Not unlike most British expatriates, Nick and Jay Davies moved to the UAE with a healthy sense of adventure. They also arrived with strict goals for building their finances. No matter where you live, the need for good financial planning remains constant, and there are some basic rules one must follow if you want to achieve your goals. Nick and Jay have sought financial advice, which I always recommend, as we know too well that our circumstances change constantly. Many expatriates arrive with an existing financial plan and it is often a good idea to check that it covers residence in the UAE. If you have young children, like Nick and Jay, it is essential you write/add a will to ensure your dependants will be taken care of appropriately. This particularly applies to those who have also bought property in the UAE. Under all circumstances, a family must have a will in place. Nick and Jay keep a spreadsheet on all their expenditures and they are also careful to keep a log of receipts. I would emphasise performing this task as ritual if you want to keep on top of your finances. One of the other sensible things Nick and Jay practise is keeping only living expenses in their UAE accounts. Everything else is sent offshore. They have offshore bank accounts to which most of their savings are sent automatically and have also set up structured plans with specific goals in mind, such as school/university fee planning. Once the foundations of a plan have been put in place, the key to success is to review it with your adviser on a regular and consistent basis. This also goes for any existing pension funds you may have built up or could still be paying into. If, like Nick and Jay, you intend on returning to your homeland, buying a home and being comfortable in your retirement, you must adopt a disciplined approach to saving. This can be significantly easier to achieve once you have protected your family in the correct manner and achieved peace of mind. Rupert J Connor is a senior financial consultant at Acuma Wealth Management in Dubai. Reach him at rconnor@acuma.ae