20 May 2025
5 Services That Make a Financial Advisor in Dubai Worth It
If financial advice is limited to asset allocation, portfolio monitoring, and rebalancing, why pay a financial advisor?
The answer lies in understanding the breadth of services financial advisors offer. Financial advisors tailor strategies to your unique goals, taking into account your long-term objectives, risk tolerance, and the complexities of your financial life. Their guidance encompasses everything from retirement planning, tax optimisation, and estate planning to navigating market uncertainties. Their value goes beyond numbers – they offer guidance that addresses long-term goals, risk tolerance, and other nuances of finance.
If you're looking for a financial advisor in Dubai, here are five ways an advisor can be useful:
1. Expat Tax Planning
Many expats and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) move to the UAE to build wealth through tax-free salaries and investment income. While it is true that there is no income tax or inheritance tax in the UAE, it is also true that it does not provide any relief from foreign tax. As an expat, you may earn, invest, and build wealth in the UAE without paying taxes, but you will have to pay taxes in the future when you return to your home country.
To mitigate this future tax burden, you need a financial advisor who can help you create and preserve wealth for you and your generations to come. If this applies to you, our advisors at Continental can help you navigate the cross-border tax rules and identify tax-efficient ways to invest, gift, and manage investment losses.
2. Cross-Generational Wealth Transfer Planning
In 2022, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) estimated that more than $1 trillion worth of wealth is poised to be passed onto the next generation in the Middle East over the coming few decades. This shift in wealth, however, comes with its share of challenges, including navigating legal frameworks, regulatory requirements, and interpersonal dynamics that can complicate the process.
Wealth transfer needs meticulous planning and listing of your intentions around the distribution of assets, and entrusting the responsibility of executing these wishes to a reliable executor. Equally important is preparing the next generation to manage and preserve the wealth they inherit, ensuring it supports their long-term needs and aspirations. With guidance from experienced professionals, families can simplify this complex process.
3. Retirement Planning
While the UAE is renowned for its competitive pay packages, employer-sponsored pension schemes are not as common as in countries like the UK or India. This could place the responsibility of retirement planning on individuals, making it essential for individuals to take charge of their own retirement planning.
Whether you plan to stay in the UAE, return home, or retire in a different country, having a well-thought-out pension strategy is crucial. A financial advisor can provide the expertise needed to navigate this process, helping you craft a retirement plan that aligns with your goals and ensures financial security for the future.
4. Getting Insurance Right
Health insurance regulations in the UAE differ across emirates, creating a layer of complexity in choosing the right coverage. A DIY approach, while tempting, often risks leaving individuals underinsured or ill-prepared for unexpected costs.
Insurance is not just about meeting requirements – it’s about safeguarding your financial future. From life and medical insurance to critical illness coverage, the right policy ensures your peace of mind while aligning with your broader financial goals.
This is where the expertise of a financial advisor proves invaluable. Beyond offering technical insights, they provide a personalised approach to ensure you have comprehensive coverage tailored to your unique circumstances.
5. Making a Plan Work
Financial planning is not just about understanding taxation, investing strategies, or legacy planning. It is about how well you weave all these factors into a workable and sustainable blueprint. Such planning requires a sound base of financial knowledge and experience, with a knack for customising strategies that suit your financial goals and investing style.
If you employ a financial advisor in the long term, they will tweak and adjust your financial plans to match the different stages of your life, something that might be challenging to keep tabs on by yourself as you progress.
A skilled advisor doesn’t just focus on growing your wealth. They bring invaluable insights to help mitigate risks, minimise losses during volatile periods, and create opportunities for compounded growth. Their guidance provides peace of mind and a solid foundation for long-term financial stability.
In this context, the cost of professional financial advice becomes a small investment compared to the value it delivers. Let our experts at Continental show you how personalised strategies can enhance your financial journey.
Thinking of starting your financial journey in the UAE?
Our licensed financial advisors at Continental have helped thousands of expats and HNIs across Dubai and beyond.
Book a free consultation now and let’s explore what’s possible.
