Overcoming the Fear of Retirement
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. Ironically this is the term used to describe those that have a fear of long words. There seems to be a tongue-twisting word to describe every fear imaginable, but what do you call someone who has a fear of retirement? Well, there doesn’t seem to be one but it is a genuine fear and […]
How much does it cost to adopt a child from abroad?
If you’re based in the UK, adopting a child from abroad requires an extensive and costly process which we outline below. If you’re based in the UK and looking to adopt a UK child, the story is different. Local authority adopters for UK children are assessed for free – it is the process of adopting […]
Most Expensive Wedding?
What’s the most expensive wedding ever? With the average cost of a UK wedding peaking last year at £27,000, getting hitched is not a cheap option by most people’s standards. But what if money weren’t an issue? What would be your biggest extravagance? In celebration of today’s wedding between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan […]
Why Hire an IFA in 2019?
Brexit is coming! Brexit will continue to impact the financial affairs of all Brits – and not just expats living in the EU and EEA. Uncertainty is affecting all areas of finance, from currency to mortgage prices. So financial planning is in the spotlight. Brexit has had both positive and negative effects and will continue […]
Why women must save more for retirement
Women are simply not saving enough for retirement, writes Women’s Finance Writer Vicky Bizzell. Why? Is it a lack of confidence? Or are there deeper issues? It is not just women in the UK, or the UAE, who are not saving enough for their futures – but right across the world. According to the World […]
UK Autumn Budget – a Brexit Budget?
In this week’s Autumn Budget for the UK, Chancellor Philip Hammond has put aside £500m to cover the cost of a “no deal” Brexit – and this isn’t great news for expats. The Chancellor “said that there was plenty of ‘headroom’ should he need to borrow more in a possible emergency deal if Britain leaves […]
Your UK Passport – Important 2018 Update
Rules affecting your UK passport changed – October 2018 A change affecting the renewal of UK passports was introduced on September 10th, but not formally announced by the Home Office. Until now, travellers renewing their British passport would have any remaining time on their old passport added to their new one – meaning that if […]
Open Banking – Opportunity or Threat?
Open Banking is a UK scheme to give consumers more choice and better deals on their banking. But there’s big concerns over data security. What’s more, most Brits haven’t even heard of it. The new banking rules, implemented in January 2018 in the UK, were designed to give consumers more freedom and control over how […]
Brit expats demand more paperwork from EU!
Post Brexit White Paper, British expats living in the EU face fresh anxiety over their right to stay put – with EU member states accused of being slow to support expats in achieving the right “residency formalities”. Paperwork, in other words. And the problem is (ironically, some might say) that there’s not enough of it […]