Muslim Money Talk

How The 40% Inheritance Tax Is Destroying Muslim Families (And How to Manage It) | MMT EP 60 - Ruzwan Boota

This episode of Muslim Money Talk dives into the dangers of poor succession planning, inheritance disputes, and the looming inheritance tax crisis for Muslim families and business owners in the UK. Guest expert Ruzwan Boota shares real-life case studies, explains Sharia-compliant wills, and highlights urgent steps families must take to protect wealth, avoid riba, and preserve unity. This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/ And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/ Show Notes:  00:00 - Opening  02:42 – Introduction of guest Roswan Bhuta, his background in tax advisory 04:16 – Stories from advising footballers on wealth protection 05:56 – Transition to iWills and focus on Muslim tax advisory 07:34 – Muslim wealth, poverty stats, and proactive tax planning 09:05 – Case study: business owner who delayed planning and left chaos 13:04 – Family disputes, Sharia vs. non-Sharia inheritance splits 16:49 – Sharia-compliant wills: rules, shares, and misconceptions20:33 – Examples of siblings inheriting in absence of sons 21:29 – Using trusts to protect irresponsible heirs 22:24 – Process for drafting wills quickly and affordably 25:53 – Kestrel fintech interlude (ad segment) 26:14 – Inheritance tax thresholds, reliefs, and new 2026 law 31:43 – Financial burden on families and rise of riba loans 32:52 – Urgent planning window before April 2026 34:17 – Shaitan’s influence in family disputes over wealth 34:53 – Implications for startups and co-founders 37:24 – Passing on debt and the dangers of delaying Sharia compliance 39:32 – Client story: widow deciding to clear riba mortgages 43:17 – Fees, transparency, and honest tax advice 45:49 – Step-by-step approach: wills, trusts, and family conversations 48:22 – Trust structures to protect immature beneficiaries 49:53 – Importance of proactive planning, not waiting for death 50:24 – Muslims and generational wealth building 51:16 – Practical takeaway: seek specialist tax advice, take action now

The Swedish Revert: Discovering Islam & Islamic Finance | MMT Ep 59 - Pontus Selander

In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, Pontus Selander shares his journey from atheist stockbroker-in-training in Sweden to embracing Islam and becoming a leader in Islamic finance with Saturna Capital. He and host Areeb Siddiqui dive into halal investing, ESG, the challenges of Islamic wealth management, and how Muslims can start investing responsibly, even with small amounts. This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/ And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/ Show Notes: 00:00 - Opening  06:20 – Pontus’ upbringing in Sweden, father’s death, early reflections on God. 13:00 – University debates with Muslim friends, prejudice, and first real exposure to Islam. 18:00 – Journey to Shahada, struggles with prayer and alcohol, finding meaning. 27:00 – Family and community reactions, first Eid experience, challenges as a revert. 32:30 – Career in finance, haram investments, dua for change, move into renewables. 39:00 – Marriage, leaving lucrative but haram opportunities, focus on halal income. 50:00 – Challenges in Islamic investing: lack of diversity, Sukuk, BDS concerns. 59:00 – Active vs passive investing, Saturna’s approach to screening & ESG. 10:06:00 – Growth of Islamic investing in UK & Sweden, importance of education. 01:10:00 – Future of Saturna & Kestrel, advice for Muslim fintech and investors.

Money Myths Muslim Financial Advisor: Property, Pensions, Bitcoin & More! | MMT Ep 58 - Faisal Sheikh

A candid conversation with financial advisor Faisal Sheikh challenges the Muslim community’s obsession with buy-to-let property and the recent outperformance narrative of Sharia funds, urging a shift toward backing real, productive businesses. The episode also wrestles with crypto’s value (or lack thereof) in Islamic ethics, practical portfolio constraints for everyday Muslims, and building financial literacy—especially for Muslim women. This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/ And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/ Show Notes:  00:00 - Opening  09:25 – Sharia funds landscape; small/mid-cap basics 12:30 – “Outperformance” myth (US tech overweight) + risks 19:19 – Deejah Money: goals-first, empowering Muslim women 27:17 – Crypto: speculation vs real utility (Islamic lens) 34:01 – Practical steps: emergency buffers, limited options, risk 36:35 – Personal story: scarcity mindset, decisions, teaching kids 60:20 – Parting advice: buffers, education, and when to seek advice

Mortgage Expert: A New Framework for Islamic FINANCE | Ep 57 - Sheikh Salman Hassan

The episode follows Sheikh Salman Hassan’s personal shift from a transactional view of Islam and Islamic finance to a theology-first ethic of reflecting Allah’s attributes in life and business, prioritising real societal benefit over box-ticking legality. He urges collaboration across the industry—even pragmatically working within conventional frameworks when necessary—to tackle poverty and widen access to finance, while sharing candid stories about mentorship, ego, and spiritual transformation. This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/ And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/ Show Notes:  00:00 - Opening  05:03 — Spiritual crisis: knowledge without purification 09:52 — From transactional deeds to ma‘rifah (reflecting Divine attributes) 15:44 — Debt ethics via sabr/halim; theology-first approach to finance 34:41 — Collaboration over competition; “rizq is written” 49:32 — What’s missing in today’s Islamic finance 56:46 — Prioritizing poverty & access; serve all society 01:06:33 — Advice to fintechs: do everything with ihsan (even tidy bathrooms!) 01:09:05 — Start with istighfar; the “empty pipe” ego metaphor 01:12:52 — Boundaries; jamali vs jalali mercy/strength; Ali (r.a.) anecdote 01:16:17 — Being mentored by someone younger; humility lessons 01:17:19 — Dream of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani; signs of guidance 01:20:18 — “Sacred Compass” talk aligns; offer to mentor; wrap-up

What It’s REALLY Like Being Muslim in Hollywood (Disney/Pixar Insider) | MMT Ep 56 - Nabil Kazi

In this episode, Nabil Kazi shares his journey from working at Disney and Pixar to paving the way for Muslims in Hollywood, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities of representation in entertainment. Alongside his career insights, he reflects on personal experiences, global travels, and how storytelling can reshape narratives about Muslims worldwide. This podcast is hosted by Areeb Siddiqui, the founder and CEO of Kestrl, the app that helps people to grow their wealth without compromise Find out more about our app here: https://kestrl.io/ And how we help banks here: https://business.kestrl.io/ Show Notes:  00:00 – Early days at Disney, challenges of openly being Muslim in Hollywood. 00:34 – Toy Story, Pixar collaboration, and creative branding work. 01:08 – Introduction of guest Nabil Kazi and his Hollywood background. 02:11 – Marathons, Ironmans, and athletic pursuits. 04:42 – World travel goal: visiting all 197 countries, inspired by his late father. 06:36 – Highlights and misconceptions about Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Afghanistan. 12:23 – Growing up near Disneyland, passion for entertainment. 13:48 – Breaking into Pixar and the Toy Story franchise. 20:00 – Marketing, branding, and franchise-building strategies at Disney. 29:35 – Stories about working with celebrities like Tom Hanks and Miley Cyrus. 32:07 – Being Muslim in Hollywood: challenges, perceptions, and representation. 38:53 – Rise of Muslim creatives: Riz Ahmed, Rami Youssef, Moe, and others. 46:19 – Advice on authentic Muslim storytelling without labelling. 50:25 – New Muslim-led studios and changing confidence in Hollywood. 56:06 – Advice for aspiring Muslim filmmakers and writers. 58:21 – Streaming vs theatrical release, marketing strategies, and building franchises. 1:07:03 – Inspiring more Muslims to enter entertainment.