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AJ Bell Money & Markets

Bringing you the latest personal finance and stock market insights

AJ Bell

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Danni Hewson rounds up the week’s market news, including updates on Tesla and Alphabet, and Martin Gamble asks Russ Mould whether we should be worried that the AI bubble is set to follow the path of the dotcom boom and bust.
Charlene Young and Sarah Coles examine the growing political debate around social care reform and the options for paying for care. They discuss AJ Bell’s campaign for a Pensions Tax Lock to protect against the dangers of Budget speculation. They also delve into new data, including details of the gender tax gap, the latest twist in the dash for Cash ISAs, how holidays dominate our savings priorities, and an unexpected new shopping trend.
 
[00:00] Bank of England interest rates decision
[01:18] Intro
[02:42] Tesla results
[04:39] Alphabet Update
[07:14] Market jitters
[08:07] News on SK Hynix and CXMT
[09:15] Apple valuation
[12:36] World Cup boost for Unilever and Coca Cola
[18:01] Interview: the AI bubble vs the dotcom boom and bust
[41:51] Social care reform and planning for care costs
[46:27] Call for a Pension Tax Lock to protect against Budget speculation
[51:55] The narrowing of the gender tax gap
[56:58] Bank of England savings figures
[59:37] Holiday savings habits and financial priorities
[01:03:09] Feta fatigue and reverse comfort eating
 

Is the AI bubble a re-run of the dotcom boom and bust?

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth assess how Andy Burnham’s first few days as UK Prime Minister have been received by markets.
They consider what the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor means for defence spending, and the row about how a VAT cut on domestic energy bills will be paid for.
There’s been some good news on inflation for the new government but it’s likely to be short lived, and there’s pressure to cut employers’ National Insurance for under 25s.
Rachel Vahey tackles the popular question: once you retire, do you dip into your ISA or pension first?
Danni and Dan discuss why is Primark cutting prices ahead of being spun out of its parent company.
James Flintoft, AJ Bell’s head of investment solutions, joins Dan to discuss the broader state of markets as the oil price climbs back above $90 dollars a barrel.
 
Timestamps:
Market reaction to Andy Burnham’s first few days as PM [02:16]
Will the new Chancellor prioritise defence spending? [08:26}
Lots of speculation about this year’s Budget [15:37]
The latest on inflation [19:24]
Rachel on dipping into an ISA or pension first [28:59]
Why Primark is slashing prices [45:35]
Takeovers galore [52:35]
James talks to Dan about markets, oil prices and more [55:50]

Retired? Here’s whether to spend your ISA or pension first

This week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest developments in global markets, from oil price volatility and the Strait of Hormuz to US inflation, bank earnings and what it all means for interest rates. They also assess Rachel Reeves' latest Mansion House speech and the outlook for UK economic growth.
Tom Sieber joins the show for a busy week of company news, with easyJet, Marks & Spencer, TikTok Shop, IBM, Barratt Redrow, PageGroup, Hays all making headlines.
Plus, Charlene explores the fastest fall in mortgage rates for almost two years, reveals what the latest HMRC figures tell us about Britain's growing tax burden, and looks at where holidaymakers will get the most value from their spending money this summer.
 
Topics covered
[00:08] Introduction & market roundup
[02:09] Strait of Hormuz, oil prices and global trade
[10:41] US inflation, bank earnings and interest rates
[13:41] Rachel Reeves' Mansion House speech
[15:50] easyJet update
[17:23] Marks & Spencer and TikTok Shop
[23:14] Buy Now, Pay Later regulation changes
[25:26] Shares magazine highlights with Tom Sieber
[27:33] IBM results and tech spending trends
[30:07] PayPal takeover approach
[32:28] Barratt Redrow update and shareholder returns
[35:23] Recruitment sector outlook: PageGroup & Hays
[38:01] Paramount-Warner Bros deal challenges
[40:10] Mortgage rates fall sharply
[42:00] HMRC tax data and fiscal drag
[46:43] Holiday spending money: where the pound goes furthest

Tolls to Trade: Trump flips on 20% toll tax

Have you ever held Premium Bonds for years without winning a prize?
You're not alone. In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young reveal fascinating insights into Premium Bonds and explain what millions of holders who have never won a prize could have earned elsewhere.
They discuss the eye-watering increase in probate costs, a report branding student loans as ‘mis-sold’, and what Terry Smith’s latest shareholder letter could mean for investors in the Fundsmith Equity Fund.
In the markets section, we cover Sky’s move for parts of ITV, the latest twist in EasyJet’s takeover story, and some intriguing developments at SpaceX. Dan also discusses the market sell-off as Donald Trump says the US/Iran peace deal is over.
Finally, AJ Bell investment experts Ryan Hughes and James Flintoft join Hannah Williford for a lively debate on artificial intelligence, its investment potential, and whether the hype is justified.
0:00 Introduction
2:05 Premium Bonds: what millions of savers may be missing
5:19 Probate costs set for a dramatic rise
12:06 Student loans branded 'mis-sold'
18:11 Is Terry Smith reinventing Fundsmith Equity fund?
24:39 World Cup fever and the UK economy
26:34 Sky buys parts of ITV
30:06 EasyJet takeover speculation
31:59 Market sell-off as peace deal falls apart
33:45 This is what brokers are saying about SpaceX 36:20 AI investing debate

Premium Bonds odds are stacked against you

In this monthly special of the AJ Bell Investment Trust Show, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford discuss some positive progress for the industry, while Eve Maddock-Jones and Martin Gamble explore a few cases of trust that are trading on a premium.
Then, Dan speaks to HG Capital to discuss how the private equity trust is investing in the AI boom, followed by Hannah, who speaks with Rob Lloyd from JPM Asia Growth and Income on their approach to the AI sector, and what’s being overlooked.
Finally, Dan gets the scoop on annual general meetings, and what investors might get out of them, with Temple Bar Investment Trust’s Charles Cade.
[00:00] Introduction
[01:29] Dan and Hannah speak about narrowing discounts in the investment trust industry
[07:50] Eve and Martin discuss a group of trusts trusts trading on a premium
[16:22] Dan interviews HG Capital on investing in AI in the private equity space
[31:58] Hannah interviews JPM Asia Growth and Income on if AI can continue to grow returns in Asia, and what’s happened to India
[50:55]]Dan speaks to Charles Cade from Temple Bar about what investors can get out of annual general meetings
[1:00:50]Outro

Investment Trust Show: Are the tides changing in favour of investment trusts?

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Sarah Coles discuss the dash for cash ISAs ahead of allowance changes, what Andy Burnham could mean for your money, the financial side of marriage amid rumours around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, why July matters for the self-employed, and JISA performance data. Meanwhile, 16-year old Tilly joins them to share her perspective on what should be done about lost Child Trust Funds.
Dan Coatsworth rounds up the week’s market news, including updates on Associated British Foods, Sainsbury’s and gold, and speaks to Paul Niven from F&C Investment Trust about what recent market movements mean for investors.
 
[00:09] Intro
[01:29] Associated British Foods results
[02:48] Sainsburys Update
[03:54] Gold loses its shine
[05:03] Interview Paul Niven, manager of the F&C Investment Trust
[12:43] What Andy Burnham’s approach means for your money
[19:52] The dash for cash ISAs continues
[24:02] July deadline for self-employed
[27:12] Taylor Swift and the benefits of marriage
[35:06] Tooth Fairy inflation
[38:13] Junior ISA performance
[42:14] Lost child trust funds

Taylor Swift and the financial benefits of marriage

Political turmoil is shaking the UK as the nation awaits a new prime minister. Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth break down what an Andy Burnham victory could mean for markets, your investments and your money – plus the potential next Chancellor.
We also cover falling oil prices, tech stock volatility, SpaceX’s wild IPO ride, and big moves from takeover target EasyJet.
In personal finance, Rachel Vahey explains major tax-related changes to ISAs and plans for a new First Time Buyer ISA, while Ruffer’s Ian Rees joins us to debate whether the classic 60/40 portfolio still works.
Burnham PM? Markets, chancellor contenders & your money [0:01:36]
Oil plunges as US–Iran talks progress [0:12:31]
Tech stocks hit – should you worry? [0:15:43]
SpaceX IPO chaos: shares swing wildly [0:20:33]
EasyJet rejects takeover bid [0:25:31]
Cash ISA changes explained [0:30:46]
New ISA for first-time buyers? [0:35:05]
Is 60/40 dead? Ruffer's Ian Rees weighs in [0:38:08]
Heatwave winners and losers: who is in the frame? [0:55:08]

The tax grab: Is your cash at risk?

In this month's special deep dive podcast, Tom Seiber and Hannah Williford explore how to invest around the world, and where there may be some hidden opportunities. They discuss the pros and cons of active and tracker funds for global exposure. Plus, Hannah speaks to AJ Bell's Paul Angell on what he prioritises when choosing active managers for different regions. 
Martin Gamble joins the duo to reveal his research on how different regions stack up on valuations, and Tom shares where AJ Bell investors are looking most frequently. Finally, Eve Maddock-Jones speaks to John Citron on the challenges and benefits of investing in emerging markets.
Timestamps:
[00:09] Introduction: Tom Sieber and Hannah Williford introduce the episode and explain why overseas investing matters for UK investors. 
[01:43] Global trackers, ETFs and active funds: how UK investors can access overseas markets, compare costs and indices, and understand how managers pick global stocks. 
[12:50] Interview with Paul Angell: the pros and cons of using fund managers who are based in the regions where they invest. 
[25:45] Comparing global markets with Martin Gamble: how different regions stack up on valuations, dividends and the types of companies that dominate each market. 
[31:32] Buying overseas shares directly: market opening hours, dealing access, minimum trade sizes and practical issues for UK investors. 
[39:15] Interview with John Citron: the challenges of managing an emerging markets portfolio across lots of different countries. 
[51:20] Final takeaways: Tom and Hannah recap the key lessons from the episode and wrap up the podcast. 

Deep Dive #10 What UK investors must know before investing overseas

In this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest developments in the Middle East and what they mean for markets, oil prices and your everyday finances. They also dive into fresh UK inflation figures and what they could mean for interest rates in the second half of 2026.
Danni takes a closer look at the blockbuster SpaceX IPO and why investors are piling in, Charlene runs through some eye-catching ‘trillionaire maths’ and reflects on 10 years since the Brexit vote. There’s a warning for motorists over the cost of spreading car insurance payments and Danni sits down with JP Morgan to find out what’s happening on the ground in Korea and other emerging markets. Plus, we bring you a teaser of a special series of video chats with Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square.
 
[00:08] Intro
[01:26] Middle East impact on markets and oil
[06:30] UK inflation update and interest rate expectations
[16:42] Pizza Hut sale
[22:04] SpaceX IPO review
[36:07] Bill Ackman
[37:57] Brexit vote – 10 years on
[42:34] Which? warning on car insurance
[45:28] Interview – Emily Whiting, investment specialist at JP Morgan

SpaceX IPO as it happened

In this week's episode, Tom Sieber and Charlene Young digest the latest market developments from both sides of the Atlantic, with the company behind ChatGPT unveiling IPO plans, GSK unveiling its biggest deal in a decade and a UK market stalwart getting snapped up. Plus, as the World Cup gets underway, Tom discusses the winners off the pitch.
Charlene talks us through changes to inheritance rules which could affect cohabiting couples and the things people should think about when passing on wealth to family and dependents. Tom reveals what readers of the latest free monthly Shares magazine can expect including the next phase of the AI story and how Netflix is looking to grow after missing out on acquiring Warner Bros.
Finally, Charlene discusses plans to broaden access to mortgages in the UK and what they might mean for the property market and Tom and Charlene discuss some interesting new stats on pocket money.
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Markets: ChatGPT IPO, GSK's biggest deal in a decade & a UK takeover
16:19 Inheritance rules: cohabiting couples & passing on wealth
22:30 Shares magazine: AI's next phase & Netflix's growth plans
26:17 UK mortgage access & pocket money stats

ChatGPT goes public: what the OpenAI IPO means for investors

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young is joined by new co-host Sarah Coles alongside Tom Sieber to unpack a busy week across markets, tech and personal finance. With geopolitical tensions continuing to weigh on sentiment, the team looks at whether investors are stuck in a holding pattern or if there are more subtle shifts happening beneath the surface.
There’s also a deep dive into the latest surge in AI excitement, from a major potential Anthropic IPO to huge fundraising moves by Google parent Alphabet, with takeover chatter in sectors like aviation and renewables.
The new Retirement Living Standards are out, showing how inflation is upping the cost of even a modest lifestyle in retirement. Sarah and Charlene also talk about fresh savings and lending data from the Bank of England, and what’s really happening in the UK housing market. The episode concludes with Dan Coatsworth sitting down with Richard Jeffery, executive chair of Reading based firm ActiveOps to find out how AI is central to what they do.
In this episode:

Market update: geopolitics, oil and investor sentiment [01:46]
AI boom: Anthropic IPO and Alphabet’s $80bn raise [04:06]
Company news: EasyJet, Drax and defensive stocks that have disappointed [09:15]
Retirement Living Standards: how much you really need [13:56]
Savings & borrowing: latest Bank of England data [29:29]
Housing market outlook and mortgage trends [31:46]
Interview: Richard Jeffery, executive chair of ActiveOps [38:25]


The £800,000 cost of a decent retirement

This month, the Investment Trust Show focuses in on what makes trusts so unique: from gearing to boards. Hannah Williford and Dan Coatsworth discuss the pros and cons before seeing how they measure up against their sister funds through the numbers. Nick Britton from the Association of Investment Companies joins to explain where the differences emerge.
AJ Bell’s Tom Sieber also steps in to interview Utilico Emerging Markets chair Mark Bridgeman to understand what role a board is really playing. Then, two funds investing in private equity, Seraphim Space Investment Trust and ICG, discuss where opportunity lies off the market, and how Seraphim has grown its share price by over 300% in a year.


00:00 Introduction: What makes investment trusts unique
04:30 What does a trust board actually do? (Tom Sieber & Mark Bridgeman)
19:00 Investment trusts vs funds: Who wins? (Nick Britton, AIC)
33:20 Private equity explained: Inside ICG Enterprise Trust (ICG Colm Walsh)
47:45 Space & defence boom: Seraphim Investment Trust (Mark Bogget)
01:06:45 Outro & key takeaways

Investment Trust Show: How trusts stack up against fund siblings

Less than a year after joining as BP Chairman Albert Manifold has been removed from the company. What does it mean for BP’s turnaround plans is the question that kicks off this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast and Danni Hewson and Tom Sieber assess how investors reacted to the news [02:18]. Concerns over Middle East peace talks has seen choppy trade in oil and the price of energy has been in the spotlight as the UK’s new price cap was announced [07:30]. Temperatures might have soared over the late May bank holiday, but B&Q says a late start to spring dented sales and weak consumer spend also took a chunk out of Pets at Home’s full year profits [13:45] plus Ferrari’s first EV has provoked some extreme reaction on social media [23:28]. On the personal finance front, Rachel Vahey is back with another pensions corner, this time chatting about a worrying report from the Pensions Commission which found 15 million people are under saving for retirement [27:15] plus former PM Rishi Sunak’s warned that 4 in 10 Brits lack basic financial literacy with calls for more education to help people make smart financial choices [38:08]. And our guest interview this week is with Andrew Lapping, chief investment officer at Ranmore Fund Management; he’s spoken to Dan about why he’s still a fan of Greggs [44:33].

More turmoil for BP as new chairman is ousted

Cyber shocks, political ripples and pop-powered spending – it’s another packed week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. Charlene Young and Danni Hewson break down the latest inflation and jobs data, before turning to bond market jitters as political drama heats up.
There’s pressure building for businesses too, as Ryanair flags rising fuel costs, and Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover lay bare the growing financial toll of cyber attacks. We also dive into the forces reshaping what was formerly the UK high street, with more big banking brands on brink of disappearing completely, and unpack what a potential mansion tax could mean for homeowners.
Plus, two insightful interviews: one exploring how supply chains are becoming a major investment theme, and another on the critical mineral antimony as surging demand drives the reopening of an Australian mine. And to finish, we move from hard economics to headline acts, and look at how Harry Styles’ Wembley run could generate over £1bn in spending, proving the experience economy is alive and well.
[00:00] Introduction
[01:46] Inflation & jobs – what the latest data tells us
[09:35] Gilts, politics & the Makerfield by-election ripple effect
[12:10] Ryanair warns on rising oil prices [
15:26] M&S & JLR – counting the cost of cyber attacks
[21:39] Interview: Supply chains with Jamie Mills O’Brien (Aberdeen)
[34:13] Bank brands that are set to disappear – Halifax rumours & TSB confirmed changes
[36:39] Mansion tax consultation – what’s on the table
[40:44] The £1.1bn Harry Styles effect
[45:07] Interview: Antimony & critical minerals with Ron Heeks (Larvotto Resources)
[54:13] Closing thoughts

The £131m cost of the M&S cyber attack

In this Deep Dive episode, Tom Sieber and Danni Hewson take a closer look at income investing. Experts from AJ Bell and Jupiter Asset Management join the podcast to discuss common dividend mistakes investors make, the power of compounding and dividend reinvestment, getting income from Asia and how to generate cash through property, infrastructure, and bonds.

00:08 – Introduction: Tom Sieber and Danni Hewson introduce the episode and the evolving world of income.
02:10 – Why people invest for income and the power of compounding.
06:50 – Dividend basics: Tom Sieber explains some of the key points every investor should understand.
09:40 – Danni Hewson looks at share buybacks vs dividends and current UK trends.
17:56 – Tom Sieber then frames the debate around dividend yield vs dividend growth and why you might look for the latter over the former.
23:39 – AJ Bell head of markets Dan Coatsworth joins to talk about common dividend investing mistakes.
30:57 – AJ Bell fund and investment trust writer Eve Maddock-Jones delves into the world of income funds and trusts and the advantages of diversification.
34:45 – Tom talks to Jupiter Asian Income fund manager about why he thinks the region can be a fruitful source of income and growth.
48:34 – Tom explains how you can also derive income from the financial markets through property funds, infrastructure, and bonds.
55:33 – Tom talks to Paul Angell about the role of bonds in an income portfolio.
01:11:36– Tom and Danni wrap up with the key takeaways from the episode including what they’ve learned about income investing.

Deep Dive #9: Why everyone should care about investment income

Join Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young in the latest edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. This week, we delve into the impact of politics on financial markets, focusing on UK government bond yields and the concept of 'bond vigilantes'.
Charlene discusses why age 28 is a critical financial year for women, leading to significant pension disparities. We also explore a new report highlighting the risk of pension poverty for 12.2 million UK adults and what can be done to mitigate this issue.
Special guest Sarah Willingham, former Dragon's Den judge and now CEO of bars group Nightcap, shares her insights on the challenges facing the hospitality sector. Plus, we revisit some of the success stories from Dragon's Den.
Dan also talks to Joe Winkley from Winterflood Securities about why retail investors are starting to have greater opportunities to support company growth plans.
Tune in for a comprehensive look at these pressing financial topics and more. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest episodes.


0:09 – Impact of politics on financial markets and the power of ‘bond vigilantes’
12:06 – Greggs goes to Tenerife
14:35 – Age 28: Financial crunch year for women
24:10 – Risk of pension poverty for 12.2 million UK adults
28:23 – Interview with Sarah Willingham from Nightcap
50:59 – Business winners and losers from Dragon’s Den TV show
54:12 – Tom Sieber on the new issue of Shares magazine
56:25 – Opportunities for retail investors to support company fundraisings



The scary link between politics, oil and your bills

Geopolitics is back in the driving seat for markets as Middle East tensions shake energy prices, government borrowing costs climb and investors revisit whether ‘quality’ shares are due a comeback. We cover the latest updates from Next, Novo Nordisk, HSBC and Diageo, and we speak to Hugh Yarrow of Evenlode Income on why sticking with quality businesses can pay off. Plus on the personal finance side: why cash ISA deposits keep rising, and the everyday luxuries people refuse to give up.
 
Timestamps:
[01:19] Geopolitics and markets: Iran/Middle East developments 
[03:44] Government borrowing costs: what’s driving yields higher 
[06:29] Next’s latest results
[09:56] Novo Nordisk and weight-loss drugs 
[11:50] HSBC’s profits fall 
[13:17] Diageo’s World Cup boost 
[17:27] Interview: Hugh Yarrow (Evenlode Income) on investing in quality companies 
[33:08] Fuel watch: the impact of oil-market tensions 
[36:57] Cash ISAs soar in popularity
[44:23] Cost-of-living: the ‘luxuries’ people won’t give up

Cash ISAs are booming: why savers are piling in

In this episode of the investment trust show, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford explore the trusts offering generous income to investors, the state of US markets and the changes happening to the renewable infrastructure sector. Plus, AJ Bell’s own Eve Maddock-Jones joins for a chat on what you need to know if your trust is winding up.  
[01:24] Hannah and Eve talk about the latest news in trust windups, and what investors need to be prepared for if theirs is on the chopping block. 
[10:03] Dan speaks to Felise Agranoff from JP Morgan American Trust about the sentiment surrounding the US in the midst of the US-Iran War.  
[24:51] Jeremiah Buckley from North American Income Trust joins Hannah for a second US perspective, and talks about why getting dividends from US companies is an underrated approach for investors.  
[38:11] Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler talks to Dan about finding income in unexpected areas of the market, and why investors are needing to get creative with where they look. 
[54:19] FGEN’s Charlie Wright rounds off the pod speaking about the state of the renewable energy infrastructure sector, where many trusts are rotating away from their dividend-paying roots.  

Investment Trust Show: Finding income in unexpected places

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, the Bank of England’s latest rate decision, Big Tech updates from Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet, and what the UAE’s exit from OPEC could mean for oil prices as Brent crude climbs.
Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss BP’s bumper first‑quarter profits and Shell’s $16bn bid for Arc Resources, weak underlying UK retail sales, and the collapse of Claire’s Accessories. Dan also explores why several UK-listed companies have recently fallen into administration.
Dan talks to Morningstar’s Grant Slade about mounting political uncertainty ahead of the 7 May local elections and what a change in prime minister could mean for the economy and financial markets. The pod team also debate whether buy‑to‑let still makes sense under the new Renters’ Rights Act.
This week’s big interview features investing heavyweight Cathie Wood from Ark Invest who shares her 2026 outlook, including why she’s buying Tesla, selling AMD and remains relaxed about OpenAI’s latest setback.
00:00 Bank of England interest rate decision
 
00:50 Big Tech earnings: Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet
 
03:03 Oil prices rise as UAE exits OPEC
 
09:18 BP Q1 profits and Shell’s Arc Resources bid
 
16:58 UK retail sales slowdown and Claire’s collapse
 
21:04 Why UK‑listed companies are entering administration
 
24:02 Grant Slade on local elections, politics and market uncertainty
 
38:53 Buy‑to‑let and the new Renters’ Rights Act
 
43:16 Cathie Wood on Tesla, AMD and OpenAI
 

Cathie Wood: How to invest for 2026

Charlene Young and Dan Coatsworth bring you this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast. Rising UK inflation kicks things off and they’ll also discuss the latest market movements as the middle east conflict continues. Dan digs into plans spin off Primark from Associated British Foods and what it could mean for shareholders and Charlene covers another uncoupling announcement – this time how the government wants to break the link between gas price shock and British energy bills.
Apple has named a new CEO as Tim Cook moves up to executive Chairman, TikTok has moved into payments. Is this new debit card venture actually smart innovation?
Dan speaks to Bloomberg Intelligence consumer analyst Conroy Gaynor about jet fuel shortages, the impact of the Middle East crisis on airlines, and what it means for investors as we head into peak travel season.
Finally, with the government launching a new campaign to encourage first‑time investors, Charlene and Dan explore how people can take those initial steps into investing and why funds are often a sensible starting point. To round this off we bring you a conversation between Danni Hewson and AJ Bell’s James Flintoft on how the AJ Bell funds have been performing.
[00:09] Intro
[01:05] UK Inflation rises to 3.3%
[07:26] Primark IPO
[14:11] Government energy price announcement 
[17:17] New CEO for Apple
[21:30] Tiktok debit card
[26:18] Interview: How the conflict is affecting on airlines, travellers and investors. Dan Coatsworth talks to Conroy Gaynor from Bloomberg Insights
[40:10] New investing campaign
[52:22] Interview: Danni Hewson gets the AJ Bell funds latest from James Flintoft

How can we help more people to invest?

Join Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young on the AJ Bell Money & Markets Show to get smart investing insight, business news and practical takeaways – all in one episode.
The pair cover a stark IMF warning on the global economy, what the latest market moves mean for investors, and how professional fund managers are positioning their money right now.
There’s company news from BP and Vistry, a look at why house flipping is falling out of favour, and a reality check on whether playing the lottery could be holding back your long‑term wealth.
With the new tax year underway, Charlene explains Bed & ISA in plain English. She also chats with Dan about why Greggs, Domino’s and Asda are making eyebrow‑raising moves – plus rumours of Lidl entering the UK mobile phone market.
That leads into Amazon’s latest play combining phones and space, why there is confusion about the state pension confusion, and a warning about rising scam risks.
Intro – 00:00:09
IMF warning, peace talks & global market overview – 00:02:58
What fund managers are thinking about – 00:09:48
Updates on BP and Vistry – 00:12:25
The demise of house flipping – 00:16:28
Lottery players: what if you spent that money investing instead? – 00:19:16
How Bed & ISA works – 00:23:58
Why Greggs, Domino’s & Asda are making different moves – 00:28:13
Lidl phone deal on the way? – 00:34:29
Amazon vs SpaceX: phones, satellites & the space economy – 00:36:09
Shares magazine preview with Tom Sieber – 00:37:32
Millions still confused about the state pension – 00:39:27
Pension scam warning as fuel payment recovery begins – 00:43:43
 

Greggs, Domino’s Pizza & Asda: Why they’re pivoting

In this Deep Dive episode, Tom Selby and Tom Sieber explore what retirement really looks like in 2026 — from phased retirement and flexible working, to drawdown, annuities, tax changes and the risks that could derail your plans. They also hear from a financial adviser on managing money in retirement, and from AJ Bell’s very own Rachel Vahey on inheritance tax and what the latest changes could mean for families.
02:24 Tom Selby and Tom Sieber discuss how retirement is changing, why it no longer has to mean stopping work completely, and what earning part-time or freelance income could mean for your pension planning.
06:34 They break down the main ways to access your pension, including drawdown and annuities, and ask whether the best approach for many retirees might be a mix of both.
10:33 The pair look at the key retirement dates and milestones people need to know, including changes to the Normal Minimum Pension Age and how the State Pension fits into the wider retirement income picture.

18:10 The two Toms examine some of the biggest threats to retirement finances, including longevity risk, sequence risk, inflation and the danger of drawing too much too soon.
24:25 Tom Selby speaks to Rick Gosling, a financial adviser at Five Wealth, about how retirees can manage their money sustainably and avoid common financial pitfalls later in life.
46:42 Tom Sieber catches up with Rachel Vahey, AJ Bell’s head of public policy, to discuss what the inheritance tax changes could mean in practice — and what people can do if they think they may be affected.
01:08:19 Both Toms wrap up with the big takeaways from the episode, including the importance of flexibility, planning ahead and making your retirement savings work for the long term.

Deep Dive #8: Making your pension last and navigating inheritance tax changes

Markets have rebounded sharply after news of a ceasefire involving Iran – but what does it really mean for investors and household finances?
In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets, Dan Coatsworth is joined by Danni Hewson to break down the market reaction, what’s driving sentiment, and the key things investors still need to keep in mind.
We also cover:
Major company news, including an update to car finance compensation claims and disappointing updates from Shell
Eye‑opening statistics from the electric vehicle market
A proposed takeover of Universal Music – and why it’s more important than it first appears
Changes to student loans and what they mean for borrowers
Fresh developments in the housing market
New rules making it easier to cancel subscriptions
The pros and cons of investing at the start versus the end of the tax year
Plus, we continue our series highlighting lesser‑known UK companies making a global impact, with Tom Sieber speaking to Craneware CEO Keith Neilson about healthcare innovation in the US.
00:00 – Intro
01:47 – Markets rebound after Iran ceasefire: what happened and why
16:14 – Shell shares fall: what went wrong?
20:00 – Why the car finance scandal has led to one lender being put up for sale
23:39 – Electric vehicle market: the key stats investors should know
26:09 – Universal Music takeover: why this deal matters
30:15 – Student loans update: what borrowers need to know
33:36 – Why the UK housing market is in a slumber
35:28 – Good news for cancelling subscriptions
38:33 – Investing at the start vs end of the tax year
41:05 – UK success story: we talk to the boss of Craneware

Markets rally after Iran ceasefire – What it means for your money

In this special edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford dive into the big movers and big debates across the investment trust world.
They consider why Temple Bar continues to outperform, what’s holding back JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, and the latest activist pressure from Saba targeting Edinburgh Worldwide and Impax.
Hannah speaks to Job Curtis from City of London Investment Trust about how today’s geopolitical tensions echo past market cycles. Dan and Hannah also explore why renewable energy trusts are still on the scrap heap.
We also hear from Eve Maddock‑Jones on the good, bad and ugly of trusts courting retail investors through modern media — with mixed results. Finally, Tom Sieber talks to two managers spotting tentative recovery signs in the smaller companies sector, with insights from Nish Patel (Global Smaller Companies) and George Cooke (Montanaro European Smaller Companies).
 
02:03 –Dan on why Temple Bar is still beating the market
05:20 – JPMorgan Global Growth & Income lags behind
09:20 – Activist investor Saba launches new investment fund and the latest on its efforts to shake up Edinburgh Worldwide & Impax Environmental Markets
15:13– Hannah talks to Job Curtis: Market lessons from past geopolitical shocks
30:51 – Eve Maddock‑Jones on how trusts are (mis)using modern media
48:34 – Small-cap recovery? Tom Sieber speaks to Nish Patel
57:39 – European opportunities with George Cooke

Investment Trust Show: Meet two standout performers

Welcome to the latest episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast with Charlene Young and Tom Sieber.

The Iran conflict continues to drive oil price and market swings; we’ll bring you the latest impact on investors and consumers. Charlene runs through why there is more to the latest UK inflation figures than meets the eye and how high food prices might go.
Tom has the latest from the corporate world – with updated from B&Q owner Kingfisher and Revolut, as well as the rumours that Estee Lauder is to merge with a big name in the beauty and fashion world. The latest CBI survey from UK retailers also features.
To finish on a high, Dan Coatsworth brings us a fascinating chat with Premier Foods’ Chief Financial Officer Duncan Leggett. With 89% of households purchasing at least one of their famous brands in the last 12 months, this is an interview not to miss.
 
[00:16] – What’s on today’s episode
[00:58] – Iran conflict – Tom updates us on oil prices & market volatility
[04:06] – UK government response & potential energy support measures
[06:15] – Charlene looks at the latest UK inflation data – calm before the storm?
[08:28] – Food price warnings and household impact
[11:50] – Tom brings us company updates from Kingfisher & Revolut
[15:58] – Beauty sector merger rumours
[18:53] – CBI UK retail data: how bad is it?
[22:14] – Dan sits down with Premier Foods CFO Duncan Leggett.

Deal or no deal? Conflict drives oil volatility and UK inflation

Welcome to the latest episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast with Dan Coatsworth and Charlene Young. 
This week we dive into everything from the surprising new additions to the UK inflation basket (yes… hummus and dashcams!) to the impact of rising oil prices on carmakers and travel firms. We also look at fast changing mortgage deals, the rush to use key tax year end allowances, and what could happen next with interest rates in the UK, US and beyond. 
We’re also joined by a fantastic guest: Jonathan Guthrie, longtime Financial Times journalist, former Head of Lex, and now author – who shares brilliant insights on investing narratives, market crashes, and how investors can stay sane when markets wobble. 
If you care about money, investing or markets – this one’s packed with value. 
00:25 – What’s on today’s episode: Market narratives, inflation surprises, oil prices, mortgages, tax year end, and this week’s special guest. 
01:26 – Dan looks at how financial markets have performed over the past week 
03:30 – Changes to interest rate expectations and mortgage pricing – and what it means if you’re in the process of buying a home. 
09:40 – Company highlights of the week. Good news from Diploma, Softcat and Moonpig. 
13:02 – Charlene on this year’s inflation basket update. Why hummus and dashcams are in – and what’s out. 
17:15 – Thinking about holiday plans or a car upgrade? How rising oil is impacting carmakers and the travel industry. 
22:41 – Tax year end: last minute wins. There is still time to use valuable allowances. 
28:13 – Dan talks to award-winning journalist Jonathan Guthrie about investing and market behaviour 

Oil shock: the impact on your money, mortgage and next holiday

Markets have been rocky, energy prices are moving, and the tax year end is approaching fast. In this week’s Money & Markets podcast, we break down the latest market news, what’s happening in the Middle East and energy markets, and why ISA season could be more important than ever for investors. 
We also look at Persimmon’s results and why Domino’s might offer a rare bright spot, plus practical tips on staying calm when markets are volatile. And with the tax year deadline approaching, we answer your most common ISA questions – from lump sum investing to flexible ISAs and avoiding last-minute mistakes. 
You’ll also hear where ISA millionaires are investing right now, and a quickfire round of ISA myths vs facts to help you make smarter decisions before the deadline. 
If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe.  
 
01:22 Middle East tensions & energy market moves 
06:51 Persimmon results - UK housebuilders update  
09:22 Domino’s results – volumes fall on tough conditions 
12:02 Inside the latest issue of Shares magazine 
14:38 How investors can stay calm in volatile markets 
20:26 Personal finance implications of market turbulence 
23:40 Dividend tax changes from 6 April explained 
25:44 ISA millionaires – where they’re investing now 
31:35 ISA Q&A: your questions answered 
41:54 What’s coming up next week 

How ISA millionaires are investing their money

Global markets are sliding — and this week’s selloff is shaking everything from oil and gas to bonds and gold. Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson break down what’s driving the volatility, how past geopolitical conflicts have affected stock markets, and what it all means for investors, portfolios, and your money right now. 
We also unpack Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, including the key wins, the potential risks, and what the new OBR forecasts could mean for your personal finances, UK economy outlook, and interest rates. 
In company news, Greggs surprises the market despite falling profits, TG Jones (the new name in front of old WH Smith stores) struggles on the high street, and BrewDog investors face a harsh lesson in why crowdfunding is not the same as stock market investing. 
There’s also an important update on wills you’ll want to know about — plus two expert interviews exploring the biggest trend in global markets: AI investing. 
Orbis’ Simon Skinner discusses US sectors with an AI tailwind, while Brown Advisory’s Colby Stilson explains why major tech names are issuing bonds to fund massive AI infrastructure projects. 
A huge week, big market moves, and crucial insights for anyone following investment markets, financial news, and longterm investing. 
If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe. 
 
Timestamps 
[02:16] – Market sell-off: What’s moving shares, oil, gas & bonds 
[02:43] – Middle East tensions: How markets behaved in past conflicts 
[15:39] – Spring Statement: What Rachel Reeves’ update means for your money 
[19:11] – Greggs results reaction 
[24:11] – TG Jones struggles on the high street 
[27:54] – BrewDog takeover and the risks of crowdfunding 
[32:17] – Free Will Month explained 
[34:50] – AI interview 1: US sectors with an AI tailwind (Simon Skinner, Orbis) 
[48:40] – AI interview 2: Why big tech is issuing bonds (Colby Stilson, Brown Advisory) 
[01:00:48] – Closing & next week’s ISA special 

The Big Sell-Off Explained: How to Protect Your Money

Join Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford in a new bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts. They break down the latest trends in investment trust discounts, and which names are looking cheaper or more expensive. 
Dan speaks with Martin Connaghan of Murray International to discuss the investing debate around sin stocks, ethical investing, and whether morals come into fund manager portfolio decisions. 
Hannah interviews Nicola Takada Wood, managing director, Japan at Asset Value Investors about Japan’s recent election and the outlook for investing in the country. 
Finally, Dan chats with Stephen Anness from Invesco Global Equity Income Trust about the prospects for dividend growth and why he's looking in less obvious places for income. 

00:00 — Introduction: What’s coming up 
01:23 — What investment trust discounts are, why they matter, and the big changes observed by Hannah and Dan 
12:42 — Dan talks to Martin Connaghan on sin stocks and ethical investing 
27:25 — Hannah chats with Nicola Takada Wood about Japan’s political landscape and what that means for investors 
41:00 — Interview: Stephen Anness on the search for attractive dividends 


If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more insights from the AJ Bell investing team. 

Investment Trust Show: How fund managers handle “sin stocks”

UK and European markets reach record highs. That's despite the tariff turmoil since the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's liberation day plans. Danni dives into the latest on Meta's deal with AMD, Anthropic's latest plug ins and Paramount up the stakes in the bidding war for Warner Bros.
Diageo’s first results under Sir Dave Lewis show that not even Guinness couldn’t steady the ship at the big brand giant, plus a £1 billion funding boost for UK self-driving tech firm Wayve. Cuts to the energy price cap and the odds of winning on Premium Bonds.
Adam Rackley from the Cape Wrath Focus Fund tells Dan Coatsworth why he likes to invest when others are jumping ship.
[00:10] – Welcome 
[01:34] – Markets are shrugging off the latest tariff drama...for now
[08:45] – Danni Hewson has the latest on the AI arms race, with AMD, Meta and Anthropic 
[14:40] – Diageo results show 'Drastic Dave' has his work cut out
[20:00] – Danni shares AJ Bell's consumer trends research findings
[24:00] - UK self driving firm Wayve raises another £1 billion in a funding deal
[27:45] - Bidding war for Warner Bros: Paramount comes back with a sweeter deal
[30:00] – Energy price cap cut: Charlene Young looks at how this measures up against promised £150 cuts to bills
[32:51] - Rachel Reeves delivers her Spring Statement next week; what might be in it? 
[38:11] – NS&I slashes premium bond prize funds rate and chances of winning 
[42:10] – Dan Coatsworth talks value investing with Cape Wrath Focus Fund

Tariffs fail to knock markets and Meta strikes $60bn AI chip deal with AMD

Why the UK stock market is smashing expectations in 2026, and a crucial warning about fake celebrity investment ads fooling thousands.
Dan Coatsworth also sits down with Filtronic, the company behind an 800% share price surge and major new contracts with SpaceX. Big gains, big deals – and big insights you won’t want to miss.
If you enjoy this podcast, please select ‘like’ and ‘subscribe’.
 
[00:09] – Welcome & what’s moving markets this week
[01:21] – How the UK stock market is outperforming the US (again)
[03:48] – Why insider trades at Raspberry Pi & M&S really matter
[07:53] – The Japanese toilet company tipped as the next AI winner
[09:36] – UK inflation: Charlene Young breaks down the latest numbers
[12:20] – Scam alert: Charlene exposes fake celebrity investment ads
[16:26] – Filtronic CEO interview: SpaceX contracts, defence deals & an 800% share price surge
[31:49] – Why annuities are suddenly back in demand
[36:19] – The worrying rise of UK households struggling to earn a decent living
[39:03] – Small caps comeback? Fund manager Richard Penny shares his signs of recovery

The British Stock Riding the SpaceX Boom

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, how financial markets reacted to speculation around the future of Keir Starmer as UK prime minister. [02:00] 
Dan Coatsworth and Tom Sieber unpack the latest results from Shell, BP and Barclays. [05:05] 
AI has haunted parts of the stock market once again, with financial comparison websites and insurance brokers the latest victims as investors fear major disruption to their business. [11:12] 
There was some remarkable news in the pharmaceutical space as Novo Nordisk battled Him & Her’s amid controversy around the launch of copycat weight-loss drugs. The pod team explore the weight loss drug space in more detail and explain why one analyst thinks Greggs is a major loser as people slim down. [15:05] 
Dan talks to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare about how Eli Lilly has scored the top slot in the weight-loss drug market [24:13]. Martin Gamble chats to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investment about other names to watch in this space. [30:13] 
Charlene Young is on the show to explain why everyone’s talking about student loans. [33:00] 
Finally, Danni Hewson talks to Pathos Communications about its experiences of listing on the UK stock market and the use of AI in the public relations industry. [45:32] 

Investing in weight-loss drugs, and why everyone’s talking about student loans

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Laura Suter dig into what has been another action-packed week with Space X buying fellow Elon Musk vehicle Xai ahead of the companies anticipated IPO [01:32]. Danni checks out why Anthropic’s new AI tools resulted in a global sell off in companies like Sage, Pearson and Legal Star [06:33]. Disney delivered a crowd-pleasing update, but it was all about the exit of CEO Bob Seager and whether this handover will be smoother than the last [10:16]. Plus, Walmart becomes the first retailer to hit a $1 trillion dollar valuation [13:54] and gold and silver prices fall back after Donald Trump unveils his pick for the Fed [16:43].
There’s plenty to go at on the personal finance front with Santander becoming the biggest lender to offer a mortgage with just a 2% deposit for first time buyers [20:46], but new data shows one in three of those taking their first steps on the housing ladder are doing it with a 25% deposit [18:32]. Plus, an estimated 1 million people have missed the self-assessment tax return deadline. [24:59]
We’ve got two guest interviews this week, first with Andrew Westhead, retail director at NS&I, about what makes premium bonds the most popular savings product in the UK [29:56]. And with Kier Starmer becoming the latest world leader to thaw relations with China, Chris Tennant from Fidelity Emerging Markets discusses if that makes China more investible and the allure of companies like TSMC benefiting from the AI boom [44:31].

Space X buys Xai, a new boss for Disney and why NS&I premium bonds are so popular

Welcome to the monthly bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts, presented by Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford. 
The pair discuss the outlook for activist investors in the investment trust space, the extent to which Saba is involved in the industry, and who could be the next targets. [02:05] 
Dan talks to Ed Cartright, CEO of Arcus Investment, about a desire to replace the manager at Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon and take over running the trust. [15:13] 
This episode’s big theme is the healthcare space [25:37]. Dan talks to Gareth Powell from Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust about why the sector disappointed for several years and has now burst back to life; as well as the underappreciated importance of generic drugs. 
Martin Gamble talks to Oliver Kenyon from RTW Investments about why big drug companies are buying small biotech firms. 
Dan also chats to Trevor Polishchuk from Worldwide Healthcare on how pharma companies have effectively been forced to invest heavily in the US to avoid tariffs; why Donald Trump has launched a website so consumers can buy medicines direct from manufacturers; and the outlook for drug pricing globally.  
Finally, Hannah interviews Carlos Hardenberg from the Mobius Investment Trust about dealing with political turmoil in emerging markets, and how he safeguards his investments from it. [49:37] 
Download AJ Bell’s free report on activists in the investment trust space: https://www.ajbell.co.uk/investment/investment-trust-report

Investment Trust Show: Getting rich from healthcare

Charlene Young and Danni Hewson are your hosts in a week where gold and silver continue to take centre stage, with new data highlighting gold’s status as the ultimate safe haven over the last decade (04:15). Danni runs though the latest business and travel news, including pub business rate relief, Boeing picks up its aircraft deliveries, higher fares at Ryanair and the impact of US storms on airlines (09:15). Attention then turns to the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and why President Trump’s upcoming pick for the next Fed chair could be just as market-moving (21:15).
In Pensions Corner, we are joined by AJ Bell’s Rachel Vahey to discuss changes to when you can access your own pensions and claim, the state pension plus the latest on the government’s review of WASPI compensation (25:00). Charlene brings you updates on NS&I cutting savings rates again (32:30), and reveals new stats on what really happens when Junior ISA holders turn 18 (35:20).

Gold glitters, rates loom and Ryanair costs rise

This episode of the AJ Money & Markets podcast explores the world of shares, pensions, property, wills, and much more. 
Dan Coatsworth examines how financial markets have reacted to Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland. Gold is closing in on $5,000 per ounce as investors seek assets that have historically protected people in tough times. [03:21] 
We’ve just had the second FTSE 100 takeover bid of 2026, and we’re only weeks into the new year. Dan talks about the bid for Beazley, and the downside if it disappears from the UK stock market. [07:16] 
When the pensions lifetime allowance was abolished in 2024, it created a myth that age 75 no longer matters in the world of pensions. Charlene Young explains why 75 is still incredibly important. [08:53] 
Discover how much first-time buyers need for a 10% deposit on a home in different parts of the country, and what the latest inflation figures mean for the direction of interest rates and mortgages in 2026. [14:08] 
It’s important to have a will so your assets go to the people of your choice when you die, but lawyers are now saying certain wills might be invalid. Charlene reveals all. [19:08] 
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould talks to Dan about what buy, hold, sell ratings on shares really mean, how they’re created, and which UK stocks have the most or least of certain types of ratings. [25:13] 
Finally, Danni Hewson talks to James Flintoft from AJ Bell’s investments team about how AJ Bell funds performed last year and his thoughts on the year ahead. [35:14] 

Buy and sell ratings on stocks: do they ever work?

In this deep dive episode, Laith Khalaf and Tom Sieber dig into the world of cautious investing, and ask how you can invest if you’re afraid of stockmarket crashes.
Laith and Tom debate the merits of cautious investing and how bad a market crash can be for your wealth. [00:09]
Laith talks to Stefani Williams, a financial adviser with Holden and Partners, about how she assesses her clients’ risk profiles. [8:50]
Laith and Tom discuss tips for cautious investors. [19:25]
Tom catches up with Alastair Laing, the manager of the Capital Gearing Trust. [40:40]
Laith and Tom talk about other risks, like holding too much cash and hitting retirement without enough money. [55:50]

Deep Dive #7: How to invest if you're afraid of Market crashes?

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Laura Suter take a detailed look at the stories shaping markets and personal finance. Tom Sieber joins the show to explain why global markets, including Japan’s Nikkei and gold, are hitting record highs [03:55]. And shares the latest results from Whitbread. [01:00] We then explore the Scottish Budget announcements, discussing the changes that matter for investors in Scotland and how they could have wider implications across the UK. [11:52] Next, we cover the latest cash ISA rumours and what potential changes could mean for savers. [16:57]  
Dan Coatsworth speaks with Christopher Hart from Boston Partners about why financial markets have remained calm despite political uncertainty, and why he sees more opportunities in the UK and Europe than in the US. [22:16] Finally, we look at Britain’s Rightmove browsing habit, exploring why so many of us enjoy looking at properties online even when we aren’t planning to move, and what it tells us about the housing and mortgage market. [34:27]

Record market highs, Scottish Budget changes, ISA rumours and our Rightmove obsession

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss what’s powering markets, including the FTSE 100, to record highs [3:00]. They consider what US action in Venezuela might mean for markets, and particularly US oil companies like Chevron and the global oil price [7:15].  They discuss at which sectors that did particularly well in 2025 like gold, silver [15:00] , defence stocks like Rheinmetall and BAE Systems [17:00] and Nvidia’s AI domination as it unveils self-driving tech. [19:30]
Whilst London’s blue chip broke records the IPO pipeline in the UK was patchy, Dan considers what did well [23:30]  and Danni explains why it could be the year of the “Mega IPO” with three massive US tech companies reportedly gearing up for a stock market listing, but can Open AI, Anthropic and Space X all successfully get IPOs over the line in 2026?  [27:45] Next has set the bar high for UK retailers  but as Claire’s Accessories collapses into administration there are fears about the health of the high street. [32:00] Plus, credit card spending surges, Alyx Wood from Kernow Asset Management digs into the spending power of over 50s [41:30] and thousands of people file their tax return whilst digesting the Christmas turkey. [51:20]

The FTSE 100 passes 10,000 and is 2026 the year of the Mega IPO

We’re kicking off the New Year with the latest bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets all about investment trusts. To kick things off, Hannah Williford speaks to QuotedData’s James Carthew about a merger proposal gone wrong. [02:28] 
Dan dives into the tech world with Mike Seidenberg from Allianz Technology Trust to scope out what 2026 might hold and how the industry is evolving in China. [17:40]
AJ Bell’s Martin Gamble and Tom Sieber pick apart the Aurora UK Alpha Investment Trust and its Warren Buffett-inspired strategy, which has a particular stock picking process. [37:21]
Finally, Hannah speaks with Shavar Halberstadt from Winterflood Research about the private equity sector. It’s gained a lot of attention this year, but is it relevant for the average investor? [50:10]

Investment Trust Show: What 2026 might hold for tech and is private equity worth a spot in your portfolio?

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, discover problems on the high street for one well-known retailer [01:33], and why the UK cinema industry is hoping for a last-minute flurry of bookings in 2025 [03:15].
Dan Coatsworth considers what the latest UK economic data is telling us [05:11], and Tom Sieber chats about UK property market trends, planning reforms and what could be in store for real estate in 2026 [08:48].
The pod team explore how financial markets behaved in 2025 [14:31]. Dan chats with AJ Bell’s managing director for the investments divisions, Ryan Hughes, about what he thought of the year [17:10].
Dan and Tom run through the winners and losers on the UK and US stock markets over the past 12 months. They chat about Fresnillo, Lloyds, Applovin, WPP, Auto Trader and more.
While markets have generally done well in 2025, the podcast always has its eye on the future and there’s quite a few people approaching 2026 with a sense of dread. With that in mind, the podcast spoke to Charlotte Yonge from the Trojan Fund and Personal Assets Trust about how she runs an investment strategy with protection at the heart of it [45:34].
Finally, Dan talks to AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill about what’s needed to get more people saving and investing for the future [56:08].

Stock market winners and losers of the year, and investing in a market downturn

In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Laura Suter are joined by AJ Bell’s markets expert Martin Gamble to unpack the biggest stories affecting investors. First, they look at Nvidia’s latest moves on chip sales to China [01:22] and the escalating bidding war for Warner Brothers [03:10]. Martin also highlights the top stories in this month’s Shares magazine [05:43]. 
Switching to personal finance, Charlene and Laura explain the changes to cash ISAs announced in the Budget [07:28], and Laura dives into new AJ Bell data revealing the nation’s “secret spending” habits [15:17]. 
Finally, we bring you the next batch of Investival interviews: Dan Coatsworth talks to Russ Mould about the good, the bad and the ugly of 2025 markets and what he expects for 2026 [19:28], and Alex Wright from Fidelity Special Values on the UK market’s strong performance, the banking sector, and a surprising investment in a sofa seller [25:22]. 

Nvidia chips to China, Warner Brothers bidding war, cash ISA shake-up explained and secret spenders revealed

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss the ongoing fallout from last week’s Budget including the resignation of the head of the OBR. [2:00]
They discuss the OECD’s judgement of the impact tax and spending will have on the UK economy over the next few years. The pair also chat about a new warning about AI and how a bubble bursting could have a significant impact on global growth. [10:55]
The Bank of England has proposed the biggest rule change for UK banks since the financial crash. [17:15]
A zero-tariff deal has been struck between the UK and US on pharmaceuticals but what’s in the small print and what might it mean for companies like GSK and AstraZeneca? [19:30]
Luxury goods maker Prada has bagged itself a Black Friday bargain, picking up Versace at a fraction of what its previous owner paid for it. [25:00]
Plus, the latest on Netflix bid speculation for Warner Bros Discovery [26:45] and not one but two guest interviews: John Lamb from Capital Group with interesting thoughts on where interest rates might go in Europe [31:53] and friend of the pod, Ben Rogoff from Polar Capital Technology Trust on Google’s AI breakthrough. [36:30]

Why Google has become king of AI, Budget fallout, and major news for UK banks

We’re back with December’s episode of the investment trust show, an AJ Bell Money & Markets bonus episode. This month, Tom Sieber discuss some interesting manager changes on Murray Income Trust and Crystal Amber. [02:14]
Dan Coatsworth talks to Fundsmith’s Terry Smith about proposed changes to Smithson Investment Trust [09:45] and reveals more names being targeted by activist investor Saba [15:55].
Hannah Williford chats to Ashley Thomas from Winterflood about some potential changes that could hurt the renewable energy sector. [19:05]
The gold has had a brilliant year, so Dan talks to commodities expert Evy Hambro from the BlackRock World Mining Trust about the prospects for the shiny metal in 2026 and why he is so bullish on copper. They also talk about takeover activity involving big mining companies and whether China is still as important as it was for commodities demand. [32:58]
Finally, lots of people are asking what they should think about if financial markets go through a difficult period. Hannah spoke to Nick Britton from the Association of Investment Companies about a particular group of investment trusts that aim to preserve investors’ wealth, and which have historically seen increased investor interest when markets fall. They discuss Capital Gearing Trust, Personal Assets Trust and Ruffer Investment Company. [51:19]

Investment Trust show: outlook for gold and copper, potential safe havens if the stock market falls

AJ Bell experts Charlene Young and Dan Coatsworth react to Rachel Reeves’ autumn Budget in this special edition of the Money & Markets podcast.
Financial markets were initially taken by surprise after the OBR report was leaked ahead of the chancellor’s speech, and Dan explains why gilts and equities moved in a certain way. He also dives into the reasons why banking and gambling shares saw big moves. [31:24]
There was big news for anyone who uses salary sacrifice to make pension contributions. Charlene explains how the system will change from 2029. [07:35]
The taxman is going to take a bigger chunk of your dividends, savings and property income under new rules. Dan also explains how higher property income taxes might lead to higher rent on flats or houses. [10:35]
The podcast team explore the changes in store for Cash ISAs [13:00] and why we might see the Lifetime ISA morph into something else. [14:30]
Are you lucky enough to have a home worth more than £2 million? Brace yourself for higher taxes. [16:45]
Dan argues that a stamp duty holding on shares in newly listed companies doesn’t go far enough. [20:45]. He also explores the extra pressures being piled on small businesses.
Charlene reveals some good news from the Budget around energy bills, rail fares and more. [23:53]. She finishes up with important news on frozen allowances [25:50].

Breaking down the Budget: Cash ISA cuts, Lifetime ISA changes, dividend tax hikes and more

Worried about the state of the stock market and the potential for a crash? You’re not alone as Dan Coatsworth discusses in this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. He looks at what’s happening in the UK and US markets, and why investors have reacted in a certain way. [01:35]
Fundsmith chief executive Terry Smith is on the show to give his thoughts on the plethora of market worries. [08:04]
Charlene Young explains why the economy and the markets are not the same thing. Especially in the context of recent poor growth figures, the unemployment rate creeping up, yet the FTSE 100 recently hitting new record highs. [11:48]
Dan has good news for people worried if their money is protected in the event of a bank or investment platform going bust. [14:41]
There is a lot of talk about home insurance becoming much more expensive in recent years, so Charlene and Dan explore the reasons why premiums have shot up. [20:23]
Anticipation around the Budget is causing jitters in the UK property market, as the pod team discuss. [25:36]
Finally, we’re debuting a new series celebrating interesting companies on the UK stock market. Our first guest is Ronnie George, chief executive of Volution, a ventilation products group which has made twice as much money for shareholders over the past year than a fund tracking the US stock market. [28:17]
Sign up to the free AJ Bell Budget webinar on 27 November 2025 at 1pm GMT: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6453427819562096725

Should you worry about a stock market crash? This is what Terry Smith has to say

The battle between active and passive managers has been going in earnest for over a decade now, and the passive machines are winning. In this Deep Dive, Laith Khalaf and Dan Coatsworth explore the active and passive fund landscape, and ask if there is a way back for active fund managers.
Dan and Laith discuss why passive funds have become so popular and share some stats on fund flows and figures from AJ Bell’s Manager versus Machine report, which pits active and passive funds against each other. [01:01]
Laith catches up with Craig Baker who chairs the investment committee for Alliance Witan, one of the biggest investment trusts in the UK, to find out why they have chosen a distinctive active investment strategy and how it’s been performing. [22:28]
Paul Angel, Head of Investment Research at AJ Bell joins Dan and Laith to talk about how to pick active and passive funds. [34:05]
Paul, Dan and Laith discuss whether the rise of passive funds is bad for the stockmarket and consider the future of active management. [48:17]

Deep Dive #6: Are active fund managers a dying breed?

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Laura Suter delivers some good news on pension tax free cash after it’s reported that the Chancellor won’t alter allowances at the Budget. [2:10] But with a merry-go-round of speculation every year impacting savers’ decisions, AJ Bell is calling for the government to take seriously its calls for a pension tax lock.
As the FTSE 100 breaks more records and edges closer to the psychologically important 10,000 mark, Danni Hewson digs into what’s behind this latest run of good form. Spoiler: it’s not all good news. [4:40]
An anticipated end to the US government shutdown has helped offset renewed nerves about an AI bubble after Softbank sold its entire stake of Nvidia. [9:32] And former Tesco boss Dave Lewis will be hoping every little can help him turn around the fortunes of drinks maker Diageo. [13:30] 
Tom Sieber joins the team to talk about changes to AJ Bell’s Shares magazine [16:30] With talk about potential changes to the cash ISA limit to try and get more of us to move away from cash savings and into investing, Laura’s been crunching the numbers to find out exactly how investing in cash or stocks and shares compares over time [21:30].
Plus HMRC has been clamping down on benefits fraud – but they’ve not always been getting things right. [28:30] And our guest interview this week is a catch up with Ayush Abhijeet, Investment Director at Ashoka India Equity, who explains why returns have been a bit lacklustre over the past year and why that creates an opportunity for investors. [30:30]

No change to pension tax free cash, the FTSE 100 nears 10,000 and can Tesco’s old boss turn around Diageo?

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson discuss the Chancellor’s unusual pre-Budget speech. They assess how markets reacted to hints, but not confirmation, that taxes could rise. [1:50] The pair also discuss which taxes could go up and what that might mean for your pocket.  [9:35]
How much sparkle did Marks & Spencer lose from this year’ cyberattack? Find out as Danni and Dan unpick its latest results [12:45].
Dan considers why high street retailer Primark might finally be spun out from its parent company. [17:45] He also explains why companies split and talks through some key examples of the past 20 years. [21:25]
Danni considers Kimberly Clark’s bid for under-fire Tylenol maker Kenvue, the consumer goods company spun out from Johnson & Johnson just a few years ago. [25:06]
Plus, Michael Burry, the trader who inspired the film The Big Short is betting on an AI bubble [29:10]. We also take a different look at big tech – not AI but robotics – with Dan chatting to Simon Edelsten, manager of the Goshawk Global fund, about factory automation and why it’s hot news again. [32:55]

Tax hikes, M&S fights back, and why the robots are coming

We’re back with November’s episode of the investment trust show, an AJ Bell Money & Markets bonus episode. This month, Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford dive into a dilemma facing the Manchester & London Investment Trust. [01:14]
They chat about the pros and cons of portfolio concentration, and whether it is working for names such as Finsbury Growth & Income and Pershing Square Holdings. [04:39]
Renewable energy and infrastructure trusts typically have generous dividends, but their share price performance has been patchy. Hannah talks to QuotedData’s James Carthew about the challenges and whether there’s a brighter future. [16:48]
Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust is among the companies trying to bounce back, and Tom Seiber speaks with the trust’s manager David Bird on why it has pivoted to a new strategy. [28:41]
Finally, Hannah speaks with CVC Income and Growth manager Pieter Staelens about an income strategy that’s been a bit more successful in recent years, and why it’s worked. [43:28]

Investment Trust Show: can big dividends make up for weak share price performance? The challenges facing renewable energy and infrastructure trusts.

In this week’s episode, Tom Sieber and Danni Hewson digest the latest market developments from both sides of the Atlantic, with AJ Bell shares and markets writer Martin Gamble also on hand to cover the US earnings season, the newest member of the $4 trillion club and the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut rates [01:04].  
Tom discusses the record highs for the FTSE 100 and there's chat about results from Next and UK banks and the little-known company which is among the top risers on the UK’s flagship index this year. Plus, a look at shop price inflation and the Renters’ Rights Bill. [09:33]
Elon Musk’s pay package and how the job cuts at Amazon connect to the AI story are also on the agenda this week. [24:11] 
Danni Hewson speaks to Stuart O’Reilly at the Royal Mint on gold prices, whether it might be too late to get exposure, what’s driven the precious metal higher in 2025 and the different investment options. [32:57] 

The latest from the US market as big names like Microsoft and Alphabet post earnings. Plus, US interest rates cut, Elon Musk’s pay package and the Royal Mint on gold

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast team give you the latest insights on issues affecting your personal finances, investments and pensions.
 Dan Coatsworth explains why there has just been a brief shock on the markets around fears of a new banking crisis. [2:10]. You can also hear why Unilever won’t be splitting off its ice cream arm in mid-November as previously planned. [4:05]
Dan and Charlene dissect the latest UK inflation data and explain why it was treated with widespread celebration. The inflation figure strengthens the argument for interest rate cuts and gives people in retirement clarity on how much the state pension will pay from next April, as September’s inflation result is used in the calculation. [8:25]
The government has issued a white paper that points to changes around the costs of going to university, and the funding methods available. [14:02]
Tom Sieber talks about the latest property market trends [17:14], while Dan tunes into the latest results from Netflix [26:10 ].
Charlene has some worrying statistics about pensioners being hit by tax on savings accounts. [21:05]
To round things off, we conclude our conversations with various experts on what could happen if there is an AI bubble and that bubble bursts. Danni Hewson caught up with Julian Bishop from Brunner Investment Trust [32:02] while Dan talks to Marcel Stötzel from Fidelity European. [40:54]

Inflation joy: good news for pensioners and borrowers

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young and Laith Khalaf discuss the latest global economic forecasts from the IMF. The UK growth forecast has been increased slightly, but inflation looks like it will remain stubborn. Laith breaks down what this means for investors, plus the latest on US–China trade tensions and gold hitting another record high. [01:00]
With warnings about a potential AI bubble, Dan Coatsworth speaks to Russ Mould, AJ Bell investment director, about why markets keep rising despite correction fears [12:24] — and Ben Rogoff from Polar Capital Technology Trust shares why he still believes the AI revolution has room to run. [26:13]
Charlene explains the worrying 150% rise in scams targeting pensioners and the simple steps to stay safe ahead of this winter’s payments and tax return season. [36:45]
Danni Hewson catches up with James Flintoft, head of investment solutions at AJ Bell, for a look back at another volatile quarter and how the AJ Bell funds have been performing. [40:09]

AI boom – a bubble or just the beginning? UK growth and inflation forecasts and pensioner scam warning

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast celebrates its 7th anniversary with a bumper episode all about stocks, investing, wealth and more.
Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson chew over B&M’s recent woes, and plans by the new boss to get back to basics to win back customers. [2:05]
They also discuss fresh AI fever and the mega deals which are making the sector increasingly interconnected. You can hear about the latest tie-up between OpenAI and AMD, and how it fits in with other activity involving Nvidia. [8:30]
Sales of electric vehicles in the UK hit a record high in September with Chinese carmaker BYD enjoying an 880% jump so can Tesla’s new pricing structure win back motorists? Dan gives his thoughts. [14:10]
Danni has the latest on the UK motor finance scandal and how affected motorists might claim for compensation. [20:00]
Mike Glenister discusses a new petition from AJ Bell that calls for the government to stop meddling with the pension system. [25:30]
Alex Wright, Fund Manager of Fidelity Special Values, explains where he is finding opportunities on the UK stock market. [29:30]
Do you use delivery apps to order groceries? Danni has some bad news you need to hear. [46:30]
Finally, Dan talks to entrepreneur Charles Skinner about why some people call him the king of acquisitions. [52:37]
Sign AJ Bell’s petition to encourage the government to stop meddling with the pensions system https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/740486

AI fever, how B&M lost its way, and compensation for motorists

Welcome to the monthly bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts, presented by Dan Coatsworth and Hannah Williford. Kicking off the show is the news that activist investor Saba is back with new campaigns and talk of launching a new investment vehicle. [02:33]
It’s been a good year to invest in UK shares, and we’ve got two experts on the pod to explain how they find opportunities. Dan talks to Ian Lance from Temple Bar about how he’s delivered supersized returns, and why Smith & Nephew and Johnson Matthey have caught his eye. [12:58].
We also hear from James Harries, manager of the STS Global Income & Growth, about why the UK is such a big part of his portfolio, and why he likes insurance provider Admiral and consumer goods giant Reckitt. [26:07]
Hannah talks about some new figures that suggest Donald Trump’s policies have revived interest in ESG-related factors when investing, following a steady decline since 2022. [40:18]
Finally, Hannah chat with Dan Higgins from Majedie about bringing university-style endowment investment to the public. [45:45]

Investment Trust Show: Making money from UK stocks, activists, and endowment investing

Charlene Young and Danni Hewson are your hosts this week, delving into the latest money and markets news. The US government has shut down for the first time since 2018, with Republicans and Democrats locked in a blame game over spending. Danni runs through what this means for markets, the economy, and workers facing unpaid shifts until Washington can agree on a deal. [01:33]
Back in the UK, it’s Labour Party conference week, Charlene and Danni discuss Rachel Reeves’ big speech and the market reaction. We also discuss revised GDP figures, and why households are saving more as economic uncertainty lingers. [06:53]
In company news, the CEO of GSK is stepping down, Exxon announces job cuts as part of a restructure, and Greggs serves up a mixed trading update after a summer sales wobble.[12:12]
Our guest interview this week is with Jacqueline Broers, Joint Portfolio Manager of the Utilico Emerging Markets Trust, which specialises in infrastructure and investment in emerging markets and has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. [20:59]. Finishing with personal finance, Charlene will outline what you should think about before accessing your pension tax-free cash and how to check if someone you know is missing out on the £1.5 billion in unclaimed child trust funds. [32:43]

Shutdowns, Sausage Rolls and GSK CEO steps down

The AJ Bell team talk markets, stocks, Lifetime ISAs, insurance, property and investing in this episode of the Money & Markets podcast.
Find out why Nvidia is investing billions of dollars in two companies. [1:00]. Dan Coatsworth reveals the key reason why shares in B&Q-owner Kingfisher went wild, and it’s not down to a new DIY boom. [3:28]
 Greggs is opening a pub – is that bad news for Wetherspoons or just a marketing trick? Dan gives his thoughts. [5:30]
 Consumer research group Which? says enough is enough with regards to how home and travel insurance providers are treating customers. Charlene Young explores this ‘super-compliant’ and what you can do if your insurer has treated you unfairly. [8:15]
 The new intake of university students is settling into their new life, but there is a big cost of higher education. Dan chats about a growing trend for parents to help reduce the burden of debt on their children. [12:35]
Have you always dreamed of owning a bungalow? You’re not alone. Charlene talks about a shortage of bungalows in the UK and why both older and younger people want more of them built. [20:10
New figures reinforce widespread calls to reform the Lifetime ISA. Charlene explains all. [24:42]
Our special guest is Isaac Thong, portfolio manager of the Aberdeen Asian Income Fund. Danni Hewson talks to Isaac about why more investors are looking at this part of the world. [29:25]

Nvidia splashes the cash, Greggs opens a pub, and alternative ways to pay for university

It’s three years since the Truss/Kwarteng mini-budget which sent the bond market into meltdown. In this Deep Dive we’ll be looking into the nitty gritty of bonds while also discussing the big picture and asking why UK bond yields are so high, and what effect that may have on the budget in November.


(02:10) Laith and Danni are joined by Ian Aylward, head of investment partnerships at AJ Bell, to discuss what bonds are and what factors affect prices.


(17:39) Laith talks to Rupert Harrison, senior adviser at PIMCO and formerly Chief of Staff to George Osborne when he was Chancellor. Rupert gives his views on what is driving higher UK government borrowing costs and what the bond market wants from Rachel Reeves in the forthcoming budget.
 
(41:52) Ian, Laith and Danni talk about why people invest in bonds, and discuss the bond funds that are available to investors.
 
(53:13) Laith talks to Alex Ralph, fund manager of the Nedgroup Global Strategic Bond fund, about how she picks bonds and how she sees the market right now.

Deep Dive #5: Does Rachel Reeves have a bond market problem?

In this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, we look at the latest interest rate moves in the UK and US and what they mean for markets, savers and borrowers [01:25]. Also in markets news we’ll take a look at the US-UK investment story, and dip into news that Alphabet has joined the $3 trillion club [07:50] and Trump and TikTok deal that means it stays in the US [10:14]. We then turn to the state pension triple lock, as the latest wage figures play a crucial role in setting next year’s increase [13:09]. 
Sticking with pensions, Charlene Young and Laura Suter discuss a new move from the taxman on pension tax relief and what it could mean for those claiming extra relief [17:45]. Charlene also delves into new AJ Bell research on how people’s expectations for retirement compare with the reality of what retirees actually spend [21:55]. 
Later in the show, Dan Coatsworth speaks with Ben Preston from Orbis Global Equity Fund about why he has less invested in the US than a typical global fund, why he’s backing the UK, and his investment in Nintendo [28:20]. Dan also interviews Daniel Avigad from Lansdowne European Special Situations Fund about whether investors have missed the boat on Europe’s strong stock market performance and why the owner of Ray-Ban is catching his attention [39:04]. 

Interest rates, State Pension to rise, Alphabet joins $3 trillion club, Trump’s TikTok deal and where fund managers see value

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson are joined by AJ Bell’s pension guru Rachel Vahey ahead of pension awareness week.
They discuss a new advert fronted by former Eastender star Ross Kemp which hopes to persuade people to engage with their pension in the same way they engage with their physical fitness. Rachel shares some top tips to make sure your pension is fighting fit. [01:33]
In markets news, Dan digs into Anglo American’s gigantic bid to take over Canadian copper miner Teck Resources [19:46]. Danni discusses why it’s a tricky time for UK retailers like Dunelm and Primark [23:00]. As Tesla’s share of the US electric vehicle market falls to an eight-year low, the pair assess Elon Musk’s proposed $1 trillion pay deal. [27:51]
Find out how geopolitical instability is affecting markets [33:00] and learn how investors reacted to a judge temporarily halting Donald Trump’s firing of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook ahead of next week’s US interest rate decision [35:06]. Dan also discusses the companies going in and out of the UK’s top stock market indices. [39:15]
This week’s special guest is George Bennett, chief executive of Rainbow Rare Earths who discusses how his company hopes to take advantage of demand for minerals crucial to technology we use daily. [41:42]

Pile the pounds on your pension, plus mining mergers and rare earths

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast is back after the summer break, with Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpacking the big stories shaping markets and personal finance. We kick off in the UK, where inflation has jumped again, and a reshuffle in the Prime Minister’s economic team has sparked fresh Budget rumours – including a possible bank windfall tax that sent shares sliding [11:20].
Across the pond, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve [15:20], while Donald Trump’s tariffs face a legal challenge that could reset trade dynamics.
We then dive into a timely interview: Danni speaks with Marcus Jennings, fixed income strategist at Schroders, about why UK gilt yields have jumped to 30-year highs and what that means for borrowers, investors and the government’s finances [22:40].
In company news, we cover Nestlé’s search for a new CEO, BYD’s profit stumble[37:00], and Alibaba’s AI push – with Nvidia back in the spotlight as AI momentum shows no sign of cooling. Finally, Charlene looks at the back-to-school squeeze on family finances and explains how the September extension of free childcare hours could help parents – and who misses out. [46:20]

Inflation and economic reshuffles in the UK, scandal at Nestle and the latest on Trump and the Fed

In this week’s Money and Markets podcast, Tom Sieber and Charlene Young discuss the latest twist in the tariffs saga as the US and Japan announce a deal and explore the early results from the US earnings season, with updates from JPMorgan, Citi, Coca-Cola and Netflix [04:04].  
They also look ahead to what investors can expect from the big tech names due to report next week, including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Meta [10:12]. 
They also discuss a major proposal from the London Stock Exchange to introduce 24-hour trading and what that could mean for retail investors [12:20] and there’s boardroom news at BP as the energy giant appoints a new chair [14:04]. 
Back in the UK, the government has announced the final proposals around pensions and inheritance tax [16:08], and the State Pension age is also under review again [24:02]. 
This week’s episode also features two interviews: Martin Gamble speaks to Jacopo di Nardo from Latitude Investment Management about Diageo and the impact of the recent CEO departure [27:27], and Dan Coatsworth talks to Schroder Asia Pacific portfolio manager Abbas Barkhordar about the vibe in Asia around those US tariffs [40:44]. 
Finally, with summer holidays in full swing, Tom and Charlene look at a story involving Ryanair, oversized luggage, and a rather inventive employee bonus scheme [51:47]. 
Note: The podcast is taking a short summer break and will return in early September. 

US trade deal with Japan as earnings season kicks off, pensions and IHT plans confirmed, and 24-hour trading on the LSE

In this week’s AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Laith Khalaf and Tom Selby dive into what’s been moving in markets, from the FTSE hitting 9,000 (01:17) to Bitcoin hitting a record high [04:10].
We’ll also be talking through the latest inflation figures to come out of the UK and US and what that might mean for interest rates [11:25].
The Chancellor has delivered her annual Mansion House speech to the city, and there were a lot of big changes announced. Laith and Tom discuss ISAs [14:52], boosting retail investing and changes to the banking and mortgage market [29:42].
Finally we have an interview with Lynda Shillaw, CEO of the property development company, the Harworth Group, about trends in the sector and Harworth’s promotion to the FTSE 250 [34:20].

Inflation on the rise, FTSE hits 9,000, and the Chancellor announces sweeping reforms to financial services

In this week’s AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson dive into the latest financial news, from Trump’s latest tariff manoeuvres [02:00] to Elon Musk’s surprise announcement of a new US political party and what that could mean for Tesla [08:47]. They explore how markets are responding to these unpredictable headlines, including the impact on copper prices [06:00] and the so-called "TACO trade."

Back in the UK, there have been some big developments affecting housebuilders [12:57], an underwhelming preview from Shell [14:58], and pressure mounting on the government’s finances [17:39] — particularly the ballooning cost of the State Pension triple lock.
The episode also sheds light on a worrying HMRC issue: over 600,000 people have been fined for not filing tax returns despite owing no tax [21:31]. Later in the show, Shares magazine’s Tom Sieber spotlights his investment trust dividend heroes [24:51], and James Flintoft joins Danni to analyse AJ Bell fund performance in Q2 and what may shape markets in the second half of 2025 [29:13].

OBR report fuels tax rumours, Trump tariffs update and will investors lose patience with Elon Musk?

It’s time for your monthly bonus episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast all about investment trusts. Kicking off the show is Tom Sieber on the wave of trust takeovers. [01:25]
We’re going big on income in this episode of the podcast. Dan Coatsworth talks to Joe Dowling from the Invesco Global Equity Income Trust on how he finds opportunities to help generate a steady trickle of cash for shareholders. [04:17]
Dan also talks to Iain Pyle from Shires Income on alternative ways of generating an income than simply having a portfolio of dividend-paying shares. [18:15]
Laith Khalaf and Tom talk about trends with premiums and discounts in the investment trust world. [30:47]
Finally, Dan talks to Richard Staveley from Rockwood Strategic on what it takes to find stocks that make you five to 10 times your money. [39:53]

Investment Trust Show: Income special and the quest to make five times your money

This week’s episode of the Money & Markets podcast explains why Sainsbury’s and Greggs are experiencing different fortunes. [00:48]
Charlene Young addresses the latest rumours about income tax and a potential cut to Cash ISA allowances. [06:12]
Dan Coatsworth explains why Lifetime ISAs are back on the political agenda. [13:36]
New data suggests there is a serious problem of takeover news being leaked before official announcements. Dan dives into this topic. [18:55]
If you’re one of the growing number of people selling goods on Vinted or Ebay, Charlene considers the level of sales that attract the tax man’s attention. [22:40]
As schools prepare to break up and people take time off work for their summer break, the podcast reveals a worrying scam aimed at holidaymakers. [25:50]
The clock is ticking on the end of Trump’s 90-day tariff negotiations, so Dan considers what could happen next and how markets might react. [28:59]
This week’s special guest is someone directly impacted by the new tariff regime. Greg Eckel invests in Canada and he talks to Tom Sieber about the impact of Trump’s policies and the long-term prospects for Canadian stocks. [32:46]

New rumours about Cash ISA allowance cut, and paying tax as a Vinted seller

This week on Money and Markets, Dan and Laura break down how Middle East tensions are shaking up oil, gold, and travel stocks [1:45], and what the latest results from FedEx and Halfords tell us about consumer confidence and global trade [7:00]. 
In our personal finance section, we explore the cut to Premium Bond prize rates and why loyalty to your savings account might be costing you [13:00]. We also look at the rise of companies putting Bitcoin on the balance sheet [23:50] - and share a strange new scam story you’ll want to hear [57:04]. 
Our interview is with the team at Evenlode, discussing why their global equity funds are cautious on the US and why they avoid the obvious bets [34:44]. And we wrap up with a spotlight on Rosebank, the Melrose spinoff that just raised £1.1 billion in one of AIM’s biggest fundraises in years [47:31]. 

Markets on edge, Bitcoin on the balance sheet, and the rise of Rosebank

Warren Buffett is the world’s best known investor, but at the tender age of 94, he’s recently announced he’ll be stepping down as CEO of his investment vehicle, Berkshire Hathaway. In this Deep Dive by AJ Bell Money and Markets, Laith Khalaf and Russ Mould discuss Buffett’s investment strategy, and how everyday investors can apply it to their portfolio.
Laith and Russ talk through some of the key investing principles of Warren Buffett, delving into whether he is really a value investor, and asking if Buffett is right when he says diversification is protection against ignorance. We also look at the importance of a buy and hold strategy and staying within your circle of competence.
We’re joined by Keith Ashworth-Lord, manager of the Sanford DeLand Buffettology fund, to explain what Buffettology is, and how he applies Buffett’s principles to investing in the UK stock market.
Laith and Russ discuss some more of Buffett’s investing tips, such as whether most people should buy a tracker fund, and if crypto really is ‘rat poison squared’.

Deep Dive #4: How to invest like Warren Buffett

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth assess recent oil price moves as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies and consider how hikes could impact global inflation. [04:21]
Could the UK be heading for “stagflation” as the economy shrinks? Danni checks out the latest growth and inflation data. [08:49]
Get the latest insight on corporate news. Profits are under pressure at equipment maker Ashtead ahead of the company moving its main stock market listing to New York. The US and UK might have finally rubber stamped a deal on cars and jet engines but Jaguar Land Rover has already slashed its forecasts. With defence stocks in fashion, Dan and Danni consider why one company, RC Fornax, has issued an earnings warning. [17:53]
As AIM celebrates its 30th birthday, Dan looks at companies past and present, while Tom Sieber from Shares Magazine explains why a lot of companies have become disheartened with the junior market. [25:30]
Bank of America’s latest survey into how fund managers are positioning portfolios makes for fascinating reading as markets remain volatile. [32:10]
Our guest interview features Emma Moriarty from Capital Gearing Trust who discusses why markets are moving higher yet economic forecasts are moving lower. [34:57]
The podcast also talks about the choice of savings products hitting record highs but some rates are at a two-year low [47:30]. The team also explain why Which? is urging shoppers to consider protections when using “pay by bank”. [50:42]

A peek inside the minds of expert investors and where next for AIM as it turns 30

In this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson unpack the latest UK jobs and retail sales figures [1:45]. Tom Sieber joins the show to discuss the growing trend of companies leaving the London stock market, and what can be learned from the takeover of Alphawave [12:50]. Other big corporate stories include the resignation of WPP’s boss, M&S taking online orders again and the split of Warner Bros and Discovery [21:25]. Talking break ups, we’ve got the latest on the spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Charlene looks at the detail behind the government’s announcement that 9 million pensioners will get the winter fuel payment this year [30:00] and what it might mean for future tax policy. The FCA has led an international effort to crackdown on unregulated financial influencers. [37:30]

UK tech takeover targets, a weakening labour market and the winter fuel payment u-turn

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast digests gloomier economic forecasts. Dan Coatsworth explains why investors are still fired up by the defence sector. [04:00]
Charlene Young reveals how much you need to enjoy a certain lifestyle in retirement. [07:55]. She also goes through the mailbag to answer your questions about pensions. [14:10]
Fancy some free shares? There is a growing trend for investors to be gifted stock as companies break into two. Dan Coatsworth has all the info on this week’s podcast. [28:00]
The pod team talk about record inflows into Cash ISAs [33:15], and reveal which age group is benefiting the most from a drop in car insurance prices. [35:11]
Finally, we’re joined by fund manager Laura Elkin who runs AEW UK REIT. Dan quizzes Laura about the latest trends in the UK commercial property market and how the investment trust has helped to bring a former Wilko store back to life. [37:35]

How much money you need in retirement and brighter prospects for UK commercial property

Dan Coatsworth and Laith Khalaf bring you a bonus edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, all about investment trusts.
The pair answer your questions about trusts and talk to a range of experts about fascinating things happening on the market.
Dan chats to Muzo Kayacan and David Barron from BlackRock American Income about the investment trust’s shift to using AI to help find opportunities on the market.
Martin Gamble talks to Mark Boggett from Seraphim Space about why this investment trust is an alternative way to play the defence sector. Martin also debates Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings with Shares magazine’s Tom Sieber.
Finally, we’ve got Simon Barnard on the show to talk about Smithson, the small cap little sister to Fundsmith Equity Fund. Simon talks about narrowing the focus of the trust and why he doesn’t believe having half the portfolio in the US is a currently a problem.

Investment Trust show: AI stock picking, Fundsmith’s small cap strategy, and an alternative spin on the defence sector

This week on the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Tom Sieber unpack Trump’s latest tariff U-turn [02:10] and UK growth forecasts from the IMF that also came with a warning for the Chancellor about her fiscal rules [04:25]. The energy price cap is falling and the Prime Minister says he wants more people to get the winter fuel payment. But as Charlene explores, there is little detail about how and when, and the options on the table might not be a silver bullet [07:05]?
Tom reviews Tesla's struggles in Europe [11:28], and why the market reacted negatively to Games Workshop’s rising profits [14:10].
Dan Coatsworth interviews Ian Lance from Temple Bar Investment Trust on UK stocks and BP takeover talk[18:07], and Tom Sieber sits down with Ian Conway of Shares magazine to discuss the whispers that London Stock Exchange is considering an overseas listing [32.33]. In our second interview, Charlene talks to financial planner, podcaster and author Pete Matthew as he shares insights on retirement planning from his new book [45.01].

Trumps pause on EU tariffs, UK growth back in the spotlight and how to prep for a meaningful retirement

On this week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Tom Sieber explore some big names on the UK and US stock market following a spate of corporate updates over the past week. They chat about Guinness maker Diageo, sausage roll giant Greggs, and a trio of American firms which have given us a fascinating insight into the state of the US consumer. [6:05]
Marks & Spencer has laid out the potential hit to profits from its recent cyber-attack and it’s a hefty sum. Dan has all the details and he talks to fund manager Ian Lance from Temple Bar Investment Trust to get a shareholder’s perspective on the incident. [14:30]
Hear about the new threat to Next and Dunelm as a US home furnishings giant prepares to make its UK debut. [21:15]
Dan chats about an important development in the buy now, pay later industry [25:20] and why there is some relief for certain victims of scams. [29:20]
Tom has a fascinating insight into the UK property market as more Americans look to move to the UK. [32:05]. Tom also talks about big moves in the cash savings market. [34:50]
Finally, don’t miss the second part of our interview with Edinburgh Investment Trust’s Emily Barnard who explains how AstraZeneca differs from GSK, key achievements from both companies, and where they might go next. [37:30]

Counting the cost of Marks & Spencer’s cyber-attack, and AstraZeneca versus GSK

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Charlene Young take stock of which trade deals have been struck in the wake of Donald Trump’s tariff policies and assess how markets and some of those big US stocks like Nvidia have performed.[2:09]  
A week after the Bank of England cut its base rates they consider where interest rates are likely to go next and whether the cut has been passed on in the form of mortgage and savings rates. [11:58] 
Latest data shows the UK labour market is showing further signs of strain but the weather’s given consumer spending a boost with positive updates from Wickes, Marston’s, On the Beach and Next. [18:27]
Marks and Spencer has updated markets on the cyber-attack which is still preventing online deliveries from the high street stalwart but can it keep customers on side? [26:08] 
Dan Coatsworth talks to Emily Barnard from Edinburgh Investment Trust about tariffs on the pharmaceutical sector and where AstraZeneca and GSK stand with weight-loss drugs [29:53] 
And Tom Sieber from Shares Magazine has been talking to fund managers about the surprise retirement of investing legend Warren Buffett. [45:40]

Trade deals, rate cuts and filling Warren Buffett’s shoes

Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth go deep into the world of tariffs on this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. They’ll discuss the latest movements, the latest industries in the firing line, and what companies are now saying about the impact of tariffs on earnings and their outlook. [4:20]
While it might feel as if the business world is trying to catch its breath amid the tariff chaos, mergers and acquisitions are still being announced and Dan talks through some of the big ones that involve sliced bread, trainers and takeaways. [20:26]
Warren Buffett’s decision to step down as the boss of Berkshire Hathaway was headline news around the world and the team explain exactly why that’s a significant move. [29:40]
There’s some worrying news about many people not having enough money in retirement to enjoy even the most basic pleasures [34:49]. Danni also discusses why the bank of mum and dad are becoming even more important in the quest to get on the housing ladder. [39:50]
Finally, the podcast features an activist investor who has been involved in several campaigns involving the likes of logistics provider DX Group, polling specialist YouGov and luxury goods retailer Watches of Switzerland. Liad Meidar from Gatemore Capital puts forward his argument as to why activists aren’t the villain some members of the public make them to be. [44:40]

How tariffs are impacting companies and why activist investors aren’t necessarily villains

Get the latest on takeovers, wind-downs and manager changes in the world of investment trusts on this month’s special edition of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. [1:25].
Dan Coatsworth chats about which trusts were in demand from AJ Bell customers during the past month’s mark turmoil. [9:15] Martin Gamble reveals which investment trusts were in and out of favour on a broader basis during this period. [13:09]
Dan talks to Ryan Lightfoot-Aminoff from Kepler Partners. about opportunities in Asia amid chatter that investors are looking for ways to dial down exposure to the US. [27:50]
Finally, Tom Sieber talks to Jim Strang from HgCapital Trust about the impact on tariffs on the tech companies and why Hg is focused on the more boring side of tech. [44:30]

Investment Trust Show: how trusts fared in the market sell-off and recovery, opportunities in Asia, and the boring side of tech

This week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast starts with some positive news for investors who managed to hold their nerve through the Liberation Day sell-off [01:32]. But Dan Coatsworth also has a stream of gloomy corporate updates from big firms cutting earnings guidance, seeing sales hit by tariffs, or just feeling the pinch as American consumers tighten their purse strings [05:39]. 
Russ Mould joins us to analyse the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, with a focus on how markets have performed in that time compared to previous presidents [10:25]. 
Charlene Young looks at the £800 million state pension benefit scandal and explains who’s affected, and what you can do if you think you or someone you know might be owed money [19:59]. House prices dipped in April, after the changes to stamp duty went live and cost of living pressure rose [17:40] 
You might have run into bother trying to shop with Marks and Spencer recently. Dan covers the cyber incident that has taken the spark out of the retailer [27:28]. And to round things off, the Shares Magazine team bring us the latest update from streaming giant, Spotify [34:29].

Market rebounds, first 100 days of Trump’s second term and State Pension underpayment scandal.

In this week’s AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Laura Suter break down the latest headlines affecting your finances and investments. 
We cover Tesla and Netflix earnings (05:11), how political uncertainty in the US is driving gold prices higher (03:22), and what NS&I’s latest savings rates mean for savers (14:29). Charlene reveals the real odds of winning with Premium Bonds after an FOI request (12:21), and Tom Sieber from Shares magazine joins to explore whether fund managers with hands-on industry experience hold a performance edge (09:39). 
Dan Coatsworth speaks with Peter Fitzgerald from Aviva Investors about how rising tariffs are shifting investment strategies (19:16), and pensions expert Rachel Vahey explains how tax-free cash works when taking money from your pension (31:37). 

Tesla, Netflix, Premium Bonds, gold prices and tariff turmoil continues

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets Danni Hewson and Tom Sieber from Shares magazine dig into what has been another ridiculously busy week for markets. 
They track what’s been going over the past 7 days as what’s been dubbed by some as “Storm Donald” [1:50] has continued to buffet global stock markets. They discuss the 90-day pause for some countries, carve outs for things like smart phones which have boosted Apple.[6:00] But there’s huge uncertainty still and promises of further moves on semi-conductors and pharmaceuticals and the magnificent Nvidia has seen shares dive again after it said it would take a huge hit from controls on chip exports to China. [7:55]
With the UK potentially at the front of a queue for a trade deal with the US how are things looking when it comes to jobs and inflation, the pair chat through the latest numbers and assess what it might mean for interest rates and how the mortgage market is responding. [15:00]
We’ve also got a deep dive into the UK’s biggest supermarket Tesco from Steve and Ian from the Shares mag team [23:08], plus an update on AJ Bell funds from AJ Bell’s head of investment solutions James Flintoft [38:55] and Martin Gamble from Shares gives us the low down on two of the best fund managers you’ve probably never heard of - Nick Sleep and Qais (Zac) Zakaria from The Nomad Partnership. [47:40]

Tariff turmoil, Tesco warns of price wars and an update on AJ Bell funds

It’s ten years since George Osborne introduced his landmark private pension reforms, known as the ‘pension freedoms’. In this AJ Bell Money and Markets Deep Dive, we explore whether the pension freedoms have been a success and how you can make the most of them with your pension.
 
(05:26) Tom Selby and Rachel Vahey from AJ Bell will be joining Laith Khalaf to discuss what the pension freedoms were, and how people have been using them over the last decade. We’ll also be running through the tax treatment of pension withdrawals and the chancellor’s plans to levy inheritance tax on pensions.
 
(23:55) One of the architects of the pension freedoms, Sir Steve Webb, the Pension Minister in the coalition government of 2010 to 2015, talks to Laith about why the reforms took place and whether they’ve been a success.
 
(45:20) The team talk through the differences between drawdown and annuity and ask what a sustainable income is. We also discuss investment strategies in retirement, and ask whether annuities might be due a comeback. Finally we run through the resources that can help you decide how to take your retirement income.

Deep Dive #3: How to make the most of the pension freedoms

It’s been an eventful week and this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast explores the key reasons behind the global market sell-off and what might happen next. Dan Coatsworth explains why shares slumped and he reveals the total value destroyed on global stock markets and the winners and losers on the FTSE 100. Laith Khalaf reveals why bond markets were showing unusual behaviour and the pair chat about why some companies like Games Workshop and Diageo might not be as badly affected as investors think. [02:50]
Dan talks to Morningstar equity strategist Michael Field about what Liberation Day means for European stocks and shares which had a great run in the first quarter of the year. [26:23]
If you’ve been spooked by the market sell-off and are worried about your investments, Dan and Laith offer some reassurance and explain why there is no reason to panic. [35:45]
Laith has some interesting statistics on why it can pay to use your ISA allowance at the start of a tax year rather than at the end. [42:30]. Dan finds some interesting trend with AJ Bell customer behaviour during the market sell-off. [46:59].
Finally, Jonathan Maxwell from SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust is on the podcast to talk about the Trump administration rolling back green policies and whether that creates a headwind for renewable energy investors. [54:55].

Everything investors need to know about the global market sell-off

Ever wondered exactly who invests in investment trusts? The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast has the answer on this week’s episode. [01:13]
Dan Coatsworth talks to Nick Brind from Polar Capital Global Financials Trust about the rally in banking shares, what Donald Trump’s return to the White House means for US banks, and where he is finding opportunities in the current market. [07:26]
Tom Sieber and Martin Gamble conduct a deep dive of BlackRock World Mining Trust. [17:59]
Emma Bird from Winterflood explains the world of gearing, what the term means and how it can be a help or hindrance to investment trust performance. [29:50]
Finally, Laith Khalaf talks to Indri Van Hien, co-manager of Henderson Smaller Companies Trust, about the impact of Budget changes on UK businesses and why small caps continue to lag bigger companies. [44:00]

Investment Trust Show: investing in financials, mining and smaller companies, and how and why trusts borrow money

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast Danni Hewson and Charlene Young discuss what has been a volatile first quarter for markets [1:55] as companies and investors try to navigate Donald Trump’s tariffs. The pair discuss which sectors have borne the brunt so far and how the UK could be impacted. With Awful April [13:20] in full spring Charlene runs through the bills that have jumped up and considers what that might do for inflation and interest rates.  Danni picks through some eye-catching market news with [17:18] Conservative US TV network Newsmax jumping more than 2,000% after its IPO and a potential bid for UK’s Alphawave as Qualcomm looks to boost its AI chops and with US markets under pressure and investors looking for ways to diversify, we hear from Emily Fletcher, portfolio manager of Black Rock Frontiers Investment Trust [22:34].
Tax year end is upon us [40:40] and Charlene talks through new allowances, using pension contributions to pare down your tax bill and popular options like Bed and ISA which help you bring existing investments into tax wrappers. Plus, news from HMRC that the interest rate charged on late tax payments is going up. And with investors warming to bonds again after a patchy period where they didn’t comfort portfolios as expected, Dan Coatsworth talks to Ryan Myerberg from the Brown Advisory Global Sustainable Total Return Bond Fund about all things fixed income. [50:40]

Tariffs unsettle markets and tax year end tips

This week’s AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast takes a closer look at the key items from Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Spring Statement.
There were big changes to economic and inflation forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility. However, the Chancellor insisted her longer-term plans were still intact – namely, to bring public finances under control and drive growth in the economy.
Laura Suter, Charlene Young and Dan Coatsworth analyse the major announcements in the Spring Statement and how they will impact your money. They also chat about key areas that were missing from the Spring Statement and whether they might be coming later on – or not at all, given what the Chancellor has just announced.
The team talk savings, investments, pensions, ISAs, mortgages and how markets reacted to the news.

Spring Statement special: What Rachel Reeves’ economic plans mean for your money

In the second instalment of our Deep Dive series, AJ Bell Money & Markets explores Artificial Intelligence, one of the biggest technological advancements of our era which threatens to change the world we live in, and which has already created a huge amount of value in financial markets. 
(01:16) Steve Frazer, technology writer for Shares magazine introduces us to the basics of AI and explains what the recent arrival of the Chatbot DeepSeek means for other AI players. 
(12:45) Next up we speak to Stephen Yiu, fund manager of the Blue Whale Growth fund, who has made a lot of money from his investment in Nvidia, the poster child for AI, and from technology stocks more broadly. But now he’s selling down his stake in Microsoft, we find out why. 
(34:51) Of course, some people think the stock market is in a bubble. Rob Arnott of Research Affiliates, is in that camp. Commonly referred to as the Godfather of Smart Beta, Rob gives his view on market developments and tells us why he thinks US stocks are overvalued 
(51:40) Finally we catch up with Chris Ford, fund manager of the Sanlam Global Artificial Intelligence fund, who tells us why 60% of his fund is invested outside the tech sector. 

Deep Dive #2: Artificial Intelligence

In this week's episode we bring you up to date on the latest US and UK interest rate decisions.(00:14)
Danni Hewson and Charlene Young discuss why the gold price has reached another record high, why possible price wars are taking a bite out of the value of UK-listed supermarkets, and the latest updates from tech firm Trustpilot and defence group Qinetic.(03:19)
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould joins the team to debate the choppy US markets and give his views the Trump slump and the not-so Magnificent Seven.(17:21)
Tom Sieber from Shares Magazine talks about stock splits – what they are, and why they matter to investors.(30:03)
Charlene also rifles through the latest ONS inflation basket – VR headsets and yoga mats are in but gammon joints and cafeteria lunches are out.(35:14)

US recession fears mean a Trump slump, UK supermarkets gear up for price wars and gold reaches record highs

If you’re trying to understand the turmoil on the markets, don’t miss this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast. Dan Coatsworth explains what’s going on, what might happen next, and how to keep your cool. [01:13]
This podcast is our ISA special: we’ve gone all out on explaining the pros and cons of Individual Savings Accounts.
Laura Suter and Charlene Young join Dan in weighing up the range of ISAs currently available and whether they are still fit for purpose. They talk Stocks & Shares ISAs, Cash ISAs, Junior ISAs, Innovative Finance ISAs and Lifetime ISAs. [04:24]
Tom Selby reclaims his crown as the podcast taskmaster and brings back the legendary ISA quiz. [14:27]
Want to know where other investors have been putting their ISA money this year? Dan reveals the top selections and talks through some interesting trends. [24:06]
Everyone would love to be an ISA millionaire, but how hard is it to hit the goal? Laura does the maths. [28:15]
We’ve had loads of listener questions come in, so the team tackle three burning ISA issues: which is better: an ISA or a pension? [31:31]; what is a Bed & ISA and should I bother with it? [34:50]; and how does the taxman know if I’m over the £20,000 ISA allowance? [36:52]
Finally, our special guest this week is Craig Baker from the team behind the £4.7 billion Alliance Witan investment trust. Its first results since the merger have just come out and Dan talks to Craig about performance and what Alliance Witan is trying to achieve longer term. [39:27]

Surviving the market turmoil, how to get the most from an ISA, Alliance Witan’s debut results

On this episode of the AJ Bell money and markets podcast Dan Coatsworth and Danni Hewson assess the impact on markets after Donald Trump brought in 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Is a global trade war inevitable and have investors been caught on the hop because of the President’s unpredictability or is it a storm set to fizzle out. [02:10]  As the global order shifts European countries are expected to spend more on defence which helped lift the FTSE 100 to a record high earlier in the week, the team from Shares magazine deliver a deep dive into company making gains, BAE Systems. [13:30]
Pastry purveyor Greggs was flavour of the month with investors, but growth has slowed significantly, can the company’s focus on healthy options and evening grub help it get its mojo back? [22:20) Changes to listing rules are in the offing with the FTSE Russell accepting companies with a Euro or Dollar share price from September so what might that mean for London markets. [28:30] AJ Bell’s Head of Public Policy Rachel Vahey joins us to talk about the fast-approaching deadline if you need to top up your qualifying National Insurance contributions [32:36] and the sub 4% mortgage is back with 5 major lenders cutting mortgage deals. [39:20]

Markets rattled by trade war fears, a deep dive into BAE and what next for Greggs

Dan Coatsworth explores some of the best and worst performing trusts so far this year and what this tells us about investor appetite towards certain parts of the market. [01:15]
We’ve been very thin on the ground for new investment trusts joining the stock market for a long time but things are looking up. Laith Khalaf discusses the launch of Achilles Investment Company (AIC). [05:40]
Dan looks at the latest events involving Bill Ackman and his Pershing Square Holdings (PSH) investment vehicle [09:47], while Laith has some interesting stats comparing funds to trusts. [12:53]
JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (JGGI) has fast become one of investors’ favourites but did you know it has a sister investment trust that follows the same strategy but just looks at Europe? Dan talks to Tim Lewis, portfolio manager on JPMorgan European Growth & Income (JEGI), about opportunities and risks in the year ahead. [18:53]
Martin Gamble and Tom Sieber from Shares magazine conduct a deep dive into Greencoat UK Wind (UKW). [35:20]
Finally, we’re joining by Paul Angell, AJ Bell’s head of investment research, to discuss ways to research and select investment trusts. [46:39]

Investment Trust Show #12: how to pick a trust, why European markets are racing ahead, best and worst performers, Greencoat UK Wind deep dive

This week on the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Laura Suter dive into the latest market news, including Apple’s big investment plans [01:19] and BP’s plans to roll back it’s green investment after pressure from an activist investor [09:13]. We also look at why Tesla shares are under pressure [04:39] and discuss Unilever’s CEO stepping down after less than two years [14:30].
On the personal finance front, Laura explains the impact of the latest rise in Ofgem’s energy price cap and shares tips on how to cut household bills [17:56]. She also uncovers cash savings traps that could see you paying more tax than necessary. [24:19]
For investors, Tom Sieber explores the best-performing dividend hero investment trusts, funds that deliver strong income without sacrificing returns [29:01]. And Dan Coatsworth speaks with Abbie Glennie from abrdn about why the UK stock market is showing signs of life [34:16].

Apple’s big investment plans, BPs net zero reset, energy bills to rise, and top dividend investment trusts to watch

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young and Laith Khalaf mull over the latest numbers from the UK banking sector after Barclays, NatWest and HSBC have posted their full year results. [1:30]
There’s also been a slew of UK economic data over the last week, so we’ll be taking a look at the jobs figures and a big jump in inflation back up to 3%. We’ll also be asking whether we should be celebrating 0.1% growth in the economy. [6:23]
Cash has also been making headlines, as NS&I changes its rates, and a record amount is reported sitting in bank accounts paying no interest. Meanwhile rumours are flying that the government might consider cutting back the cash ISA allowance. [15:42]
The activist investor Saba is back with a new plan for its foray into the investment trust sector. Laith brings us up to speed with what’s going on. [25:20]
Saba’s strategy isn’t unique; in fact, it’s the same one adopted by Migo Opportunities trust, yet the way Saba has gone about calling for change is different to Migo’s approach. Dan Coatsworth caught up with Migo’s co-manager Charlotte Cuthbertson to explore the differences. [28:55]
Finally we’ll be asking if Elon Musk’s political affiliations might be starting to hurt his business interests, as protestors gather outside Tesla showrooms in the US. [40:10]

UK bank results, a surprise jump in inflation and are Elon Musk's politics starting to hurt his business interests

Welcome to the first episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets Deep Dive podcast. This is a new series which will take a long look at some of the key issues in markets and personal finances. First up we’ll be diving into a subject which will affect almost everyone – taxes. Personal taxes are on the rise and we’ll be looking at some of the main ways you can save tax on your savings and investments.
The tax burden is on course to reach a historic high of 38.2% of GDP by 2029. Laith Khalaf speaks to Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies about how we got here, and whether more tax rises are on the way. [11:05]
ISAs have been a hugely successful savings and investment account since their launch in 1999. Laith Khalaf and Charlene Young discuss the merits of ISAs and whether people in the UK are holding too much cash. [30:08]
Tom Selby, Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell joins the pod to discuss another important tax shelter: pensions. We ask him whether a pension is better than an ISA, and if the government might look to take away some of the generous tax relief currently attached to pensions. [40:02]
There are other ways to save tax too. Laith and Charlene discuss family finances, VCTs and the 60% tax trap. [59:08]

Deep Dive #1: How to protect your money from the rising tax tide

In this week’s episode, Charlene Young and Danni Hewson look at what’s happened since the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee cut the base rate to 4.5% last Thursday. Expectations for a cut were high so has the reaction from markets and mortgage lenders been unsurprising too? [01:30] 
Danni gives the low down on the latest results from McDonald’s and BP. Does activist investor Eliott taking a stake in BP mean there is a reset on the horizon for the struggling energy giant? [11:57] 
Elon Musk is back in the news again. Donald Trump’s right-hand man and head of DOGE has led a bid for OpenAI, the company he co-founded with current CEO Sam Altmann before their big fall out over the future of the ‘mission’. [17:46] 
Charlene gives us a preview of an exciting new AJ Bell Money & Markets project. 
Tom Sieber from Shares Magazine joins us to talk about defensive stocks. He explains what a defensive stock is, examines the traditional defensive sectors and reveals which metrics identify ‘defensiveness’. [23:17] 
Dan Coatsworth interviews Guy Gittens, CEO of estate agent Foxtons to get his thoughts on where the property market could go next, the issues facing people who rent, and whether flaws in the Lifetime ISA are causing issues for prospective buyers in London. [28:46] 

UK interest rate cut impact, what’s behind the FTSE 100 rally and Elon Musk’s bid for OpenAI

Welcome to the latest episode of the AJ Bell Monet & Markets podcast.
Tariffs have been on everyone’s minds this week and they’ve caused some big movements on the markets and dominated the discussion for many companies. Danni Hewson runs through the key points and how they relate to investments. [04:06]
Tom Sieber and Ian Conway from Shares magazine explain why tariff issues have cast a cloud over Diageo and the key takeaways from its latest results. [13:04]
A government consultation on Lifetime ISAs closed this week so Dan Coatsworth explores the pros and cons of the account and the changes AJ Bell hopes to see in the near future. [26:06]
Rachel Vahey talks about new figures on changes to the UK population and how this links to pensions. [29:05]
Danni and Dan take a look at the latest numbers from Alphabet, Disney, Estee Lauder, GSK and Mattel. [37:17]
Dan also chats about how certain activist investors are getting what they want, with major changes announced at Smiths Group and YouGov. [49:35]

How tariffs shock markets, Alphabet’s big challenge, and why we want to see changes to the Lifetime ISA

Investment trusts have been all over the news as activist investor Saba targets seven companies with the hope of gaining control and becoming the investment manager. Herald (HRI) shareholders have already voted Saba down and we’re about to find out the fate of the other six investment trusts. Laith Khalaf brings us up to speed on the key events. [01:32]
Dan Coatsworth talks to James Carthew from research group QuotedData about what he thinks could happen next with Saba, and about the role of activist investors in general. [11:03]
Ian Conway and Steve Frazer conduct a deep dive into Law Debenture (LWDB) investment trust [26:40] and Dan talks to Nicholas Weindling, fund manager of JPMorgan Japanese (JFJ) about what’s going on in that part of Asia. [37:30]

Investment Trust Show #11: Fighting off activist investors and the attractions of Japan

In this week’s episode, Dan Coatsworth and Laura Suter discuss the recent selloff in US tech stocks, and what sparked the market turmoil [01:32]. They also look at WHSmith’s potential sale of its UK business [06:27], and Diageo denying rumours about selling Guinness [09:17]. 
Laura looks at the frustration taxpayers are facing with HMRC’s long call wait times, as some new data is released showing how hard it is to reach the taxman [12:09], while Tom Sieber looks at attending a company AGM in person at SRT Marine Systems and why investor engagement matters [16:55].  
Plus, Dan interviews Chris Tennant of Fidelity Emerging Markets to explore Donald Trump’s impact on emerging markets, why you might want EM exposure in your ISA or pension, and what’s next for China [24:26]. 

US tech selloff, taxpayer frustrations, Guinness selloff denied and emerging market insights

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth is joined by AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould to discuss how markets reacted to Donald Trump’s return to the White House [00:02:14]. From halting the TikTok ban to confusion about the President’s plans for tariffs, it’s already been a wild ride.
Dan is joined by Danni Hewson to assess what’s behind the FTSE 100’s good run. The pair also consider what might happen next for UK interest rates given the latest economic data gives the Bank of England a lot to think about. [00:11:12]
Government borrowing costs have shot up again but was that already priced into gilt yields and with pressure mounting on the Chancellor to spell out her plans for growth. [00:13:49]
Dan and Danni discuss the role of regulators with a former Amazon boss now heading the CMA and plans from the FCA to relax mortgage lending rules. [00:17:21]
Plus, Netflix hikes prices as subscriber numbers soar [00:31:38], why two brokers have very different views on Greggs [00:37:16] and James Flintoft, head of investment solutions at AJ Bell, updates us on asset allocation in AJ Bell funds [00:46:43].

Markets brace for Trump 2:0, FTSE 100 hits new record high, regulators under pressure as the UK goes for growth

The AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast team start this week’s episode with some good news as UK inflation took a surprise dip in December to 2.5%. Does this mean the chances of a February rate cut have jumped? Rachel Reeves has fought back in a Commons speech to defend her growth plans and although UK housebuilders have had a boost, other big companies continue to issue their own warnings. [01:02]
Danni Hewson and Charlene Young discuss how the UK isn’t the only country facing increased borrowing costs after recent bond yield hikes, and they also chat about what higher gilt yields mean for personal finances. [08:37]
Updates from BP, JD Sports and PageGroup painted a gloomy outlook but good news from Permission gave UK housebuilders a boost, even before a second bounce arrived following the inflation news. Charlene stays with housing, with a new IFS report on how more young people are residing in the Hotel of Mum and Dad. [23:10]
Donald Trump will be back in the White House next week, so Danni spoke to Yoojeong Oh, manager of the Abrdn Asian Income Fund, to find out how tariffs might impact Asian markets and where opportunities for income generation lie [27:56]. A TikTok ban in the US is also due next week, but is there any hope for a reprieve? [41:53]
Charlene finishes up with a timely reminder of the looming self-assessment deadline. [46:52]