“Is this a good investment?” A useful follow-up is: “Good for whom—and for what purpose?” The same fund, ETF or savings plan can suit one person and be unsuitable for another. Its suitability depends on how it fits your life. Imagine two people investing USD 50,000. One needs it for a child’s university fees next year. The other is saving for retirement in 20 years. The first needs to prioritise protecting the money and accessing it on time. The second may have more room to a

By Sreekanth Pillai If you hold US shares or US-domiciled ETFs, have you considered what happens to those investments after your death? For your family, the challenge could include a tax liability, paperwork and delays in accessing investments. Planning ahead can help reduce that burden. This article concerns investors who are neither US citizens nor US-domiciled for estate-tax purposes. Understanding the exposure An estate generally must file a US estate-tax return when US-s

Financial planning should not make life feel like a punishment. It is possible to build wealth while enjoying travel, a good car, family experiences and personal interests. The key is to set clear financial boundaries before spending. A practical order for managing monthly income is: Meet essential household commitments. Maintain adequate insurance protection and emergency reserves. Automate the investments required for important financial goals. Enjoy an affordable lifestyle

Many people plan to invest whatever remains at the end of the month. Unfortunately, there is rarely much left. A more reliable approach is to reverse the order: Invest first. Spend from what remains. Imagine someone earns AED 30,000 per month and needs to invest AED 6,000 toward important financial goals. If that amount is invested automatically soon after receiving the income, the available spending budget becomes AED 24,000. If spending happens first, the investment may var

“Save more” and “invest regularly” are good intentions—but they are not clearly defined financial goals. A meaningful financial goal should answer three questions: What are you investing for? How much will you need? When will you need it? Your goals might include funding your children’s education, buying a home, preparing for retirement, starting a business or achieving financial independence. Once your goals are clear, connect your existing savings and investments to them. D

Most investors compare ETFs by asking: Which delivered the highest return? Which has the lowest expense ratio? Which performed better over five years? These questions matter—but they are not enough. A better review should also ask: Who legally owns the ETF?What is its true total cost?How is the income taxed?Can my family access it if something happens to me? Two ETFs tracking the same market may deliver similar published returns but create very different outcomes due to: Divi

We often postpone taking care of ourselves while pursuing the next career goal, financial milestone or business opportunity. We tell ourselves we will exercise after completing an important project, sleep better once work settles down, or spend more time with family after reaching the next target. But there will always be another target. Ambition is valuable, and building financial security matters. But no achievement can compensate for consistently neglecting our physical an

Many people speak about a SIP as though it were an investment product. It isn’t. A Systematic Investment Plan is simply a disciplined way of investing a fixed amount regularly. The real journey begins before the first contribution is made. Start by defining your goal. Is it retirement, your child’s education, buying a home or building long-term wealth? Then consider the time available, the amount required and the level of risk you can comfortably accept. Only after that shoul

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