Mike’s true passion is educating others and sharing expert advice with individuals seeking to learn more or simply stay up to date with the latest financial news. Mike frequently expresses his views on the financial industry, where he applies his experience and knowledge to share his thoughts and opinions.
How to pay off debt is one of the most common questions I get asked as an adviser. “How did you go bankrupt?” “Two ways, gradually and then suddenly”- Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises. In this famous quote, the influential 20th-century author, in one of his most...
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South African expatriates should not only understand the new expatriate 2020 tax laws, which endangers their foreign income but should also act if they want to avoid its dire consequences. This blog provides a thorough understanding and detailed update on South African Tax for 2020/2021. INCOME...
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The expat dream remains very much alive and very real amongst Brits, with a series of independent polls and official statistics. This suggests a continued upward trend of UK citizens seeking or actively committing to leaving Britain. With this in mind, and taking an interesting, ‘side...
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A study has been made on millionaires for 6 years and we have realised being 'rich' comes down to only two things. It was found that becoming and staying rich tends to come from these two actions: Accumulating wealth Keeping the wealth you've accumulated The first step,...
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Our mission as a financial adviser is simple, and it’s putting the client first. All too often, we get caught up in the nitty-gritty of portfolio construction, asset allocation and diversification before understanding who our clients are and what aspirations they harbour. It’s always worth...
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The habits you form now will affect you for the rest of your life. Understanding the most common financial money mistakes will help you make better financial choices in the future. Avoiding costly money mistakes will save you money, time & stress. I have listed below the...
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Due to continued demand from expats based in the UAE and the Middle East in general who is considering acquiring a mortgage in the UK, I have created a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that can assist with many of the initial points facing...
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We talk a lot about our clients moving overseas, or returning back home, but what about internationally based financial advisers etc? What does it mean for a financial adviser to return home? What are the impacts? If you are thinking of moving back to the...
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In the age of information, the answer to nearly any question is available at your fingertips. Want to know how to cook a particular meal or repair something in your home? All you have to do is get online and ask your question. You'll likely...
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Great leaders are driven towards a mission that everyone can get behind. They know how to motivate a team through honesty, transparency, and genuine passion. In the book Leading at a Higher Level, a study showed that leaders that had a strong vision had the highest performing...
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When you are considering investing your money, having a solid relationship with a financial adviser is not only ‘helpful’, it can be fundamentally important as well. Most investors depend on their financial adviser to provide them with information that can be crucial to their success...
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How much money do you keep in your current account? If you keep a sizeable balance in your current account on a month-to-month basis, you're likely losing money. That's because current accounts are guaranteed to lose you money. Yes, current accounts are a necessary part of...
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Returning to the U.S. can be a tricky proposition if you are not properly prepared. You are on your way back to the United States after being an expat. No matter what takes you back, the first step is always to establish yourself financially and set...
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“Let the Good Times Roll” by legend B.B King. It’s a great song. – but it recently got me thinking. I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but the sentiment in the song is the crucial problem that we have to address as financial advisers, and as...
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“They are nowhere near as good as they used to be and now that you are an expat, they simply don’t work!” I know this will be hard to hear for some British Expats living in well-known expat locations such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but...
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Making the right investment decisions is something you can only properly do by fully understanding your own personal risk tolerance. There’s no doubt that we all know that all levels of reward come with some level of risk and uncertainty. The amount of risk, of...
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Look back to the year 2000, and you might understand why so many people are hesitant to put their hard-earned money in the stock market. Many investors have been hurt more than once by investing in equities, and they are having a hard time believing...
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As demand for domestic and international financial advice continues to soar, more must be done to attract young talented individuals into the financial services industry, to prevent advice becoming a privilege exclusively for the wealthiest of those in society. As I was quoted as saying in...
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There’s a lot been said in the media recently about the investment concept of Dollar Cost Averaging. One of the reasons that it is becoming increasingly popular is because it’s an ideal way to accumulate savings to fund retirement and/or an education. First, the backdrop. Whichever...
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Most of us are still able to recall the economic trials and tribulations associated with the financial crisis of 2008. In fact, it is estimated that this worldwide depression cost the United Kingdom alone at least 1.3 million jobs. While there is no doubt that...
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Since they were introduced in 2006, the popularity of QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes), an HMRC-recognised overseas pension, continues, alongside SIPPs, to grow amongst expatriates and individuals considering a move overseas. The ‘Pension Flexibility 2015’ changes to UK pensions have also had a limited but...
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Longer life expectancy of retirees presents challenges in retirement. The good news? We're living longer. The bad news? We're living longer. Such is the conundrum faced by retirees and their financial advisers. Since 1960, Great Britain's average life expectancy increased to 83.5 for males and 85.9 for...
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The global marketplace is changing. For International Financial Advisers, the choice is stark: either adopt best practices in the face of challenges, or slowly become less relevant. Let’s take a look at how things are changing. On the financial front, there are increasing – and justified –...
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The following article is written by Graeme Perry, Solicitor at Sykes Anderson Perry Limited Solicitors and Chartered Tax Advisers in London, England. This information has been prepared by Sykes Anderson Perry Limited as a general guide only and does not constitute advice on any specific matter....
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Let’s learn quality control from manufacturing I’ve gone on record before saying the quality is never an accident. It’s always because of careful processes designed to monitor, review, and cross-check. It is the role of management to make sure that services are being delivered with quality across...
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