Dollars and Dirhams

About Dollars and Dirhams

The Dollars and Dirhams Podcast by Continental is where global citizens, expats, and entrepreneurs turn conversations into strategies. From wealth creation to legacy planning, our experts cut through the noise to bring you sharp, real-world insights on building, preserving, and enjoying wealth across borders and beyond trends. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or charting your first financial plan, tune in for candid discussions that help you stay one step ahead.

Publisher

cfsgroup

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 May 2025

Latest episode

16 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Visibility Is the Currency of Trust | Patrick Samaha

   Have you ever trusted anyone invisible? Patrick Samaha, founder of Eleveight and author of It Makes Zero Sense, joins Anselm Mendes to talk about the thing that comes before every money conversation: trust. Patrick started in advertising in 1997 and spent years growing media brands across the region before he began helping founders and leaders build a public voice. In this episode, he explains why visibility is the currency that opens trust, why a referral is the unicorn of trust, why consistency is built like Lego, and what a new adviser should be known for before anyone knows what they sell.

2. 

   22 Jul 2026

   The Insurance Expert Who Became His Own Cautionary Tale | Dollars & Dirhams

   At 33, Rickson Dsouza applied for more life insurance on his own life. The underwriter rated him up so heavily that the policy was built to expire at 67. The message between the lines was hard to miss. They did not expect him to live much longer. That was his rock bottom. Rickson was 138kg, working six and seven-day workweeks, and had just lost his father at 59 to uncontrolled diabetes. This episode of Dollars & Dirhams is the full story of what he did next. Host Anselm Mendes sits down with Rickson Dsouza, life insurance specialist at Continental, USA Today bestselling author of Take Control, and a two-time finisher of the Marathon des Sables, the 250km ultramarathon across the Sahara. They get into the health turnaround from 138kg to 75kg, why he prefers blend over balance, how he rebuilt his business after a hostile takeover, what a right-fit client really looks like, the truth about the three-day workweek, using AI as a thought partner, and the hero moment every advisor remembers, showing up with a check when a family needs it most. Whether you advise clients for a living or you are simply rethinking how you work, there is a lot here.

3. 

   22 Jul 2026

   Panos Leledakis on AI and the Future of Advice | Dollars & Dirhams

   AI will not replace financial advisors. Advisors who ignore it will. Panos Leledakis, founder of IFA Academy, joins Anselm Mendes to talk about AI, human behaviour, and where advice is heading. Panos has spent more than 25 years rethinking what an advisor does. In this conversation, he explains why the brain freezes under fear, why most insurance arguments fail, and how AI can help an advisor earn trust instead of pushing harder. He also shares the 2003 story that set him on this path, and the practical tools he uses every day.

4. 

   12 Mar 2026

   Why Market Concentration Is Shifting and What Comes Next | Benjamin Jones, Invesco ​

   Dollars & Dirhams, Episode 25 Sumeet Gill sits down with Invesco’s Global Head of Research for a conversation that moves from gold and precious metals to US equity concentration, Middle East diversification, AI in investment research, and what a sensible 10-year portfolio looks like right now. No forecasting theatre. No soft answers. Just a clear-eyed read on where the evidence points. Guest: Benjamin Jones, Global Head of Research | InvescoHost: Sumeet Gill, Vice President, Investments | Continental WHAT WE COVER 🔹Gold and precious metals in 2025: why reserve managers are building positions, what the shift away from US Treasuries actually means, and where Benjamin Jones sees gold, silver, and copper prices heading into 2026 🔹US equity concentration: the top ten S&P 500 names, slowing earnings growth in AI, and why valuation is starting to matter again after years on the sidelines 🔹The case for looking outside the US: UK, Europe, parts of Asia, and the Middle East as regions where the growth-to-valuation ratio is more compelling today 🔹Private equity, alternatives, and the breakdown of traditional correlations between asset classes 🔹AI in investment research: where it genuinely helps, where it produces convincing nonsense, and why critical thinking is still the edge a good analyst has 🔹Building a 10-year portfolio today: valuation tilt, defence spending exposure, inflation-resilient assets, and the value of having skin in the game NOTES AND DISCLAIMERThis episode is a general discussion for informational purposes only. Nothing shared here constitutes financial advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Investment outcomes vary by individual circumstances, jurisdiction, and market conditions. Regulatory and underwriting conditions differ across regions. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

5. 

   13 Feb 2026

   Inside Manulife Global HNW, The GCC Shift and the Future of Underwriting

   Dollars & Dirhams, Episode 23The GCC is becoming a base for high-net-worth wealth, and insurance is evolving with it. In this episode, Abhishek Datta (Vice President, Continental) speaks with Mark Bensman (Chief Distribution Officer, Manulife Global High Net Worth) about what is changing in how high-net-worth families think, plan, and execute. We cover 🔹Why the GCC is now a major growth engine for high-net-worth planning 🔹What it takes to place large cover at the top end 🔹How AI is changing underwriting, and the buying experience Notes This episode is for general discussion and educational purposes. It is not financial advice. Product availability and terms vary by jurisdiction and underwriting.

6. 

   14 May 2025

   How to Make Your Money Work for You

   Kevin Sebastian discusses smart investments and dispels money myths with Adnan Raj in this interview, offering listeners strategies to improve their financial standing.

7. 

   14 May 2025

   Breaking Stereotypes with Meeta Gupta

   Meeta Gupta, Founder & CEO of Moolah Literacy, discusses with Sumeet Gill, VP of Investments at Continental, how women can overcome cultural barriers and confidently take charge of their finances in this interview.

8. 

   14 May 2025

   The Battle She Didn’t See Coming And the Choices That Saved More Than Her Life

   Deliane shares her unexpected battle with breast cancer, highlighting the critical choices that protected her health, family, finances, and future in this interview episode.

9. 

   14 May 2025

   How Early Financial Planning Pays Off

   Founder of Continental Group Ashok Sardana recounts his journey building a business in Dubai, sharing early struggles and the values that shaped his success in an interview with Andrew Cole.

10. 

    14 May 2025

    UAE Corporate Tax Simplified

    Aunali Jaffer Merchant simplifies UAE corporate tax, exploring its purpose, exemptions, and implications for various organizations in this interview episode.

11. 

    14 May 2025

    The Future of Work

    Sara Maria Boueri discusses strategies for cultivating employee happiness and engagement within hybrid work models, highlighting the importance of corporate culture and benefits in retaining talent; this is an interview.

12. 

    14 May 2025

    The Real Cost of Being an Influencer

    Saher I. Mansoor, an Instagram influencer, explores the realities of being an influencer, including brand relationships and financial planning, in an interview on the long-term viability of the profession.

13. 

    14 May 2025

    How to talk to your teens and kids about money

    Host Anselm Mendes interviews Marilyn Pinto, founder of KFI Global, about common parental mistakes in teaching financial literacy to kids and teens, emphasizing early responsible habits.

14. 

    14 May 2025

    Retire on your term, not just at 65

    Ashok Sardana and Anselm Mendes discuss retirement planning, exploring strategies to mitigate risks related to health, income, and long-term care in this interview.

15. 

    14 May 2025

    Building Your Financial Endurance with Rickson Dsouza

    Financial advisor Rickson Dsouza discusses how the principles of endurance training apply to long-term wealth management, emphasizing the importance of discipline and perseverance in achieving financial goals in this interview.

16. 

    14 May 2025

    Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$

    Financial advisor Amrita Sethi discusses the importance of financial planning for women, addressing limiting beliefs and offering tailored advice for individuals at any stage of life in this interview episode.

17. 

    14 May 2025

    Whose money is it anyway? Unclaimed wealth and what you can do about it

    Financial advisor Aadil Kadri explains the importance of keeping accurate financial records to ensure your wealth benefits your loved ones in this interview.

18. 

    14 May 2025

    What the NFT?! "WTNFT?!"

    Host Anselm Mendes interviews Amrita Sethi, the UAE's first NFT artist, who illuminates the revolutionary potential of NFT art and shares her journey into this emerging market.

19. 

    14 May 2025

    Be Smart About Your Money Post-pandemic

    Financial advisor Abhishek Datta discusses the pandemic's impact on financial plans, offering insights on cryptocurrency and debt-free living in an interview.

Who has been a guest on Dollars and Dirhams

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Adnan Raj
• Meeta Gupta
• Deliane
• Ashok Sardana
• Aunali Jaffer Merchant

Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

56

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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