The Smart Money Show

Is trading really what everyone thinks it is? 📈

Welcome to the THIRTY-FIRST episode of The Smart Money Show; today, we are joined by Chloe Shepherd, a Credit Repo Trader whose path in the market is anything but conventional.

Growing up in Lancashire, Chloe became the first in her family to attend university, studying History and Maths at Glasgow, before breaking into top institutions like Citi and RBC Capital Markets. Alongside her career on the trading floor, she serves as a Development Board Member for upReach.

Across this conversation, we explore Chloe’s journey into trading, starting with the early moments that made certain paths feel out of reach. Chloe opens up about the realities of working on a markets desk, the pressure that sometimes follows you home, and the parts of the job that rarely get spoken about. We also explore what it means to navigate moments of self-doubt, the role of a strong support system, and the ongoing work of managing imposter syndrome.

This episode is an honest, grounded, and inspiring look at resilience, identity and what it means to carve out space in an industry that wasn’t built for everyone in mind.

Contact:

Chloe Shepherd - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-shepherd-7bb45410b/

🎥 Recorded: 14th January 2026

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro 🎙️

2:59 – Growing Up in Morecambe & Education as a Way Out 🌊

6:37 – A-Levels, Rejections & Choosing Glasgow Over London 📨

9:41 – Switching Degrees & Landing a Trading Internship 🔁

11:48 – Grades, Apprenticeships & Rethinking Talent 🎓

18:37 – Validation, Money & The Emotional Reality of Success 💭

20:31 – Breaking Into Markets Without a Traditional Background 🚪

27:15 – RBC and Citi: Culture, Teams & Learning on the Desk 🏦

39:08 – Repo Trading Explained & Life on a Trading Floor 📈

46:13 – Soft Skills, Pressure & Taking Work Home 🧠

55:53 – Identity, Class & Belonging in Finance 🧬

1:02:30 – Social Mobility, UpReach & What Firms Still Get Wrong 🤍

1:20:00 – Outro 👋🏼

As always, stay tuned to us regularly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

A massive finance conference OUTSIDE London FOR students!? 🤔

In the season of giving - here’s a BONUS episode of The Smart Money Show, about the University of Nottingham’s Economics and Finance Society 2026 Annual Conference.

Firstly, we're really excited to announce our partnership with the NEFS Conference. As part of this collaboration, we’ve got exclusive access to a range of professional speakers from elite financial institutions, and on the day of the conference we’ll be setting up a studio to record interviews with speakers and senior professionals in attendance!

So to kick off our collaboration, we are joined by their two co-presidents Haaris Khan and Misgana Berhane. After experiences across financial services and healthcare, Haaris is an incoming Industrial Placement Analyst at Lazard. Misgana completed spring weeks at Jefferies, Citi, and Scotiabank, alongside internships at Octopus Energy and Grosvenor, and is gearing up for a return internship at Jefferies this summer.

In this bonus episode, we unpick their career journeys so far, their time with NEFS and why you should attend their flagship conference in the new year!

Plus a Happy New Year from the team at The Smart Money Show! 🙌

Contacts and Details:

Get your tickets here! - https://www.instagram.com/uonnefs?igsh=cWc3OWlwbTI1emNn

Haaris Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/haariskhanlinkedin/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BhS%2BbHsVcRh6soIKalYihbg%3D%3D

Misgana Berhane - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misganaberhane/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BhS%2BbHsVcRh6soIKalYihbg%3D%3D

NEFS TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nefsconference?_r=1&_t=ZN-92dI7LvKENy

NEFS Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uonnefs?igsh=cWc3OWlwbTI1emNn

🎥 Recorded: 23rd December 2025

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro 🎙️

1:07 – NEFS Conference Partnership Announcement 🤝

1:40 – Guest Introductions: Haaris Khan & Misgana Berhane 👋

2:44 – Why Finance? Early Motivations 💡

5:57 – Early Perceptions of Finance & Misconceptions 🧠

7:52 – Degrees, Backgrounds & Transferable Skills 🎓

9:42 – Breaking the “Non-Finance” Barrier 🚪

11:20 – The Moment Finance Became Real 🎯

16:22 – Testing Career Paths & Gaining Exposure 🔍

20:59 – Rejection, Resilience & Bouncing Back 💪

24:28 – Converting a Spring Week into a Summer Offer 🔁

26:36 – Why Societies Matter for Careers & Confidence 🏛️

29:10 – Inside NEFS & Its Growing Influence 📈

31:36 – Stepping Into Leadership Roles 🧠

34:37 – Balancing Academics, Societies & Applications ⚖️

40:51 – Building the NEFS Conference Vision 🎤

45:27 – Why the Conference Matters for Students 🎓

46:23 – Who Should Attend & What You’ll Gain 🎟️

48:02 – Getting Involved & Making the Most of It 🚀

49:16 – Final Reflections & Key Lessons 🌱

55:30 – Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

Risk, ratings, and a rise in reputation... ⚠️

In our THIRTIETH episode, join Ali and Noman as they meet Olivier Beroud, the Executive Chair of ARC Risk Group, to discuss credit ratings and the future of risk management.

With an illustrious career spanning continents and household names, Olivier has held senior positions in risk management at GCR Ratings, Moody’s Investors’ Service, Barclays and Standard & Poor’s. Passionate about risk appetite but also education and mentorship, Olivier's consulting firm allows him to coach executives, lecture around the world and mentor students with financial fanaticism.

Elaborating on his various roles and hot-takes on the function of credit ratings as a foundation of the global financial ecosystem, both his theoretical insights and practical advice turn this episode into a must-watch for anyone who envisions themselves with a future in finance!

Olivier Beroud - https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivier-beroud-3854423/

🎥 Recorded: 9th October

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:11 - Olivier’s Career Snapshot 🧭

5:03 - What Drew Him to Risk & Credit 📚

6:17 - Mentors, Networks & Early Lessons 🤝

9:57 - Why Accounting Still Matters 🧾

12:21 - Inside S&P: Learning Credit 🏭

15:06 - How Rating Agencies Really Work 📊

19:54 - Handling High-Stakes Meetings as a Young Analyst 🧑‍⚖️

23:40 - Big Agencies vs Niche Players 🚢

27:25 - How Banks Rate Risk Internally 🏦

30:54 - The ThyssenKrupp Downgrade Case ⚖️

35:03 - Independence, Conflicts & the 2008 Impact 🧩

42:13 - Tech, AI & The Future of Ratings ⏱️

46:57 - ESG in Practice: Real-World Challenges 🌍

55:02 - Building ARC into a Global Player 📈

1:03:40 - Key Lessons & Advice for Students ✨

1:09:10 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

Another month, another market shake-up... 💡

Welcome to our October economic recap, the TWENTY-NINTH episode of The Smart Money Show! We analyse a month full of evolving macro narratives and noteworthy corporate stories with our Head of FICC, Wahy Yahya, and Head of Equities, Dylan Ilett.

Tune in as we uncover how the US and UK economies have been performing since the beginning of Q4, as well as the performance of indexes like the S&P 500 and FTSE. Major banks have also been reporting a string of losses and Dylan will be sharing what has been causing this and how markets have been reacting. 📉📈

We also look at Buffett's so-called "noninvestment" strategy, Gunvor's $22 billion deal with Lukoil and its effects on the energy market, Microsoft's earnings and the AI momentum driving Big Tech, and why inflation in the Eurozone may finally be in a "good place."

This is also the final appearance for Wahy on The Smart Money Show. We are sad to see him go and wish him the best for the future - savour the last time we hear him!

Guest Contacts:

Dylan Ilett - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-ilett/

Wahy Yahya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahy-yahya-1b1563301/

🎥 Recorded: 5th November

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

2:31 - US Macro: Shutdown & Fed Rate Decisions 🇺🇸

5:59 - UK Macro: Sticky Inflation & Bank of England 🇬🇧

11:14 - S&P 500 vs. FTSE 100 📈

14:14 - The $200B AI Credit Issuance Flood 🤖

18:23 - Bank Earnings: Regional Losses & Systemic Risk 🏦

24:09 - Norway's $2.1T Fund vs. Elon Musk's Pay Package 💰

28:44 - Microsoft Earnings & The Hidden $3.1B OpenAI Loss 🤫

39:14 - Commodity Risk: Gunvor's Deal with Lukoil 🛢️

43:10 - Warren Buffett's $382B Cash Pile: A Warning Sign? 🤔

48:36 - Good News: Euro Zone Inflation Nears Target 🇪🇺

53:10 - Show Announcements & Schedule Change 📢

53:54 - A Farewell to Wahy 🤝

57:50 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

Early internships, the buy-side and risky decisions... 🫡

Welcome to the TWENTY-EIGHTH episode of The Smart Money Show! This week, we sit down with Pearl Thakrar, whose journey from Warwick to UBS and now London Business School is anything but linear. From first-year internships to the fast-paced world of alternatives and private equity, Pearl’s story is about saying yes early, learning fast, and staying open-minded throughout.

We unpack what it’s really like to break into finance before you’ve even graduated, how to turn short-term chances into long-term wins, and how to prioritise self-growth and academic curiosity in a fast-paced work environment.

Guest Contacts:

Pearl Thakrar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearlthakrar/

🎥 Recorded: 4th October

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:29 - The "Warwick Finance Bubble" & Early Influences 💭

5:14 - Why She Chose Management Over a Pure Finance Degree 🎓

7:29 - Advice for Non-Finance Students Breaking Into the Industry 🔑

10:55 - The Internship Grind & The Power of Networking 🤝

17:01 - How Firms Actually Evaluate Interns (Beyond the CV) 📝

19:32 - The Secret to Converting a Spring Week to a Summer Offer 🔑

22:28 - Inside UBS: Graduate Training, Rotations & Team Culture 📈

28:18 - A Deep Dive into Alternatives & Real Estate Private Equity 💼

31:30 - The CFA Grind: Balancing Full-Time Work & Intensive Study 📚

35:31 - The Big Pivot: Why She Left UBS for a Master's at LBS 🔄

37:53 - LBS vs. Warwick: The Master's Experience 🏛️

40:57 - Master's: Career Accelerator or a "Reset"? 🤔

42:42 - Final Reflections: Proudest Moment & Advice to Self ✨

44:17 - The Biggest Takeaway: "Follow Your Gut" 💌

45:49 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

It's been another busy month in markets for September... 🚨

Welcome to the TWENTY-SEVENTH episode of The Smart Money Show, our September economic recap. Featuring Ali and our Head of FICC, Wahy Yahya, we learn about the massive rallies in the Euro and Gold, what’s moving in the energy market, the risks posed by shadow banking and much more!

Guest Contacts:

Wahy Yahya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahy-yahya-1b1563301/

🎥 Recorded: 8th October

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:25 - US Macro Data: Strong Growth, Softening Labor & a Fed Rate Cut 🇺🇸

6:07 - UK Macro Data: "Stubborn" Inflation & Bank of England's Outlook 🇬🇧

9:53 - Unpacking Shadow Banking: A "Systematic Blind Spot"? 👻

16:02 - BP's Energy Outlook: Is Higher Oil Demand Here to Stay? ⛽️

19:17 - The Euro's Rally: A Shift Away from the Dollar? 🇪🇺

24:19 - A Sneak Peek: Inside the New FICC Demo Portfolio 📈

28:05 - Gold Smashes Through $3,800: What's Driving the Surge? 🪙

31:38 - How to Navigate Conflicting Forecasts from Top Banks 🤔

33:45 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

Shaping portfolios, giving back, and building impact that goes beyond returns… ✍🏼

Welcome to the TWENTY-SIXTH episode of The Smart Money Show, recorded at RBC Brewin Dolphin’s Birmingham offices. This week we’re joined by three rising stars in investment management: Wolfie Papirnik, Harjot Wahiwala, and Reece Smith. 

Wolfie, recently recognised in Citywire’s Top 30 under 30, combines sharp technical expertise with a passion for community responsibility. Harjot works with RBC Brewin Dolphin’s Midlands Charity team while on her way to becoming a Chartered Wealth Manager, championing accessibility in finance and mentoring future talent. Reece brings nearly five years of experience across private client and portfolio management, building on his early career in PwC’s M&A division and his Master’s in Investment Management.

Together, their stories reveal how the next generation of wealth managers are redefining finance, blending performance with purpose and showing that impact matters as much as returns. From community leadership to client trust, this episode dives into what excites them about the future of the industry and what advice they’d give to students and aspiring professionals. 💡

Guest Contacts:

Wolfie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfie-papirnik-865474100/

Harjot - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harjot-wahiwala-acsi-894a36111/

Reece - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-smith-630452170/

🎥 Recorded: 4th September

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:11 - Origin Stories: Three Unique Paths into Finance 💡

8:46 - The Value of a Master's, Professional Exams & Taking a Gap Year ✈️

14:34 - Early Career Lessons from Goldman Sachs & PWC ✍️

21:05 - The Brutal Reality of Breaking In: "A Thousand Applications" 💥

28:16 - The Secret to a Successful Interview? Be Yourself. 🤝

37:09 - Life at RBC Brewin Dolphin: Culture, People & Purpose 💼

44:50 - A Day in the Life: From Private Clients to Portfolio Management 📈

47:40 - The Fulfilling Work of the Midlands Charity Team 🙏

54:31 - Personal Impact & The Drive to Give Back 🌍

1:05:15 - The Biggest Lessons Learned in Their Careers 🧠

1:08:18 - Proudest Moments & The Power of Small Wins ✨

1:15:13 - The Biggest Takeaway for Aspiring Professionals 💌

1:16:24 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

From Mumbai to McKinsey, to building decks and community... ✍🏼

Welcome to the TWENTY-FIFTH episode of The Smart Money Show! We’re joined this week by Vedika Akhramka, a London-based consultant at McKinsey & Company and founder of What’s Her Network, a thriving community of 300+ young women professionals. Her story is an exemplar of agility and inclusivity. She has shaped strategy across industries, spanning aerospace to live music, while also championing spaces that empower women to connect and lead with purpose.

Vedika shares her journey into consulting and the lessons she's learned from working across diverse sectors. She also reflects on why building supportive, women-led networks matters just as much to her as climbing the corporate ladder. This is a conversation about resilience and creating the kind of purposeful community you want to belong to.

Guest Contacts:

Vedika Akhramka - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vedikaakhramka/

🎥 Recorded: 3rd Sept

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

2:49 - The "Bollywood Banker": An Early Start in Finance 🎬

3:45 - The First Internship & The Pivot to Consulting 🤔

5:00 - From Mumbai to the UK: A Journey of Independence ✈️

8:30 - University Lessons: Why Extracurriculars Matter More Than Your Degree 🎓

12:10 - The Strategic Master's: Reclaiming Uni Life Post-COVID 📚

17:51 - Inside Consulting: Luck, Networking & The McKinsey Toolkit 💼

23:20 - A Consultant's Life: From Live Music to Aerospace 🌍

28:46 - The Most Defining Factor for Your Career (It's Not Your Degree) ✨

32:11 - Founding "What's Her Network?": A Community for Women in Business 🤝

37:53 - The Future of Work: Overcoming Barriers for Women 👩‍💼

40:45 - Final Reflections & Career Advice 💡

43:22 - The Biggest Takeaway: Find What Truly Fulfills You 💌

44:47 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so

Smashing serves to banking burnout, forging a new path... 🎾

Welcome to the TWENTY-FOURTH episode of The Smart Money Show, where we're joined by Vitoria Okuyama. She first scaled the heights of tennis, ranking #118 in the world U18, before climbing the Citi towers on Wall Street, working as an IB analyst.

Three years in, she decided to step away from investment banking in a bid to find what truly inspires her and grow her ambition sustainably. Today's conversation explores what it takes to achieve such a high level, comparing sports with finance, and the importance of reflecting on your emotions when pursuing such high-pressure roles.

Guest Contacts:

Vitoria Okuyama -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitoriaokuyama

🎥 Recorded: 8th Sept

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:18 - The First Chapter: Forging a Pro Tennis Career in Brazil 🎾

7:55 - The Pivot: Why She Swapped the Tennis Court for Finance 💼

11:01 - College Life as a Student-Athlete & The Mental Toll 🧠

14:39 - Breaking In: The Unconventional Grind for a "Dream" Internship ✍️

20:04 - The Reroute: Using a Master's for a Second Chance at Wall Street 🔄

21:42 - Landing the Job: How Networking Got Her into Citi 🏦

24:24 - The Brutal Reality of Wall Street: 10 AM to 4 AM & Burnout 😨

28:04 - A Full Circle Moment: Pride, Pain & What She Learned 🌟

37:28 - The Recovery Journey: "It's Easier to Repair Than to Rebuild" ✨

42:39 - Life After Banking: The Next Chapter of Reinvention 🗺️

45:21 - Final Reflections & Career Advice 💡

48:23 - The Biggest Takeaway: Reverse-Engineer the Life You Want 💌

49:16 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so

A guest who’s fast-tracked their way through corporate life while helping others do the same... 🚀

Our TWENTY-THIRD episode features Jag Dhaliwal, a Chartered Accountant, Career Coach, and Content Creator with over 8 years of experience at the Big 4 and IBM. Jag brings first-hand insight into both the highs and the challenges of professional growth!

Beyond her corporate journey, Jag has built a thriving coaching practice, a YouTube community of 4,000+ subscribers, and also hosts the ICAEW Student Insights podcast, guiding the next generation of finance professionals.

In this energising convo, we explore Jag’s career story, her strategies for balancing exams and life, and her advice on building careers with confidence and purpose. A must-listen for ambitious young professionals ready to shape a path that aligns with their ambitions. 🤝

Guest Contacts:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jag-dhaliwal-aca-504b2584/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jagsjourneyblog/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jagsjourneyblog

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jagsjourneyblog/videos

Website - https://jagsjourney.blog/

🎥 Recorded: 2nd Sept

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:12 - An Ambitious Start: Grammar School, Maths & Early Career Focus 🎓

7:44 - The Unconventional Pivot: Why She Took a Year Out to Teach 👩‍🏫

15:16 - The First Corporate Job: Lessons in Professionalism at IBM 💼

22:06 - The ACA Exam Grind & Surviving the "Busy Season" 📚

26:05 - The Fast Track: Secrets to a Double Promotion in Under 4 Years 🚀

36:32 - The Most Important Skills for a Corporate Career Today 🔑

40:32 - The Side Hustle Story: Blog, YouTube & The ICAEW Podcast 🎙️

50:35 - The Power of Personal Branding (And Her Book) ✍️

54:02 - Final Reflections & Career Advice ✨

58:59 - The Biggest Takeaway: "Just Go For It" 💌

1:01:12 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.