IFA Talk

Multi-asset investing continues to sit at the heart of effective portfolio construction, helping advisers deliver diversification, risk alignment and consistent outcomes for their clients. But how can advisers be confident that the multi-asset solutions they choose really deliver long-term value?

In this latest episode of IFA Talk, Matt Williams and Sue Whitbread are joined by Mithesh Varsani, Head of Investment Solutions at Scottish Widows, to discuss the evolving multi-asset landscape and the role of the Scottish Widows Managed Growth Funds in supporting advisers and their clients.

Listen in as they discuss:

As advisers continue to manage changing client priorities, from sustainability considerations to income needs in retirement, having an investment partner which can evolve with you is essential. Mithesh shares his insights on how Scottish Widows is doing just that: combining innovation, robust risk management and clear alignment to client outcomes.

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

In this month’s special TEI (Tax-Efficient Investment) special edition of IFA Talk, Matt and Jenny dive into a topic which is front of mind for many advisers right now, and that is changes to Inheritance Tax, pension and business relief, and what they might mean for long-term planning.

To do this, Jon Prescott, Partner at Praetura Investments, joins us. He reveals how these reforms could reshape strategies around tax-efficient investing, and what advisers need to know to stay ahead.

We also discuss how business relief can still play a role in a well-diversified estate plan, the necessary changes to ensure it be used effectively going forward, and why it is essential for advisers and their clients to take action sooner rather than later.

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Sue are exploring a skill that every great financial adviser needs, but that doesn’t often get talked about enough: emotional intelligence. 

Often labelled a ‘soft skill’, emotional intelligence (EI) is anything but soft when it comes to its impact on adviser success. It can be the difference between being a good adviser and a great one. 

Joining us for this cracker of a conversation is James Woodfall, a former financial planner and founder of Raise Your EI. James has been doing some fascinating work on how emotional intelligence influences adviser performance, client relationships, and business outcomes. 

Together, they explore: 

As Matt puts it: “It’s one of those skills that underpins everything advisers do. Building trust and rapport, establishing long term relationships, EI is at the heart of great advice.” 

Whether you’re leading client conversations, mentoring junior colleagues, or steering your business through volatile markets, this episode offers practical insight into the human side of financial advice. 

Listen now to hear how you can raise your own EI and strengthen the relationships that drive long-term success. 

This week on IFA Talk, Matt Williams and Jenny Hunter are joined by Gill Millen, Managing Director at Bowmore Financial Planning, to dig into one of the most pressing issues facing advisers and their clients today: people simply aren’t saving enough for retirement. 

Bowmore’s latest analysis reveals that many clients, even those in their 40s and 50s and beyond, are contributing far below recommended levels, putting them at risk of a serious retirement income shortfall. In this episode, Gill shares practical ideas for how advisers can use this data to encourage clients to boost contributions and engage with their pensions earlier. 

The conversation covers why under-saving is such a growing concern, how advisers can engage younger clients without adding to their financial stress, the best ways to nudge clients to increase contributions gradually, and where advisers can add the most value through smart pension planning. 

If you’re looking for actionable tips to help clients secure a more sustainable retirement income, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

The latest New Insurance & Protection special edition of IFA Talk shines a light on an issue that impacts millions of households across the UK – protection.  

In this episode, hosts Sue Whitbread and Meg Bratley are joined by The Exeter’s Head of Protection Distribution, Jamie Page. Jamie explains why certain groups continue to be left behind when it comes to protection, and what the industry can do as a whole to ensure we see real change moving forward.  

Highlights from this week’s episode  

This episode makes for a fascinating and timely discussion, highlighting the responsibility – and the opportunity – advisers have to make protection advice more relevant and accessible to all at a pivotal time.

This week on IFA Talk, we’re getting into one of the biggest talking points in pensions – transfers. For years, they’ve been a bit of a nightmare. Slow processes, endless paperwork, frustrated clients… we’ve all heard the stories. But are those days finally behind us, or is there still work to be done? 

Sue Whitbread, Editor here at IFA Magazine, and Senior Financial Journalist Jenny Hunter are joined by Anthony Rafferty, CEO of Origo, to find out. Anthony shares his take on what’s changed, why some providers are getting it right while others are still dragging their heels, and what it’s going to take to bring everyone up to speed. 

Of course, the pensions world never stands still, so the chat also covers how wider uncertainty could affect things over the months ahead. And then there’s the pensions dashboard, after all the delays, is it finally back on track? What will it mean for advisers, providers and consumers once it’s up and running? 

It’s a lively, insightful conversation with plenty of straight talk about where we are now and what’s coming next. 

Retirement income planning has always been front and centre for advisers and paraplanners – and it’s evolving fast. 

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Sue are joined by not one but two expert guests from Morningstar Wealth:  Steve Coleman, Head of Product, and Steve Owen, Head of Proposition. Together, they explore what advisers and paraplanners really want and need from providers when it comes to helping clients achieve secure, sustainable retirement income. 

 In this conversation, we cover: 

Whether you’re focused on immediate client conversations or planning for the long-term evolution of your advice business, this episode is full of insights to support your thinking in today’s ever-changing retirement landscape. 

Now live: The latest Mortgage & Property Investment special edition of IFA Talk explores how advisers can best support clients in complex or evolving circumstances. 

In this episode, Jenny Hunter and Meg Bratley are joined by Laura Sneddon, Head of Mortgage Sales and Distribution at Hinckley & Rugby for Intermediaries. With over 20 years’ experience in financial services, Laura shares her insights on how advisers can unlock opportunities for borrowers through flexible, manual underwriting and a more tailored approach to complex cases. 

Highlights from this week’s episode 

This episode makes for a fascinating and timely discussion, shining a spotlight on the opportunities for advisers to deliver meaningful solutions in a rapidly changing borrower landscape and why collaboration with lenders such as HRFI can help ensure every client receives the right support. 

If you’ve ever felt like the tech in your advice business is more of a hindrance than a help, you’re not alone. Multiple systems that don’t talk to each other, endless rekeying, and the same tasks repeated in five different places, it’s a frustration most advisers know all too well. 

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Jenny Hunter and Sue Whitbread are joined by Nick Ryan, CEO, and David Mills, Chairman, at Pilot Financial Systems. Both have deep roots in the advice profession and have lived the challenges first-hand – and they’ve set out to do something about it. 

They share why they believe now is the time for advisers to take back control of their tech, why ownership and independence matter so much in practice management tools, and how better integration could help bridge the advice gap. 

We also hear their vision for how advice firms could be running in five years, and it’s a future you’ll want to hear about. 

So, if you’re ready to swap admin overload for smarter, joined-up systems, tune in now and hear how Pilot is helping firms cut through the chaos. 

In this week’s IFA Talk podcast, we’re exploring model portfolio services (MPS), asking what really makes for a successful partnership between an MPS provider and an advice business.

It’s a subject that remains front of mind for many advisers and wealth managers, especially as the MPS market evolves and client expectations continue to grow.

To learn more about L&G’s MPS, visit here. You can also visit L&G blogs for more thought leadership pieces.

Meet L&G’s Francis Chua

To help us dive into this topic, Sue and Matt are joined by Francis Chua, Fund Manager at L&G. Francis plays a key role in shaping L&G’s MPS proposition and shares his insights on what advisers are asking for, how L&G is set up to deliver, and where he sees the market heading.

What we cover in the conversation

Listen to the full conversation

Tune in to hear Francis’s practical take on how to make long term MPS partnerships truly successful, and what that could mean for advisers and clients alike.

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