Informed Choice Radio Personal Finance Podcast

Exploring Elevated Food for Life with James Ellis and Jason Shaw

In today's episode, we have two very special guests joining us, James Ellis and Jason Shaw, the founders of Elevated Food for Life. Elevated Food for Life is a groundbreaking platform that can be best described as the Netflix of healthy recipe sites. With over 200 mouthwatering recipes and an extensive library of video instructions, this platform is revolutionising the way we approach healthy cooking. James Ellis, a nutritionist, and Jason Shaw, a professional chef, joined forces to crea...

Goal-Setting, Budgeting, and Staying Motivated with Personal Finance Expert Allison Baggerly

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Allison Baggerly, the author of Money Made Easy and the founder of Inspired Budget. Allison is a former teacher turned money coach who has helped countless women break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and take control of their finances. During our conversation, Allison shared her personal story of how she and her husband paid off over $111,000 of debt on two teachers' salaries while raising their family. Her insights into goal-s...

The Secrets of Successful Matchmaking with Karen Mooney

In this episode, I’m speaking with Karen Mooney, the Founder and CEO of Sara Eden, the UK’s leading matchmaking agency. Karen started Sara Eden back in 1988 after hearing from too many friends about the difficulties they faced in finding a partner. Since then, she has been responsible for thousands of marriages and long-term relationships, becoming a trusted adviser to her clients along the way. In this episode, Karen shares her insights on the matchmaking industry, her clientele of su...

From Trauma to Triumph: Rachel Watkyn's Journey to Building a Sustainable Empire

Exploring the World of Fashion, with Countess Jennifer Walderdorff

Our guest today is Countess Jennifer Walderdorff, a fashion merchandising and retail expert, and the author of “Look at the Labels”. Jenn’s passion for fashion was instilled in her by her Nigerian parents and she’s always had a natural sense of style. After working part-time while studying, Jenn began her career in Fashion Retail Merchandise Planning, before starting her own successful company, Cheeky Poppins Shoe Clips. Jenn eventually left London for Italy to pursue her dreams in the...

The Truth about the Property Market, with Charlie Lamdin

In this episode, we’re joined by Charlie Lamdin, the founder of BestAgent.co.uk and a renowned economic and political commentator in the housing market. Charlie left a successful career in the city to become a tech founder, and he has a passion for uncovering the truth about how the property market functions. His dream is to end homelessness (something we discuss later in this episode), and he’s a straight-talking, eloquent, and forthright voice in the industry. In this episode, Charlie ...

Overcoming Financial Challenges, with Peter Komolafe

In today’s episode, we have a very special guest – Peter Komolafe, an author, and finance expert with a story that will inspire you to take charge of your finances. Peter is more than an expert in money; he has been through the ups and downs of financial instability, and his personal experience gives him a unique perspective on the subject. In this episode, we’ll learn more about his incredible journey and how he overcame financial challenges to become a successful executive in a Fortune...

A faster way to pay off your mortgage, with Jinesh Vohra

Would you like to repay your mortgage faster? For many homeowners, that's the dream, especially during this period of rising interest rates. But mortgage overpayments can be complicated, with terms and conditions to navigate and sometimes complex calculations to understand the best approach. My guest on the podcast today aims to simplify mortgage overpayments, with his app Sprive. Sprive is designed to create smart overpayments that chip away at your mortgage balance, reducing lifeti...

How to take every Friday off, with Dustin Serviss

What's the secret to taking every Friday off, so you can spend more time with your family and doing the things you love? My guest on the podcast today is Dustin Serviss, and he appears to have cracked the code for work/life balance! Dustin built a wildly successful businesses in the wealth and lifestyle design space. He's a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Investment Manager, and Certified Health Specialist. In this conversation, we chat about his secr...

Helping Adult Children, with Christine Thornley

The Bank of Mum and Dad is becoming a major casualty of the cost-of-living crisis, as parents are under growing strain to support their adult children. That’s according to new research from law firm Irwin Mitchell, which found 6 in 10 are currently financially supporting adult children, with more than a third saying they would not be able to make ends meet without this support. Joining me in this episode is Christine Thornley, Head of the Tax, Trusts and Estate team in the firm’s Manches...

Celebrating 10 years of auto-enrolment and workplace pensions: what’s next?

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the government’s auto-enrolment policy. Since its introduction in 2012, more than 10 million people have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme. But, with a cost of living crisis and challenging economic times ahead, what are employers and pension providers able to do to support continued saving? My guest today is Jason Green, Head of Research at Benefits Guru, an independent technical resource to support advisers and employe...

This GP learned about money – and now she’s a Money Coach!

What happened when a GP went on a mission to learn about money management? My guest today is Dr Nikki, aka The Female Money Doctor, a financial empowerment coach for women. As a Certified Money Coach, Nikki is helping women from all over the world to improve their mental health and well-being, through getting organised with their finances and building wealth for the future they truly deserve. Dr Nikki is also a GP with over 13 years of experience as an NHS doctor and women’s health spe...

Entering the Metaverse, with Marcel Stotzel (Fidelity European Trust)

Welcome to the Metaverse. You may have come across augmented reality before, but what happens when this cutting edge technology becomes an ordinary part of our daily lives? My guest on the podcast today is Marcel Stotzel, portfolio manager of the FTSE 250 listed Fidelity European Trust PLC. Marcel covers European Software and IT Services as an analyst, and we have a good conversation about investment opportunities in the emerging Metaverse space. Did you know that 10% of luxury sales...

Will Aid, the charity will writing scheme

With 60% of UK adults not having a valid Will in place, a charity campaign coming up later this year is more important than ever. Will Aid is a special partnership between the legal profession and nine of the UK’s best-loved charities. Together, they raise vital funds for these wonderful causes, while ensuring that people in the UK gain the reassurance of knowing they have a professionally written Will. I’m joined today by Lauren Smith, a solicitor at Taylor Bracewell, and supporter of...

Smart home energy technology, with Mark Harrison from dcbel

We need to get smarter about home energy consumption. With rising wholesale prices and concerns about the capacity of the National Grid, could your battery electric vehicle be part of the solution to a smart energy future? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Mark Harrison from dcbel, who are bringing to Europe their smart home energy technology. dcbel sits at the nexus of residential solar power, electric vehicle charging and prosumer-centric energy systems. Its AI-driven sustainable...

Embracing the energy transition, with Tom Holl from Blackrock Energy & Resources Income Trust

The world of energy is changing, with a dramatic shift towards sustainability. At the same time, the price of wholesale energy went through the roof as the economy returned to normal levels of activity post-pandemic. Joining me for this episode is Tom Holl, co-manager of the BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc and a member of BlackRock's Natural Resources team. Tom is responsible for the nutrition strategy, the gold and mining sectors, and co-manages a number of the team's ...

How to make life Easier, with Chris Westfall

How can we make our lives easier? My guest on the podcast today is Chris Westfall, a business coach, author and speaker. In his latest book, Chris writes about ways to make your work life work for you. Easier is the hold-your-handbook on coaching, leadership and resilience, offering insights on creating the future of work, finding connection and guidance, and finding ways to make everything in life easier. Chris Westfall is one of the most sought-after coaches and keynote speakers in ...

How to Succeed in the New World of Work, with Kerry Hannon

Anyone who began working 20 or 30 years ago has witnessed astonishing changes in the workplace during their career. When the global pandemic hit, older workers fortunate enough to retain their jobs once again had to navigate enormous upheaval, virtually overnight. Working from home, often in isolation, over-fifties found themselves facing daunting technological and social challenges. My guest on the podcast today is Kerry Hannon, author of In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New W...

How the Masters of Private Equity Always Win, with Sachin Khajuria

Private equity was once an investment niche. Today, the wealth controlled by its leading firms surpasses the GDP of some nations. My guest on the podcast today is Sachin Khajuria, author of the first true insider’s account of private equity, revealing what it takes to thrive among the world’s hungriest dealmakers. A former partner at Apollo, Sachin gives readers an unprecedented view inside this opaque global economic engine, which plays a vital role underpinning our retirement systems...

Should You Invest in Gold? (The Pros and Cons), with Adrian Ash

What part should gold play in your investment portfolio? My guest today is Adrian Ash, director of research at BullionVault, the world’s largest online marketplace for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Looking after £3 billion of precious metal for more than 100,000 customers, BullionVault offers private investors access to the whole bullion market with online trading, instant settlement, and low-cost storage in secure vaults. Winner in April 2022 of a third Queen’s Award for Enter...

Cascading your wealth, with Marlene Outrim

Do you want to live your life well and enjoy financial security while leaving a legacy for family members? My guest on today’s show is Marlene Outrim, author of Cascading Your Wealth, a comprehensive guide to putting your affairs in order and making the right choices now about how to pass on your wealth without compromising your current lifestyle. Marlene is a Certified Financial Planner, Fellow of the CISI, Chartered Wealth Manager and Chartered Financial Planner, as well as holding num...

How to reduce your energy bills and combat fuel poverty, with James Sommerville

Energy bills are soaring and many of us are wondering what, if anything, we can do to ease the burden. My guest today is James Sommerville, Head of Business Development at AgilityEco. AgilityEco is on mission to play a major role in eliminating fuel poverty, to deliver better outcomes for low income and vulnerable families and to prepare Britain’s homes for Net Zero. They have a vision for a warm, efficient and healthy home for everyone. By reducing energy bills through energy effici...

Money mindset, with Makala Green

The financial services profession is often accused of being male, pale and stale. Things are changing (for the better!) with greater diversity and a younger cohort becoming Financial Planners, bringing with them a valuable perspective and experiences. My guest on the podcast today is Makala Green, the first Black Female Chartered Financial Planner. Makala has an extraordinary track record of success, working her way up from a cashier position age 16. She has transformed lives and busin...

Critical Thinking Skills: How to Combat Fake News, with Helen Lee Bouygues

In this episode, we're talking about how to think critically about the news and information that you come across every day. With today's guest, Helen Lee Bouygues, we're chatting about something really important: critical thinking skills. It seems like more and more lately we're coming across fake news and information that's simply not true. It can be really hard to tell what's real and what's not, but with some simple techniques, you can start thinking critically about the news you di...

Managing an ‘all-weather’ global equity portfolio in 2022, with Matthew Tillett

How do you manage an ‘all-weather’ global equity portfolio in 2022? My guest on the podcast today is Matthew Tillett, Lead Portfolio Manager of The Brunner Investment Trust. The Brunner Investment Trust has been around since 1927, and invests in companies all over the world. The Trust favours large, well-financed businesses with global reach, pricing power and brand strength. Prior to joining AllianzGI, who run the Brunner Trust, Matthew worked at Datamonitor and the Office for Natio...

Life Lessons to Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity, and Happiness, with Keisha Blair

Imagine a life where you are financially savvy and independent, living with purpose and generosity while inspiring others. That’s what Holistic Wealth is all about. My guest on the podcast today is economist Keisha Blair, the bestselling author of Holistic Wealth: 32 Life Lessons To Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness. Keisha’s story started with tragedy, the sudden death of her husband in 2009. Her experience became a viral article for Thrive Global, “My Husband Died at ...

How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Tokens, with Matt Fortnow

I imagine you've heard of NFTs? Non-fungible tokens are the latest hot digital property, but what are they, how did they evolve, and why do they have value? My guest on the show today is Matt Fortnow, entertainment lawyer turned entrepreneur. Matt is co-author of The NFT Handbook: How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Tokens. He's become increasingly enamored by digital art and non-fungible tokens and has created the official NFTs for iconic brands such as The Three Stooges. Las...

How to Make More Money to Do More Good, with Derrick Kinney

Make more money. Change the world. Live the life you deserve. Sounds good, right? My guest for this episode of Informed Choice Radio is Derrick Kinney and he is all about changing how you feel about money. Derrick believes money is not bad and good people should have more of it. After applying these proven principles with thousands of clients, Kinney sold his multimillion-dollar business to teach these success steps to you. His new book is Good Money Revolution: How to Make More Mone...

Rising wholesale energy prices: what does it mean for your household?

Soaring wholesale energy prices are squeezing household budgets, with higher costs for gas and electricity bills this winter. Many smaller energy providers have gone bust, with more expected to fail in the coming months. In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Pratt, personal finance journalist and editor of Forbes Advisor UK, to discuss the drivers of these rising prices, what steps we can take to keep our bills manageable, and whether now is the right time to invest in renewable energy pr...

568 Your pension can fight climate change, with Sarah Pennells

Do you think of yourself as climate-conscious? With the COP26 climate change summit drawing to a close, I catch up with Sarah Pennells from Royal London to discuss responsible investing with your pension. Their new research found more than three-quarters of us claim to be climate-conscious, but more than two-thirds of pension savers are unaware their pension could be used in the fight against climate change. Pensions have the power to protect the future of the planet, but first we need...

567 Fun stories to teach kids about money, with Will Rainey

An ever-increasing number of young adults are living in debt, with minimal financial knowledge and without the skills to build long-term wealth. My guest on the podcast today wants to empower parents to teach their kids how to form life changing money habits. Through his work and new book, Will Rainey is teaching kids the basics of all money related topics that they will need to be financially secure when they become adults. Will is a qualified actuary and award-winning investment cons...

566 Disputed inheritance, with Samara Dutton

What happens when someone dies and their family disputes the terms of their will? My guest on the podcast today is Samara Dutton, a contentious probate litigator at Collyer Bristow. Samara is a key member the contentious trusts and probate team at Collyer Bristow. She specialises in all categories of trust disputes, acting for both trustees and beneficiaries in breach of trust claims, applications for removals and other disputed aspects of trust administration, including cross-jurisdicti...

565 Invest Your Way to Financial Freedom, with Robin Powell

Whatever financial freedom means to you – living the life you want, not working to someone else’s timetable, not worrying about money ever again, or some other dream – the way to get there is through investing. My guest on the podcast today is Robin Powell, co-author of Invest Your Way to Financial Freedom. Robin and his co-author Ben Carlson share in the book the path to financial freedom through sensible saving and straightforward investing. In our conversation today, we talk about t...

Fraud and asset recovery, with Tim Carter & James Lister

We know that scams are increasingly prevalent during the pandemic. With a growing number of people falling victim to Ponzi schemes, corporate fraud and other nasty scams, what action can you take if you lose money? My guests on the podcast today are Tim Carter and James Lister from Stevens & Bolton LLP. Tim advises on all aspects of restructuring and corporate and personal insolvency, including distressed business sales. His clients range from insolvency practitioners, corporates, stak...

Understanding the Trust Registration Service, with Adrian Moss

If you're a trustee, you need to know about the Trust Registration Service. My guest on the podcast today is Adrian Moss, Trusts and Tax Director at Penningtons Manches Cooper. Adrian manages the Penningtons Manches Cooper trust and personal tax administration team which provides an accurate, efficient and cost-effective accounting and tax compliance service to clients. The team is involved in over 500 active trust administrations and the preparation of over 150 personal tax returns. ...

Stopping financial sabotage before it stops you, with Catherine Morgan

The meaning we attach to money becomes the lens that we think, feel and behave with money. My guest on the podcast today is Catherine Morgan, an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and multi-award winning money coach. Catherine is host of the In Her Financial Shoes podcast which helps you to get in control of money, gain financial confidence, learn how to invest and save money. In our conversation today, we discuss the imprinting period in childhood that forms many of the emotions around mon...

Securing a second passport, with Brandon Miller

Do you ever dream about upping sticks and moving to a different country? Perhaps you have one eye on the future and want the security of a second passport, 'just in case' things go wrong in your home country. My guest on the podcast today is Brandon Miller, founder of Maple Immigration Services, a boutique immigration practice in Toronto, Canada. Brandon is author of Second Passport: Your guide to have a secure alternative home for you and your family, just in case... When he graduat...

Dealing with finances when getting divorced, with Charlotte Plowman

Getting divorced can be an expensive business. Where divorcing parties end up in court to settle their financial arrangements, those legal expenses can become substantial. My guest on the podcast today is Charlotte Plowman, an Associate Solicitor at Family Law Partners in Horsham. Charlotte has specialist expertise advising in all aspects of family breakdown and divorce, dissolution or separation, including the financial aspects and arrangements for children. She provides advice in ca...

Mindful Investing, with Jonathan Satovsky

My guest on the podcast today is Jonathan Satovsky, the CEO and Chief Behavioral Coach of Satovsky Asset Management. Jonathan provides leadership, coaching, advanced financial planning, and oversight across client relationships and business operations. Jonathan has spent more than 25 years in the wealth advisory business. He wears two hats in his company as both the CEO and the Chief Behavioral Officer. During our conversation today, Jonathan explains why controlling and fully understa...

Reignite your inner drive, with Sharath Jeevan

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions, at work or at home? It’s common to feel jaded and unhappy with the various organisations of which we are a part. Life doesn’t have to feel like this. My guest on the podcast today is Sharath Jeevan, Founder and Executive Chairman at Intrinsic Labs. Sharath is one of the world’s leading experts on how to practically re-ignite the inner-drive (or intrinsic motivation) in our lives. In his new book, Intrinsic: A manifesto to reig...

Strategies to Avoid Financial Regrets, with Sten Morgan

Anyone who has learned a financial lesson the hard way has probably thought, "I wish I knew that sooner". We've all got financial regrets, some big and some small. My guest on the podcast today wants people to have access to the right financial information at the right time, before they do the wrong thing. Sten Morgan is a Certified Financial Planner and founded Legacy Investment Planning as an alternative to traditional financial advisers. He's on a mission to bring creativity back ...

Crypto Wars, with Erica Stanford

Crypto is always in the headlines, with a growing number of people speculating on Bitcoin, Ethereum and other tokens. But, along with the rest of the financial industry, scams are rife. Thousands of people lost billions of dollars in the OneCoin scam, masterminded by the now infamous Missing Cryptoqueen, called 'one of the biggest scams in history'. How can you protect yourself from losing out? My guest on the podcast today is Erica Stanford, a crypto expert and educator. Erica is ...

Finding Funded Contentment, with Brian Portnoy & Neil Bage

What has the pandemic taught us about wealth and what my guests today refer to as 'funded contentment'? I'm delighted to welcome back to Informed Choice Radio two of my favourite people from the world of behavioural finance. Brian Portnoy is one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of money.   He has written multiple bestselling books, including The Geometry of Wealth, and has 20+ years of experience as investor and educator in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries.  He...

Lasting Powers of Attorney: Are you prepared to lose mental capacity?

The recent high-profile ITV documentary ‘Kate Garraway: Finding Derek’ highlighted the severe issue of losing mental capacity. This documentary is about Kate’s struggle to support her Husband Derek, in a year-long battle with Covid-19, has been only complicated by the lack of legal protections. Kate has been unable to manage her husband’s care or manage his finances. She did not even have the right to see his medical information. But what happens when you or a loved one loses mental ca...

Employee wellbeing as we return to the workplace, with Vicky Walker

Businesses in England could stimulate the economy by as much as £61 billion by 2025, if they proactively develop new wellbeing strategies and improve underperforming ones. With many employees thinking about a return to the workplace in the coming months, wellbeing will be front of mind during this critical transition. My guest on the podcast today is Vicky Walker, Head of People at Westfield Health. Vicky has more than 25 years’ experience in HR. She believes it is the role of HR to ac...

Why 4 in 10 women struggle with their financial wellbeing (Talking Money #20 from Informed Choice Radio)

4 in 10 women struggle with their financial wellbeing as a result of a focus on short-term finances. According to the latest Aegon Financial Wellbeing Index, women wait until later in life than men to determine what they truly want from their finances. In this episode of Talking Money, Martin and Hannah discuss why women's financial wellbeing is suffering because of a focus on short-term finances. They also look at the new rules being introduced by the FCA to stamp out the systematic s...

Passion, Persistence, and Financial Independence, with Dave Mason

My guest on the podcast today found himself deeply in debt, despite earning significant amounts of money in his career. He came to realise that what he didn't understand about money was really hurting him. It was the right time to get a strong financial education. Dave Mason is the author of The Cash Machine, a novel that charts the rollercoaster relationship of characters Amber and Dylan, teaching the reader hundreds of money lessons along the way. In our conversation today, we talk a...

UK's Decisive Decade (Talking Money #19 from Informed Choice Radio)

The absence of a renewed economic strategy in the UK risks creating a relative decline in the coming years. That's according to a new report from the Resolution Foundation, The UK's Decisive Decade. In this episode of Talking Money, Martin and Hannah discuss the five seismic changes to our society and economy that require a clear strategy to avoid disaster. Also in this episode, why the latest official payroll data looks good but hides some worrying numbers, and how one business is measu...

How to Work from Home and Actually Get Sh*t Done

The pandemic has forced a huge number of people to work from home. In some cases, this enforced change in our working practice has been a revelation; life became instantly better overnight, with distractions removed and hours each day saved in commuting time. For others, working from home is a living nightmare, and they can’t wait to get back to the office. My guest on the podcast today has written the book about working from home productively. Cynthia Spraggs is a nomadic traveller ...

Rental market: pandemic, economic uncertainty and shifting housing preferences (Talking Money #18 from Informed Choice Radio)

The post-pandemic rental market outlook is clouded by economic uncertainty and shifts in housing preferences. In this episode of Talking Money, Martin and Hannah discuss new figures showing a decline in the private rented sector, following almost two decades of rapid expansion. Also in this episode, why the new Breathing Space scheme for those in problem debt comes at the perfect time, and the jobs outlook for older workers as the furlough scheme comes to an end. Welcome to episode 18 of...