2018-10-17 13:54
Yesterday we spoke about whether you actually need a financial adviser.
Now, here are a few tricks of the trade to be wary of…
Have you fallen for any?
I’ve recently discov… Read More
Blog Directory > Finance Blogs > Expat Financial finance Blog >
Expat Financial Blog
aesinternational.com/blog
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.
2018-10-16 09:34
I’m often asked whether people actually need a financial adviser.
Strictly speaking, maybe not.
Let me explain...
Let me start off with two things.
Financial advice is not just a… Read More
2018-10-11 09:22
Piggy-backing off last week’s early retirement blog…
I’m taking a trip down memory lane…
To see what early retirement was like back in the day.
Want to see more?… Read More
2018-10-10 12:29
What has Goldilocks got to do with motivation?
(No, this is not the opening line to a joke)
In fact, it’s an interesting theory linking degree of difficulty to motivation.
Want to k… Read More
2018-10-09 10:44
I once heard this joke.
“How do you make a million dollars?
Start with two million.”
It’s not quite as funny as it is true…
Often, the more money you have, the… Read More
2018-10-04 13:39
It’s one of the hottest topics in the world of personal finance.
Some call it the holy grail.
And people are making hefty sacrifices for it…
Have you guessed it yet?
I&rsquo&hell…Read More
2018-10-03 10:52
“Invest in your mind...
Invest in your health...
Invest in yourself.”
Which one is more important to you?
I found inspiration in this anonymous quote.
Investing is such an… Read More
2018-10-02 08:47
Warren Buffett is a saver-investor.
Jack Welch, a virtuoso.
And Mark Zuckerberg, a dreamer.
So what?
There’s something fascinating about uncovering patterns.
I recently found a… Read More
2018-09-27 13:33
In case you’ve missed them …
Here are the top 5 most popular blogs we’ve ever written.
From lottery winners to expat living …
And a golden opportunity for invest… Read More
2018-09-26 12:03
There’s been plenty of talk about cryptocurrencies.
Especially surrounding their boom.
But what do you know about them?
More importantly, should you invest?
There’s the mos… Read More
2018-09-25 13:30
Successful investing, as with most things in life, comes down to mastering the basics.
Here are 3 investment tips that nobody wants to believe…
…but everyone should follow… Read More
2018-09-20 09:05
Throughout history …
There’ve been stock market crashes and corrections.
At these times of extreme market turbulence …
Why do investors tend to make their biggest mist… Read More
2018-09-19 10:30
Have you heard the story of Sandor Teszler?
(No relation to the infamous Tesla)
He was a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to learning.
So why am I talking about him?… Read More
2018-09-18 11:28
Ten years ago, the financial crisis hit.
The infamous global meltdown.
With the next one (apparently) looming…
What has the last decade taught us?
Dubbed the most catastrophic i… Read More
2018-09-13 08:37
1+1=3.
It could also equal 1,000,000.
Because the combined strengths of great partnerships …
Far outweigh the sum of their individual parts.
Agree?
Warren Buffett and Charlie M… Read More
2018-09-12 13:30
The wealth effect is a behavioural economic theory.
It suggests consumer spending is linked to portfolio performance.
Higher gains make us feel richer.
But who really benefits?
The answe… Read More
2018-09-11 13:52
Last week, I downloaded Apple Pay.
I found it revolutionary – and began to wonder if I’d ever use cash again.
But in this increasingly cashless society …
Are we in dang… Read More
2018-09-06 15:37
Interest in private equity has grown in recent years.
It’s becoming easier for ordinary investors to gain exposure to it.
But that doesn’t make it a good idea.
Here’s wh… Read More
2018-09-05 12:12
Like many expats, I still have property in my home country.
Lately I’ve been pondering the slowdown in the UK housing market.
What’s causing it.
Landlord rules?
Brexit?
But… Read More
2018-08-30 10:08
Steve Jobs made many powerful statements.
But one sticks out for me.
The founder of one of the world’s most successful tech companies said:
‘Technology is nothing.’
It… Read More
2018-08-27 09:37
I sleep 6.5 hours a night.
That’s about average for people in my age group.
That leaves around 17 hours awake each day.
Or about 1,000 minutes.
How do you use yours?
Tim Urban o… Read More
2018-08-23 09:10
Earlier this month, the Bank of England has raised interest rates for only the second time since 2007.
For the first time in almost 10 years, interest rates are above half a percent. … Read More
2018-08-21 06:00
Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States.
He lived one of the most productive lives imaginable.
Do you know his secret?
Before his 8-year term at the White House, E… Read More
2018-08-20 08:52
David Pitt-Watson is a fund industry insider.
He’s worked in asset management for years.
It’s made him question the point of using active fund managers at all.
A Fellow at L… Read More
2018-08-16 11:29
The layers of the brain manifest in everyday life.
They affect our emotions.
The questions we ask.
The choices we make.
And impact our finances…
Simon Sinek talks about the lay… Read More
2018-08-15 10:19
An optimist wakes up knowing things are broken.
And more will break.
But he endures, aware things will improve.
Is this you?
The optimist knows things are not in his control.
Big thin… Read More
2018-08-14 08:00
James Clear recently defined grit.
"It’s the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals".
As a graduate from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – this area fas… Read More
2018-08-08 08:45
In 2012, Vanguard Group founder John C. Bogle released a book.
The Clash of the Cultures.
In it, he urges a return to the common-sense principles of long-term investing.
So, what are… Read More
2018-08-07 08:45
You can’t get away from social media.
It’s become part of modern life.
But it holds particular dangers for investors.
I have almost 14,000 connections on LinkedIn.
Will thi… Read More
2018-08-01 15:11
Managing investment risk is important at every stage of life.
But especially so in retirement.
You want to enjoy your wealth now…
But one of the biggest risks of all is runni… Read More
2018-07-26 07:58
“Any fool can make something complicated. It is hard to keep things simple.”
Said Richard Branson.
Da Vinci called simplicity “the ultimate sophistication.”
B… Read More
2018-07-24 11:25
I’ve talked about them a lot recently.
They’re virtually unknown.
But likely represent a golden opportunity for any investor.
So, what’s the big deal?
Dimension… Read More
2018-07-23 09:32
Index funds are a very efficient way to invest.
Ordinary investors can gain exposure to a large number of securities.
At very low cost.
So, what’s the problem?
Passively managed… Read More
2018-07-19 10:57
My 10-year old daughter recently asked me a question.
It caught me off guard.
“Dad, how much money is enough?”.
I wanted to tell her that if she starts investing early enoug… Read More
2018-07-17 11:02
Recently I received a pearl of wisdom in my inbox.
It was from Dan Solin, author of the Smartest series of investing books.
It was an observation.
One which has major ramifications… Read More
2018-07-12 12:53
Basketball coach John Wooden said “never mistake activity for achievement”.
Motion.
Action.
They sound similar.
But they’re not the same.
This is a mistake that smart… Read More
2018-07-11 10:55
Investors in traditional index funds are buying the entire market.
Capturing its returns.
But data shows that investors who expose their portfolio to specific factors can (and do) beat the… Read More
2018-07-10 10:51
Indexing is the most thoroughly researched, best-supported method yet devised for ensuring good investing results over the long term.
But don’t just take my word for it.
A long list… Read More
2018-07-05 14:18
I read a lot.
Investing and personal finance books feature heavily on my Kindle.
But I’m equally keen on books about learning, thinking, and decision making.
These books enable you… Read More
2018-06-28 15:52
My grandfather had a lot of money.
But he lost a lot within the stock market.
Growing up with this story – I always thought of investment as a gamble.
More like speculating than a s… Read More
2018-06-27 07:56
James Clear recently wrote about an author who finished 3 books in just 9 months.
The author followed a simple strategy.
A strategy which can produce incredible results.
In all aspects of… Read More
2018-06-21 15:36
It was February 12, 2002 and as a young Army officer I was sitting on my tank top listening to the radio.
Donald Rumsfeld, the US secretary of defence, was known for being decisive and conf… Read More
2018-06-20 09:01
"Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion".
William Edwards Deming, an American engineer, statistician and author, said that.
It’s one of my favourite quo… Read More
2018-06-19 10:17
The investing industry often talks about alpha.
In simple terms, alpha is a measure of outperformance compared to the market.
The evidence shows that fund managers are finding it increasin… Read More
2018-06-15 07:00
Investing isn't supposed to be exciting.
But the financial media likes to make it seem so.
Why do so many people seem to seek excitement in investing?
There’s a couple of reasons… Read More
2018-06-14 07:48
Most investors still use actively managed funds.
In other words, they pay a fund manager to buy and sell the right stocks at the right time.
But, in general, how well do active funds perfo… Read More
2018-06-13 08:17
Technology and investing have many parallels.
Both constantly improve.
Both evolve over time.
Newer versions constantly replace what was once seen as the best.
And both are p… Read More
2018-06-08 08:00
It’s deeply ingrained in the human psyche that taking action is a positive thing.
And in many cases, it is.
But successful investing means doing exactly the opposite.
Even if that f… Read More
2018-06-07 09:02
I recently discovered Safal Niveshak.
Meaning ‘successful investor’ in Hindi, it’s a blog created by Vishal Khandelwal, aimed at helping investors become intelligent… Read More
2018-06-06 07:55
There are many behavioural biases to overcome when investing.
One of the most common that investors are prone to?
Home bias.
Although inoffensive sounding, home bias is a common investm… Read More
2018-05-31 07:55
Hargreaves Lansdown made billions by sending a 'best buy list' through people's doors.
My father loves it.
It's easy.
Look at the top performing funds and pick your winners.
Open the mon… Read More
2018-05-29 08:00
Would you rather have a large portfolio of internationally diversified stocks or a large house in your chosen neighbourhood?
Based upon the people I know, nearly everybody chooses the brick… Read More
2018-05-28 08:00
Some financial professionals are dismissive of academic research.
They argue that it’s too far removed from the realities of today’s financial markets.
True, academic models ar… Read More
2018-05-25 08:00
Last week one blog I published caused a flurry of questions to my inbox.
It caused confusion.
Sparked curiosity.
And a little anger.
The greatest reaction stemmed from one sentence:
&ld&hell…Read More
2018-05-23 09:34
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 4 seconds - read while you plan your morning's to-do list]
Breaking our lives down into numbers can be scary.
We usually feel one of two things.&nb&hell…Read More
2018-05-22 12:29
I borrowed that title from the words of legendary investor Warren Buffet.
He’s talking about market timing.
Trying to get in just before prices start to rise.
And out again as they… Read More
2018-05-17 10:40
I’m an avid reader.
It’s about personal development.
Which is why I am learning everything I can about learning.
My first stop on that journey is the book Make It Stick, by Pe… Read More
2018-05-16 09:40
You’re probably not a good investor…
These aren’t my words.
They’re the statistical reality.
As described by Dan Solin, the New York Times bestselling author of … Read More
2018-05-15 07:09
In the early 1950s, Nobel Prize-winning economist Harry Markowitz started writing about diversification.
He says it’s just as critical today.
So why do so many investors fail to take… Read More
2018-05-10 10:03
I’m a huge fan of James Clear.
He’s an author focused on habits and decision making.
His ideas come from a wide range of disciplines, including biology, neuroscience, psycholog… Read More
2018-05-09 08:18
Someone once said that failure is your greatest teacher.
However, it’s success stories that are used as blueprints for the way things should be done.
Failures become invi… Read More
2018-05-08 09:50
You could be forgiven for likening a financial adviser to a personal trainer.
Both improve your health (be it physically, or financially).
Both usually offer a free consultation and develo… Read More
2018-05-01 13:39
Imagine this: You’ve just booked an airline ticket.
But then you see a cheaper flight online.
The second flight’s departure time is much more convenient – and you could c… Read More
2018-04-29 12:43
When Ronald Read died at age 92 in 2014, his friends and family were surprised to discover he had been hiding a secret.
The retired janitor and gas station attendant, who lived in rural Ve… Read More
2018-04-25 08:54
You’ve probably heard of the 4 percent retirement rule.
It’s used to determine how much a retiree should withdraw from a retirement account each year.
The idea is the retiree r… Read More
2018-04-06 08:00
According to scientific evidence, your increased success relies on just one thing…
Getting started.
So, why settle for average when you can be so much more?
How to get started: t… Read More
2018-04-04 08:26
Considering how many millionaires there were in the world in the 1900s, there should be far more billionaires in today.
That’s the theme of an absorbing TED talk by former fund manage… Read More
2018-03-28 09:44
One of the most common reasons people give for refusing to invest in stocks and bonds is it reminds them too much of gambling.
After all, both are uncertain, involve risk and may res… Read More
2018-03-21 11:31
A Harvard study looking at procrastination[i] provides the perfect introduction to the final video in our Value of Advice series.
Professors have discovered why we avoid doing the… Read More
2018-03-15 13:32
Learning to say “no” is one of the most useful skills you can develop to enjoy a healthier and wealthier life.
Saying no to unnecessary commitments gives you more time;… Read More
2018-03-08 14:54
You can't control the markets, but you can control how much you’re willing to pay to invest.
As an investor, every dollar you pay for management fees or trading commissions i… Read More
2018-03-07 09:41
If you’ve ever suffered a major financial loss, you know the last thing you want to hear is, “it’s only money.”
Because it’s not just m… Read More
2018-02-28 11:58
Continuing your investment in knowledge, the second part of The Value of Advice video series explores how can you invest to achieve your financial goals.
Part of the answer lies in… Read More
2018-02-23 09:20
[Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 45 seconds - Read while you have your afternoon tea break]
I couldn’t sleep a wink last night because I was so excited.
You see, our… Read More
2018-02-22 08:44
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 27 seconds - Read while your car is transformed from filthy to fresh in the car wash]
Some investments in your portfolio perform really well.
T… Read More
2018-02-15 11:57
[Estimated reading time:3 minutes - Read while rehydrating with an ice cold glass of water.]
In bear
and bull
markets, over longer time periods, index funds
always
perform… Read More
2018-02-14 11:55
[Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 46 seconds - Read while you complain internally about the weather]
International executive in the UAE with money invested?
I know you want… Read More
2018-02-07 09:23
[Estimated reading time: 5 minutes - Read while you decide what to do with your weekend]
Some years ago, two expats in the UAE decided to start investing, with the aim of a we… Read More
2018-02-06 08:01
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes - Read while pondering the meaning of life]
If you want to get rich, you probably dream of finding the ideal money manager – someone who ca… Read More
2018-01-30 11:22
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes - Read while pondering possible plotlines for the final season of Game of Thrones]
In his best-selling guide to financial freedom, Unshakeable[1]… Read More
2018-01-22 10:29
[Estimated reading time: 2 minutes - read while the coffee machine warms up]
Have you ever been humiliated at work?
I have…it hurt…
With hindsight, i… Read More
2018-01-18 12:42
One of the best descriptions of inheritance tax (IHT) was written by British politician Roy Jenkins[1]:
“It is a voluntary levy paid by those who distrust their heirs more th… Read More
2018-01-16 17:05
Andrew Hallam, the expat who famously built his million-dollar fortune from a school teacher’s salary, is on his way back to the Middle East.
Now a best-selling financi… Read More
2018-01-14 10:40
[Estimated reading time: 7 minutes - read while you eat your morning porridge]
I hate being wrong.
But, because I agree with Warren Buffett who said: “It’s better… Read More
2018-01-04 10:45
[Estimated reading time: 6 minutes - read while you debate whether to start your post new year fitness plan]
It’s easy to snicker at people who make New Year’s res… Read More
2017-10-27 08:56
{Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 40 seconds - read while you enjoy your cornflakes}
Imagine this.
Ten years ago, you invested £10,000. Today, it’s… Read More
2017-10-09 12:05
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes - read while eating an apple on your lunch break!]
Stress affects our bodies, thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Left unchecked, it causes h… Read More
2017-10-04 09:00
{Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 34 seconds - read while you brush your teeth}
"You must pay taxes. But there's no law that says you gotta leave a tip."[i]
I c… Read More
2017-10-02 09:00
By definition[1] a reformed character is someone who becomes a much better person...
Ranked by Investopedia[2] as the most influential financial adviser in the US and with over 704… Read More
2017-09-27 12:30
One of my friends is a property investor.
His investments are all small UK based residential units.
He doesn’t believe in diversifying – and fair play, he’s been… Read More
2017-09-25 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes]
When I was at university, I often burned the midnight oil, staying up late to write an essay or cram for an exam.
Back then, I had time to… Read More
2017-09-22 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 18 seconds]
Our families require - and deserve - our love, time and attention…
But sometimes, they also demand more tangible things… Read More
2017-09-18 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes - While you wait for a barista to make your coffee!]
There are 5 problems that prevent people planning for retirement – are they hol… Read More
2017-09-15 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 8 seconds]
Gold is so heavy that one cubic foot, weighs half a ton.
All the gold in the world, fits inside an Olympic swimming pool.
In f… Read More
2017-09-06 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 6 minutes]
A recent conversation with some British friends here in Dubai left me worried…
We were talking tax.
I couldn’t believe how many o… Read More
2017-09-01 09:00
I’ve tried to explain evidence-based investing in a thousand different ways over the years…
And perhaps that’s just part of the problem – I’ve adde… Read More
2017-08-30 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 50 seconds]
I’m excited…
Because today – I get to debunk a retirement myth.
It’s going to free up your thinking… Read More
2017-08-28 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 9 minutes, 57 seconds - while you eat your toast]
What can a British journalist, who’s spent time reporting from Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, teac… Read More
2017-08-25 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 24 seconds]
Last night, my 6-year old son and I were discussing what he wants to be when he grows up.
Interestingly, he didn’t say:… Read More
2017-08-23 09:00
[Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 44 seconds]
I’m going on an all-expenses-paid cruise;
I’m taking my wife, we’re staying in a ‘sky’ suite;… Read More
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