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In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Izidin El Kalak, associate professor of finance at Al Faisal University in Riyadh, for a deeply insightful conversation about money, academia, and global career mobility.

Izidin shares his non linear journey into academia, from growing up between Bulgaria and Syria, to working in Qatar to fund graduate school, to completing a PhD in the UK and eventually relocating to Saudi Arabia. Along the way, he reflects on how his relationship with money evolved from necessity, to stability, and ultimately to optionality and freedom.

The conversation explores practical money lessons learned early in life, including budgeting as a child, the missed opportunity of investing sooner, and the power of compounding. Izidin also offers candid insight into academic pay structures, the financial realities of the UK system post Brexit, and how compensation and benefits work differently in the Middle East.

The episode dives into important but often overlooked topics in academia, including salary negotiation, pension planning for expats, misconceptions around prestige and pay, and why moving to a seemingly lower ranked institution can actually be a smart financial decision.

Izidin closes by reflecting on why he would still choose academia even with unlimited financial security, emphasizing the value of research freedom, intellectual curiosity, and mentorship, along with a lighthearted discussion of recent purchases, including a VR headset win and the universal regret of buying slime.

This episode is a must listen for PhDs, academics, and anyone considering an international move or rethinking how money fits into a meaningful career.

If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.