some bad results and change of aproach [United Arab Emirates]

[cantstaystill]

Hi guys!

Country of residence: United Arab Emirates
Nationality: European Union country (non-euro zone)
Personal situation: Looking to retire and move back to Europe in the next few years (5-10 max), living with my partner, no kids
Financial situation:

• real estate assets in Europe worth around EUR400k

• USD115k invested with a wealth management company in UAE, managed on Ardan platform

• ~EUR200k in the bank account

• my income is linked to the USD and is around USD8k per month

• I live below my means and save around 50% of my income

Desired asset allocation: 50% stocks / 50% bonds

The bad results I mention in the title refer to the investment with the wealth management company.
Since Oct 2021 it is down by 4% (recovering, as it was as low as -30%). It's been painful

The questions:
1. Should I go all in with the 200k from the bank account?
2. What's the best platform to use as a European? I'm currently leaning towards Trading212 or Interactive Brokers but don't really have a good criteria to evaluate
3. Do I leave my current investment in Ardan or do I merge everything?
4. Portfolio suggestions?

Thank you all!
B

[monkeytoad]

The questions:
1. Should I go all in with the 200k from the bank account?
2. What's the best platform to use as a European? I'm currently leaning towards Trading212 or Interactive Brokers but don't really have a good criteria to evaluate
3. Do I leave my current investment in Ardan or do I merge everything?
4. Portfolio suggestions?

1. Keep six months of expenses for emergency before anything. Also plan for expenses (e.g., moving expenses in your case). Besides that, I would say yes.
2. Happy with IBKR personally.
3. Get rid of it.
4. There are mainly two decisions: how much bonds vs. stocks. Within stocks, how much US vs. exUS. It's not really complicated, just be consistent with what you choose. As a European, you could just buy SSAC ACWI (all country world index), and that would take of the stock part (both US and not).

[whodidntante]

"Wealth management" sounds like a bank or another sales organization. The investments probably generate profits for whoever sold them to you, leaving very little for you.

Investing isn't difficult. It's better to learn and invest for yourself. This would still be true if you had 10 million.

[cantstaystill]

Thank you both! will come back with more specific portfolio questions once I read more.
B.