AJ Bell Money & Markets

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Sarah Coles and Dan Coatsworth look at the growing problem of lost pension pots and explain how to track down forgotten retirement savings. We also discuss the billions of pounds sitting in unclaimed Premium Bonds, and Child Trust Funds gathering dust. Importantly, Sarah explains ways to check whether some of that money belongs to you. 

The team reveal six tax tips that could save people up to £8,500 ahead of the Budget and discuss what Chancellor John Healey might have in store for investors, savers and taxpayers. From pension tax breaks and income tax thresholds to ISAs, stamp duty and the state pension tax dilemma, Sarah and Dan run through the key areas to watch. 

You can hear from interview with Sonia Bainbridge from Invesco on what it will take to get more people investing. The pod also discusses another week of cyber-attacks, an IMF inflation warning, AI stock weakness. James Flintoft reveals the AJ Bell investment team’s view on the recent bond market selloff. 

Finally, hear about activist pressure at Whitbread, unusually low CEO turnover among FTSE 100 companies, and an important court case involving a romance scam.

Time stamps:  
[01:10] Lost pension pots, unclaimed Premium Bonds and forgotten Child Trust Funds 
[09:21] Six tax tips that could save people up to £8,500 
[15:24] Autumn Budget preview: what could change for your money? 
[30:10] Sonia Bainbridge from Invesco on how to get more people investing 
[42:31] Cyber-attacks, inflation risks and AJ Bell’s James Flintoft on bond market volatility 
[58:33] AI stock wobble 
[01:01:03] Premier Inn owner Whitbread targeted by activist investor 
[01:03:16] Where’s all the CEO changes among FTSE 100 companies? 
[01:05:30] Romance scam

ASOS has been hit by a damaging cyberattack, reviving concerns about the threat facing UK retailers after incidents at Co-op and Marks & Spencer. This episode examines what happened, how ASOS could be affected and what might come next. We also explain why five-year fixed mortgage rates have reached 6% and what worried borrowers can do. Plus, we explore takeover talk involving Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, BT’s acquisition of TalkTalk, Jaguar’s electric vehicle rethink, record highs for the S&P 500, moves in oil and bond markets, SpaceX’s AI chip plans and the buzz around Meta’s Muse AI model.

We also talk to fund manager David Harrison from Rathbones about whether investors who rank sustainability highly can ever back AI companies given the water and energy usage involved.

Timestamps 

[01:51] Oil prices, bond yields, a record high for the S&P 500 and SpaceX’s AI chip plans 

[03:57] Meta’s Muse AI model, the buzz around it and the risks for the wider business 

[09:01] Paramount and Warner Bros, BT’s takeover of TalkTalk and competition concerns 

[14:55] Why a possible Sainsbury’s and Morrisons deal has revived talk of UK supermarket mergers 

[18:11] The ASOS cyberattack and comparisons with Co-op and Marks & Spencer 

[23:00] Five-year fixed mortgage rates hit 6% and what borrowers can do 

[25:56] The headline announcements from the Conservative Party conference 

[29:51] Eve Maddock-Jones speaks to David Harrison from Rathbones on AI and sustainability

[39:14] Jaguar’s electric vehicle rethink and the challenges facing carmakers’ EV strategies 

Anthropic IPO investors are beginning to assess one of the most talked-about artificial intelligence companies in the world.

In this week's Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young, Sarah Coles and Tom Sieber discuss reports surrounding the potential Anthropic IPO, including the company's rapid growth, its Claude AI platform, valuation questions and the opportunities and risks facing investors. Featuring insights from Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh, the team explores whether Anthropic could become one of the biggest technology listings in recent years.

The episode also covers:

Help to Buy reforms and what they mean for UK housebuilders

Stock market reaction to Labour conference announcements

Proposed changes to the state pension triple lock

Social care funding and retirement planning implications

How giving up smoking and alcohol could significantly boost long-term savings and pension wealth

Chapters

Intro [00:00]

AI latest [01:22]

Mandeep Singh, Bloomberg Intelligence on Anthropic [06:56]

Burnham bounce for housebuilders [21:10]

GB grid announcement and water companies in focus [26:27]

Social care and pension triple lock [31:52]

Stoptober and sober October – how much you could save [41:54]

Are the warning lights flashing for a new cost of living crisis? In this week's AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Sarah Coles and Dan Coatsworth examine the biggest threats facing household finances, from rising oil prices and inflation to mortgage costs and Budget tax rumours.

They explain the key signals everyone should be watching, explore the winners and losers from changing consumer spending habits, and discuss what potential tax changes could mean for investors.

Plus: the Hyrox fitness boom, supermarket wars, capital gains tax (CGT) speculation, and a surprising ISA trend that could leave many families exposed later in life.

Subscribe for weekly insights on investing, markets, pensions, tax and personal finance. The podcast that gives you practical tips and valuable insight.

01:41 Are we heading for a new cost of living crisis?

03:32 The key indicators to watch: inflation, wages and energy bills, and where we stand now

13:39 Hyrox: Dan talks to Ruby Bollington on the fitness craze attracting big-money investors

22:34 Retail sales, M&S on trend, and how supermarkets are fighting for customers

31:20 A different way to invest in the weekly food shop: Interview with Supermarket Income REIT boss Rob Abraham

41:16 Budget rumours: property taxes, holiday lets and CGT changes

49:29 The biggest Budget fears among UK households

52:43 The ISA trend that could put family finances at risk

This week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Sarah Coles discuss the growing debate around artificial intelligence, including warnings from industry leaders that AI could pose serious risks to humanity, and what that means for investors. Tech journalist Will Guyatt joins the show to talk about using AI to find investing information.

Dan and Sarah explore rising inflation, soaring oil prices, bond market volatility, and the outlook for interest rates. Plus, they look at the latest state pension increase forecasts, new ISA savings data, and the persistent gender pension gap.

Elsewhere, listeners share their approaches to saving for university costs, and Sarah explains why divorce enquiries often spike after the summer holidays, and the financial steps people can take to protect themselves.

Timestamps:

[00:09] Introduction and what's coming up
[01:48] AI warnings: Could AI become a threat to humanity?
[07:54] Can AI help investors? Interview with tech journalist Will Guyatt
[22:11] Markets update: Oil prices, bond sell-off and inflation concerns
[23:58] UK inflation rises to 3.1%: What's driving prices higher?
[27:38] Listener insights: Saving and investing for university costs
[39:48] Why divorce enquiries spike after the summer holidays
[44:49] State pension forecast: Triple lock points to a 3.9% increase
[48:47] ISA data: More people investing for the long term
[51:46] Gender pension gap: Why women retire with significantly less pension wealth
[54:01] Practical ways to boost pension savings during career breaks and part-time work
[55:58] Closing thoughts and preview of next week's episode

In this special episode of the Deep Dive podcast, Tom is joined by AJ Bell’s head of public policy Rachel Vahey and head of technical Charlene Young to answer listeners’ most pressing pension questions. They discuss why it can pay to start saving even when retirement feels distant, how tax relief works for higher earners, what inheritance tax changes could mean for SIPPs, and whether ISAs can offer extra flexibility. The episode also covers pension access age changes, state pension entitlement, pensions dashboards, retirement living standards and why age 75 matters for retirement planning. 

01:05 – Is it worth paying into a pension when retirement feels a long way off?

04:18 – Salary sacrifice and making pension contributions work harder

08:14 – SIPPs, ISAs and planning ahead for inheritance tax changes from 2027

12:33 – Taking tax-free cash gradually and using Stocks and Shares ISAs

15:14 – Pension access age: what happens if you take money at 55 before April 2028?

20:25 – Why 35 years of National Insurance does not always guarantee the full new state pension

27:50 – Pension tax relief for additional-rate taxpayers: what is automatic and what must be claimed?

33:14 – Pensions dashboards: what they are, when they might arrive and what savers could see

41:03 – Retirement living standards and how much people may need in later life

43:12 – Why age 75 matters for pensions and tax planning

48:01 – The pension questions Rachel and Charlene think more people should ask

Oil is back above $100 a barrel. What does that mean for inflation, interest rates, stock markets and your finances?

Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth discuss the market impact of rising oil prices and what central banks might do next. Commodities expert Adam Rozencwajg from investment group Goehring and Rozencwajg explains how Middle East tensions are affecting global oil supplies, where investment opportunities lie, and what the oil industry might do next.

Also in this episode: John Healey's first major speech as Chancellor, rising mortgage rates, falling house prices, job cuts at Jaguar Land Rover, saving for university costs, and a simple guide to valuing shares.

[02:40] Oil tops $100: what's next?
[07:12] Inflation and interest rates in focus
[15:03] Expert talks oil supply issues
[28:35] The UK government’s new growth pitch
[32:05] Job losses at big car companies
[37:51] UK government borrowing costs surge
[40:29] Housing market turns lower
[43:23] How the Bank of Mum and Dad are preparing for university bills
[50:45] Simple guide to valuing shares

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Charlene Young and Tom Sieber return from the summer break to discuss why government bond yields are rising again and what that means for stock markets and investors.

Hannah Williford speaks to Rob Perrone from Orbis Investments for a deeper look at the recent bond market moves, while Tom examines Nvidia’s latest earnings, whether AI demand can keep justifying its valuation, BP’s new chair and Shein’s difficult Hong Kong stock market debut. Charlene looks at signs of weakness in the UK housing market, including house price and mortgage approvals data. She also explores record capital gains tax receipts and why some pension savers may not be getting all the tax relief they are owed.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money and Markets podcast, Danni Hewson rounds up the week’s market news, including updates on Tesla and Alphabet, and Martin Gamble asks Russ Mould whether we should be worried that the AI bubble is set to follow the path of the dotcom boom and bust.

Charlene Young and Sarah Coles examine the growing political debate around social care reform and the options for paying for care. They discuss AJ Bell’s campaign for a Pensions Tax Lock to protect against the dangers of Budget speculation. They also delve into new data, including details of the gender tax gap, the latest twist in the dash for Cash ISAs, how holidays dominate our savings priorities, and an unexpected new shopping trend.

 

[00:00] Bank of England interest rates decision

[01:18] Intro

[02:42] Tesla results

[04:39] Alphabet Update

[07:14] Market jitters

[08:07] News on SK Hynix and CXMT

[09:15] Apple valuation

[12:36] World Cup boost for Unilever and Coca Cola

[18:01] Interview: the AI bubble vs the dotcom boom and bust

[41:51] Social care reform and planning for care costs

[46:27] Call for a Pension Tax Lock to protect against Budget speculation

[51:55] The narrowing of the gender tax gap

[56:58] Bank of England savings figures

[59:37] Holiday savings habits and financial priorities

[01:03:09] Feta fatigue and reverse comfort eating

 

On this week’s episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth assess how Andy Burnham’s first few days as UK Prime Minister have been received by markets.

They consider what the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor means for defence spending, and the row about how a VAT cut on domestic energy bills will be paid for.

There’s been some good news on inflation for the new government but it’s likely to be short lived, and there’s pressure to cut employers’ National Insurance for under 25s.

Rachel Vahey tackles the popular question: once you retire, do you dip into your ISA or pension first?

Danni and Dan discuss why is Primark cutting prices ahead of being spun out of its parent company.

James Flintoft, AJ Bell’s head of investment solutions, joins Dan to discuss the broader state of markets as the oil price climbs back above $90 dollars a barrel.

 

Timestamps:
Market reaction to Andy Burnham’s first few days as PM [02:16]
Will the new Chancellor prioritise defence spending? [08:26}
Lots of speculation about this year’s Budget [15:37]
The latest on inflation [19:24]
Rachel on dipping into an ISA or pension first [28:59]
Why Primark is slashing prices [45:35]
Takeovers galore [52:35]
James talks to Dan about markets, oil prices and more [55:50]