Money Wise UK®

In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George Ladds is joined by Andrew Spence, CEO and Founder of Aspen Advisers . Andrew’s route into financial services was not a traditional one. After studying marine engineering, he moved into investment management just before the Global Financial Crisis. That experience shaped much of his thinking around portfolio construction, risk, client behaviour a...

Retirement is changing. People are living longer, defined benefit pensions are becoming less common, and more responsibility is shifting to individuals to create sustainable retirement incomes. In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, I am joined by Emma Mogford, Portfolio Manager at Premier Miton Investors , to explore what retirement may look like over the next 10–20 years. We discuss: • Wh...

In this episode, George Ladds is joined by Gervais Williams , veteran fund manager, author, and long-standing advocate for UK equities. Gervais shares his journey from engineering into investment management and reflects on over three decades of navigating market cycles. We discuss: Why today’s markets differ from past cycles – and the risks of assuming “buy the dip” always works The retreat of glo...

In this episode, George Ladds sits down with Benji Dawes , co-manager of the Premier Miton UK Growth Fund , to explore why UK equities, particularly small and mid-caps, may offer one of the most compelling opportunities for long-term investors. Benji shares his unique journey from studying anthropology to becoming a fund manager, explains the fund’s three investment pillars —quality, valuation, an...

In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast , host George Ladds speaks with Matthew Spencer of Orbis Investments — one of the most distinctive voices in the world of multi-asset investing. Matthew shares his journey from aspiring sports coach in South Africa to becoming part of Orbis’ global investment team, reflecting on early mentors, work ethic, and the lessons learned along the way. Together,...

How far should you diversify before you dilute returns? In this episode, George sits down with Damian Bird , Portfolio Manager for Polen Capital’s Emerging Markets Growt h strategy, to challenge conventional wisdom on diversification, active vs. passive in EM, and where the most exciting compounding businesses live today. Damian revisits the classic Evans & Archer (1968) research on portfolio...

In this episode of the MoneyWise UK Podcast , host George Ladds is joined by Ceri Hill, Head of Decumulation at Brooks Macdonald , for an in-depth discussion on the changing face of retirement. Retirement has shifted from the world of guaranteed defined benefit pensions to one where individuals must manage defined contribution pots, creating new challenges for both clients and financial planners....

Is natural income outdated, risky… or the missing link in sustainable retirement planning? In this episode of Money Wise UK , George welcomes back David Jane of Premier Miton to revisit one of our most debated topics: natural income. Together, they unpack whether it still has a role in modern portfolios, how it compares to total return strategies, and why client psychology plays such a big part in...

George, Money Wise UK , chats with Pietro Nicholls, co-manager of the VT RM Alternative Income Fund , about what “alternatives” really are, liquidity myths, the rate/inflation cycle, and why governance matters in investment trusts. They cover diversification, where real assets fit vs the 60/40, activism vs engagement (incl. Gore Street), and how VT RM balances income with capital preservation. Fol...

China is often seen as either an unstoppable superpower or a risky bet – but what’s the real story? In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George sits down with Megan Ie, Senior Equity Analyst at GIB Asset Management , to unpack the nuances of investing in China. From common prosperity to geopolitical tensions, policy shifts, and overlooked growth opportunities, Megan brings fresh insights...

In this insightful episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast , George Ladds is joined by Kunal Desai , co-fund manager of the Emerging Markets Active Engagement Strategy at GIB Asset Management . They cut through the noise to discuss why emerging markets deserve more attention in today’s globalportfolios. From political risk to valuation opportunities, from sustainable investing to bespoke engagement s...

In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast , George is joined by Ben Palmer, Senior Portfolio Manager at LGT and former Head of Responsible Investment at Brooks Macdonald, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about sustainable investing. From the evolution of ethical investing to today's ESG, impact, and transition strategies, Ben explains the terminology, challenges, and real-world in...

Can fixed income be both sustainable and high performing? Or is it just another corner of the market vulnerable to greenwashing?   In this eye-opening episode of the Money Wise UK podcast, host George is joined by Samantha Lamb , Head of Fixed Income at GIB Asset Management , to break down what sustainability really means in the world of bonds — and why it’s time to challenge some long-held assump...

In this insightful episode from Money Wise UK , host George is joined by Lawrence Cook , CEO of Mabel Insights , to unpack how retirement planning is evolving — and why it’s more important (and complex) than ever before. What to Expect: Why the traditional view of retirement is outdated The emotional and financial challenges of today’s retirement landscape The importance of cashflow modelling (and...

In this episode of the MoneyWise UK & QuantQual Podcast , George sits down with Keith Balmer from Columbia Threadneedle to explore why the debate between active and passive investing might be missing the point. Keith shares his career journey — from hedge funds at Man Group to launching a low-cost multi-asset franchise at Columbia Threadneedle — and explains why it’s not about choosing sides b...

In this episode of the Money Wise UK podcast, host George Ladds speaks with Ben Yearsley, a financial expert with a rich history in the industry. They discuss Ben's journey from his early aspirations of becoming a stockbroker to his extensive career at Hargreaves Lansdown and his current role in consultancy and investment. The conversation delves into the importance of asking questions, the balanc...

In this episode of the Money Wise UK podcast, host George Ladds speaks with Henry Rossiter of Belmont Estate about the estate's commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and the challenges of balancing business with environmental values. Henry shares his journey from a family background in agriculture to leading Belmont's transformation into a venue that connects people with nature. The...

In this candid episode, George speaks with entrepreneur Hugo Morrissey about his bold leap from a career in finance at Neptune Investment Management to launching Nuisance Drinks in 2020. Hugo opens up about the highs and lows of starting a business during the pandemic, from foraging nettles to hand-labeling 5,500 bottles. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Hugo shares his struggles w...

In this episode of Money Wise UK Podcast, we welcome back Richard Parkin, Head of Retirement at BNY Investments. Following the October Budget and his latest research with NextWealth on Retirement Advice , Richard shares key insights shaping the future of retirement planning. Key findings from the research include: 🔹 47% of advisers feel compliance with the thematic review limits their ability to...

Thoughtful Investing with Castlefield Investment Partners If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the jargon surrounding ESG, sustainable investing, responsible investing, impact investing, and ethical investing , this episode is a must-listen. In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast , host George talks with Callum Wells of Castlefield Investment Partners to discuss the complexities of sustainable...

In the Money Wise UK Podcast episode, host George speaks with David McNeil of Castlebay as the firm celebrates its 10th anniversary. David shares his journey into investment management, from an early fascination with stockbroking to co-founding Castlebay in 2013. He discusses the firm’s unique approach to quality value investing, maintaining a low turnover strategy (10% annually) and a long-term p...

With poverty and inequality in the UK remaining among the highest in the developed world , impact investing offers a way to address these challenges while delivering financial returns. George and Hermina break down the world of investment trusts , explaining how they work and uncovering the unique opportunities in the social impact sector . They also discuss risk management, investor safeguards, a...

Join George as he sits down with Andrew Cain of GSI for a deep dive into factor investing and its role in global investment strategies . This episode unpacks key investment concepts , including: ✅ How factor investing works and its potential benefits for portfolio diversification and risk management ✅ The differences between index investing and active strategies —and whether our approach to them...

In this episode, George sits down with Mikhail Zverev and Graeme Bencke of Amati Global Investors for an in-depth discussion on global investing and the role of active management in today’s markets. We explore key themes, including: ✅ The complexities of modern financial markets and what they mean for investors ✅ The ongoing debate between active vs. passive investing —does active management add...

Join George in this special two-part series , where the focus shifts from investments to real-life businesses . In this episode, George sits down with Brad Askew, founder of Bristol Spring (formerly Spring Incubator), to explore his entrepreneurial journey —from launching an online legal services company to successfully selling it to a multinational legal insurance firm . Key topics include: ✅ Wh...