AJ Bell Money Matters

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we talk about all things art with Jennifer Conner, UK Regional MD of the Affordable Art Fair. Jennifer shares her top art-buying tips, explains the story behind the Affordable Art Fair, and shares her one rule when buying art as an investment - you have to love it! Laura and Danni also de-jargon interest rates, breaking down the basics and expl...

On this week's episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters, Danni and Laura are celebrating World Earth Day with an episode all about investing for positive change. You might have heard the term ESG it stands for Environmental, Social and Governance but what does that actually mean when it comes to your money? From the basics of what ESG actually means to understanding what a sustainable fund manager wei...

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura hear from the team's children spanning from four to eighteen. We know money habits start early in life, so how do they feel about money, do they have any worries, and are we teaching good habits? Find out which kind of account grandparents and relatives can pay into to help boost your child's long-term finances. We also breakdow...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni is joined by Charlene Young and Rachel Vahey for a tax year end special. The team are breaking down jargon to help you understand what is changing and how to make the most of your money.  Tax year end can be daunting and complicated, but it can also be a brilliant time to reset your finances. We're covering ISA allowances, tax thresholds,...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura walk through the changes hurtling towards us in April including energy price caps, broadband and council tax. We also hear from AJ Bell's sales director Alison Mollard and business development team leader Georgia Swallow who are mentor and mentee respectively. When Alison began her career, the financial services sector looked pa...

On this special episode of the podcast which coincides with International Women’s Day 2025, Danni and Laura talk through our new research which sheds light on the £6.6 billion gender ISA gap. Lots of women have ISAs but they tend to keep their savings in cash which means the growth potential is likely to be lower. Simplifying ISAs, ditching jargon and helping women become more confident with their...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura discuss love and money. Often taboo in relationships, they share their own money stories as well as top tips for those managing joint finances and for people experiencing the single tax. We also hear from husband-and-wife Matt & Claire Towe who set up a business together. Meet Margo 's mission is to make mortgages easy with...

On this episode of the pod, Danni and Laura discuss trends from the latest Unemployment Index curated by our charity partner Smart Works. We also speak to Georgina Taylor from Invesco who walks us through the key things to consider for those preparing to take pension payments, as well as top retirement tips for all ages. Georgina also explains what 'lifestyling' is, and talks about buying an annui...

This week on the pod, Danni and Laura review the financial wins from last year and resolutions for 2025 from the Money Matters team. It's important to celebrate any money goal achieved, no matter how big or small. From building an emergency fund and quashing lifestyle creep to filing paperwork on time and fixing energy tariffs, we share our successes. We also dive into financial resolutions and se...

On the first pod of 2025, we're joined by award-winning founder of Ageism Is Never In Style, Jacynth Bassett. Having created a vibrant community of people often ignored by society, we ask Jacynth how to breakdown stereotypes around ageing and enjoy preparing for your future. We also talk through the inspiration for the AJ Bell Money Matters & Ageism Is Never In Style collaboration.  Sign up fo...

In the last pod episode of 2024, Danni and guest host Charlene discuss how male and female AJ Bell customers have differed in 2024 (as well as some surprising similarities). From the most popular shares and funds to how often we log in online, we examine why we have different habits to our male counterparts. Danni and Charlene also walk through the events in 2024 which have shapes our investing de...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Laura and Danni discuss imposter syndrome: the little voice that tells you you’re not good enough. A lack of confidence is often cited by women as they reason they don’t ask for pay rises or promotions, don’t apply for senior leadership positions, or don’t feel able to return to the workplace after taking time out. We’ve got some top tips from...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Laura and Danni discuss “Equal Pay Day” - the point in the year that women stop earning relative to men because of the gender pay gap. They speak to Alesha De Freitas from The Fawcett Society, which is a charity that has been campaigning for years to reach a point when the day no longer exists because pay parity has finally been reached. They a...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we hear from Susannah De Jager and Patsy Day who set up The Wobbly Middle. Navigating change in work/life balances can be stressful but also reinvigorating, and when Susannah and Patsy found themselves on the same journey, they teamed up to share their stories and top tips. Danni and guest host Jenny also discuss Labour's employment rights bill...

On this week's episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we speak to our Founding Ambassador, Baroness Helena Morrissey, about how she manages her family finances with nine children. With tips for people with or without children, Helena shares her biggest learnings and how she has balanced a career and family life. Danni and Laura also flag up an important date for women who have taken time ou...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Laura and Danni dip into the murky world of scams. They break down jargon like “push payments” and highlight some of the ways people are being taken in, as well as how the regulator is planning to trip up scammers and reimburse victims. Danni also chats to The Sun newspaper’s “Consumer Champion” Laura Purkess about the art of complaining, and w...

As requested on our Instagram page, on this AJ Bell Money Matters pod, Laura and Danni share little financial wins. From switching current accounts and energy providers, to cashback deals, combining pensions and budgeting, the Money Matters team explain how small changes to your personal finance habits can make a big difference. Our guest this week is Joy Foster, founder of TechPixies, who tells u...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Laura and Danni walk through a beginner’s guide to mortgages. From the differences between fixed rates and trackers, to how the Bank of England’s interest rate decision plays into what you pay, the pair discuss how rates have changed over the years and what might happen next. Plus, we’ve drafted in Kalpana Fitzpatrick, financial journalist and...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Laura and Danni discuss why the UK economy couldn’t shake off the Taylor Swift effect. Spending by fans on hotels, travel and tickets to the singer’s Eras tour helped UK inflation hold steady in June, although the impact is expected to be short lived. We also hear from Mind, Money and Soul’s Laura Ann Moore about why language plays a huge part...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura chat to two mums who launched a biscuit bakery that allowed them to work around their children’s lives. Saskia Roskam and Lisa Shepherd started “The Biskery” during the pandemic with the aim of creating a business that worked around school hours for them and their employees. Plus, as a new government gets its feet under the tabl...

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast Laura and Danni deep dive into student finances. How much debt are you likely to rack up during your time at university, when do you start paying it back, and how do you apply for loans to cover costs like accommodation and food? Laura Brown from Save The Student gives her tips for managing budgets for the first time and we assess how much paren...

Whether you know Dame Arlene Phillips' work from Hot Gossip, Strictly Come Dancing, her legendary music videos, film work or the West End and Broadway shows she has choreographed, her ability to turn her hand to any brief and keep moving forward is unmatched. On this episode, we learn about how Arlene grew up with grit and determination to earn her own money and ultimately gain independence, takin...

A decade on from an historic speech she delivered on misogyny, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard tells Danni and Laura there has been progress but there’s still a lot more to be done. Now chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, she’s passionate about closing the gender pay gap and believes we’ll only see real change if more women take on leadership roles. With elections...

On this episode of the Money Matters podcast we hear from Debbie Wosskow, the serial entrepreneur who’s been appointed to the government’s Invest in Women taskforce. With just 2p of every £1 of business funding going to female-founded companies in the UK, Debbie’s on a mission to raise a £250 million pot to create “once in a generation change”. Best known for selling her multi-million-pound home s...

On this episode of the pod, Danni and Laura speak to campaigner Joeli Brearley from motherhood campaigning group Pregnant then Screwed about why politicians have finally woken up to the economic value of getting mums back into work and what more needs to be done to end the motherhood penalty. Also on the episode, Danni and Laura break down the four simple steps to start your investing journey. The...