Merryn Talks Money

Correction One of our brilliant listeners wrote in to point out an inaccuracy in the original podcast. We've removed the inaccuracy, in which the guest said you can roll previous capital gains into a VCT. In fact, while gains made from a VCT can be CGT free, you CANNOT roll over capital gains on other assets you have sold into a VCT. We will also address in the next personal finance episode. ...

In this week's Merryn Talks Money market roundup, there's only one story on our host's mind. Merryn and Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek talk about US activist investor Boaz Weinstein of Saba Capital and his high-profile attempt to unseat the boards of seven UK-listed investment trusts. Weinstein argues that a combination of weak three-year performance and too much tolerance of wide d...

“We’re not here to make trouble.” So says Boaz Weinstein, founder and chief investment officer of activist investor Saba Capital Management, who joins this episode of the Merryn Talks Money podcast, hosted by senior reporter John Stepek. His claim may come as news to boards of many UK investment trusts. Saba has taken large stakes in seven of them and called extraordinary ge...

Each week on the Merryn Talks Money podcast, we discuss strategies for investing with industry experts. But rarely do we talk about how to get started on that investment journey. On this episode, Holly Mackay, founder and chief executive of  Boring Money , joins hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek to do just that. They chat about how to get started in choosing an investment platform, i...

Daniel Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers and author of The Humble Investor: How to Find a Winning Edge in a Surprising World, joins Merryn this week. They discuss his book, why all forecasts are wrong (and why we need them anyway), the case for selling US tech and buying small caps, whether we’re in an artificial intelligence bubble, and Japanese equities. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

In the first roundup of the year, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about anxiety in the markets, sterling and UK gilt prices tumbling, and the fresh pressure facing Rachel Reeves and the Treasury from soaring borrowing costs. Plus, a look at the rollback on ESG measures across companies.  Don't forget, sign up to Merryn's newsletter: https://www.bloomberg.com/a...

We bring you another favourite from our episodes this year: Merryn's conversation with Tim Marshall, author of  The Future of Geography and a former diplomatic and foreign affairs editor at Sky News . He says there could be a "gold rush" in space. Just as miners in the 19th century ventured into the lawless frontiers of North America, the presence of rare materials on the moon and elsewhere m...

For every listener who has written in to say "You must speak to Lyn Alden"--we're reposting our interview for you.  So this holiday break, please enjoy investment and macroeconomic analyst Lyn Alden exploring the history and future of money with Merryn. Alden discusses her book Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

While Merryn and John enjoy a holiday break, we bring you an episode from our colleagues on the Money Stuff podcast team. Hosts Matt Levine and Katie Greifeld spoke earlier this year with John Collison, the co-founder and president of Stripe. Here is their conversation on the financial services business, why payments are hard, what's good about crypto, why IPOs don't matter and how to fly planes....

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the downside that comes with UK wages going up, Guy Hands and military homes, US exuberance reaching critical levels, and why it's important that US activist fund manager Saba Capital has been building up positions in lots of investment trusts. Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro of...

In this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money , we discuss what you should stow away for your kids until they turn 18. Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access to deep reporting, data and analysis from reporters around the world. Already a subscriber? Con...

Market historian Russell Napier joins Merryn to explain that economic nationalism will have negative consequences for some nations. They also talk Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access to deep reporting, data and analysis from reporters a...

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the UK stock market's shrinking influence, why pension funds are so keen to invest in private assets, and everyone's favourite: executive pay. Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock acces...

In this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money , hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek answer the question: what are the financial benefits of getting married in the UK?  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at  bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access to deep reporting, data and...

It’s that time when analysts unveil their forecasts for 2025. But every year, Saxo Bank releases a different type of prediction—not of events likely to happen, but rather those that probably won’t. But if they do—they would send shockwaves across financial markets. So it’s good to start talking about the possibility.  Saxo Chief Macro Strategist John Hardy joins this week’s Merryn Talks Money to d...

In this week's roundup,  Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek is joined by Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth. They talk euro chaos this week, London's shrinking stock market, and why the cult of US stocks is not going to end well.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at  bloomberg.com/podcastoffer . You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access...

In this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money , Merryn John discuss strategies for managing your inheritance. Millennial listener Kewin has a conundrum. He’s inherited money and is expecting more in the future. But rather than leaving it in a savings account or buying Bitcoin, he wants to put the money to work. He’s seen financial advice on TikTok suggesting he should put his asset...

“Capital goes where it’s needed and stays where it’s treated well. That’s not the UK and that’s not Europe: currently, it’s the US and it’s Argentina.” So says Barry Norris, chief executive of Argonaut Capital Partners, on this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money . The UK finance veteran decries Labour tax policies in the UK while pointing to opportunities in the Americas. He suggests good places...

In this week's roundup, Merryn and Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek discuss why they still think prices for US companies are still too high, why the UK government isn't making investing in Britain particularly appealing (although the UK is still cheap!) and John gives his two cents on the car finance scandal and why it could be worse than we think.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber u...

On this personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money , host Merryn Somserset Webb is joined by Bloomberg reporters Harry Wilson and Eleanor Thornber to discuss the brewing crisis in Britain’s car finance industry.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. You’ll get episodes of this podcast ad-free and unlock access to deep reporting, data an...

In this limited series, Odd Lots explains some of the thorniest issues facing the US economy through the medium of … chicken. Chicken occupies a unique position in the US diet, but issues facing the poultry industry illustrate wider points about the development of the US economy and the decisions being made about how it's structured and who benefits from it. So why has the chicken industry evolved...

Sam Bowman, founding editor of the online magazine Works in Progress , now part of payment processing platform Stripe, joins to discuss why he thinks Britain has stagnated and the main problems hindering growth. He also offers what he considers simple solutions for tackling those problems.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. You’ll get ep...

In this week's roundup, Merryn and Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek discuss why UK farmers are angry about inheritance tax and what the latest UK inflation data suggests that the Bank of England's caution is justified. DISCLAIMER: Merryn owns. crap farm. John owns an outrage farm that you can visit on X.  Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber using our special intro offer at bloomberg.com...

Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek speak with  Bloomberg Opinion columnist Stuart Trow, author of “The Bluffer’s Guide to Economics,” about pension drawdown, which is a way to access your pension income when you retire while leaving the rest invested. Trow tackles how it works and offers suggestions on how best to manage it.  SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Merryn is getting her own newsletter.  Sig...

Economist Diane Coyle, currently the Bennett professor of public policy at the University of Cambridge, analyzes artificial intelligence’s potential economic impact—from people’s jobs to their productivity—on this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money .  Merryn is getting her own newsletter.  Sign up here: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/merryn-talks-money See omnystudio.com/listener...