There’s a lot of speculation about how we’ll be working and getting paid in the future – think 2040 and beyond. While all those dystopian TV shows and movies might help you to imagine what it could be like, we are already getting glimpses of the future in our daily lives. This is thanks to our increased reliance on automation and, of course, the more recent surge in our use of generative artificial intelligence. One recent report on the future of work has found that traditional salaries will no longer exist – that’s right, forget the frustration of waiting for your monthly salary transfer. Instead, employees can look forward to real-time payments and even instant bonuses for a job well done. But what else is in store for workers in the future? Host Felicity Glover talks to Tracey Follows, a UK-based futurist who discusses her latest research on the work of the future.

What is the one thing you dread most about your job? For many, that could be asking for a salary rise – even if you deserve it. Experts say there is a right and a wrong way to ask your boss for a wage increase and you should start by being prepared before sitting down with your manager for the “salary talk”. This could include compiling your successes over the past year to boost your case. You should also consider your goals and what benefits matter most to you, such as a better work-life balance. It is also important to figure out the pros and cons of working full-time in the office or a hybrid mix that allows you to work from home a couple of days a week. But how do you ensure that you start 2024 with a welcome boost to your income? Host Felicity Glover talks to John Armstrong, founder and managing director of recruitment specialist JCA Associates, who takes us through the steps to ask for a pay rise.

Knowing how to invest is an important skill to set you on the road to securing your financial future. Getting started, however, can be overwhelming if you are a beginner. While there’s a lot of advice on the likes of TikTok and YouTube, this is something you need to be wary about as many influencers are paid to promote investment services or are simply not financial experts. Taking the DIY investment route with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is a great option as it is low-cost and puts you in charge of your finances. Staying the course and keeping a cool head during negative market events are also key to your success. But how do you begin? Host Felicity Glover talks to Peter Siks, the investment coach at Saxo Bank and co-author of Investing for Dummies, who advises investors to embrace fear to hedge against global uncertainties. Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid.

As if rising interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis aren’t enough for investors to worry about these days. Despite all the talk of a bull market this year, stock markets continue their typical roller-coaster ride – one minute they’re in positive territory and your portfolio is in the black. And the next, they are impacted by a devastating crisis, such as the wars in Ukraine and Israel-Gaza. But is there a way to create a smarter portfolio to offset geopolitical uncertainties? Host Felicity Glover talks to Ken Fisher, the billionaire founder, executive chairman and co-chief investment officer of Fisher Investments, who advises investors to embrace fear to hedge against global uncertainties. Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

It’s so easy to get caught up in the treadmill of life – chasing money, building our net worth, planning for retirement, supporting our families, working long hours and not spending enough time to do the things we’re passionate about with the people we love. It took the Covid-19 pandemic to make many of us realise that our work-life balance was much more important for our long-term happiness, health and mental well-being. I recently came across a book by personal finance expert Marissa Thakor – and it put a lot of my conditioned beliefs to the test about our constant chase for more money and success. Titled MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your 'Enough’, it argues that we spend the better part of our adult lives accumulating as much money as possible and working way too many hours because that’s what society expects of us. But as “The Great Resignation” trend took hold at the height of the pandemic, it became clear: many people had found their “enough” – and took a leap into the unknown. I speak to Carol Glynn, the founder of Conscious Finance Coaching, about how to identify how much is enough for our personal and financial freedom. Produced by Doaa Farid and Arthur Eddyson

The highs and lows of stock markets are often compared to a roller coaster ride – one minute, you’re on top of the world and making a profit. The next, it could all come crashing down and you start panic selling. Knowing how to keep our emotions in check while trading is an essential skill that investors need to learn, regardless of their experience. As legendary investor Warren Buffett once said: “The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect.” What are the best strategies to control our emotions while investing? Host Felicity Glover talks to Matthew Carstens, director of product experience at neo-broker amana, who shares his best tips on how investors can keep their cool regardless of what is happening in stock markets. Produced by Doaa Farid and Arthur Eddyson

There are many reasons why we should have long-term financial goals – but perhaps the biggest is to ensure that we have a security net during our golden years. Working out what we want to achieve financially in our lives can be a struggle for some. Sure, there are the usual goals that many of us may aspire to – saving for a home and our children’s education, for instance. But what if your goals are different and you don’t want the responsibility of owning a home, or maybe you'd like to join the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and stop working at 40 – or even younger? Host Felicity Glover talks to Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial, about setting financial goals and how to get started. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Doaa Farid and Arthur Eddyson

What are your plans for investing in gold for the rest of year? As many of you probably know, gold made a welcome comeback in April, jumping above $2,000 per ounce for the first time in more than a year. While the move was great news for gold investors, the bad news is that the precious metal typically rises during economic headwinds. In this case, the US banking crisis had taken hold amid persistent inflation and fears that the US was falling into a recession. While those fears remain, we’re also officially in a bull market run – so what does this mean for gold and its outlook for the rest of 2023? Host Felicity Glover is joined by Aziz Moti, general manager and head of analysis at ISA Bullion, who discusses the precious metal’s outlook for the remainder of the year. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

In this special episode of Pocketful of Dirhams, we talk to the billionaire twin brothers who famously sued Harvard classmate Mark Zuckerberg for allegedly stealing their idea for Facebook. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, former Olympic rowers and founders of crypto exchange Gemini, first became famous after their legal dispute with Mr Zuckerberg, portrayed in the critically acclaimed 2010 movie, The Social Network. Their venture into the world of cryptocurrency pushed the Winklevoss twins into the spotlight again. In 2014, they founded Gemini, which has become one of the most reputable and regulated platforms in the industry. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Cameron and Tyler at The National’s newsroom in Abu Dhabi. They talk about their belief in Bitcoin, how they first came across it, why they founded Gemini, how to cope with the volatile crypto market and why AI is the next big thing for crypto. Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

As the summer holidays approach, have you started thinking about how to protect your hard-earned money while travelling abroad? There are numerous hazards to be aware of – from pickpockets to sophisticated bait and switch scams and online fraudsters, to name a few. But there are ways that you can protect your finances before and during your holiday, such as being prepared and having a plan B in place in case your financial security is compromised. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Carol Glynn, the founder of Conscious Finance Coaching, who discusses her best tips on how to keep our money safe while travelling. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

Are you financially prepared for the Eid Al Fitr celebrations? There are numerous expenses associated with the holiday — such as gifts, new clothes, family gatherings, zakat and overseas travel. There is no doubt that it can be an expensive time of the year for many households in the UAE — particularly for those who have left it too late to set budgets and put away money in the lead up to the holiday. And that is why it’s extremely important not to give into temptation and rack up debt during Eid, particularly with the higher interest rates that credit cards attract these days. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Rasheda Khatun Khan, a wealth and wellness expert, founder of Design Your Life and the author of Millionaire Mindset – 6 Steps To A Wealthy Life, who discusses the best ways to avoid debt over the Eid break. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

Have you ever wondered how finance professionals manage their own money? It can be difficult for many of us to manage our personal finances at the best of times, such as sticking to a budget, ensuring we have enough to cover our daily expenses and consistently saving for important financial milestones, such as a down payment on a home and retirement. There's no doubt that financial literacy is one of the most important elements of successfully managing our money — but it doesn't come naturally to some people, who struggle to plan for a financially secure future. While some of us may seek advice from a finance professional to help us on our path to financial security, others might be wondering whether those professionals manage their money differently to regular people. And are they more responsible and less susceptible to temptation than we are? In this episode of Pocketful of Dirhams, host Felicity Glover speaks to Fazeela Gopalani, the head of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the Middle East, who says that planning is key to managing your personal finances successfully — and something that she practices every day with her own money. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

Have you tried ChatGPT yet? There’s been a lot of talk lately about the chatbot developed by Open AI to generate human-like conversations with people on a range of topics – big or small. There’s no doubt that many of you – like me – have already tried it and found that its potential is wide-ranging. Over the past few years, low-cost investment robo-advisers have democratised investing for the masses by using AI to assess, for instance, a person’s risk levels. This led me to start thinking about ChatGPT’s potential as a free financial adviser – what type of advice would it offer and could it replace the 20th-century concept of an expensive financial adviser that many people can’t afford? Welcome to Pocketful of Dirrams – I’m Felicity Glover, the personal finance editor at The National. Joining me today is, Joseph El Am, general manager of digital wealth manager StashAway Mena, who’s here to talk about Chat G-P-T and financial planning.   Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Doaa Farid

It’s that time of the year when many employees can expect a salary rise and bonus. On average, salaries in the UAE are expected to rise by 2 per cent to 5 per cent, although this depends on the sector you are working in and your role. According to a recent survey by jobs portal Bayt.com, 53 per cent of professionals in the UAE expect to receive a salary increase this year. Employees in banking, financial services, investment management and consulting can expect the highest salary increases and bonuses in 2023, says Trefor Murphy, founder and chief executive of recruitment consultancy Cooper Fitch. However, employees in other sectors can also expect solid pay rises and benefits such as flexible working, Mr Murphy adds. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Mr Murphy, who discusses this year’s salary trends in the UAE and shares his advice on the steps you should follow to ask for a pay rise.

It’s been a tough year on our personal finances — from record-high global inflation to rising interest rates and an increase in borrowing costs for consumers.   There are also strong warning signs that a global recession is looming.    But, as we head into 2023, now is a good time to review your finances and plan ahead.    This is to ensure you begin the New Year on a positive financial footing — such as setting goals to pay off or lower your debts, sticking to a budget and saving for the future.   “It's a good time to reflect and review your finances, and then decide what you need to reduce or change,” says Alison Soltani, founder of savings website Leap Savvy Savers.   Host Felicity Glover is joined by Ms Soltani, who shares her tips on how to boost your finances in 2023.

It can be an extremely stressful time if you lose control of your debts and can no longer keep up with monthly instalments on credit cards or loans. There are many reasons why debts can spiral out of control — from losing your job to facing a medical emergency, or even spending beyond your means. Whatever the reason, there are consequences — after three missed payments, banks in the UAE will alert their collections department about a debt default. That is a situation you don’t want to find yourself in as you could eventually face legal action and a travel ban. But how do you negotiate with debt collectors and — more importantly — make it work to your advantage? Host Felicity Glover is joined by debt collection expert Jaya Ratnani, managing partner of Freed Financial Services, who discusses what to do if you are contacted by a collections team.

The UAE’s Unemployment Insurance Scheme took effect earlier this month, giving all Emirati and foreign employees in the country a vital cash safety net if they lose their job.   The mandatory social security support system is based on 60 per cent of an employee’s basic salary and is capped at a maximum of three months, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.   While the finer details have yet to be announced, financial experts have welcomed the move but say it is imperative that people also set up an emergency savings fund, rather than rely solely on the unemployment benefits.   Host Felicity Glover is joined by Keren Bobker, an independent financial adviser and senior partner with Holborn Assets, to discuss the benefits of the social security scheme.

Buying property is one of the biggest financial commitments that we will make in our lives. But getting on to the property ladder can be difficult for some — saving for a deposit while also meeting other expenses can take years, more so these days as property prices quickly rise and mortgages become more expensive due to central banks raising interest rates to rein in inflation. Others may feel uncomfortable making a financial commitment to buy a property and prefer to live their lives free of the burden of a mortgage. However, many financial experts advise that investing in property is important to diversify your portfolio, particularly in today's bear market. One option in the UAE involves fractional property investing. Think of it like crowdsourcing — a certain number of people invest X amount of money and collectively buy a property together. The property is then rented out and investors earn a return based on the rental yield. But what is fractional property investing, how much do you need to begin and are the returns worth it? Host Felicity Glover is joined by Siddiq Farid, co-founder of real estate investment platform SmartCrowd, who discusses the pros and cons of fractional property investing. Hosted by Felicity Glover Produced by Arthur Eddyson and Thomas Smith

It has been a difficult year for cryptocurrency investors. Bitcoin has plunged from a record high of about $68,000 last year to trade in the $19,800 range on Monday, while the cryptocurrency sector's market capitalisation has again fallen below the $1 trillion mark. Analysts warn that the cryptocurrency roller coaster ride is far from over, dragged down by this year’s equity bear market, global economic uncertainty, higher interest rates and a sharp rise in the cost of living around the world. Many novice investors might be ruing the day they jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, believing they could make a fast buck on the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum or meme coins such as Doge and Shiba Inu on their “shoot to the moon” journey. However, rather than panic selling — and risk losing a substantial chunk of your investment ― investors might want to consider some other strategies. These include holding on for dear life (HODLing) to avoid short-term volatility, or staking digital coins to earn passive income. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Stefan Rust, founder of blockchain development house Laguna Labs and former chief executive of bitcoin.com, who discusses the benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies for the longer term.

The government’s overhaul of visa regulations last September means that teenagers aged 15 to 18 can now work part-time in the UAE, giving them an opportunity to earn a regular salary and learn some vital life skills at the same time. Those skills can include anything from money management to time management, as well as building confidence, instilling a sense of responsibility and gaining that all-important on-the-job experience. While it is an empowering experience for youth, the two most important skills for part-time working teenagers is understanding the value of money and how to manage a regular salary, financial experts say. This includes budgeting, setting savings goals and even beginning their investment journey as early as possible to take advantage of the benefits of long-term compounding interest. Host Felicity Glover is joined by Marilyn Pinto, founder of Kids Finance Initiative Global, who discusses the benefits of teenagers earning a regular salary through part-time work.