How do I create a personal financial plan?
James Thomas looks at why and how you should create a personal financial plan, and how you find a good financial planner to help you execute it

Moneyworks will soon be running a personal finance roadshow, and this question was asked; will you be covering creating a financial plan and how to find a good financial planner. And what do you...

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Setting up a trust effectively
James Thomas reviews the many factors to consider before moving your assets into a trust to ensure that it achieves your aims

I am a citizen of a European country. I have been living in the Gulf for many years and have invested in real estate and equities. I also have investments in Europe and the US, mainly in equities....

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Getting the best from your medical insurance
James Thomas looks at how to select the right medical cover, and what to do if you have a grievance

I want to know what recourse do I have if my health insurer refuses to honour my medical expenses on flimsy ground, like overcharging by medical practitioners or hospitals. Also, I fear that from...

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Getting the right insurance policy
James Thomas on why it's important to review all your options before committing to one insurance provider

“My consultant has been asking me to purchase all my insurance requirements from one company. Is that a good approach? Can I get better rates? I don’t think I'm getting any better...

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Do I need redundancy insurance?
James Thomas on why redundancy insurance and credit shield, although relatively cheap forms of coverage, are not the most efficient ways to manage your credit card

“I’ve been paying redundancy insurance on my credit card, as well as credit shield insurance, for some time. It’s not a massive premium, but do you think it’s still worth...

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Cash purchase is always the best option
Purchasing assets with cash is always the best option if one has the surplus to do so. James Thomas explains why.

Purchasing assets with cash is always the best option if one has the surplus to do so. James Thomas explains why. "I have always wondered what is the best thing to do in terms of payment...

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To invest or not invest
James Thomas ponders another age-old question and asks if now is the right time to dip into the market

I have just landed a job in the UAE and I find stock prices quite cheap here. Since all my investments are in international currency investments in mutual funds and real estate, do you think an...

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Australian budget review
Craig Holding looks at the implications of the recent Australian budget for Aussie expats

Over the past few months we have seen what some would describe as “just another bear rally” My view has not changed and that this is probably the start of a genuine recovery, we should...

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Moving Home and the Tax Man
Craig Holding looks at the tax implications of moving back to Australia from the UAE

As Kevin Rudd and delegates from the G20 Summit return home to their respective countries many Australians are also returning home but perhaps not on their own terms. One major issue that was...

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Is now a good time to buy property in the UAE?
James Thomas ponders the age-old question

Property has dominated in the GCC for the past few years, and Dubai’s economy more so than most, for the past five years or so, and had been on a seemingly ever increasing upward trend. This...

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The cost of leaving the GCC
James Thomas looks at the financial implications of heading back to your home country

Following on from my last two articles, which covered some alternative investment strategies to consider in the current economic climate, I think now is the appropriate time to look at the...

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The Right Stuff
Not all advisors are made of it! Stuart Birch shows you how you can get the most from a financial advisor by looking for the clues that they're giving you good advice

I’ve just received my 3rd unsolicited text message from some shop or telecoms provider in the UAE, so I’ve probably only got another two more to go today. As my clients and I regularly...

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Weathering the economic storm
James Thomas looks at ways to rebalance your portfolio in the changing economic conditions

How should I allocate my investments going forward, especially in a recessionary market? This is the question I am being asked by most of my clients. Now that the world has generally accepted that...

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Interesting Times
Craig Holding examines the way forward for investors during the current economic turmoil

It is fair to say that we are living in some very interesting times for markets. The questions you might want answered are; will the markets go lower? And how long will the current conditions...

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Times are tough all over
Craig Holding looks at the the options for UAE expatriates during the 'credit crunch'

Times are tough all over, and that MIGHT just be a good thing. The end of 2008 and the start of 2009 see all the big economies, the US, Europe, China, in a slowdown mode. This is a...

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Tackling a recessionary market
How to allocate your investments in a period of downturn

How should people look at their portfolios now.? How should they allocate their investments going forward, especially in a recessionary market. This is the question I am being asked by most...

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Alternative investments
In the current financial turmoil, James Thomas examines your investment options

The current financial crisis does not appear going away, and after a brief respite over the holiday period with an even shorter period of new year optimism, the stream of bad news has started...

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Review of the Year 2008
James Thomas looks at an eventful 12 months in the financial markets

Another year has passed, and what an eventful one it has been. 2008 has been a year of highs, with record oil and commodity prices, followed by the lows following the near collapse of the banking...

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Fallout of the credit crunch
Two months after the financial crisis hit, James Thomas looks at how the world's financial markets and institutions have been hit

Following last month’s guide to managing your money in troubled times, the editor has suggested I follow this up with some further comments about the latest developments in the situation...

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What do I do now?
James Thomas looks at some of the options as the world heads into economic meltdown

As to this month’s column, why not consider some of the themes emerging currently from world financial events. You don’t need a specific question right now...everybody’s asking...

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Making a will
James Thomas explains why it's important to leave a will in the unfortunate event of your death

"My friend did not leave a will and died in the UAE recently. He was an Indian expatriate and suddenly his wife finds out that a lot needs to be done before she can get possession of all the...

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Making the most of an unexpected windfall
How to maximise returns when you strike it lucky

"I won AED100,000 in a raffle draw. Can you please advise what is the best way to double this money?"   Firstly, congratulations this must have been a very pleasant...

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Added benefits
James Thomas on the pros and cons of stock options as part of your remuneration package

"I am an accountant by profession. I have been working mostly in companies in the GCC. But recently I got a job offer that gives me stock options in a medium sized financial services...

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Starting out
James Thomas looks at how a new graduate should approach the settlement of his outstanding loans

"I am a 25 year old college graduate and my salary is just over AED15,000 per month. I currently have AED37,000 in student loans outstanding - at 5.4 per cent - and a car loan of just over...

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Which currency should I save in?
James Thomas looks at a common dilemma facing expatriates

"I am an Indian citizen living in Dubai for the last 15 years. Almost 90 per cent of my savings are in fixed deposits and about 10 per cent in mutual funds investing in Indian equities. I...

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Gifting investments
James Thomas looks at your options when considering giving mutual funds as a gift

"I want to gift some of my investments in mutual funds to a friend’s daughters. My relationship manager tells me there is no need to worry about creating a separate trust for them. He...

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Plan for the future
James Thomas looks at why you should be planning for your retirement

This month I am not answering a specific question, but I feel that it would be useful to comment on the issue of pensions and retirement planning, as there has been a lot of discussion in the...

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Review your policies
James Thomas looks at the issues affecting savings' plans and why it is good practice to review the components of your policies

"I have a regular savings contract, and have received a letter from about my policy that has raised two concerns that I would be grateful if you could assist with. Firstly I have received...

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Striking a balance
James Thomas discusses a Moneyworks reader's dilemma about how much to spend and how much to save

"I am a conscientious spender. I have always tried to strike a good balance between what I earn and what I spend. I am earning much more than what I was earning five years back, but I am not...

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