Informed Choice Radio - Personal Finance Peace Of Mind With Martin Bamford

Do you want to live your life well and enjoy financial security while leaving a legacy for family members? My guest on today’s show is Marlene Outrim, author of Cascading Your Wealth, a comprehensive guide to putting your affairs in order and making the right choices now about how to pass on your wealth without compromising your current lifestyle. Marlene is a Certified Financial Planner, Fellow of the CISI, Chartered Wealth Manager and Chartered Financial Planner, as well as holding numerous other professional qualifications and designations. Her new book discusses the practical, emotional and psychological factors that affect intergenerational wealth and explains the six steps to creating a clear and detailed Family Wealth Plan. During this conversation, we chat about Marlene’s two rules for cascading wealth, the right time to start thinking about this planning, and some of the complexities associated with wealth transfer planning for blended families. Here’s my conversation with Marlene Outrim, author of C

Energy bills are soaring and many of us are wondering what, if anything, we can do to ease the burden. My guest today is James Sommerville, Head of Business Development at AgilityEco. AgilityEco is on mission to play a major role in eliminating fuel poverty, to deliver better outcomes for low income and vulnerable families and to prepare Britain’s homes for Net Zero. They have a vision for a warm, efficient and healthy home for everyone. By reducing energy bills through energy efficiency and helping people stay warm and well, they will be able to support the most vulnerable in society. In our conversation today, we talk about some of the government grants available to households who want to reduce their energy use, the steps to consider before installing solar panels, and how we can all address the cost of energy crisis. Here’s my conversation with James Sommerville, Head of Business Development at AgilityEco, in episode 576 of Informed Choice Radio.

The financial services profession is often accused of being male, pale and stale. Things are changing (for the better!) with greater diversity and a younger cohort becoming Financial Planners, bringing with them a valuable perspective and experiences. My guest on the podcast today is Makala Green, the first Black Female Chartered Financial Planner. Makala has an extraordinary track record of success, working her way up from a cashier position age 16. She has transformed lives and businesses, working with entrepreneurs, sportspeople, professionals and multi-million-pound companies. Makala knows how empowering it is to be in control of your finances. She understands how managing your money can change everything for the better. So, Makala has written The Money Edit, her first book, to make great financial planning accessible to everyone. The Money Edit is a jargon-free, straight-talking guide, giving us the confidence and clarity to understand money and make smarter choices at every stage in life. The book answe

In this episode, we're talking about how to think critically about the news and information that you come across every day. With today's guest, Helen Lee Bouygues, we're chatting about something really important: critical thinking skills. It seems like more and more lately we're coming across fake news and information that's simply not true. It can be really hard to tell what's real and what's not, but with some simple techniques, you can start thinking critically about the news you digest, and get a better understanding of what's going on in the world. Helen Lee Bouygues is one of the most successful women in business transformation. She has served as interim CEO, CFO, or COO for more than a dozen companies. Helen is the founder of The Reboot Foundation, a columnist at Forbes, and currently working on a book on critical thinking. The Reboot Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by individuals and organizations to better integrate critical thinking into our daily lives. They conduct surveys and opinio

How do you manage an ‘all-weather’ global equity portfolio in 2022? My guest on the podcast today is Matthew Tillett, Lead Portfolio Manager of The Brunner Investment Trust. The Brunner Investment Trust has been around since 1927, and invests in companies all over the world. The Trust favours large, well-financed businesses with global reach, pricing power and brand strength. Prior to joining AllianzGI, who run the Brunner Trust, Matthew worked at Datamonitor and the Office for National Statistics. He graduated from Bristol University with a first class degree in Economics and Economic History. He also holds a masters (with distinction) in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. In this conversation, we talk about what to look for in a superior business model, some of the key themes for change in the future, and how the war in Ukraine is affecting the portfolio. As ever when I speak to fund managers on this podcast, the usual disclaimers and risk warnings. This conversation is not

Imagine a life where you are financially savvy and independent, living with purpose and generosity while inspiring others. That’s what Holistic Wealth is all about. My guest on the podcast today is economist Keisha Blair, the bestselling author of Holistic Wealth: 32 Life Lessons To Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness. Keisha’s story started with tragedy, the sudden death of her husband in 2009. Her experience became a viral article for Thrive Global, “My Husband Died at 34; Here Are 40 Life Lessons I Learned From It”, and the basis for her excellent book. Holistic Wealth teaches you how to find prosperity in key aspects of life, from financial stability and physical health to your emotional and spiritual connections with others. Cultivating these strengths will build the mental toughness and grit you need to weather life’s inevitable storms and setbacks. Here’s my conversation with Keisha Blair, author of Holistic Wealth, in episode 572 of Informed Choice Radio.

I imagine you've heard of NFTs? Non-fungible tokens are the latest hot digital property, but what are they, how did they evolve, and why do they have value? My guest on the show today is Matt Fortnow, entertainment lawyer turned entrepreneur. Matt is co-author of The NFT Handbook: How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Tokens. He's become increasingly enamored by digital art and non-fungible tokens and has created the official NFTs for iconic brands such as The Three Stooges. Last year Matt discussed NFTs on Marketing for the Now with Gary Vaynerchuk. I entered this conversation with a degree of, hopefully healthy, scepticism. Regular listeners will be aware that I hold some strong views when it comes to all things cryptocurrency. But Matt helped me overcome some of my fears about NFTs, and shared what I believe was a useful conversation about their value. Here's my chat with Matt Fortnow, author of The NFT Handbook, in episode 571 of Informed Choice Radio.

Make more money. Change the world. Live the life you deserve. Sounds good, right? My guest for this episode of Informed Choice Radio is Derrick Kinney and he is all about changing how you feel about money. Derrick believes money is not bad and good people should have more of it. After applying these proven principles with thousands of clients, Kinney sold his multimillion-dollar business to teach these success steps to you. His new book is Good Money Revolution: How to Make More Money to Do More Good, in which Derrick explains why you need to add meaning to your money. In this conversation, we talk about why money isn’t the root of all evil, the importance of tracking your key financial metrics, making more money with a side hustle, and much more. Here’s my conversation with Derrick Kinney in episode 570 of Informed Choice Radio.

Soaring wholesale energy prices are squeezing household budgets, with higher costs for gas and electricity bills this winter. Many smaller energy providers have gone bust, with more expected to fail in the coming months. In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Pratt, personal finance journalist and editor of Forbes Advisor UK, to discuss the drivers of these rising prices, what steps we can take to keep our bills manageable, and whether now is the right time to invest in renewable energy production at home. Kevin has been writing about all aspects of household finance for over 30 years, aiming to provide information that will help readers make good choices with their money. Here’s my conversation with Kevin Pratt in episode 569 of Informed Choice Radio.

Do you think of yourself as climate-conscious? With the COP26 climate change summit drawing to a close, I catch up with Sarah Pennells from Royal London to discuss responsible investing with your pension. Their new research found more than three-quarters of us claim to be climate-conscious, but more than two-thirds of pension savers are unaware their pension could be used in the fight against climate change. Pensions have the power to protect the future of the planet, but first we need to understand what responsible investing involves and how we can identify suitable responsible investments. If you want to harness your pension investments to help secure the future of the planet, this podcast episode is a great place to start. Here’s my conversation with Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, in episode 568 of Informed Choice Radio.

An ever-increasing number of young adults are living in debt, with minimal financial knowledge and without the skills to build long-term wealth. My guest on the podcast today wants to empower parents to teach their kids how to form life changing money habits. Through his work and new book, Will Rainey is teaching kids the basics of all money related topics that they will need to be financially secure when they become adults. Will is a qualified actuary and award-winning investment consultant. His new book is called Grandpa's Fortune Fables. He's the father to two young daughters, and has always tried to make sure they feel comfortable talking about money. In our conversation today, we chat about forming money habits at an early age, why debt is like invisible slime, and how not talking about money in front of our kids is the same as telling them money is bad. Here's my conversation with Will Rainey, author of Grandpa's Fortune Fables, in episode 567 of Informed Choice Radio.

What happens when someone dies and their family disputes the terms of their will? My guest on the podcast today is Samara Dutton, a contentious probate litigator at Collyer Bristow. Samara is a key member the contentious trusts and probate team at Collyer Bristow. She specialises in all categories of trust disputes, acting for both trustees and beneficiaries in breach of trust claims, applications for removals and other disputed aspects of trust administration, including cross-jurisdictional issues. In our conversation today, I chat with Samara about why so many people continue to put off making a will, what it is about second (and subsequent) marriages that can lead to inheritance squabbles, and the thorny issue of mental capacity when making a will. Here’s my conversation with Samara Dutton, Partner at Collyer Bristow LLP, in episode 566 of Informed Choice Radio.

Whatever financial freedom means to you – living the life you want, not working to someone else’s timetable, not worrying about money ever again, or some other dream – the way to get there is through investing. My guest on the podcast today is Robin Powell, co-author of Invest Your Way to Financial Freedom. Robin and his co-author Ben Carlson share in the book the path to financial freedom through sensible saving and straightforward investing. In our conversation today, we talk about the importance of starting early, why you should strive to improve your earnings potential, and the difference the right and wrong financial adviser. Here’s my conversation with Robin Powell, co-author of Invest Your Way to Financial Freedom, in episode 565 of Informed Choice Radio.

We know that scams are increasingly prevalent during the pandemic. With a growing number of people falling victim to Ponzi schemes, corporate fraud and other nasty scams, what action can you take if you lose money? My guests on the podcast today are Tim Carter and James Lister from Stevens & Bolton LLP. Tim advises on all aspects of restructuring and corporate and personal insolvency, including distressed business sales. His clients range from insolvency practitioners, corporates, stakeholders and other investors to directors and individuals. He has particular expertise in matters involving insolvency litigation. James specialises in private wealth disputes, dealing with trust, estate and succession matters within the UK and internationally. James also deals with disputes where trusts and private wealth issues are involved in wider commercial disputes, such as fraud and asset recovery. In this episode, we discuss how HMRC is cracking down on Covid loan scheme fraud, what attracts people to Ponzi schemes a

If you're a trustee, you need to know about the Trust Registration Service. My guest on the podcast today is Adrian Moss, Trusts and Tax Director at Penningtons Manches Cooper. Adrian manages the Penningtons Manches Cooper trust and personal tax administration team which provides an accurate, efficient and cost-effective accounting and tax compliance service to clients. The team is involved in over 500 active trust administrations and the preparation of over 150 personal tax returns. As a specialist in the taxation of UK trusts, individuals, beneficiaries of non-residence trusts and remittance basis-users, Adrian applies his expertise to a wide variety of family situations, allowing the firm to provide a full legal and administrative service to trustees, executors and individuals. In this episode, Adrian explains the background to the Trust Registration Service, everything trustees need to know, and why privacy concerns are perhaps a little overblown. Here's my conversation with Adrian Moss, Trusts and Tax D

The meaning we attach to money becomes the lens that we think, feel and behave with money. My guest on the podcast today is Catherine Morgan, an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and multi-award winning money coach. Catherine is host of the In Her Financial Shoes podcast which helps you to get in control of money, gain financial confidence, learn how to invest and save money. In our conversation today, we discuss the imprinting period in childhood that forms many of the emotions around money, why were are naturally attracted to people who have the opposite relationship to money, and the impact of Covid on our financial attitudes. Here’s my conversation with Catherine Morgan, host of the In Her Financial Shoes podcast, in episode 562 of Informed Choice Radio.

Do you ever dream about upping sticks and moving to a different country? Perhaps you have one eye on the future and want the security of a second passport, 'just in case' things go wrong in your home country. My guest on the podcast today is Brandon Miller, founder of Maple Immigration Services, a boutique immigration practice in Toronto, Canada. Brandon is author of Second Passport: Your guide to have a secure alternative home for you and your family, just in case... When he graduated from University, Brandon left Canada for South Korea, a journey which changed his life forever and started him on a path to helping others obtain a second passport. He has helped countless people find their way to Canadian shores and settle in successfully to their new homes. During our chat today, we discuss what Brandon calls the Canadian Ponzi scheme, some of the benefits of living in Canada, and why you need a plan before applying for a second passport. Here's my conversation with Brandon Miller, author of Second Passport,

Getting divorced can be an expensive business. Where divorcing parties end up in court to settle their financial arrangements, those legal expenses can become substantial. My guest on the podcast today is Charlotte Plowman, an Associate Solicitor at Family Law Partners in Horsham. Charlotte has specialist expertise advising in all aspects of family breakdown and divorce, dissolution or separation, including the financial aspects and arrangements for children. She provides advice in cases which involve significant and complex financial assets held within the UK and internationally. Such cases often include foreign assets, pensions, business interests and dissipation of assets. In our conversation today, we look at what divorce means for your money. Charlotte explains the various options for negotiating and reaching a financial settlement, and why ending up in front of a judge is likely to be a very bad idea. Here’s my conversation with Charlotte Plowman from Family Law Partners, in episode 560 of Informed Cho

My guest on the podcast today is Jonathan Satovsky, the CEO and Chief Behavioral Coach of Satovsky Asset Management. Jonathan provides leadership, coaching, advanced financial planning, and oversight across client relationships and business operations. Jonathan has spent more than 25 years in the wealth advisory business. He wears two hats in his company as both the CEO and the Chief Behavioral Officer. During our conversation today, Jonathan explains why controlling and fully understanding our behavior us just as important as understanding the accounts. He offers the easy steps they we take immediately to begin investing mindfully for both the short and long-term. We talk about an effective process to determine goals in life, the value in taking an improv class, and the three pillars of wealth we all need to consider. Here’s my conversation with Jonathan Satovsky, chief behavioural coach, in episode 559 of Informed Choice Radio.

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions, at work or at home? It’s common to feel jaded and unhappy with the various organisations of which we are a part. Life doesn’t have to feel like this. My guest on the podcast today is Sharath Jeevan, Founder and Executive Chairman at Intrinsic Labs. Sharath is one of the world’s leading experts on how to practically re-ignite the inner-drive (or intrinsic motivation) in our lives. In his new book, Intrinsic: A manifesto to reignite our inner drive, Sharath uses motivation thinking not just to accurately diagnose the problems so many feel, but to find solutions. During our conversation today, he makes some suggestions for how we can achieve more lasting fulfilment and success in our work, careers, relationships, parenting, and as citizens. We’re talking today about working in a winner takes all culture, why there is no such thing as work-life balance, and the value in finding a nurturer. Here’s my conversation with Sharath Jeevan in episode 558 of Informed