She Left Karachi, Became a SVP at a London Bank — Then Told Me Why We're All Broke

British Pakistanis in the UK think that a good salary, a savings account, and buying a house at 5% deposit is the path to wealth. It isn't. In this episode, I sit down with Zarish — Senior Vice President at Citi Bank Canary Wharf, originally from Karachi — to break down what UK desis are actually getting wrong about money. Ever felt ‘too desi for here, too Western for there’? You’re not alone. Join me every week as we explore the messy, beautiful journey of living between cultures—whether you’re navigating generational gaps, rebuilding your identity abroad, or chasing dreams that clash with tradition. In this episode: 00:00 Podcast Highlights 02:34 How to Make Passive Income in the UK on a Small Budget 04:38 How to Start Investing with £5k 08:13 Best Apps for Investing (Trading 212 & Alternatives) 09:09 What Are the Different ISA Products? 12:39 Physical Gold vs Gold Stocks — Which Is Better? 15:25 Zarish's Investment Portfolio Breakdown 21:07 How to Get Out of Debt 26:35 Degree vs Skills — Does a Degree Still Matter in the Age of AI? 32:16 AI, Billionaires & the Future of Business 34:35 Renting vs Buying Property in the UK 42:46 Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Mortgage 51:09 Should You Buy Property at a 5% Interest Rate? 🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST Zarish is a Senior Vice President at Citi Bank, Canary Wharf. Born and raised in Karachi, she moved to the UK and built her career in one of the world's biggest banks. In this episode, she shares what she'd tell her own family about money in the UK. 📌 FOLLOW THE PODCAST Instagram: @ShahrukhAsifpodcast YouTube: @ShahrukhAsif 🔔 Subscribe for honest conversations about money, identity, faith, and life abroad — built for the South Asian diaspora. #BritishPakistani #UKInvesting #ISA #LifetimeISA #UKDesi #PersonalFinanceUK #Trading212 #ETF #UKMortgage #SouthAsianDiaspora #DesiMoney #CitiBank #CanaryWharf #PakistaniInUK #UKFinance