What if personal finance wasn’t just complicated, it was actually rigged against you, Tarun Ramadorai, professor of financial economics at Imperial College London, has advised central banks and sovereign wealth funds. And he’s co-written a book ‘Fixed: Why Personal Finance Is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone’.

🤝 Make the most of your money with our financial adviser service - book a free consultation: 

https://makingmoney.email/financial-advisors-audio

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–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - The System Is Fixed

12:21 - The Broken UK Mortgage Market

20:39 - Vanta Ad

21:44 - How To Fix This?

31:21 - Who This Affects The Most

39:43 - TaxZap ad

40:58 - How To Beat The Insurance Industry

51:01 - Get The Basics Right

59:45 - Financial Education Isn’t Enough

01:05:37 - The Countries We Need To Learn From

Ask anyone who the world’s best investor is, chances are, they’ll say Warren Buffett. Every move he makes makes headlines. Together with Charlie Munger, he built Berkshire Hathaway, one of the biggest names in the S&P 500. Now that he’s stepped down as CEO, we’ve invited Glen Arnold, who literally wrote the book, in fact, all four books of The Deals of Warren Buffett.

🎉Sponsors

The British and International Franchise Exhibition - go for free: https://makingmoney.email/franchise-exhibition-london

TaxZap - Do your tax return / self-assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - Franchise Exhibition ad

00:40 - His First Investment

04:44 - 3 Rules

09:45 - High Reward But Low Risk

13:00 - Taxzap ad

14:15 - Charlie Munger

20:39 - Circle of Competence

26:02 - Vanta ad

27:09 - Diversification

31:45 - His Biggest Mistake?

40:13 - Barrier To Entry

46:40 - Warren Buffett’s Failure

52:11 - A Fragile Ego?

57:36 - How Would He Invest Now?

01:01:49 - Who Is The Greatest Investor?

Ben Felix has one of the few personal finance channels I watch. Chief Investment Officer at PWL Capital, he also co-hosts  the Rational Reminder podcast. We discuss the finance ‘rules’ to avoid,  why human behavior makes us bad investors, and the questions you need to ask if you want your money to support a better life. Ben also opens up about his cancer diagnosis earlier this year and how it’s changed his perspective.

🎉Sponsors

The British and International Franchise Exhibition - go for free: https://makingmoney.email/franchise-exhibition-london

TaxZap - Do your tax return / self-assessment: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Here are the papers referenced:

Beyond the Status Quo: A Critical Assessment of Lifecycle Investment Advice Anarkulova, Aizhan and Cederburg, Scott and O'Doherty, Michael S. 

Finding and Funding a Good Life - Ben Felix

Ben’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BenFelixCSIRational Reminder podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/RATIONALREMINDER

Chapters:

00:00 - Franchise Exhibition ad

00:39 - Why finance?

06:29 - Home bias

13:42 - Vanta ad

14:47 - Are you over-exposed?

17:19 - Low US returns coming?

23:06 - 4% rule 

27:09 - TaxZap ad

28:23 - Rational investing?

35:00 - Investment approach

38::45 - Money and happiness

41:24 - Funding a good retirement

45:25 - Trade-offs

50:03 - When you shouldn’t save

54:52 - Cancer diagnosis

01:09:09 - Best investment advice 

To kick off the year we asked for your biggest money questions, which we're answering with financial adviser and friend of the podcast, Lisa Conway-Hughes.

This is Lisa’s advice firm LCH/WEALTH: https://lchwealth.co.uk

Correction: At 5:06 Lisa misspoke and said Tom would need 12-24k for 3-6 months of expenses as an emergency fund. She meant to say 6-12k (as in her example he'd have 2k expenses per month).

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above (including Lisa's firm LCH Wealth), we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - Franchise Exhibition ad

00:39 - Happy New Year

03:29 - House or Pension at 30

09:56 - Rent vs Buy 

15:08 - Salary Sacrifice rules have changed

16:56 - TaxZap ad

18:10 - How to derisk for retirement

22:10 - Running out of money

27:22 - How to retire early

29:37 - Pensions savings at 30/40/50

33:07 - Self-employed and pensions

38:11 - Vanta ad

39:16 - Will you get a state pension?

42:12 - Tax trick for low earners

46:45 - How to stop worrying about money?

49:55 - Know your number

54:19 - Can you spend more?

59:02 - How to pay less tax in retirement

01:02:33 - Pension or ISA?

01:04:22 - Inheritance tax

01:06:20 - Where to save to pay less tax?

01:07:15  - Basic money principles

It’s our final episode of 2025! To celebrate, we’ve brought back the hat to answer your questions. What’s been our favourite episode? Which guest completely changed our mind? And would we rather fight a duck-sized bear or a bear-sized duck? Plus, watch out for an incredible reveal from T… enjoy!

📩 We want to hear more from you in 2026. If you’ve had a big financial lesson you’d like to share with us, email our producers Ruth and Emma at [email protected]

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - Franchise Exhibition ad

00:39 - Our favourite episode

07:10 - Why we get along

10:35 - Vanta ad

11:39 - 2025 Proudest Moments

14:03 - 2025 Mistakes

21:08 - Long v short term

24:44 -  What we’ve changed

34:43 - TaxZap ad

36:00 - What’s changed our mind?

37:29 - Hair transplant

41:53 - What we want to do in 2026

43:22 - What if we were in charge?

49:23- Duck-sized bear or a bear-sized duck?

51:54 - 2026 market predictions

52:29 - T’s military camp experience

54:57 - 2026 resolutions

Amy is a member of the Making Money audience. Many of us have made mistakes in our investing journey but not everyone is brave enough to come on and tell us about it.

This episode was first published in November 2024

If you’ve had a big financial lesson like Amy and you’d like to share it with us, email our producers Ruth and Emma at [email protected]

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you don’t know Bill’s work here’s where I suggest you start:The Four Pillars of Investing: https://amzn.eu/d/hKCTHVJ 

The Intelligent Asset Allocator (recommended by Jack Bogle himself): https://amzn.eu/d/6NKLjTu 

The Investor’s Manifesto: https://amzn.eu/d/3kDgo57 

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - Moneyweek ad01:07 - 15 years in an index fund

09:15 - Pulling out in a crash

17:58 - Taxzap ad

19:12 - Looking for advice online

29:25 - Stock picking

36:26 - Vanta ad 

37:40 - Knowing when to sell

44:03 - Making mistakes

54:33 - How much money did Amy lose?

59:19 - Lessons

Most of us just want to know one thing: what’s the best way to invest? Decades ago, William J. Bernstein had the same question, so he decided to find out. That led him to become an early supporter of the simple, evidence-based approach: keeping costs low, diversifying widely, and not trying to beat the market. It’s basically the philosophy behind modern index investing and he shared it through several classic books, including The Four Pillars of Investing.

🤝 Learn about our financial adviser services & book free consultation: ⁠https://makingmoney.email/financial-advisors-audio⁠

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you don’t know Bill’s work here’s where I suggest you start:The Four Pillars of Investing: https://amzn.eu/d/hKCTHVJ 

The Intelligent Asset Allocator (recommended by Jack Bogle himself): https://amzn.eu/d/6NKLjTu 

The Investor’s Manifesto: https://amzn.eu/d/3kDgo57 

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - Moneyweek Ad

01:07 - Learning How To Invest

05:07 - What To Read (And What Not To Read)

09:07 - Ignore Forecasts

12:07 - The Biggest Risk In Investing

16:59 - Vanta Ad

18:12 - Should you be in 100% Equities?

24:03 - How To Fight Inflation

29:28 - Bitcoin

32:18 - Learning From History

35:49 - TaxZap Ad

37:03 - Are Too Many People Passive?

43:50 - Don’t Invest To Get Rich

46:07 - Returns Over The Next 100 Years

49:52 - Will You Survive Retirement?

01:00:23 - Why Young People Want A Bad Stock Market

How To Own The World’ was probably the biggest influence on me getting into investing. Its author, Andrew Craig, has now released a new edition tailored for readers under 30 (https://amzn.eu/d/4QqRHdJ). 

🤝 Learn about our financial adviser services & book free consultation: ⁠https://makingmoney.email/financial-advisors-audio⁠

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Power of Compounding

06:47 - The One Rule For Investing 

10:59 - Wealth And Money

16:06 - Vanta ad

17:17 - Capitalism And Prosperity

23:21 - Index Funds 

31:18 - TaxZap ad

32:34 - Saving the UK Economy

43:06 - Wealth Inequality

51:13 - Wealth And Value 

54:57 - Tax Wealth or Work?

58:35 - What You Should Know at 25

Who are the winners and losers of the Budget? What happened to growth? Will the tax changes actually happen? We sat down with Helen Miller, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) to answer your questions.

🤝 Learn about our financial adviser services & book free consultation: ⁠https://makingmoney.email/financial-advisors-audio⁠

🎉 Sponsors

Franchise Exhibition - go for free: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-exhibitions/the-british-international-franchise-exhibition/⁠⁠⁠⁠

TaxZap - Do your self-assessment by Jan 31 & use code MONEY10: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://makingmoney.email/taxzap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Vanta - Get your company secure and compliant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vanta.com/makingmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

If you purchase a product or service using one of the links above, we may receive a commission. There will be no additional charge for you. Remember investments can fall and rise - and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply. Your money is at risk.

This is not financial advice. The reason it’s not financial advice is because it’s not tailored to you. We explain the principles of building wealth but if you want personalised advice, it’s worth speaking to a financial advisor. As with everything financial, please do your own research. We really encourage that because no one cares more about your money than you and if you learn the basics then it will change your life.

Chapters:

00:00 - What Happened?

06:00 - Doom and Gloom

09:58 - Public Services

16:13 - TaxZap Ad

17:28 - Winners and Losers

21:03 - What About Growth?

27:58 - Mansion Tax

30:23 - Vanta ad

31:34 - Will The Changes Happen?

35:34 - Freezing of Tax Bands

41:00 - Broken Manifesto Promises

44:05 - Salary Sacrifice

48:56 - Tax Complexity

53:40 - Tax Reform

59:44 - Why Don’t Politicians Listen

01:03:34 - ISAs

01:10:40 - What’s The One Thing?