For many years, investing was a boys’ club, as women were considered more risk-averse and the financial services industry gender-biased.
However, it is gradually becoming a level playing field, as women are relying less on others to manage their money and increasingly taking control of their finances to build long-term wealth and financial independence through investment.
UAE-based Danielle Lecomber, from the UK, who is in her mid-30s, says her investment portfolio is a blend of stocks, fixed interest, bonds, property and alternative assets such as derivatives.
She attributes her financial savviness to her mother, who was very good with money and taught her the importance of saving and the need to be financially independent from a young age. Ms Lecomber recalls saving to buy her first property in her 20s.
“I knew at that point in time that I would be able to achieve better returns by investing in stocks and shares versus cash, for example, over the longer term,” says Ms Lecomber, who is the founding partner and chartered financial planner at wealth management company St James's Place.
“My stock portfolio is a blend of active and passive funds, rather than individual stocks. I have bought individual stocks before but as a woman I'm very comfortable with high-risk investments. I prefer to stick to multi-asset funds or exchange-traded funds.”
Women have never been wealthier, on average, than today. An estimated 32 per cent of the global private wealth was in the hands of women in 2020, a BCG report found in 2021.
There are 344 female billionaires in the world, controlling $1.7 trillion, with their assets growing faster than those of their male counterparts, last year's UBS Global Wealth Report found.
Longer life expectancy and meaningful strides in financial inclusion mean female wealth in general is set to continue to grow, UBS said in its more recent Gender-lens investment report.
Increased access to financial education through books that speak to women, online courses and an increasing availability of female-focused resources are driving the rise in new investors, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
Purpose behind investment
Women are motivated by having a purpose for investment, beyond it simply being a sensible thing to do or a wealth builder, explains Ms Glynn. For example, they look at aspects such as whether it is for financial freedom, their children’s education, or to build a house.
Ms Lecomber agrees, saying women tend to attach a goal to their investment objectives and are more cautious.
“We are driven by the psychology of investing, whereas men tend to automate things and can detach themselves from their income,” she says.
Women also tend to hold a higher level of cash in their emergency fund, according to Ms Lecomber, who cites how she always holds a far higher reserve fund than her husband.
Are women risk-averse?
Vaishali Kuletha, 38, an Indian expat in Dubai, does not shy away from taking risks in investing. Her portfolio includes stocks and index funds in the US, properties in India, the US and Dubai, and businesses in the UAE. She and her husband recently acquired a recruitment company and a 17-year-old day care complex in Dubai.
“Business investments are far more lucrative from a cash-flow perspective than investing in stocks and property, so my goal is to acquire and grow multiple small businesses,” she says.
“But I ask for a company’s financial statements for the past 12 months before acquiring it. I also rope in my legal team to check whether the company is legitimate.”
She also recommends female investors keep updated on market news before investing in stocks.
Busting the myth about women being risk-averse, Ms Glynn clarifies that female investors are instead “risk-aware” and “risk-conscious”. They want to fully understand what they are investing in before committing, which is a strength.
They often still take the same risks as men but in an informed decision rather than a reactionary one, she says.
“Once confident, women are just as capable of taking calculated risks as men. The difference isn’t necessarily risk, it’s the mindset behind the investment,” she says.
“Women tend to seek security through investing, while men tend to seek wealth through investing. While they are both seeking to grow their money, the motivation and mindset is often very different, which then impacts our differing approaches and investing behaviour.”
However, Alison Soltani, founder of Leap Savvy Savers, believes the tendency for female investors to be risk-averse could stem from a lack of confidence or education in investing. Women tend to manage the household finances, so perhaps they focus on the saving and budgeting side, rather than investing and building wealth, she suggests.
Attitude to risk depends on a number of factors, including personal preference, timelines, societal and familial influence, and individual financial circumstances, Ms Soltani explains.
Where do women invest?
Many women favour low-risk investment vehicles such as bonds and property, Ms Soltani says.
Ms Glynn says women she works with are mostly interested in ETFs, real estate and, increasingly, Sharia-compliant or value-based investments, as well as digital assets.
Women have a preference for real estate or ETFs as they are easy to understand and feel safer than other options
Carol Glynn,
founder, Conscious Finance Coaching
“Usually they have a preference for real estate or ETFs, as they are easy to understand and feel safer than other options. These options offer the risk level, transparency and security many women seek when first investing. ETFs are popular as the entry point, costs and risks are lower than most other options,” she says.
Women gravitate to investments they can fully understand, are low-maintenance and offer long-term stability over quick wins, she adds.
Is industry inclusivity rising?
Although much is being done to address barriers in the financial advisory industry, they still exist, Ms Soltani believes.
Implicit bias and discrimination could lead to women not being offered the same opportunities, either when investing or in employment.
“Although female role models in the personal finance world are starting to emerge, there aren't as many female voices as there are male,” Ms Soltani adds. "Female role models are crucial so that women have access to information, education and investment opportunities."
Ms Lecomber calls investing “a taboo subject” and urges more female investors to talk about their experiences and strategies to help inspire others.
“A key barrier to investing is that many women still feel judged or dismissed when asking questions,” Ms Glynn points out.
“Creating safe, shame-free spaces is vital, where the educators and service providers are willing to answer questions and explain all aspects of the investment instead of just focusing on the potential returns.”
Many women are alienated by technical jargon and masculine branding. Shifting to values-driven and emotionally intelligent language would create a more welcoming environment, Ms Glynn says.
She also calls for greater representation of women in advisory roles and financial education that reflects women’s “lived experiences”, such as career breaks, caregiving, unequal pay and longer life expectancy.
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
Sweet%20Tooth
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SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Supercharged%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20400hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20430Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%202%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Soudal%E2%80%93Quick-Step%20-%2018%E2%80%9911%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%3E2.%20EF%20Education%20%E2%80%93%20EasyPost%20-%201%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ineos%20Grenadiers%20-%203%22%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20classification%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenadiers%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%E2%80%93Quick-Step%20-%20ST%3Cbr%3E3.%20Nikias%20Arndt%20(GER)%20Bahrain%20Victorious%20-%203%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
ON%20TRACK
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
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
The%20Beekeeper
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
