IFA Talk

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we’re taking a look at the journey from paraplanning to partnership – and who better to talk us through it than Stuart Coombe, Partner and Rural Specialist at Old Mill. Stuart joined the firm back in 2008 as a paraplanner, fresh from a dairy farming upbringing in East Devon. Since then, he’s not only become a Chartered Financial Planner but also made the leap in...

In this week’s special New Insurance and Protection edition of the IFA Talk podcast, we’re shining a spotlight on the vital role financial advisers play in delivering better protection outcomes for clients, and how providers like Legal & General are working to support them every step of the way. Hosted by Sue Whitbread and Meg Bratley, this episode features Mike Pritchard, Programme Manager (D...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we’re tackling some of the big themes dominating market conversations in 2025, notably tariffs, interest rates, and the soaring price of gold. With geopolitical tensions running high and Trump’s tariffs creating waves across global markets, we ask what it all means for advisers and their clients. To help make sense of the current investment landscape, Sue and Ma...

July’s special Mortgage and Property Investment edition of the IFA Talk podcast is now live. And it's one not to miss if you're a financial adviser or mortgage broker. This month, Sue and Matt are diving into the world of mortgage technology, exploring how innovation is reshaping the way brokers, lenders and clients interact throughout the borrowing journey. They’re joined by Rowan Clayton, Chief...

In this episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Jenny discuss all things VCTs, following the extension of the sunset clause. Joining them to share his expert insights is Chris Lewis, Chair of the Venture Capital Trust Association. Chris reveals his thoughts on what’s likely to shape the VCT agenda, as well as providing some real-world examples of companies these trusts are backing across the UK. They also e...

In this episode of IFA Talk, Sue and Matt are joined by Mollie Thornton, Senior Investment Manager at Parmenion, to explore how ESG investing is changing and what that means for advisers. We look beyond the usual headlines to ask: why are companies like Amazon now appearing in ESG and MPS portfolios? Mollie explains what’s behind this shift and whether it signals a more pragmatic, engagement-led a...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we’re diving into the vital topic of financial education for young people. Joining IFA Magazine’s Meg Bratley and Jenny Hunter is Vilma Marques, Outreach Programmes Manager at the Chartered Insurance Institute and Personal Finance Society. Vilma shares insight into the Education Champions initiative – a programme designed to bring financial professionals into sc...

In the latest episode of our New Insurance and Protection Podcast, we dive into one of the most complex areas in the protection space – arranging high-value life cover for clients with significant sums assured and in some cases intricate medical histories too. Our hosts, Sue and Meg, are joined by Ken Maxwell, Chartered Wealth Manager and Director at specialist protection assurance adviser, John L...

How can advisers help clients stay calm in stormy markets? In the latest episode of IFA Talk, Sue and Matt tackle a topic that’s becoming more and more relevant for advisers and their clients: investor anxiety. With markets showing plenty of volatility right now, it’s no surprise that some clients are feeling uncertain – even panicked – about their investments. And while short-term market moves ma...

In this latest TEI special episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Jenny dive into the UK’s small and mid-cap companies. While this area of the market has faced some challenges in recent years, there are signs that things could be turning a corner as investors increasingly look for opportunities that offer both growth and income potential. Joining us to unpack all of this is Fraser Mackersie, Fund Manager a...

With market volatility and economic uncertainty top of mind for advisers, today’s clients are looking for resilient, diversified portfolios that can help them to weather the storm. In this week’s IFA Talk podcast, we’re tackling a crucial question for modern portfolio construction, and that’s what role can liquid alternatives play in helping to make multi-asset portfolios more robust? To help us a...

In this special 'Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine' edition of IFA Talk, Matt and Jenny delve into the ever-evolving property market. As the middle of the year rapidly approaches, the property market is shifting, and investors are increasingly turning their attention to commercial property.   Joining us is Roz Cawood, Managing Director of Property Finance at Streambank. Roz reveals how b...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we dig into some of the recent insights from FE fundinfo’s latest financial adviser survey, which looks into the real-world challenges and key trends that advisers are currently experiencing. From increased regulation and market volatility to shifting client expectations, the landscape isn’t exactly getting any simpler. Helping us unravel this is David Scholes,...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we’re shining a spotlight on one of the most important – and complex – areas of financial planning today: retirement income strategies. With the FCA’s thematic review highlighting both the opportunities and challenges in retirement advice, it’s more crucial than ever for advisers to get this right. Clients need retirement income strategies that are resilient, fl...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Sue and Matt explore fresh insights from HSBC Life’s report, The Three Is of Investable Capital 2025, produced in partnership with Technical Connection. With capital gains tax and dividend allowances changing, the role of onshore bonds is coming right back into focus for advisers. This report delves into why and how advisers can better utilise onshore bonds in c...

In this month's special Insurance & Protection edition of IFA Talk, Sue and Meg are diving into the topic of electronic wills and the future of legacy planning. Joining them to share his expert knowledge on the area is Adeus Life's Nick Adams. Together, they explore what’s changing in the legal landscape around wills, and how digital innovation could soon be shaking things up. Nick reveals wha...

In the latest episode of IFA Talk, we’re diving into the findings of The Lang Cat’s State of The Advice Nation report with Steve Nelson, Insights Director at The Lang Cat. Co-hosting with our Editor, Sue Whitbread is our very own Senior Financial Journalist, Jenny Hunter, who brings a unique perspective as a part-time Chartered Paraplanner herself. The report reveals that more paraplanners than ev...

In this month’s special Mortgage & Property edition of IFA Talk, Jenny and Meg explore the fast-evolving world of later life lending — a sector which is gaining momentum and rapidly beginning to capture growing interest among advisers and clients alike. As demand grows for more flexible borrowing options in later life, we’ll be unpacking how advisers can effectively meet the needs of this expa...

For this week’s episode, we’re diving into the world of AI in financial advice. With tech adoption on the rise, there’s plenty to unpack – from the potential of AI to streamline processes to the risk of losing that all-important human touch. Joining IFA Magazine’s Senior Financial Journalist Jenny Hunter and Editor Sue Whitbread are two industry experts who are right at the forefront of these chan...

In this week’s episode, Matt and Jenny dive into the world of MPS with expert James Giblin, a Multi-Asset Fund Manager at L&G. James discusses how advisers view MPS—whether it’s more of a product, a service, or something in between—and what really matters when it comes to picking the right solution. James explores what makes an MPS relationship work—and why it’s about more than just performanc...

Let’s face it—Letters of Authority (LoAs) are one of the biggest pain points in financial services. They should be straightforward, but more often than not, they’re anything but. In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we’re digging into why that is, and more importantly, what’s being done to make the process better. Joining us for a proper deep-dive into the world of LoAs are two people who know this...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, we dive into one of the most exciting developments in personalised advice: behavioural finance. We explore why the days of one-size-fits-all advice are numbered — and how understanding how clients feel and behave around money can make all the difference. Joining Matt and Sue to unpack all of this is Dr Greg B. Davies, Head of Behavioural Finance at Oxford Risk,...

In this week’s episode of IFA Talk, Jenny Hunter and Sue Whitbread dig into one of the most important regulatory developments facing financial advisers and firms today – the FCA’s newly launched strategy for 2025 to 2030. What does the strategy actually say? What does it mean for firms in the short and long term? And how can advisers prepare for what’s coming? To help break it all down, we’re join...

This week on IFA Talk, hosts Matt and Sue tackle one of the most significant developments shaking global markets—Trump’s reintroduction of tariffs. With markets on edge and economic forecasts shifting rapidly, we’re joined by Nicolò Bragazza, Associate Portfolio Manager on Morningstar Wealth’s multi-asset team, to break down what financial advisers really need to know. We explore key questions, in...

In this month's special 'Insurance & Protection' episode of IFA Talk, Matt and Sue are diving into a topic that sits at the core of great financial planning; value in the protection space. We hear the word 'value' all the time, but what does it actually mean? Is it just about price? Or is it about the true worth and benefits protection brings to clients? And with the growing advice gap, where...