Skybound Wealth Launches Initiative with GEMS Education

Skybound Wealth is proud to announce a new initiative with GEMS Education, one of the world’s leading private education providers. This program gives GEMS parents exclusive access to Skybound’s financial wellbeing resources, workshops, and one-to-one advisory sessions - guiding families from immediate education costs to long-term retirement and legacy planning.

The Rising Cost of Education and Family Pressures

For expat families, financial planning often starts with education costs. School and university fees are rising faster than general inflation in many countries, with international school fees increasing by an average of 5% in 2023 alone, and nursery costs climbing even higher. In the UAE, the private education sector continues to expand rapidly, reflecting both rising demand and steadily increasing tuition.

Beyond the visible tuition fees, families must also budget for additional costs such as transport, uniforms, and extracurricular activities - all of which add up significantly over a child’s learning journey. For parents with two or more children, this commitment can stretch into hundreds of thousands of dollars over time, making education one of the largest lifetime expenses alongside property and retirement.

The Complex Financial Journey of Expat Families

Education is just the starting point. Families living abroad face overlapping financial challenges that are often more complex than those in a single-country setting:

• Relocation and mobility - careers can move families across borders, requiring structures that adapt to multiple jurisdictions.
  
• Cross-border tax exposure - changes in residency can trigger unexpected tax obligations on income, pensions, or investments.
  
• Retirement planning - unlike in some home countries, pensions and state-backed safety nets may not be available, leaving expats responsible for building their own futures.
  
• Wealth transfer - inheritance and guardianship rules differ by country, making wills and trusts essential for protecting assets and children’s futures.
  
• Financial literacy gaps - studies show that expatriates score significantly lower than average on personal finance knowledge, leaving many unprepared for big decisions.
  

Without proper guidance, these factors can result in fragmented planning, missed opportunities, and in some cases, severe financial strain.

Why We’ve Launched This Initiative with GEMS

By bringing financial wellbeing programs into the school community, Skybound and GEMS are helping families align education planning with broader financial security. Parents will have access to complimentary sessions, interactive workshops, and tailored guidance that cover:

• Education planning - forecasting and funding strategies for school and university fees.
  
• Family protection & insurance - income protection, health, and life cover suitable for expat needs.
  
• Retirement & pension reviews - strategies to ensure a sustainable lifestyle wherever parents choose to retire.
  
• Tax-efficient structures - reducing unnecessary exposure through internationally compliant planning.
  
• Estate planning - wills, trusts, and succession planning to secure legacies across borders.
  
• Investment management - building globally diversified portfolios for long-term growth and stability.
  

Dedicated Advisers for GEMS Parents

Three of Skybound’s leading advisers - Simon Athwal, Paul Butler, and Max Gerstein - have been appointed to work exclusively with GEMS families. With decades of combined experience in supporting international clients, they will deliver financial wellbeing sessions, one-to-one consultations, and ongoing advice tailored to the unique circumstances of expat life.

Skybound’s Capabilities

Founded more than 20 years ago, Skybound Wealth has grown into one of the world’s leading independent international wealth managers. With regulated businesses across the UK, Europe, Switzerland, the Middle East, and the US, Skybound provides families with:

• Cross-border expertise - helping clients navigate global mobility, tax regimes, and international investments.
  
• Comprehensive service suite - spanning education planning, retirement, tax, insurance, and estate structuring.
  
• Award-winning service - recognised for delivering institutional-grade solutions with a personal, client-first approach.
  
• Technology-enabled tools - including cashflow modelling and planning apps that simplify complex decisions.
  

Beyond Wealth: Coaching, Education, and Confidence

This initiative is about more than numbers. Just as GEMS prepares students for their academic future, Skybound aims to prepare parents to make confident financial decisions. Whether it’s building an emergency fund, creating passive income, or planning for the next chapter in life, our role is to coach, educate, and guide families towards clarity and control.

Mike Coady, CEO of Skybound Wealth, commented:

“Education is one of the biggest investments a family can make, but it’s only the beginning of their financial journey. By working with GEMS, we are ensuring parents have the clarity, structure, and confidence they need to protect and grow their family’s wealth across generations.”‍

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Setting a New Standard for Family Financial Wellbeing‍

This initiative reflects Skybound Wealth’s broader mission to engage with leading educational institutions worldwide, embedding financial wellbeing into the heart of family life. By combining the trusted reputation of GEMS with Skybound’s global capabilities, we are setting a new benchmark for how schools and financial advisers can work together.

For families, it means peace of mind - knowing that their children’s education is secure today, and their financial future is protected tomorrow.