The Money Marketing Podcast

Kimberley Dondo explores the core findings of CIExpert’s Critical Thinking 2026 report, sponsored by Royal London. Joined by Gregor Sked (Royal London) and Paul Roberts (CIExpert), this episode tackles the realities of the advice gap, whether traditional income protection fits non-linear modern careers, and how to successfully navigate cover for self-employed clients with variable incomes. Access...

Kimberly Dondo speaks with Emma Boardwell, founder of Emotional Finance, and Tom Brown about Emma’s move from psychotherapy into financial advice and her mission to bring emotional literacy into the industry. They discuss the emotional labour advisers carry, the need for clearer boundaries, how vulnerability should be handled, and why relational skills should be embedded in advisor training as tec...

In this episode, Kimberley Dondo is joined by Ilana Miller from Royal London about centralised retirement propositions (CRPs): what they are, why firms are adopting them, and how Royal London published a fully worked, editable example to help firms create consistent, client-centred retirement frameworks. The conversation highlights behavioural research showing fear and false confidence shape retir...

Hayley Rabbets joins MM Talks to introduce Evergreen, a Calton-backed initiative designed to support the full lifecycle of financial planners, from training and early careers through business growth and succession planning. She discusses practical steps to close the advice gap, the role of coaching and education alongside technology, and the need for diverse, structured career pathways and communi...

In this episode, Shelley Read of Royal London explores the rising problem of economic and financial abuse — how partners or carers use money, benefits, property and debt to control victims. She outlines differences between financial and economic abuse, highlights high-risk groups and common red flags, and offers practical advice for advisors, friends and family on spotting signs, supporting victim...

Cathi Harrison, CEO of Verve and the Verve Foundation, explains how the foundation evolved since 2021 to attract and train new talent for the finance sector. She discusses program redesigns, a new recruitment platform, and bootcamps to help advisers launch independent firms. The episode covers key challenges like competent adviser status, industry bottlenecks, the role of independent academies, an...

In this episode, Andy Brown and Mark Baldwin explain how product design—especially smooth funds—acts as behavioral insurance to help investors avoid knee-jerk reactions to political and market volatility, bridge the gap between annuities and drawdown, and keep retirement plans on track. They discuss diversification, creating constructive friction, the advisor’s role in changing the conversation wi...

The advice gap remains a significant challenge for the UK financial sector, with 90% of people currently making major financial decisions unsupported. The advice gap remains a significant challenge for the UK financial sector, with 90% of people currently making major financial decisions unsupported. In this episode of The Advice Shift, Mark Baldwin and Andy Brown from Phoenix Group discuss why th...

In this episode, Mark Baldwin from Standard Life discusses NextWealth research showing that technical skill alone isn’t enough—advisers must understand clients’ emotions and behaviours to create financial plans people will actually follow. Topics include the iceberg analogy, retirement choices since pension freedoms, and practical, small steps advisers can take to ask better questions, build emoti...

In this episode of Money Talks, Kimberly Dondo is joined by Fiona Hanrahan and Justin Corliss from Royal London to explain the impact of frozen tax bands through April 2031 and the rising problem of fiscal drag. They walk through adjusted net income, the high‑income child benefit charge, practical pension strategies (including third‑party contributions and salary exchange), and a clear case study...

Kimberley Dondo, Tom Browne and Dan Cooper discuss a busy start to 2026, focusing on the shortage of women in financial advice, where fewer than one in five advisers are female, the perception problem that deters candidates, and the need for better visibility, mentoring and events like the Women’s Symposium. They cover recent major deals — NatWest’s purchase of Evelyn Partners and Schroders’ takeo...

In this episode, Kimberley Dondo sits down with Fiona Hanrahan and Justin Corliss from Royal London to tackle one of the most frequent technical queries as the tax year-end approaches: carry forward. With the annual allowance now at £60,000, Justin and Fiona explain why carry forward remains a vital tool for clients, despite the recent increase. They dive into the complexities of calculating unuse...

MMTalks launches 2026 with the Money Marketing team discussing the risks of advisors building in-house platforms, geopolitical shocks from Trump and their muted market impact, the rise (and possible burst) of the AI bubble, and whether virtual work experience helps or hinders new talent entering financial services. They also cover sector trends to watch this year — pensions, regulation, tokenisati...

Kimberley Dondo and Dan Cooper wrap up 2025 with a deep dive into the year’s knottiest topics. From the "fatigue" surrounding the advice/guidance boundary to the confusing world of crypto regulation, the team asks: is the industry ready for what comes next? They also tackle the big macro questions: Is the Triple Lock unsustainable? Is Trump worse for markets than Truss? And will we really see a "c...

How do you convince a client to consolidate their "shoebox" of old pensions when 59% are happy to just "leave it"? In this episode of The Money Marketing Podcast , in association with Royal London, we look at the actionable takeaways for advisers from the Workplace Pensions Report 2025.   Clare Moffat (Royal London) breaks down the barriers stopping clients from picking up the phone. We discuss th...

In this special reaction episode of MM Talks , we tear up the script following the unprecedented early leak of the OBR report and the Chancellor's subsequent speech. Join Kimberley Dondo as she sits down with the Money Marketing editorial team, Tom Browne and Dan Cooper, alongside special guest Chris Jones, Financial Services Director at Dynamic Planner, to dissect a day of high drama and hard num...

What's the real mood of UK advisers? The Money Marketing team reports back from MMI London. Join Tom Browne, Dan Cooper, and Kimberley Dondo as they also tackle the AI 'minefield', discussing how to innovate without alarming clients. Finally, they run through the biggest fears and speculation surrounding the upcoming Budget.

Is AI just a buzzword, or can it truly deliver tangible value for financial advice firms? Recorded live from our Money Marketing Interactive London 2025 conference, this expert panel moves beyond the hype to discuss the real-world impact of artificial intelligence. Listen as industry leaders explore the practical opportunities and challenges of integrating AI, from boosting efficiency with automat...

In this episode, we tackle the monumental shifts in UK inheritance tax (IHT) rules. Joining us from Royal London's Technical Marketing Team is Justin Corliss, who breaks down the impact of the October 2024 budget announcement on pensions. We'll discuss how unused pension pots and death benefits are set to be included in IHT calculations from April 2027, and what this means for your clients' financ...

In this month’s episode of MM Unpacked , we dive into the big topics of adviser life, generational wealth, and the changing face of the industry. Host Kimberley Dondo is joined by Editor Tom Browne and News Editor Dan Cooper to discuss what's on everyone's mind.   Tom shares his unique insights from interviewing advisers for his 'Big Picture' feature on the human side of the job, while Dan unpacks...

This week on MM Talks, we're joined by Rowan Whittington (Dynamic Planner) and Jim Islam (OneFamily), along with our own Tom Browne and Kimberley Dondo. We take a deep dive into the state of diversity and inclusion in the UK financial services sector. Our panel discusses the industry's evolution on D&I, how it compares internationally, and the tangible business benefits of building a truly div...

Welcome to Episode 2 of MM Unpacked ! Join Kimberley Dondo alongside Money Marketing's editorial team, Dan Cooper and Tom Browne, as they discuss the Government's controversial decision to push ahead with including unused pensions in Inheritance Tax and how the industry is reacting. They also cover the latest on financial scams, the rise of apprenticeships as a new route into advice, and the FCA's...

When markets get rocky, how can financial advisers help their clients stay the course? Join Kimberley Dondo and Ilana Miller, Investment Development Director at Royal London, as they discuss the art of guiding clients through market volatility. In this episode, they explore the importance of addressing the emotional side of investing, proactive strategies to build long-term resilience, and the val...

Rick Gosling, Director at Five Wealth, joins MM Talks to discuss the rise of unregulated advice on social media, how advisers can stay relevant to Gen Z, and the potential and pitfalls of AI in financial planning. He also shares thoughts on intergenerational advice and building financial literacy across families. Listen now:

In this episode of MM Unpacked, Kimberley Dondo, Dan Cooper, and Tom Browne unpack the FCA's targeted support, discuss the importance of work experience in attracting young talent to financial advice, and reveal Money Marketing's digital evolution.