(This article will explain what you should expect from me, what I expect from clients and all FAQs. It will regularly be updated)
When I was a kid, I often heard the expression “there is no point in trying to put round pegs in square holes”.
It was only years later that I finally realised that there is no point trying to match with an unsuitable person in business.
Times have changed.
I have over a billion social media views and I am regularly featured on the media, including on CNBC and Forbes.
This means that I can now be quite selective about who I take on- take my eligibility quiz today.
In this section, I will deal with some frequently asked questions (FAQs).
I was born in the UK and Scotland and lived most of my life in England.
That was until I moved overseas over a decade ago. Most of my time overseas has been in Japan and China, although I have also spent time in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Therefore, I understand expat life’s ups and downs and financial priorities.
We currently have admin offices in various global locations, clients in 109 countries, and over thirty staff members, including freelancers and joint ventures (JVs).
My business works differently from most others in the financial services industry.
I have the largest social media traction in my industry globally, with over a billion views across channels such as Quora and YouTube. I am also regularly featured in the media, including a regular Forbes column and a recent CNBC appearance.
You can see the latest CNBC interview here: CNBC Interview 2023 full
As a result of this, I only accept clients who reach out to me, either via client introductions or by consuming my online content. Therefore I no longer do free introduction calls for people who are merely shopping around.
Ultimately, my model is based on the premise that you have all the information on hand to make an informed, transparent decision before reaching out to become my client.
This page contains all the information you will need to make that informed decision about whether to become my client.
The process is simple:
First, all potential new clients read this page to ensure that we are a good fit and you are eligible to apply
After doing that and applying, I will onboard you onto A-rated platforms (see more on question 21)
Then you will send the money to those A-rated platforms.
Once the money is on the platform, you have access to low, medium, and high risk assets. Investments will then be made according to your risk appetite and unique situation.
There is 24/7 online access.
Of course. We never sell your data to third parties.
In the early days, it tends to be very frequent, as things are new to people and often people ask questions.
Over time, I usually communicate with clients once a month via email or WhatsApp. Everybody also get invited to client events, such my event with Shark Tank/Dragon’s Den star Kevin O’Leary.
Everything in investing has some risk. We have low, medium, high and ultra-high risk solutions. It all depends on your needs and your tolerance for taking on risk.
It depends on your country of residence. Most can apply but a few can’t. For example, American residents (both expats and Americans living in the US) can’t apply for most services, even though I have partnered with an SEC-regulated firm for such cases.
I don’t.
From speaking to my clients, there are two main reasons people become my clients.
Either they have been introduced by an existing client, or they have found me from Quora, Google and other sources.
Many private equity, hedge funds and private banks charge 2% a year + 20% of profits and don’t give clients access to high-net-worth millions (like downside protection) unless the person is investing millions.
Most banks also offer an “off the peg solution”, which isn’t tailored to your needs, hold the money and make investment choices and/or only offer their own investment funds. The latter two can be conflicts of interest.
Many banks also close down closer accounts if you move overseas or at least stop you from adding new money.
The fees vary depend on the product and solution. From June 2025, the typical costs usually run from 0.5% to 2.5% a year, depending on the solution.
For people who want a consultation with me and aren’t looking to invest their money via our preferred partners, I charge at least $1,500, depending on the scope of the work.
This route is more appropriate for people looking for reviews of existing portfolios and advice on structuring, such as setting up trusts, bank accounts and foundations.
Other costs may apply.
No.
Most likely they will keep increasing due to rising demand.
Each solution is tailored to you and your risk appetite. Some clients are invested entirely in ETFs or fixed returns.
Others are invested in assets that most people can’t get access to directly unless they are multi-millionaires.
I have clients in more than 100 countries and 5 continents for a simple reason; I can be incredibly efficient online due to technology.
Clients come in all shapes and sizes; expats and locals and in different industries.
The majority of my clients are either expats, due to the cross-border nature of what I do, or locals who plan to become expats or want to avoid currency depreciation in their own countries.
The later point is pertinent for my clients based in Latin America, Africa and some parts of Asia.
Your investment is safe as i never hold money and other staff members can take over.
Yes, I do. My model gives the client access to platforms which don’t restrict you to one specific fund house.
We aren’t tax advisors and can’t foresee the future and how taxes will change. With specific product providers, we have partnered with some tax advisors who can help our clients with tax minimization – including inheritance tax planning.
In general, some people overthink tax, though.
This is because
The tax rules could change in your country of tax residency when you sell your investment, and you can’t always future-proof that.
Your country of tax residency might change in the future
In the vast majority of tax systems in the world, you are taxed when you make a gain and not when your account is going up
Neither you nor we can control what tax laws will be in the future . So, there is no point in worrying about something we can’t control. It makes sense to carefully consider how to withdraw tax efficiently at the end of the account once the laws are known.
Capital gains is a good problem to have. Paying capital gains or dividend taxes due to a significant gain is better than getting a smaller increase and paying little tax!
Most of our investment solutions are in 0% capital environments, which means neither we nor the investment provider charges you tax.
If you also live in a 0% capital gains environment (like in many Middle Eastern countries), or in a country which doesn’t tax international income or overseas capital gains, that usually means you don’t need to pay tax – but again we aren’t a tax advisory service.
With that being said, we do have strategic relationships with many tax advisors.
We are, therefore, sometimes able to pay for a few hours tax advice for new investment clients, depending on the nationality and location of the individual.
Those that don’t meet the eligibility criteria. To see that go to https://adamfayed.com/good-match-quiz/
We don’t do FX trading or specialize in Bitcoin investments. We do, however, have an option with one provider where you can fund your investment with cryptocurrency.
We don’t advise that gold should be a big part of your portfolio either.
On the lump sum accounts it is possible to buy Bitcoin ETFs and other cryptocurrencies, but buying is at your own risk.
I only have two clients in these ETFs. Both wanted it themselves, only hold a maximum of 5% of the portfolio in it and understand that it isn’t my advice to get into it.
If you want to fund your investments with crypto, and then sell out to buy into the diversified portfolios I recommend, then it is possible on the lump sum accounts only.
The biggest mistakes are usually:
1. Caring about irrelevant things.
For instance, in terms of investment platforms, we deal with some that are regulated as banking or investment platform companies and others that are insurers or offshore bonds (such as International Assurance, one of the many providers we use).
However, that makes no difference to the returns, as the same funds and ETFs are used. It is merely a regulation issue.
The vast majority of clients are put on A-rated platforms with little to no debt and are using the biggest third-party custodian banks in the world to hold client assets.
These custodians include BNY Mellon, the largest custodian bank in the world, with $43 trillion in assets under custody as of 2024, and JP Morgan, with $28.6 trillion.
It is pretty difficult for A-rated companies with no debt to go out of business, but even if they do, your money is sitting in segregated accounts with the largest custodian banks in the world.
What matters is my relationship with you and the underlying investment performance.
2. Reading too much into the third-party vehicles I suggest. The providers I suggest will naturally have some good and bad reviews.
That is because some advisory companies write negative and often outdated reviews on solutions for self-interested reasons.
Furthermore, the performance is down to the advisors who use the solution, so your millage will naturally vary.
Most of my client recommendations on LinkedIn are connected to the platforms I am suggesting, and most happy clients recommend the advisor and not the investment platform/solution, so it is a mistake to read too much into online reviews.
Ultimately, I am the driver of the vehicle. A good driver can get you from A to B in a Bentley or the cheapest car on the road.
Accidents are usually caused by the driver, and not the machine.
So, negative online reviews for solutions are usually the result of bad drivers (bad advisors) or have just been written for self-interested reasons.
Each investment opportunity is tailored to the individual investor once your account is funded, so I can’t give out whole portfolios here.
However, we do have access to almost any regulated investment fund and ETF.
I can also give investors access to professional funds, which are usually reserved for ultra-high-net-worth investors.
Most funds and ETFs follow a UCITS structure – a European regulated structure. This is considered the gold standard of fund regulation, and can be bought on most platforms even if they are domiciled outside the EU.
Yes.
No. There’s a lot of free guidance I put out there for people who don’t have the money to become my client.
Yes, the CII for financial planning and insurance. You can search here.
Yes.
In reality, few people ask such questions these days. We are in a digital world and living through a pandemic.
The answer is no. I don’t have the time considering my clients live in over 100 countries. I do, however, occasionally meet existing clients when I happen to be where they are.
For example, my interview with Tom in Germany was done in Germany on a face-to-face basis, but he was my client for months, and we never planned to meet.
A few are afraid about what happens if something happens to my health, and other unlikely events that we can’t always control like markets and future tax rates, as I explain on the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ7eX5IKsSI
The information provided on this page alleviates most people’s concerns.
This website is not designed for American resident readers, or for people from any country where buying investments or distributing such information is illegal. This website is not a solicitation to invest, nor tax, legal, financial or investment advice. We only deal with investors who are expats or high-net-worth/self-certified individuals, on a non-solicitation basis. Not for the retail market.
This website is maintained for personal branding purposes and is intended solely to share the personal views, experiences, as well as personal and professional journey of Adam Fayed.
Personal Capacity
All views, opinions, statements, insights, or declarations expressed on this website are made by Adam Fayed in a strictly personal capacity. They do not represent, reflect, or imply any official position, opinion, or endorsement of any organization, employer, client, or institution with which Adam Fayed is or has been affiliated. Nothing on this website should be construed as being made on behalf of, or with the authorization of, any such entity.
Endorsements, Affiliations or Service Offerings
Certain pages of this website may contain general information that could assist you in determining whether you might be eligible to engage the professional services of Adam Fayed or of any entity in which Adam Fayed is employed, holds a position (including as director, officer, employee or consultant), has a shareholding or financial interest, or with which Adam Fayed is otherwise professionally affiliated. However, any such services—whether offered by Adam Fayed in a professional capacity or by any affiliated entity—will be provided entirely separately from this website and will be subject to distinct terms, conditions, and formal engagement processes. Nothing on this website constitutes an offer to provide professional services, nor should it be interpreted as forming a client relationship of any kind. Any reference to third parties, services, or products does not imply endorsement or partnership unless explicitly stated.
*Many of these assets are being managed by entities where Adam Fayed has personal shareholdings but whereby he is not providing personal advice.
I confirm that I don’t currently reside in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Cuba or any heavily-sanctioned countries.
If you live in the UK, please confirm that you meet one of the following conditions:
1. High-net-worth
I make this statement so that I can receive promotional communications which are exempt
from the restriction on promotion of non-readily realisable securities.
The exemption relates to certified high net worth investors and I declare that I qualify as such because at least one of the following applies to me:
I had, throughout the financial year immediately preceding the date below, an annual income
to the value of £100,000 or more. Annual income for these purposes does not include money
withdrawn from my pension savings (except where the withdrawals are used directly for
income in retirement).
I held, throughout the financial year immediately preceding the date below, net assets to the
value of £250,000 or more. Net assets for these purposes do not include the property which is my primary residence or any money raised through a loan secured on that property. Or any rights of mine under a qualifying contract or insurance within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) order 2001;
termination of my service or on my death or retirement and to which I am (or my
dependents are), or may be entitled.
2. Self certified investor
I declare that I am a self-certified sophisticated investor for the purposes of the
restriction on promotion of non-readily realisable securities. I understand that this
means:
i. I can receive promotional communications made by a person who is authorised by
the Financial Conduct Authority which relate to investment activity in non-readily
realisable securities;
ii. The investments to which the promotions will relate may expose me to a significant
risk of losing all of the property invested.
I am a self-certified sophisticated investor because at least one of the following applies:
a. I am a member of a network or syndicate of business angels and have been so for
at least the last six months prior to the date below;
b. I have made more than one investment in an unlisted company in the two years
prior to the date below;
c. I am working, or have worked in the two years prior to the date below, in a
professional capacity in the private equity sector, or in the provision of finance for
small and medium enterprises;
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