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

A candid conversation with financial advisor Faisal Sheikh on the challenges the Muslim community faces, from its 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 & Trailer

03:06 - Investing in property is haram?! BTL, land taxes and the muslim economy

09:24 – Sharia funds landscape; shariah compliance, pensions and small/mid-cap basics

12:12 – “Outperformance” myth of Islamic funds (US tech overweight) + risks

15:00 - Assessment of Islamic funds on the market today

19:19 – Dija Money: goals-first, empowering Muslim women

23:35 - Boycotting companies and its challenges

27:17 – Crypto: speculation vs real utility (Islamic lens)

34:01 – Practical steps: emergency buffers, limited options, risk

36:24 - Childhood experiences and traumas with money

39:05 - Scarcity vs abundance mindsets, teaching children financial literacy

44:35 - Dija money’s future and individual stock picking

47:58 - Do rich Muslims use Islamic Finance?

52:29 - Should non-Muslims run Islamic Banks?

60:20 – Parting advice: buffers, education, and when to seek advice