Author: Arabian Media staff
Key Takeaways Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio warns that growing wealth inequality is driving both left- and right-wing populist movements. These movements are creating “irreconcilable differences” that threaten the stability of the markets. Government intervention in private business signals a shift toward state capitalism that Dalio says mirrors the dangerous era of the 1930s. Ray Dalio isn’t just worried about markets—he’s worried about democracy itself. In an interview with the Financial Times this week, the Bridgewater Associates founder compared today’s widening “wealth and values gaps” with the 1930s, when he says economic extremes fueled the rise of authoritarian governments. The…
Key Takeaways For the most part, home listing prices increased within three years after a major disaster. While there may be an initial drop as hard-hit areas rebuild, prices usually bounce back because of reduced housing supply, which increases buyer competition. If your home is in an area hit by a natural disaster and you think you may want to sell, your prospects may be better than you’d imagine. For potential buyers, “disaster discounts” may be small or non-existent unless you act quickly. You might expect home prices to plummet after a major disaster like Hurricane Harvey. The storm brought…
What Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL)? Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance is a type of universal life insurance that provides a cash value component along with a death benefit. The money in a policyholder’s cash value account can earn interest by tracking a stock market index selected by the insurer, such as the Nasdaq-100 or the Standard & Poor’s 500. If your policy also has a fixed-rate account, you can choose how much you want to go into each account. Although the interest rate derived from the equity index account can fluctuate, the policy does offer an interest rate guarantee, which limits your losses.…
What Is a Section 1031 Exchange & Who Uses It? A 1031 exchange is a swap of one real estate investment property for another that allows capital gains taxes to be deferred. The term—which gets its name from Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC)—is often used by real estate agents, title companies, investors, and more. Some people even insist on making it into a verb, as in, “Let’s 1031 that building for another.” IRC Section 1031 has many moving parts that real estate investors must understand before attempting its use. An exchange can only be made with like-kind…
Key Takeaways Americans gave a record $592.5 billion in 2024, driven by a strong stock market and economy.Fewer people are donating—down from about two-thirds of Americans in the early 2000s to under half in recent years.Wealthy individuals, corporations, and foundations are making up more of the total, creating what experts call “top-heavy” philanthropy.Tax law changes are a significant reason, especially a shift in 2017 that decreased the number of households that itemize their deductions, making donations less rewarding for many everyday givers. Americans gave a record $592.5 billion to charity in 2024, but fewer of us are actually reaching into…
Image credit: WAM/Website To meet the surging demand for aviation-related services, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South has announced the launch of ‘The VIP Terminal Boulevard’, a cutting-edge development aimed at attracting leading aviation companies and luxury retailers from around the globe. Strategically located adjacent to the VIP Terminal, which has recorded sustained growth in business aviation movements, the boulevard stretches 769 metres and features 16 premium buildings. Read more-1 billion passengers and counting: UAE aviation marks major milestone These will offer modern facilities and high-end retail spaces spread across a 204,000 square metre area. The…
The S&P 500 consists of 500 companies that have issued a total of 504 stocks. Some companies such as Alphabet have issued multiple classes of shares. The top 10 largest holdings are listed on the official S&P Global website. An S&P 500 company must meet specific requirements to be included as a constituent within the index. S&P doesn’t provide the total list of holdings, however, at least not for free. Subscribers to S&P’s research unit, Capital IQ, can get access to the entire list. S&P 500 companies represent the top companies within their industries and they’re a gauge of U.S.…
You may want to cancel a credit card to cut back on your spending or to stop paying the associated fees. Before you cancel, consider how ditching that credit card could impact your credit score and finances. The steps to safely cancel a credit card are to redeem any available rewards, repay your outstanding balance, get in touch with your card issuer, submit a certified letter, and keep an eye on your credit report afterward. Key Takeaways Canceling a credit card can raise your credit utilization ratio and reduce the average age of your accounts, both of which may lower…
Key Takeaways Medicare removed Social Security numbers from ID cards in 2018 to help stop scams, but this change won’t protect you if you give your number to a stranger on the phone. Medicare will never call you unless you get a letter about it first. If you think you’ve been scammed, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Scammers often ramp up their efforts as Medicare open enrollment approaches each fall. “It’s prime time during open enrollment because you don’t know the details yet,” said Nicole Liebau, strategic partnership and engagement director for the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center. They know…
Image: Supplied Dubai hosted a glimpse of tomorrow at Envision 2025, du Tech’s flagship technology forum, where artificial intelligence, cloud, robotics, and advanced computing took center stage. Themed “AI progress begins when leaders and technology align” the third edition of the annual event brought together government leaders, global tech executives, and innovators to chart the UAE’s digital transformation journey. Opening the conference, du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi underscored Dubai’s standing among the world’s top five cities for AI adoption, even ahead of San Francisco. “Technology without leadership is merely code, and leadership without technology is just ambition,” he said, highlighting…