From Ceefax Leads… to Instagram Introductions

Over half a century of podcast studio sessions for Russell and Russell… and the guests keep delivering.

This week, Russell Quirk and Russell Jervis are joined by Steve Eakins, Key Partner Director at Lumon, the currency specialist trusted by agents, buyers and investors navigating international property transactions.

Often saved in phones as “Steve Currency” or “Steve Money”, Steve works at the point where property and global finance collide, helping clients move funds smoothly when relocating, investing overseas, or returning to the UK.

With 17 years at Lumon (a 25-year-old business now 200+ strong), Steve shares remarkable insight into the scale of modern property movement:

• £25 million transferred daily

• £10 billion moved last year alone

• Europe’s strongest demand across Spain, Portugal and France

• A growing trend of Brits leaving the UK while Americans increasingly move in

And crucially, how real transaction data gives a clearer picture of whether the widely reported “millionaires leaving Britain” narrative truly reflects what’s happening on the ground.

The conversation explores why currency brokers are now introduced at valuation stage, how better exchange rates and service can secure transactions, and why agents are referring clients earlier than ever.

But this episode goes far beyond numbers.

Steve talks openly about:

• Building a career while navigating dyslexia

• Starting out selling Chupa Chups with nothing but a van and an A–Z

• Working for free to prove himself at Lumon

• The realities of servicing a truly global client base across time zones

From first-time overseas buyers transferring £220,000 to multi-million-pound transactions, this is a fascinating look at the hidden engine behind international property deals, and what global money flows reveal about where people are really moving.

Insightful, practical, and packed with real-world stories.