Author: Arabian Media staff

Key Takeaways High starting yields and expected rate cuts in 2025 make bonds a compelling income and growth opportunity, especially over savings accounts. Bonds can offer more stability and diversification than equities, particularly in volatile markets. Bonds might be quietly offering their best opportunity in years—and many investors are missing it. With yields hitting levels not seen in years and interest rate cuts on the horizon, 2025 could be the year bonds deliver both the income you need and the growth you want. This year is not just about chasing returns, it’s about making thoughtful choices that give your money…

Key Takeaways In contrast to most financial advisors, Munger called wide diversification “protection against ignorance,” useful only when you don’t have conviction. Holding too many positions, he argued, can raise costs, blunt big winners, and still leave you exposed to market shocks.Munger advocated a balanced approach—owning a few great companies plus low-cost index funds—that can capture upside without unnecessary clutter.But he said “know-nothing” investors—which is most people—should rely on broad market index funds. Diversification is almost a sacred word when it comes to investing, but the late Charlie Munger—Warren Buffett’s longtime partner at Berkshire Hathaway—argued that some investors should avoid it…

Many Americans record their charitable contributions, mortgage interest, property taxes, and other expenses each year, hoping to clear the dollar threshold that will enable them to claim itemized deductions that are greater than the standard deductions. But don’t worry if you don’t cross that threshold. You can declare other deductions even if you don’t itemize. These deductions are called above-the-line deductions. Below, you’ll find some of the most common deductions that fall into this category along with some specialized ones. Key Takeaways Don’t itemize if the sum of your deductions doesn’t exceed the standard deduction.You can take above-the-line deductions even…

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are trusted traveler programs under the Department of Homeland Security and can help make your travel days more enjoyable. They’re similar programs, but have some key differences that can help you decide which one is right for you and your adventures.  TSA PreCheck offers expedited security screening benefits for domestic flights departing from U.S. airports, allowing travelers to keep their belts on and laptops packed at over 200 U.S. airports and with more than 90 participating airlines. The lines for TSA PreCheck are often shorter than standard security lines, which can make the difference between…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.US food industry groups are pushing for exemptions from Donald Trump’s tariffs, arguing that products from fish to cucumbers cannot be affordably grown at home. The advocacy comes as the US president hit dozens of trading partners with sweeping duties this month, driving the US’s effective tariff rate to its highest level in decades in a move that threatens to reorder global trade.Industry groups warn that the food sector is uniquely vulnerable to tariffs because some affected countries grow ingredients that will never…

Contributions to traditional and Roth 401(k)s are not tax-deductible. Your employer will have already lowered your taxable income by the amount of your contributions to a traditional 401(k), and Roth 401(k) contributions are made after you pay taxes. Key Takeaways Contributions to traditional 401(k)s or other qualified retirement plans are made with pre-tax dollars and aren’t included in your taxable income.If you have a Roth 401(k), contributions are made with post-tax dollars and cannot be deducted.Your employer will report your taxable income as part of your W-2; there is no need to track or manually deduct your 401(k) contribution from…

If you have a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), you must start withdrawing money from it by a certain age: the year that you turn 73. This rule is not negotiable and there is a hefty penalty of 25% of the sum you were supposed to withdraw if you don’t. Why? Because you haven’t paid income taxes on that money yet, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants its cut. The money you take out is then taxed at the ordinary income tax rate. Withdrawals can cause a problem because they can boost your annual income—sometimes into a higher tax…

You’ve probably heard that time can be on your side, and compounding interest makes that true if you’re saving and investing 30 years from retirement. Compound interest is paid on interest you’ve previously earned, and the more time you give your money to compound interest, the more you’ll have when you hit your target date. It’s not quite that simple, however, with several types of accounts to choose from and other issues you might want to consider. Key Takeaways A commonly accepted guideline is that you should have saved the equivalent of your yearly income by the age of 30.…

Image: Dubai Media Office The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), part of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), has launched a new service allowing visitors to obtain licences to operate pleasure marine vessels in the emirate, the authority said. The service is available to visitors holding licences issued by International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Europe, the US, and other internationally recognised countries. Alongside the initiative, the DMA released an updated manual governing crew licensing in Dubai, based on Administrative Resolution No (5) of 2024. The manual sets out conditions for obtaining licences…

Image credit: WAM The Ministry of Education in the UAE has firmly denied recent rumors circulating on social media about changes to the official school hours for public school students across all levels, including kindergarten. A statement clarified that the official timings remain unchanged: for kindergarten students, school hours are from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8:00 am to 11:45 am on Fridays. For students in other grades, hours are 7:15 am to 3:15 pm from Monday to Thursday, and 8:00 am to 11:45 am on Fridays, according to a post by UAE Barq. The clarification…