Benjamin Franklin famously said there’s only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. But although tax is a part of life, it doesn’t have to be something that just happens to you. With smart planning, you can avoid some costly traps.

When your income goes up, you need to step up your planning too. With tax thresholds having been frozen in the UK since 2021/22, the number of people paying the higher rate of tax has risen by 2.65m since that time.

We talk about some of the taxation pitfalls, and ways that you can maximise your pensions and ISA allowances to make the most of your earnings.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma and Matt explore the unfolding situation in the Middle East, in particular, how markets are responding, and what investors can do in times of global uncertainty.

Volatility is something we have come to anticipate as par for the course under a Trump presidency. In most cases, the sensible investment strategy is to sit tight and stick to your plan. Well diversified portfolios, with exposure to different asset classes, geographies and styles will provide the best defence against uncertainty.

They also reflect on this week’s Spring Statement - and why the markets viewed it as a non-event.

This podcast was recorded on March 4 2026 and all information was correct at the time of recording.

Nothing in this podcast is personal advice – you should seek advice if you’re unsure what’s right for you. Investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you invest. And past performance is not a guide to the future.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you’ve just sat through 40 consecutive days of rain, you’d be forgiven for dreaming of a knock on the door from a millionaire maker, so you could take off to sunnier climes.

In this episode, Helen and Clare imagine what they would do with an unexpected windfall - and look at what you have told us you would do. You’re a pleasingly sensible bunch, with the majority of you saying you’d put that windfall towards savings and investments.

But what else should you be thinking about? From care costs, to pensions, and whether you should lock money away for the long-term, Clare and Helen dig into the different things you should be thinking about.

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Emma is joined by Senior Equity Analyst Matt Britzman for our investments episode where they delve into results season amongst the big tech players and ask whether AI really does replace everything. Big tech means big numbers, with an estimated $611bn of spend on AI this year alone. But is the capital expenditure overblown?

The team explore whether AI is even right to be seen as the big disruptor, given how well-integrated it is into existing software providers. And they discuss if companies are able to adapt quickly enough to the implementation of AI tools.

This podcast isn’t personal advice, if unsure of a course of action for your circumstances, please ask for advice. Investments fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing says romance like financial planning. Does being married make sense financially? For our Valentine's Day special Helen and Clare are discussing weddings, marriage and finance. While your wedding day may be the most expensive day of your life, could it save you money in the long run?

Helen and Clare discuss the practical costs of being single, the importance of having a will, and bust some myths about common law marriage. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Emma Wall and Matt Britzman unpack a busy week for markets and what it means for investors.

They look at what’s driving gold volatility and the role gold can play in portfolios against a shifting geopolitical backdrop. The episode also covers earnings season, with insights from Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Tesla, and how Big Tech results and AI investment are shaping market sentiment.

Finally, they unpack the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates and what the outlook for US rate cuts in 2026 could mean for equities and inflation.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to the future.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Coles and Helen Morrissey explain HMRC self-assessment, including the self-assessment tax return deadline, late filing penalties, common mistakes, what to do after the deadline passes and how to amend a return. They cover who needs to file, pension tax relief, capital gains, child benefit charges and what to do if you miss the deadline.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Tax and pension rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Emma Wall and Sarah Coles unpack the latest bout of global market volatility and what it means for investors.

They discuss the impact of geopolitical tensions, from Greenland and Venezuela to renewed focus on Trump, tariffs and trade risks – and how these forces are shaping global stock markets. The episode looks at why gold and defence stocks are back in focus, what recent client activity reveals about investor behaviour, and where risks and opportunities may be emerging.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Coles and Helen Morrissey explore the hidden financial risks that can catch people out in mid-life. They talk about job losses among older workers, the financial impact of ill health and divorce, and why many people discover gaps in their emergency savings and pensions later than they expect.

This episode also covers how to build financial resilience by reviewing the protections you have in place – looking at life insurance, income protection and critical illness cover.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Pension and tax rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Coles and Helen Morrissey explore how much debt UK households are really carrying and why borrowing can quietly spiral out of control, even for higher earners.

They also share practical steps for tackling debt, including prioritising repayments, choosing between the avalanche and snowball methods, cutting costs, and using balance transfers carefully, alongside the importance of emergency savings in avoiding future debt.

This podcast isn’t personal advice. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, seek financial advice. Tax and pension rules can change, and benefits depend on personal circumstances. Investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.