Shalu Sharma currently works as an associate vice president at financial services company Continental Group.
She is a financial adviser and helps people and corporate clients with financial planning.
Ms Sharma, from India, is a single parent in her mid-40s and lives in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. She’s been in the UAE since 2003.
Her son, 19, who she supports financially, is studying at the University of Bath in Britain.
Originally from Lucknow, Ms Sharma graduated in chemistry from Miranda House, Delhi, before completing her master’s in International Business from Delhi University.
She’s completed three levels of certification in insurance and advising from the Chartered Insurance Institute and has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table for 11 years.
Ms Sharma says meticulous planning and upgrading her knowledge and skillset has helped her career growth.
When did you become a financial adviser?
I joined Continental 20 years ago. In 2002, I was working in bancassurance sales with ICICI Prudential in India on a monthly salary of 15,000 Indian rupees ($180) for a few months when my ex-husband got a job in Dubai.
When I joined my former husband in Dubai, it was natural to look for a job in the insurance industry. I got Continental’s number from the Yellow Pages, called them and was scheduled to meet the founder and managing director.
At the time, I wanted a salaried job and got into operations. However, after my separation and with the added responsibility of a child, I needed more flexibility and so, I moved to consultancy full-time in 2009.
That is the best decision I have ever taken. I have not looked back since then and love what I do. My role is very fulfilling and I feel good when I help my clients achieve their financial goals.
What was your first salary in Dubai?
At Continental, I started on $800 per month.
What is your salary now?
I earn a six-digit salary in dollars annually or between Dh250 and Dh300 an hour.
We set a target to achieve every year. Most advisers work on a mix of salary and commission. In my case, I work completely on commission, fees and bonuses.
If you have a high client retention rate, then you can plan your earnings in a better manner.
Do you save?
Of course. I do my own needs analysis and financial assessment regularly. It is very important to have your financial goals clearly written and have a road map to attain them. You will reach a goal only if it’s defined properly.
I saved consistently for my son’s education and he is now studying comfortably abroad. An emergency fund is also a top requirement.
I am now working on my “financially independent” fund and inheritance. I love my job and will never retire.
I mainly invest in long-term systematic investment plans in dollars and rupees. I have a short-term lump sum investment on a platform, which is a mix of mutual funds, stocks and properties in India, and gold.
Both my son and I also have guaranteed protection plans for life and critical illness.
I am a balanced risk taker and have a diversified investment portfolio.
Have you purchased a property?
I have properties in Goa and Bengaluru and land plots in India. I do not like investing too much in property from an investment point of view.
The assets are not liquid, difficult to sell in case of immediate needs and require a lot of effort to maintain.
Do you have any debt?
I do not have any debt. My credit cards are always paid before time for the full amount, so banks don’t make much out of me.
There’s nothing bad about taking debt if it is planned properly.
Have you ever inherited a sum of money?
I have not inherited money until now. I will be inheriting my father’s property eventually. However, I inherited a more important thing than money from my parents: the ability to handle my earnings effectively and save before I spend.
When I was at university, I was one of the few students who had money given by their parents for the full term rather than getting the money every month.
My parents had the confidence in me to allocate my expenses judiciously. I had my emergency fund, tuition fees, food and hostel fees, among other expenses, written down.
Today, I am proud to see my son doing the same.
Were you taught how to handle your finances as a child?
In our time, nobody attended a proper class that said: “Learn how to handle your finances.”
We learnt practically from our parents and other adults. They were our best teachers.
I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by highly educated, responsible elders from whom I learnt.
I have always been an organised person. Mishaps happen in life and they taught me to plan my finances more meticulously.
I listed down my financial objectives and mapped out how much I needed to earn and save. You can always back-calculate, but keep inflation in mind.
Today’s children do not follow blindly, they question your ways, which, I think, is a very good thing.
With such a mindset, it is important to have formal classes to learn about finances.
How do you budget your salary every month?
I have my budget on Excel with all my expenses and earnings. My financial objectives, such as education for my son, my “financially independent” fund, emergency fund and inheritance are clearly mentioned separately with expected achievement dates for each.
My assets are documented for my son’s reference and my will is in place. I keep updating my plans regularly.
It is very important to have your financial goals clearly written and have a road map to attain them
Shalu Sharma,
associate vice president, Continental Group
I save about 30 per cent to 40 per cent of my earnings after taking care of my expenses. Most of the time, this is invested.
What are your major monthly expenses?
My rent, my son’s education, maid’s salary, grocery bills, credit card bills and utility bills.
Have you started saving for retirement?
Well, I am never going to retire as I love my work, but I have been working on the fund to help me in the later stages of my life when I will be working because I love to work, not because I need to work.
You should start saving as soon as you start earning. I plan to be financially independent in the next five years.
Do you have an emergency fund?
Yes. It has about six months’ worth of expenses.
What do you spend your disposable income on?
First, it is allocated towards my financial objectives and then, whatever I wish to spend on.
Do you earn passive income?
Yes, from dividends, rents and coupons.
Do you worry about money?
No. I plan but do not worry. The more you worry, the more it will slip out.
When you plan, you automatically save as you know your limits and thresholds.
It’s good to have some positive pressure because that motivates me to work and find my way.
What are your financial goals?
My long-term goals are my son’s education, his wedding, funds for my later years and my inheritance.
A short-term goal is to buy a property in the UAE in two to three years.
What is your idea of financial freedom?
When you are not forced to work because you need to pay your bills and other expenses.
Do you want to be featured in My Salary, a weekly column that explores how people around the world manage their earnings? Write to pf@thenationalnews.com to share your story
Company%C2%A0profile
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
BIRD%20BOX%20BARCELONA
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Honeymoonish
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
