number reflects wealth.
Worth is more c… Read More
2023-02-28 06:02
Paul McCartney (no, not the musician) figured moving to Dubai was his ticket to ride.
He worked for 25.5 different tech companies in the UAE over a 13-year span.
“It’s a genera… Read More
2023-02-23 09:44
I recently finished ‘Trust Me, I’m Lying’, by Ryan Holiday.
In a world hugely affected by news, this self-declared manipulator gives a behind-the-scenes look at how… Read More
2023-02-22 07:20
There’s no secret to quick riches.
You won’t find one here.
But this is the closest you'll get to a ‘magic formula’.
And while these principles are simple, getti… Read More
2023-02-21 05:33
Jim’s father wanted his children to succeed.
But the guy was hardcore.
If Jim didn’t act 'tough enough' during an ice hockey game, for example, he called his son a wimp.
His m… Read More
![The Value Of Probabilistic Thinking [plus 3 Examples For Investors]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/4811/481062-4128388211.w320.jpg "The Value Of Probabilistic Thinking [plus 3 Examples For Investors]")
2023-02-16 07:06
Another fantastic tool to improve the accuracy of your decisions…
Probabilistic thinking.
This mental model involves trying to estimate, using maths and logic, the likelihood of a s… Read More
2023-02-14 07:12
In 2022, the falling stock and bond markets felt like a real-life horror show.
Portfolios got sliced.
Inflation poured Tabasco sauce over open wounds.
The war in Ukraine continued to s… Read More
2023-02-09 13:11
Do ever feel the world is against you?
You’re not alone.
You might just benefit from the principle of Hanlon’s razor.
The phrase ‘Hanlon’s razor’ was coined… Read More
2023-02-08 07:47
It’s the end of 2019.
You know what you know now about the pandemic, inflation, the war, and volatile markets.
You’re asked to predict market returns over the next three years… Read More
2023-02-07 06:52
“If I ever disappear and go completely off the grid, you would find me on Pulau Tioman.”
I told my wife that shortly after we met.
Tioman is an idyllic island in the South Ch… Read More
2023-02-02 05:41
One of my favourite distinctions is the difference between a reactive life and a creative, intentional, and planned life.
Typically, many people today are living their lives reactively.
Th… Read More
2023-02-01 11:20
Meet Joe.
He’s a high-earning international investor, originally from the UK.
Do you know what percentage of his portfolio is held in UK stocks?
It’s around 50%.
But as of Ja… Read More
2023-01-31 06:43
I first heard about Ray Dalio in 2011.
The New Yorker published a fascinating article explaining Dalio’s management principles and his hedge fund’s spectacular returns.
In fact… Read More
2023-01-26 07:36
Occam’s razor is one of the most misunderstood 'mental models'.
But it's arguably one of the most useful.
If you need a way to solve problems more quickly and efficiently...
H… Read More
2023-01-24 07:31
The late, great boxer, Muhammad Ali, once said, “If every heavyweight boxing match had to go 100 rounds, George Chuvalo would be the greatest fighter of every generation.”
Heavy… Read More
The 60/40 Portfolio Had A Hard Time Offering Investors Much Support Last Year. Is It Still Relevant?
2023-01-23 10:11
In September, I published an article on the 60/40 portfolio and why I was convinced it remains the benchmark to beat.Here's why I stand by this. Despite personally opting for a hig… Read More
2023-01-19 11:44
Warren Buffet's business partner, Charlie Munger, once said,
“All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there.” That thinking was inspired by th… Read More
2023-01-18 08:37
People have memories.
Markets don’t.
And that’s a good thing.
One of the best things about markets is they don’t remember what happened last week or last year.
Or eve… Read More
2023-01-17 04:54
When you were a child, a parent likely told you to brush and floss your teeth.
They said it would reduce the odds of cavities.
But every once in a while, a cavity emerged.
You might have… Read More
2023-01-12 11:06
Things aren’t always as they seem.
Often when solving one problem, without realising, we create another worse one.
How can we analyse the long-term impact of our de… Read More
2023-01-11 10:46
A recession seemed all but inevitable last year.
I wrote about it a few times.
After all, there's always a 100% chance we will have a recession at some point...
But even with every… Read More
2023-01-10 07:29
At the turn of the 20th century, the Vanderbilts were among the richest families in America.
They lived in lavish homes.
They owned the greatest yachts.
A few years later, they roared… Read More
2023-01-05 11:51
Understanding your circle of competence helps you avoid problems, identify ways to improve, and learn from others.
But when ego, not competence, drives what we do, we have blind spots.
If… Read More
2023-01-04 07:34
In 2022, a global earthquake hit the world’s financial markets.
If portfolios were people, the hospitals would be full.
But which portfolios did best?
Before awarding “top hon… Read More
![Refer Back To This If You Ever Feel Stuck In Your Investing Life [downloadable PDF]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/4811/481062-4135795745.w320.jpg "Refer Back To This If You Ever Feel Stuck In Your Investing Life [downloadable PDF]")
2023-01-03 08:50
I saw this yesterday and had to share it.
It's something you can refer back to if you ever feel stuck in your investing life...
It's from a blog I like called Safal Niveshak, a Hind… Read More
2022-12-29 08:26
Perhaps no one embodies first-principles thinking more than Elon Musk.
Colossal wealth.
A real-life Tony Stark.
Cheap batteries and reusable rockets… … Read More
2022-12-28 05:22
Time flies.
But it didn’t always.
Think back to when you were a kid.
Time often crawled, especially when you were in school keeping an eye on the clock.
Time doesn’t really s… Read More
The Parable Of The Mexican Fisherman - And How Your Life Has Become Bloated With Unnecessary Desires
2022-12-27 09:53
To work out whether you’ve overcomplicated life to the stage where it has become bloated and filled with unnecessary desires...Here’s a story that demonstrates this perfectly&hel&hell…Read More
2022-12-22 06:33
The British Army was big on maps.
Before GPS, I spent A LOT of time learning back bearings, grid references and ways to make sure we were in the right place at the right time…
But a… Read More
2022-12-21 07:53
Imagine a retirement like this.
You wander into the kitchen after climbing out of bed.
It’s February.
But all your windows are open and a warm breeze comes into the home’s ope… Read More
2022-12-20 10:32
This year has been painful for many investors.
Bonds fell along with stocks...
Crypto really fell.
But one positive to come out of it all?
Brilliant investment writing.
Here… Read More
2022-12-14 08:19
Sarah is nervous.
The stock and bond markets have been leaping around like a sugar-jacked kid on a pogo stick.
Stocks plunged in early summer.
They recovered some a few months later.
But… Read More
2022-12-13 13:37
Money is one of many hot topics over the festive period...
As families come together and inevitably reflect on the year they've had.
Now, there's no denying 2022 has been somewhat chaotic… Read More
2022-12-07 08:18
Several years ago, my friend Trena walked into a Singapore Bank.
She had a few hundred thousand dollars to invest.
The bank’s representative offered Trena something special...He coul… Read More
2022-12-06 12:44
It’s the most... wonderful time... of the year...
When Wall Street’s top strategists tell us where they see the stock market heading.
And it's unusually skeptical about 2023.&n&hell…Read More
2022-11-30 08:08
Aliens from the planet Tranquillo, hovered their saucer over a giant investment conference.
While taking over the conference, they corralled the index fund investors to one side of the audi… Read More
2022-11-29 11:26
There's literally a world of opportunity when it comes to where to enjoy your non-working years.
Particularly for those who've lived and worked overseas for a long time.
How do you c… Read More
2022-11-23 10:26
The Greek storyteller, Aesop, tells the tale of two neighbours who ask the god, Jupiter, for a bunch of cool stuff.
Jupiter knows these guys are jealous of each other.
To punish them, he g… Read More
2022-11-22 07:22
Last week, I read an article about why boring is beautiful in investing.
Being boring is something I can relate to.
I only need to think back to my Army days...
Back in 2000, I was… Read More
2022-11-17 11:10
What does it mean to live a good life?
Simple question.
Complex answer. Perhaps it’s living mindfully?
Knowing your purpose and values?
Cultivating creativity?
Overcoming fears an… Read More
2022-11-16 11:47
Are you questioning whether you have the right mix of stocks, bonds and cash?
You're not alone.
This is normal behaviour when markets plunge.
Bear markets have a habit of reminding us of… Read More
2022-11-16 11:08
The embarrassing reality hit me about 20 years ago: I was a wimp.
At the time, I was lining up for a bus in Casablanca, Morocco.
“Sixty-five dirham,” the grizzled man behind th… Read More
2022-11-09 05:33
Earlier this year, thirty-nine-year-old Simon Cooper cashed out of his high-fee, Zurich Vista investment scheme.
He didn’t like paying the redemption penalties.
But the Dubai-based b… Read More
2022-11-08 11:01
Adam was nervous and excited when he moved to Dubai in 2013.
He was leaving his beloved Scotland and the firm where he’d built his career, not to mention uprooting his two sons, both… Read More
2022-11-03 10:54
Apollo 11 was the first time in history humans visited another celestial body.
You’d think that would be an overwhelming experience.
One of the best things any human had ever done… Read More
2022-11-02 07:23
My favourite country music song is The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by the Charlie Daniels Band.
The devil is behind on his quota for souls.
He finds a fiddler named Johnny and offers him a… Read More
2022-11-01 10:15
With millions of financial advisers in the world (and thousands in the UAE alone) how do you choose one?
It isn’t exactly easy to know where to start, never mind to identify a trusted… Read More
2022-10-27 07:12
Our values shape us and make us who we are.
They're ultimately a set of principles that dictate how we interact with and judge others.
They determine how we view ourselves and the wo… Read More
2022-10-27 06:17
The ability to predict the stock market is like the Holy Grail.
Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of bad forecasters who sell a bill of goods.
Some are one-hit wonders.
Others, lik… Read More
2022-10-26 12:45
Do you find it hard to block out the noise in the financial media?
Are you second-guessing the investment decisions you made in the past based on what's happening now?
It’s something… Read More
2022-10-20 10:59
Each of us has just 168 hours per week to accomplish our tasks and goals - at work, at home, and out in the world.
It's common to feel like you spend too much time on things that don'… Read More
2022-10-20 06:24
I learned to ice skate on a frozen lake in Canada.
Sometimes, freakishly warm winds, known as Chinooks, blew in overnight.
The warm days that followed, especially if they were sunny, drew… Read More
2022-10-18 13:34
2023 market predictions are starting to surface.
Some will probably be quite convincing, with a chart or two to help.
But the beauty of the market lies in the fact that nobody knows what's… Read More
2022-10-13 10:45
People sometimes talk about investing like it’s the holy grail.
If you start early and buy whatever’s hot (Crypto, houses, tech stocks etc.) you’ll end up richer than Warr… Read More
2022-10-13 04:52
Most of the people that you believe are rich are what the Texans call, “Big Hat, No Cattle.”
You say your boss earns $900,000 a year.
He drives a Maserati.
He has a house on… Read More
2022-10-11 13:38
Fixed income investments are generally considered a safe-haven in times of economic uncertainty.
Yet in the first half of 2022, fixed income markets posted some of their worst returns in hi… Read More
2022-10-06 07:16
Connecting life principles to investment principles is a powerful way to anchor theoretical concepts in reality.
It can also assist in making sense of financial concepts that are frequently… Read More
2022-10-06 06:58
When Odysseus, the protagonist in Homer’s Odyssey, plunged a burning log into a giant cyclops’ eye, he saved himself and his crew.
Homer demonstrates that swift, brave action is… Read More
2022-10-04 12:55
My general investment philosophy is this.
The more bearish things feel, the more bullish I'll be.
Perhaps there was never a better example of this, than now.
Is there more you can b… Read More
2022-09-29 07:46
Shaun Murphy is a surgical intern in the Netflix series, The Good Doctor.
What makes the series fascinating is that Dr. Murphy is autistic.
He can’t read people’s faces and he… Read More
2022-09-29 06:52
I received a message the other day that asked, “What’s the quickest way to become successful?”
As humans, we naturally search for ‘hacks’ or a ‘cheat she… Read More
2022-09-27 18:08
Over the years, factor-based investing has grown in popularity within developed markets.
Multifactor solutions are now widely used by sophisticated investors to help meet their goals.
But… Read More
2022-09-22 06:16
Here's how to help your children or grandchildren retire with £1.2m…
Picture this:
On the day they’re born, you invest £5,000 using a low-cost, systematic investme… Read More
2022-09-22 04:42
Forty-two-year-old Australian, Nadia Diehl, wasn’t happy.
A large nursery chain in Dubai offered a free First Aid course for parents.
The company also offered information on guardian… Read More
2022-09-20 12:42
It's perhaps no surprise the tried-and-tested portfolio strategy is having a bad year.
One of its worst.
Go ahead, try Googling it.
This is what I saw on page one:
It'… Read More
2022-09-15 05:56
Life is change. Be prepared.
Sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes not.
The first half of my life seemed full of happy transitions.
Leaving school, graduation, commissioning, engagement… Read More
2022-09-15 04:40
I met a new friend this week.
As we rode our bikes in the hills above the French city of Nice, he asked an unusual question,
“If someone offered to pay you a lump sum to spend a yea… Read More
2022-09-13 07:16
I take long-term investing extremely seriously.
My team work to help end anxiety, increase clarity and cut through the complexity and noise of 'traditional' firms.
As such, I have no inter… Read More
2022-09-09 12:00
I saw a tweet that said, ‘the purpose of life is to experience things for which you will later experience nostalgia’.
It really struck a chord.
Especially given the sad news of… Read More
2022-09-08 05:30
You walk into a dark room at a travelling carnival.
You sit across from a one-eyed ancient woman who gives you chills.
“What do you want?” she croaks.
You decide to play along… Read More
2022-09-06 13:29
It’s easy to be pessimistic these days.
Our brains aren’t hard-wired to handle the vast amount of information we get through news alerts, emails, texts, tweets, and Facebook pos… Read More
2022-09-02 04:28
A growth mindset is a critical skill for success in business or even life.
Having a "growth mindset" is a belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work and dedic… Read More
2022-09-01 05:25
If you wanted to buy a handful of stocks, which would you pick?
I’ve been asking people that question for more than 20 years. Most people say,
“Fast-growing businesses with… Read More
2022-09-01 05:25
If you wanted to buy a handful of stocks, which would you pick?
I’ve been asking people that question for more than 20 years. Most people say,
“Fast-growing businesses with… Read More
2022-08-31 11:41
The US economy, the world’s biggest, is in a ‘technical’ recession.
Data released in July confirmed two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
But if the indicators… Read More
2022-08-26 11:21
I recently turned 45...
And I'm reflecting a lot.
I've tried my hand at many things; for the last 18 years, the creation of a financial services organisation focused on disrupting… Read More
2022-08-25 10:19
I strolled along the bank of a river with a friend I’ll call Bob.
At one point he said,
“I have more money than I could ever spend.
But I don’t want my children t… Read More
2022-08-19 05:44
We can learn a lot from Federick Smith, Chairman and CEO of FedEx Corp., the largest air freight firm in the world.
His story, recently shared by Dimensional Fund Advisers, beautifull… Read More
2022-08-18 09:49
I’m 52 years old.
I’ve been investing in the stock market for 33 years.
And unlike most people, I like to see stocks drop.
If you’ll be adding money to the markets fo… Read More
2022-08-12 04:34
The average lifespan of a person in a developed nation is 76 years, according to WHO.
I'm 45.
I hopefully have about 30-45 years (optimistically) to live...
I want to live the remainder… Read More
2022-08-11 05:36
My friend's father was a builder.
Growing up, he heard about 'boom and bust' a lot.
So, perhaps it's not surprising the current debate around recession strikes a chord.
Whether or not we'… Read More
2022-08-11 05:26
Every year since 1983, a boutique investment bank held a weeklong conference for the biggest names in finance in Sun Valley, Idaho.
It included extravagant parties, river rafting, mountain… Read More
2022-08-05 04:41
I've just read yet another great article by best-selling author, Morgan Housel!
It explained the importance of enjoying your journey to wealth...
Apparently, Will Smith wrote in hi… Read More
2022-08-04 04:44
Marco brought me tea before his other guests woke up.
I sat on a small swing overlooking the Caribbean sea.
“Marco,” I asked.
“How did you end up… Read More
2022-08-03 05:24
Simple, but not easy.
Our wish is for our clients to own a broadly-diversified, low-cost portfolio of global assets, frequently rebalanced, academically ‘tilted’ and for the… Read More
2022-07-29 05:02
We live in a world full of extremes.
And it's evolved into an all-or-nothing existence...
Do you work excessive hours, and then take long holidays for a ‘break'?
Or spend months n… Read More
2022-07-28 05:43
Do you need £3 million to retire?
How about £5 million?
You’ve probably read several stories that recommend a “number.” And while those financial journalists… Read More
2022-07-26 11:31
Sound investment advice doesn’t change.
But neither do investor worries or irrational behaviour...
It may seem like each new thing that comes along is unique, but in reality… Read More
2022-07-22 05:05
Cognitive biases make us human.
They're systematic errors that occur when our brains process information.
They're unconscious and automatic...
And can impact the way we live, work… Read More
2022-07-21 05:29
If you’ve watched a Marvel superhero movie, like The Avengers or Thor, you might recall Loki.
Like Thor, the god of thunder, Loki’s character is based on Norse mythology.
But u… Read More
2022-07-19 10:55
Is there one single way to invest?
I don't think so.
If there was, everyone would be doing it.
Every strategy has pros and cons.
But I do believe a good strategy yo… Read More
2022-07-15 05:31
I read a great article recently by best-selling author Morgan Housel.
It explained the value of finding the balance between your internal and external benchmarks...
In 1968, The Su… Read More
![Warning: The Danger Of Chasing Meme Stocks [case Study]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/4811/481062-1312529359.w320.jpg "Warning: The Danger Of Chasing Meme Stocks [case Study]")
2022-07-14 05:44
During the pandemic, many people’s hobbies included baking banana bread, binge watching Tiger King, and...
Day trading certain meme stocks.
With commission-free trading platfo… Read More
2022-07-13 07:21
You've probably been through a lot in the last 6 months.
The world certainly has.
Is your estate plan evolving with you?
Transitions in life are constant and inevitable.
So… Read More
2022-07-07 10:22
Despite the title, successful personal finance isn’t about 'get rich quick' schemes.
Nor is it about picking the right 'hot' stock or impressing your friends with the latest high-tech… Read More
2022-07-06 10:29
The first half of 2022 was pretty interesting for financial markets.
It was one of the worst 6 month periods we've ever seen for stocks and bonds...
Fears over rising interest rates and t… Read More
2022-07-06 05:56
If you’re a Shell employee or former employee living overseas, and are nearing retirement, you’re likely considering how best to transfer your Shell pension.
After 1… Read More
2022-07-01 04:56
Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher was executed in 399 BC.
Charged with 'corrupting the youth' and 'impiety'.
Although, Socrates didn't do that...
What he did in fact do, is an imp… Read More
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