IFA Talk

The latest New Insurance & Protection special edition of IFA Talk explores how insurers are reshaping protection in 2025, and what this means for advisers and their clients.

In this episode, hosts Meg Bratley and Sue Whitbread are joined by Paul Roberts, Propositions and Distribution Director at CIExpert. Paul shares his expert insights into how the industry is developing more comprehensive cover and how advisers can translate this into meaningful client conversations.

Highlights from the latest episode:

· A look at what insurers have done during 2025 to offer more comprehensive cover

· How understanding Additional Payments, Enhanced Payments, Accelerated Payments, and Severity Payments adds real value to modern protection conversations

· How Children’s Critical Illness cover should be positioned as part of holistic financial planning moving forward

This episode makes for a fascinating and practical discussion, giving advisers valuable guidance on how to embrace the latest developments in protection and deliver even better outcomes for their clients

This week’s IFA Talk Budget Special is packed with practical insight, clear explanations, and a few “wait, did the Chancellor really do that?” moments.

In this episode, host Sue Whitbread, Editor at IFA Magazine, is joined by Rachel Vahey, Head of Public Policy at AJ Bell, who helps advisers cut through the noise and get straight to what really matters for clients in terms of last week’s budget measures.

Recorded on Friday 28th November, this fast-paced 20-minute chat is your shortcut to understanding the key measures, the curveballs (plenty of those!), and the missed opportunities of the Budget.

What’s inside this budget breakdown?

Rachel takes us on a whistle-stop tour through the key budget announcements, the headline items and the smaller, easy-to-miss measures that really matter for advisers and clients.

Here’s a flavour of what’s covered:

- Stealth taxes and fiscal drag

Income tax thresholds remain frozen – again – meaning more clients pulled into higher-rate tax and more explaining for advisers.

- Salary sacrifice reforms and pension implications

One of the biggest pension talking points of the Budget was salary sacrifice. What’s changing? From when? And what are the “watch-outs” for advisers and employers?

- Cash ISAs

Rachel explains what the Chancellor has done and what she hasn’t done. She also adds clarity on the much-rumoured ISA reforms and we think this might raise some eyebrows as to the implications especially for investment ISA.

- The Budget ‘Smorgasbord’ – smaller measures that matter

Your clients will feel these – even if they didn’t make the headlines.

- The bond market backdrop

No Budget exists in a vacuum. Rachel and Sue take a moment to consider the bond market reaction, the Government’s tightrope walk after the Truss episode, and whether advisers should be bracing for bond-market rumblings.

To catch up with all the details tune in now!

Now live: The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk lifts the lid on one of the most pressing issues facing today’s housing market, how to help more first-time buyers take that crucial first step onto the property ladder.

In this episode, hosts Sue Whitbread and Meg Bratley are joined by Carlo Pileggi, Head of Mortgage Products at Nationwide Building Society. Carlo shares his insights into the challenges facing first-time buyers today, and how initiatives like Nationwide’s Helping Hand Mortgage Boost are making a meaningful difference for aspiring homeowners across the UK.

Highlights from this week’s episode

The changing profile of first-time buyers, and the trends Nationwide is seeing on the ground

How Helping Hand is supporting affordability, deposits and access to lending

The growing role of family support and how lenders are adapting to reflect this

Real stories of first-time buyers whose journeys were transformed through flexible lending

What the next 12–18 months might hold for affordability, lending innovation and first-time buyer support

This episode provides a timely and insightful look at the real barriers facing today’s first-time buyers, and the innovative solutions helping more people secure a home of their own.

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Matt Williams and Jenny Hunter dive into one of the most important and complex areas of financial planning, helping clients manage risk and income throughout retirement.

Joining them is Andrew Lewis, Senior Investment Director at Brooks Macdonald, who shares his thoughts on how advisers can design smarter, more resilient retirement strategies that adapt to clients’ changing needs.

Andrew talks about the main risks retirees face today, from longevity and sequencing risk to the impact of inflation - the kind of inflation you really notice when the price of a tub of Lurpak at the supermarket gives you a shock (though other butters are, of course, available). He also unpacks the key findings from the FCA’s thematic review on retirement income and what they mean in practice for advisers supporting clients through decumulation.

The conversation rounds off with a look at how Brooks Macdonald’s Retirement Strategies can form part of a centralised retirement proposition, helping advisers deliver consistency, flexibility and stronger client outcomes.

If you’re advising clients approaching or already in retirement, this episode offers practical insights and plenty to think about as you help plan for your clients.

The latest New Insurance & Protection special edition of IFA Talk turns the spotlight onto a topic at the heart of financial wellbeing, protection.

In this episode, hosts Meg Bratley and Jenny Hunter are joined by Phil Jeynes, who leads the strategic direction of MetLife UK’s individual protection business. Phil shares his expert view on how advisers can better support clients when it comes to choosing the right type of protection and preparing for life’s unexpected events.

Highlights from this week’s episode

Helping clients make informed decisions

Understanding who’s most at risk

Practical support when the unexpected happens

This episode offers a timely and insightful discussion on why protection matters, and the crucial role advisers play in giving clients clarity, confidence and peace of mind when they need it most.

How can advisers prove their value, close the advice gap, and embrace technology without losing the personal touch?

On this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Meg and Sue are taking a closer look at the client proposition, in particular at how advisers and planners can continue to deliver strong outcomes for clients while building a resilient business.

Joining us is Arnie Millington, Head of Business Development at Sparrows Capital. Arnie has worked across the advice space — from AJ Bell and Benchmark to 7IM — giving him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities advisers face today.

In this conversation, Arnie shares practical insights on:

Whether you’re running your own advice business or working in a larger firm, this episode offers real-world insights on staying relevant and effective as the profession develops.

Listen now to hear practical thinking on balancing value, technology, and personal connection in financial advice.

In this month’s special TEI (Tax-Efficient Investment) special edition of IFA Talk, Matt and Sue take a look back at some of the key changes to IHT and pension in last year’s Autumn Budget.

With many of the new rules set to take effect from April 2026 and April 2027, advisers and clients are increasingly seeking support to navigate the changes ahead. Fortunately, joining us to unpack all of this is Toyin Oyeneyin, Tax Product Specialist at Octopus Investments. Together, we dive into the topic of IHT on pensions, before looking ahead to this year’s much-anticipated Budget.

In this episode, Toyin discusses whether the golden age of pensions is now over and outlines how the changes have affected the conversations advisers are having with their clients. She also answers whether there is still hesitancy regarding IHT planning ahead of the Budget and reveals how Octopus Investments are supporting advisers in an increasingly complex landscape.

Be sure to check out this episode and all other episodes of IFA Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon!

As the lines between model portfolio services (MPS) and bespoke investment solutions continue to blur, advisers are increasingly asking if these two approaches are really in competition, or can they actually complement each other?

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, hosts Sue Whitbread and Matt Williams are joined by Eddie Kennedy, Head of Marlborough’s Personal Portfolio Service, to explore this very question.

Eddie has plenty of experience in this field. In this conversation he not only shares his insights on how both MPS and bespoke solutions are evolving but also why framing them as opposing forces might just be missing the point.

On the agenda for this week’s conversation are:

As Eddie explains, Marlborough’s approach uses the same multi-asset framework to underpin both MPS and bespoke portfolios, illustrating how advisers can blend these strategies to meet evolving client needs.

Whether you’re refining your investment proposition or simply keeping an eye on industry trends, this episode offers valuable perspective on how to align service, personalisation and long-term outcomes.

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, hosts Matt Williams and Jenny Hunter delve into one of the most hotly debated topics, the evolving role of the paraplanner and whether it’s time for formal FCA recognition.

They’re joined by Derek Bradley, founder and CEO of Panacea Adviser, to discuss the findings of Panacea’s latest industry survey: “Should Paraplanners be more formally recognised by the FCA?” The research sparked widespread discussion across the financial planning community, raising key questions about professional identity, accountability and the future shape of the advice process.

Would formal recognition help to elevate standards and professionalism, or would it simply add cost and complexity to an already heavily regulated sector? Derek shares his perspective on these issues, exploring the fine line between advisers’ and paraplanners’ responsibilities, and why outsourced and in-house paraplanners often have such contrasting views on the question of regulation.

The conversation also looks ahead to what the next decade could hold for paraplanners, from evolving qualifications to shifting expectations around accountability and client outcomes.

Listen now to hear Derek’s insights on Panacea’s latest research and what greater formal recognition could mean for paraplanners, and the advice profession as a whole.

The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk explores how specialist lending is helping advisers support clients with increasingly complex financial needs.

In this episode, Meg and Sue are joined by Gavin Diamond, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspired Lending. With over 15 years’ experience in senior leadership roles across the short-term and specialist lending industry, Gavin shares his expert insights into how bridging and specialist finance can empower advisers to deliver tailored solutions for clients with diverse and evolving financial profiles.

Highlights from this week’s episode

Specialist lending for complex clients: Gavin discusses how bridging and short-term finance are becoming essential tools for advisers supporting clients with complex asset structures, liquidity challenges, and time-sensitive funding needs.

Timing and market confidence: Drawing on recent market insights, Gavin explains why “stability is not a slowdown” and how today’s environment is laying the foundations for renewed long-term confidence in specialist finance.

Supporting complex refurb and conversion projects: From office-to-residential conversions to portfolio repositioning, Gavin outlines how Inspired Lending structures loans that blend investment and development strategies to support clients’ ambitions.

Understanding borrower behaviour and adviser value: Bridging lenders often gain a unique perspective on borrower decision-making under pressure. Gavin shares lessons on liquidity management, opportunity recognition, and how advisers can deepen client relationships through these insights.

Building stronger partnerships with wealth managers: As client needs grow more complex, the lines between brokers, advisers, and wealth managers continue to blur. Gavin explores how collaboration and shared understanding can unlock better outcomes for clients across the wealth spectrum.

This episode offers a fascinating look at how specialist lending continues to evolve, highlighting the opportunities it presents for advisers to deliver truly bespoke solutions in a changing market.