Mouthy Money: Building wealth with long term investing and saving strategies

Coinbase AD | Visit Coinbase to learn more: https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/c/6585058/1342972/9251

This episode is sponsored by Coinbase, Visit www.coinbase.com to learn more. Crypto comes with unique risks, take 2 minutes to learn more.

Are you building wealth, or are you just "managing a slow-motion crisis"?

In this episode, Ed and Chris pull back the curtain on the "Middle-Class Wealth Trap"—a set of outdated financial rules that leave professionals feeling "squeezed" despite high incomes and rising property values.

From the psychological weight of growing up with financial insecurity to the technical "cliff edges" of the UK tax system, we diagnose the 5 invisible traps that are quietly draining your net worth in 2026.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Property Prison: Why your primary home might be your biggest liability, not your best investment.

• The "Safe Cash" Mirage: How high-street savings accounts are a guaranteed loss of purchasing power after inflation and tax.

• The 60% Stealth Tax: Why earning £100k can actually make you poorer—and the one legal mechanism to fix it.

• The Default Fund Trap: The hidden reason your workplace pension is under-performing (and why you shouldn't own bonds in your 30s).

• Lifestyle Creep vs. Deflation: How to stop "convenience spending" from stealing your compound interest.

Whether you're a "Paper Millionaire" or a high-earner who still feels the monthly pinch, this episode provides a diagnostic toolkit to help you move from accidental wealth to intentional freedom.

Ready to audit your finances? Watch along to see where you sit on the "Trap Scale" and let us know your biggest financial "Aha!" moment in the comments.

Personal Finance UK, Wealth Building, Investing for Beginners, Pensions UK, Tax Efficiency, Middle Class Wealth, Property vs Stocks, Salary Sacrifice, Lifestyle Creep, Financial Independence.

*MOUTHY MONEY*

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Stop aiming for a retirement age that doesn't exist anymore. 🛑

If you have "55" in your head as your magic number to quit work, you’re aiming for a ghost target. Between the private pension age rising to 57 in 2028 and the State Pension creeping toward 70, your money might be locked away much longer than you planned.

In this episode of the Mouthy Money podcast, Edmund Greaves and Chris Tuite break down the "ISA Bridge"—the essential investment strategy to fund the "gap" between the day you want to stop working and the day you can actually touch your pension.

We’re getting into the nuts and bolts of the "Three-Pot" Strategy:

1. The Cash Buffer: Why your rainy-day fund needs to grow with inflation (and how much is actually enough).

2. The Pension Engine: Navigating SIPPs, workplace contributions, and that juicy 40% tax relief.

3. The ISA Bridge: Why this "get out of jail free card" is the only way to retire on your own terms.

Plus, a reality check: Chris shares the honest struggle of managing a 30-year mortgage and childcare costs in 2026 while trying to build for the future.

Timestamps:

00:01 – Why "55" is a lie: The shifting retirement goalposts

01:12 – The 3 Core Products for long-term saving

02:22 – The Cash Buffer: Rules of thumb vs. Reality

04:15 – Inflation-proofing your emergency fund

05:04 – The "Steam Engine": Workplace pensions and SIPP consolidation

07:43 – The Tax Relief trap: Don't leave money on the table

08:19 – 2028 Warning: The rising private pension age

09:50 – Will the State Pension age hit 72?

11:05 – Defining the ISA Bridge: Flexibility vs. Restrictions

13:09 – The Mortgage Hurdle: Retiring with 30 years left

18:59 – How to get clarity on your own wealth vehicles

21:04 – Critical Illness & Life Insurance: The protection piece

*MOUTHY MONEY*

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

#RetirementPlanning #ISABridge #PensionGap #FinancialIndependence #MouthyMoney #InvestingUK2026

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

In this episode of the Mouthy Money podcast, Edmund Greaves and Chris Tuite break down how the escalating Iran crisis could ripple through energy markets, inflation, interest rates and ultimately your mortgage.

While we’re not a geopolitics show, the financial consequences of global instability are impossible to ignore. Rising oil and gas prices are already shifting market expectations around Bank of England rate cuts. That matters if you're remortgaging, buying your first home, or watching swap rates nervously.

We explain the chain reaction from the Middle East conflict to UK mortgage pricing and what it means for homeowners right now.

Key topics covered:

▉ Why the Iran conflict is pushing up global energy prices▉ How gas supply disruption affects UK inflation▉ Why markets are downgrading expectations for rate cuts▉ What swap rates are — and why mortgage lenders care▉ What this means for people remortgaging in 2026▉ Whether investors should panic about market volatility▉ Lessons from Ukraine, Covid and previous energy shocks▉ How to stay calm and stick to a long-term financial plan

If you're concerned about mortgage rates, rate cuts, or the cost of living returning, this episode explains the mechanics.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Why this crisis matters for your money01:30 – What’s happening in Iran and why markets reacted03:00 – Stock markets and investment portfolios06:00 – Energy prices and the return of cost-of-living fears09:20 – Inflation risk and the Bank of England10:45 – Swap rates explained (and why mortgages follow them)13:30 – Remortgaging in 2026: what to watch16:00 – Investment strategy during volatility18:30 – Final thoughts: stick to your plan

If you’re remortgaging soon or worried about where rates are heading, let us know in the comments.

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

*Apple Podcasts* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mouthy-money/id1712308475

*Spotify* https://open.spotify.com/show/72bQEJnPAWJprmy0B9Yy4u?si=SkMD_90qSs-K3QNb8b-6YQ 

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

In Episode 2 of Investing Stakes, Edmund Greaves and Chris Tuite review their live £500 investment portfolios on the Stratiphy platform, two weeks after launch.

One portfolio is up 3.13%. The other is trailing the market. But the real story isn’t short-term returns, it’s what’s happening beneath the surface of global markets.

If you want to explore Stratiphy or build your own rules-based portfolio, you can use our referral link:

🔗 https://www.stratiphy.io/referrals?code=INVESTINGSTAKES

Disclosure: This is a referral link. We may receive a benefit if you sign up using it.

In this episode we cover:

◼️ How many stocks you actually need for diversification

◼️ Why returns diminish beyond 15–30 holdings

◼️ Momentum vs moving average strategies explained

◼️ The “SaaSpocalypse” hitting tech and AI stocks

◼️ US vs UK vs Europe performance in 2025

◼️ Whether global index funds are too exposed to America

Plus: gold miners, energy stocks, Alphabet, Nvidia earnings, and what comes next.

If you’re investing in global index funds, considering momentum strategies, or wondering whether tech stocks are entering a dangerous phase, this episode considers what’s actually happening without hype.

Stratiphy uses systematic investment strategies based on momentum and moving averages to remove guesswork from portfolio management. Edmund and Chris are investing real money and tracking performance over time.

Subscribe to follow the full series as the portfolios evolve.

This series is produced in partnership with Stratiphy.

*About Stratiphy*

Stratiphy is an investing app that helps everyday investors build and track systematic strategies using algorithmic investing and backtesting.

Learn more about Stratiphy here: 

https://www.stratiphy.io/referrals?code=INVESTINGSTAKES

Important: This content is for information and discussion only and is not financial advice. Capital is at risk and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

*Chapters*

00:00 – How Many Stocks Do You Really Need? (10 vs 30 vs 300)

00:38 – Introducing Investing Stakes Episode 2

03:04 – Two Weeks In: Portfolio Performance Update

05:22 – What’s Inside the Momentum Portfolio?

08:47 – Why Alphabet Appears Twice (Concentration Risk Explained)

10:42 – Does Diversification Stop Working After 30 Stocks?

13:17 – Momentum vs Moving Averages: How Strategy Rotation Works

17:32 – Global Market Update: Why the US Is Flat in 2025

20:31 – Are Global Index Funds Too Exposed to the US?

23:30 – How Institutional Rebalancing Drives Market Momentum

27:10 – The “SaaSpocalypse”: Why Tech Stocks Are Suddenly Falling

30:05 – Alphabet, AI & Big Tech: Winners or Overvalued?

31:17 – The Case for Tangible Assets Over AI Stocks

32:53 – What’s Next: Nvidia Earnings & Portfolio Changes

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Why are so many Brits still afraid to invest? And can an AI squirrel really change that?

In this episode of the Mouthy Money podcast, Edmund Greaves and Chris Tuite look at the Government’s push to get more people investing, including a controversial marketing campaign reportedly built around a “savvy” AI-generated squirrel. Will a multi-million pound advertising drive boost retail investing in the UK, or is it missing the real barriers holding people back?

We explore:

▇ Why investing in the stock market still feels intimidating to many people

▇ The psychology of “investophobia” and risk aversion

▇ Why most people are already investors through their workplace pension

▇ The cultural stigma around being an “investor”

▇ Cash ISAs vs Stocks & Shares ISAs and whether tax policy can shift behaviour

▇ Why pensions are often described as “free money”

▇ The legacy of the 1980s TellSid campaign and what modern campaigns can learn from it

▇ How index funds, diversification and long-term investing actually work

▇ Practical ways to overcome inertia and start investing

We also debate whether the UK needs clearer messaging, stronger financial education, or even a government-backed investment fund to kickstart a new investment culture.

Subscribe for straight-talking conversations about personal finance, investing, pensions, ISAs and building long-term wealth.

Chapters

00:00 – The government wants more people investing

02:00 – The £7–10m AI squirrel campaign explained

05:30 – TellSid vs modern financial marketing

08:00 – Investophobia: why people fear the stock market

11:30 – Risk warnings, paralysis and choice overload

14:00 – The cultural cringe around being an “investor”

17:30 – You’re already an investor (thanks to your pension)

21:00 – How capitalism rewards investors

23:30 – Index funds, diversification and long-term returns

25:30 – Cash ISAs, tax policy and behaviour change

27:30 – “Free money”: the workplace pension argument

29:30 – What would actually get Britain investing?

31:00 – Final thoughts and practical takeaways

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Politicians keep telling us the economy is improving. GDP is growing. Inflation is falling. So why does it still feel like we’re getting poorer?

In this episode of Mouthy Money, we dig into the widening gap between headline economic data and everyday reality. Polling expert Scarlett Maguire, founder of Merlin Strategy, explains why voters don’t associate economic growth with improvements in their own lives - and why energy bills, housing costs, food prices and tax matter far more than GDP figures.

We explore why anger at regulators and utility companies is rising, why demands for direct Government intervention are growing and how this disconnect is fuelling political instability on both the left and the right.

Even if growth returns, will people actually feel better off?

*Chapters*

00:00 GDP Growth vs Cost of Living Crisis (UK Economy Explained)

01:15 Who Is Scarlett Maguire? Political Polling & Economic Research

02:10 Why UK Voters Don’t Care About GDP Growth

04:30 What “Cost of Living” Really Means (Housing, Energy, Food, Tax)

07:20 Inflation Falling – Why Prices Still Feel High

09:05 Has the Pandemic Made Britain Poorer?12:40 Economic Anxiety and the Rise of Populism

15:10 The Misery Index: Inflation + Unemployment Explained

17:45 Why UK Energy Bills Are So High

20:50 Ofgem, Price Caps and Energy Market Regulation

23:35 Should the Government Cut Energy Bills?

25:15 Why Brits Don’t Invest (Savings, Pensions, Risk)

28:05 Are We Heading for UK Economic Recovery?

31:00 Youth Unemployment and the Housing Crisis

33:30 What Happens If Growth Returns – Will Voters Feel It?

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

After securing £50,000 on BBC Dragon’s Den, fintech founder Jinesh Vohra joins us to discuss a question facing millions of homeowners: should you be paying off your mortgage early?

In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of mortgage overpayments, how interest is front-loaded in the early years of a loan, and whether it makes more sense to reduce debt or focus on long-term investing — particularly in today’s UK interest rate environment.

Jinesh explains how his app, Sprive, helps homeowners chip away at their mortgage using cashback, spare cash automation and smarter refinancing. We also go behind the scenes of Dragon’s Den — what the Dragons look for in a fintech business, and why trust is critical in UK finance.

If you’re thinking about building wealth, managing debt strategically, or balancing mortgage overpayments with long-term investing, this episode will help you think more clearly about your options.

We cover:

• The case for (and against) paying off your mortgage early
• How amortisation works and why early overpayments matter
• Mortgage freedom vs long-term investing
• Financial trust in fintech
• What really happens on Dragon’s Den

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

_This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate._

Solo living leaves people with far less disposable income, lower investing rates and weaker financial safety nets. 

But why does being single cost so much more? In this episode of Mouthy Money, we count the costs of the “single person financial penalty”.

With insights from Hargreaves Lansdown’s Helen Morrissey, we look at what singles (and couples) can do to protect their financial futures.

*On this episode*

▉ Singles have far less disposable income because costs can’t be shared.

▉ Thin monthly margins make saving and investing feel risky.

▉ Lower savings mean less protection against redundancy or illness.

▉ Talking about money improves financial resilience — even if you’re single.

▉ Divorce, separation, and bereavement can suddenly trigger the same penalty.

▉ Relying on a partner’s pension is risky if circumstances change.

▉ Cohabiting without legal protections can lead to major financial losses.

▉ Everyone should plan for retirement as an individual first.

*Let us know what you think?* Does the single person financial penalty affect you?

*Chapters*

00:00 – The single person financial penalty explained

01:40 – Why living alone costs so much more

03:15 – Disposable income gap: £23 vs £280

05:20 – Safety nets, job loss, and financial vulnerability

07:20 – Why singles invest less (and fear risk more)

10:20 – UK savers vs investors: pensions and misconceptions

13:55 – Breakups, divorce, and becoming single later in life

16:05 – Pension complacency and cohabitation risks

18:15 – How to plan like a financially independent adult

MOUTHY MONEY

*Our substack* mouthymoney.substack.co.uk 

*Get in touch* ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

The FIRE Movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) is focused on helping you quit your day job as fast as possible. But is that even a desirable outcome?

From people who regret the financial pain that FIRE demands, to those who miss their careers it might be time to rethink its goals.

Fidelity’s Andrew Oxlade joins the podcast to discuss FIRE and his alternative: CHILL. He thinks people should focus on finding work that gives them joy and purpose, while also planning their finances sensibly for the long-term.

Let us know what you think? Are you a hardcore FIRE fan or is it too much like hard work? Let us know below. 

On this episode

▉The FIRE movement encourages extreme saving for early retirement.

▉ Time is a crucial factor in investment success.

▉ Balancing present enjoyment with future savings is essential.

▉ Challenging the notion that retirement is the ultimate goal.

▉ Career happiness can lead to a longer, more fulfilling life.

▉ The anti-FIRE movement promotes finding joy in work.

▉ Investing early maximizes the benefits of compounding.

▉ Pensions and ISAs offer different advantages for savings.

▉ Cultural attitudes towards work and retirement need to evolve.

▉ Flexibility in work can enhance life satisfaction. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the FIRE Movement

02:23 Understanding the FIRE Movement

09:02 The Role of Time in Financial Planning

11:22 Challenges of the FIRE Movement in the UK

12:49 Critique of the FIRE Philosophy

16:46 Alternative Perspectives on Career and Retirement

23:42 Personal Reflections on Retirement Goals

MOUTHY MONEY

Get in touch ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠. Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.

FIRE movement, financial independence, retire early, investing, retirement planning, personal finance, savings, financial goals, work-life balance, longevity

What would happen to the global financial system if governments disclosed evidence of extraterrestrial life?

In this episode of the Mouthy Money podcast, Edmund Greaves and Chris Tuite explore a surprisingly serious question sparked by a real report from a former Bank of England analyst.

The discussion considers the idea of an “ontological shock”. A moment so disruptive it forces society to rethink reality itself and why alien disclosure could trigger the biggest financial crisis in history. 

From market panic and bank runs to the collapse of entire industries, the pair examine how advanced alien technology could instantly rewrite the rules of energy, defence, AI and even capitalism itself.

Using aliens as an extreme thought experiment, the episode considers how central banks manage risk, why not all threats can be planned for, and where preparation turns into over-engineering. 

Along the way, they draw parallels with COVID, black swan events, climate risk and technological disruption - asking what this means for investors, institutions, and ordinary savers.

Serious, speculative and deliberately provocative, this episode isn’t really about aliens. It’s about risk, uncertainty, and how fragile the systems we rely on really are.

Read editor Edmund Greaves's full article here:

https://www.mouthymoney.co.uk/investing/should-the-bank-of-england-prepare-for-aliens-a-thought-experiment-in-extreme-risk/

Chapters

00:00 – Should the Bank of England prepare for aliens?

01:55 – The real report that sparked this discussion

04:00 – What is an “ontological shock”?

06:50 – Would alien disclosure trigger a financial crisis?

11:30 – Technology, energy, and instant market winners & losers

16:30 – Panic, bank runs, and insider information

20:00 – Can you prepare for unknown unknowns?

24:40 – Are we over-managing risk in finance?

26:45 – What this really means for investors

29:00 – Final thoughts: aliens as a risk thought experiment

CONNECT WITH US

Thank you for watching our video! If you enjoyed this, please give it a LIKE, SHARE it with your friends, and SUBSCRIBE to our channel for more about money.

Discover more at https://www.mouthymoney.co.uk and subscribe to our weekly newsletter too.

Have questions or suggestions? Drop them in the comments below - we’d love to hear from you! Or contact us at ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

DISCLAIMER

This video is produced for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, mortgage or other forms of financial advice. If in any doubt about the themes expressed, consider consulting with a regulated financial professional for your own personal situation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you started with. Investments are speculative and can be affected by volatility. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For more information visit ⁠⁠⁠www.fca.org.uk/investsmart⁠

Please note, video captions are auto-generated and may not be 100% accurate.