Merryn Talks Money
Episodes
Debt Traps, Interest Cuts and Global Shifts: A Candid UK Outlook with Gerard Lyons
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host John Stepek speaks with leading economist Gerard Lyons about the UK’s latest budget and why he believes it lacks both vision and credibilit...
Why Europe’s Banks and Energy Stocks May Lead the Next Rally
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host John Stepek speaks with Helen Jewell, International CIO of Fundamental Equities for EMEA at BlackRock, about an unexpectedly strong year for glob...
Investment Trust Turmoil, Silver’s Surge, and Bitcoin’s Wild Ride
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s markets roundup, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek dig into the collapse of the proposed HICL–TRIG merger and the ...
Dambisa Moyo on Why the AI Bubble Still Has Room to Grow
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI mania may be driving markets to new heights, but economist and author Dambisa Moyo argues the real question isn’t whether we’re in a te...
UK Budget Special: What Will It Cost You?
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Merryn is joined by Stephanie Flanders, Head of Economics and Government at Bloomberg, Helen Thomas, founder and CEO of Blonde Money, and Money Distil...
The UK Government Must Cut Spending - Here's Why (with Kallum Pickering)
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
UK consumers used to save very little — now they’re saving a lot, perhaps too much. Why? Kallum Pickering, Peel Hunt chief economist, join...
Why This Controversial Investment Trust Deal Has Riled Key Shareholders
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Merryn Talks Money market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek sit down with Chris Clothier, Co-CIO of CGAM to discuss the ...
Offshore Bonds: What They Are and Who They’re For
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Curious about how offshore bonds really work, and whether they’re worth it? In this week’s Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset W...
Jim Reid on Why Cash Is the Riskiest Investment of All
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host Merryn Somerset Webb speaks to Jim Reid, head of Macro and Thematic Research at Deutsche Bank, to unpack why too much cash is risky over the long...
UK Housing Jitters, Market Moves, and "Psychic Wealth"
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Merryn Talks Money market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek dissect the latest UK housing trends ahead of the budget, ex...
Why UK Small Caps Could Soar — Rockwood’s Richard Staveley on Value, Catalysts & Momentum
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Richard Staveley, manager of the Rockwood Strategic, to unpack why UK smaller companies are so unloved—and w...
Yes It’s an AI Bubble. Here’s Why (with Albert Edwards)
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Veteran market strategist Albert Edwards says we’re in a full-blown AI bubble—one powered by a story so seductive even skeptics are gettin...
Rate Cuts, Fiscal Resets, and AI Reality Checks
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek, senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter, unpack the week’s biggest market stori...
Where to Invest $1 Million Right Now
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bloomberg personal finance reporter Suzanne Woolley is back on Merryn Talks Your Money. She discusses her latest in the 'Where to Invest' series,...
Rob Arnott on AI Mania: Lessons From the Dot-Com Era
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the AI boom just a bubble or the start of something bigger? Host Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Rob Arnott, founder and chairman of the board ...
Art Laffer Has a Prescription for Britain’s Economic Woes
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US economist Arthur Laffer — the man behind the famous “Laffer Curve” — joins Merryn Talks Money to explain why he thinks West...
UK Renters’ Rights Act: What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host John Stepek and author of the Money Distilled newsletter is joined by Bloomberg reporter Helen Chandler-Wilde and Stuart Trow, author of “Y...
When Gold Loses Its Shine
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s market wrap, host and author of the Money Distilled newsletter, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashwo...
How the US-China Rivalry Is Reshaping the Global Economy with Neil Shearing
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age, argues hyper-globalization is giving way to a world split i...
Outbreaks of Reality: Markets Catch Up to the Warnings
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's markets wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack a series of headlines that seem to confirm their long-standing warnings...
Crypto ETNs: How Dangerous Are They?
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack the FCA’s decision to lift its ban on retail access to c...
How to Find—and Force—Value From Tokyo to Seoul
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Activist investing is back. On this week's episode of Merryn Talks Money, Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Joe Bauernfreund, chief executive of A...
In Gold We Trust: What Surging Metals Say About a Shaky Economy
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's markets roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek dive into the surging precious metals market — from gold’s decades-lo...
We Speak to the Pensions Expert Who is Taking His Tax-Free Cash Now
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Stepek, senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter, is joined by pensions expert Tom McPhail to talk about pension protect...
Can Gold Keep Rallying?
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gold’s on a tear — and host Merryn Somerset Webb asks Dominic Frisby, investor and author of the investment newsletter The Flying Fri...
UK IPOs Have Dried Up, US Tech Booms, and Japan’s Surprise Rally
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's markets round up, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the news that London has slipped out of the world’s top 20 i...
What Labour’s Tax Talk Really Means for Your Money
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek examine the policy signals coming out of the Labour Party conference—and wh...
Could a Fiscal Crisis Bring Down the Government?
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roger Lee, head of equity strategy at Cavendish, joins Merryn Somerset Webb to explain why he thinks the UK’s worsening public finances could mo...
Introducing IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kindbody, one of the largest fertility companies in the US, sought to disrupt egg freezing and IVF by combining spa vibes with Silicon Valley efficien...
Burnham’s Bond Gamble, Gavekal’s Turkish Play, and Gold’s Crowded Hedge
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Markets Wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek weigh Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s bond-market remarks ...
Your Money Questions Answered: Pensions, Taxes and the UK’s Debt Outlook
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In lieu of a personal finance episode this week, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek host a mailbag session answering listener questions on pens...
What to Buy Now as The US Loses Its Edge
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is US exceptionalism over? Pictet Asset Management's Chief Strategist Luca Paolini joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to explain why the world is enterin...
UK Jobs Squeeze, AI Disruption, and Diverging Rate Cuts
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack Next’s half-year report to reveal what falling vacancies, rising applica...
UPDATE: Why Your Tax-Free Pension Lump Sum Is Under Growing Threat
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Mark Wood, Chairman of Everest Funeral Concierge, Chair of PensionBee, and former CEO off Prudential UK and AXA...
The Real Reason UK Energy Prices Are Skyrocketing
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These days, UK energy policies arguably seem more ideological than anything else. But that doesn’t seem to be working, so perhaps it’s tim...
Gold vs. Bitcoin: What’s Driving the Safe-Haven Rally in 2025
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's markets roundup, host Merryn Somerset Webb, editor-at-large for Bloomberg UK Wealth, sits down with Noor Al Ali from Bloomberg Markets ...
How University Students Should Approach Their Finances
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
September signals the end of summer in the UK and the start of the school year. Gearing up to start university can be a daunting time for many young p...
Odd Lots: Liz Truss on the 'Doom Loop' Engulfing the UK Economy
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We'll be back next week with more Merryn Talks Money interviews, but for now we bring you an interesting conversation from the Odd Lots team. Th...
Gilts, Gold and Property Tax
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this news round up episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb has returned from her holiday and is joined by Bloomberg Opinion column...
Live from Fringe: Virtue, Vice and the Price of Money
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the final panel at this year's Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, host Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Richard Wilson, chief executive of one of the UK...
Live from Fringe: How to Prevent AI From Causing an Economic Catastrophe
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Bloomberg senior reporter John Stepek, author Dominic Frisby a...
Live from Fringe: What Would Adam Smith Think About Trump’s Tariffs?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith make sense of the economic world that exists today? In this episode of Merryn Talks Money, Me...
Best of: The 'Humble' Investor Says Sell Private Equity, Sell US Tech, Buy Polish Small Caps
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers and author of The Humble Investor: How to Find a Winning Edge in a Surprising World, joins Merryn.&n...
Have We Finally Turned a Corner?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Stepek, Bloomberg senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter is joined by Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss the unex...
Best of: Is There a Tradeoff Between Net Zero and UK Growth?
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no tradeoff between net zero and growth in the UK. That’s the conventional wisdom and the position of the current government. But ...
Tactics, Tariffs and Truth Bombs
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whilst usual host Merryn Somerset Webb is still out on holiday, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss Americ...
The Global Reallocation of Trust
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Euronext CEO, Stéphane Boujnah to explore the reasoning behin...
The US-EU Tariff Deal and Reeves vs Bailey
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whilst usual host Merryn Somerset Webb is out on holiday, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss why America'...
Are UK Retirement Homes Worth the Investment? And More Housing Questions Answered
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, joins hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek to answer a few more UK housing questions. They tackle all...
Why Playing the Long Game Still Matters with Scottish Mortgage's Tom Slater
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish Mortgage Manager Tom Slater joins Merryn Talks Money to explain how the UK investment trust is trying to find tomorrow’s market wi...
Downward Spiral: UK House Prices on the Slide
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss falling UK house prices, capital exodus and relocating to west London. See omnystudio.com/list...
Hot Tips for Saving Money on Summer Vacation
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss some helpful tips for making the most of your money while on holiday. See omnystudio.com/liste...
US Stocks Are Expensive. You Should Still Buy Them
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US equities markets are expensive, by any and all measures. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still have a hefty allocation. That’...
Cash ISAs, Booming Bitcoin and Mansion House
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Stepek is on holiday YET AGAIN. So on this week's market roundup, Bloomberg's Morwenna Coniam, who is part of the team that runs the UK Markets T...
How Much Does Your Credit Score Matter?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, taking out a loan or signing up for a new credit card, one number carries more weight than many people r...
Why It’s Time to Invest in Mining
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mining is often an afterthought for many investors. But according to this week’s guests on Merryn Talks Money, it shouldn’t be&m...
Here’s the UK Wealth Tax to Really Worry About
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the U...
Why Latin America is Attractive to Global Investors
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You want to invest in a market with political stability, low valuations and fast growing companies? Perhaps even one that might benefit from President...
Rachel Reeves’s Tears Move Markets and the AstraZeneca Wake-Up Call
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about...
Bitcoin Treasuries: Inflation Hedge or Hype-Driven Bubble?
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve heard of Bitcoin, but have you heard of “Bitcoin treasuries?” From Japan’s MetaPlanet to UK firms like Coincilium and T...
In Defense of Donald Trump’s First Five Months
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Days after Donald Trump’s election victory in November, we sat down with Pippa Malmgren, founder and CEO of the Geopolitica Institute and former...
Is There Such a Thing as a Safe Haven?
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek, author of Money Distilled, talk about navigating your portfolio amidst M...
Why Has the Market Shrugged Off Escalation in the Iran-Israel Conflict?
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Authers, senior editor for markets, Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and author of the Points of Return newsletter joins Merryn Somerset Webb and Joh...
Why Recessions Aren’t What They Used to Be
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
StoneX’s Director of Global Macro Strategy Vincent Deluard joins Merryn Talks Money to explain why he thinks economic downturns are going o...
Inflation, BoA and Gold's Time to Shine
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about...
Doing Your Due Diligence on Private Markets
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Private markets by their very nature lack the same transparency that’s standard in public markets. But Morningstar, a leadin...
Recession Threat Is Back—and Maybe Something Worse
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trump’s policies have slowed the economy, making a downturn more likely. But Peter Berezin, chief global investment strategist at BCA Research, ...
How to Fix the UK Stock Market Quickly and Cheaply
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Bloomberg UK Wealth Editor at Large Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the m...
How Do You Pick the Best Wealth Manager?
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The more than $100 trillion wealth transfer that’s projected to be passed down from older to younger generations over the next quarter...
Is China Reversing Its ‘Uninvestable’ Image?
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fidelity International’s Dale Nicholls joins this week’s Merryn Talks Money to discuss the Asian giant as a viable place to park your...
Go International, Benefit From Volatility, and Other Tips for Investing $100k Right Now
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bloomberg personal finance and wealth reporter Suzanne Woolley joins Merryn this week to discuss her latest in the "Where to Invest" series. She share...
Forget Everything You Know About Money
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Economist Felix Martin joins host Merryn Somerset Webb for this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money to discuss the common understandi...
Japan's Bond Market in Focus
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author of the Money Distilled newsletter John Stepek, is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist, Marcus Ashworth. Ashworth, covers European market...
Should Commodities Still Have a Place in Your Portfolio?
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Money Distilled author John Stepek to answer listeners&rsqu...
Ed Yardeni Says It’s Not as Bad as You Think
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think it’s all over for US markets? Think they’re finally going to sink under high valuations, inflated expectations and now a nervous bon...
A Lesson Learnt from Australian Pension Funds
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek, about the latest UK inflation figures, whethe...
Avoiding the Hidden Pitfalls of UK Homebuying
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek conclude their mini-series on UK housing with an overview of lesser-known issues that can arise during the home-b...
The Fiscal Shift That Means You Must Own Europe
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Ketterer, chief executive of Causeway Capital Management, which has over $55 billion in assets under management. joins this week’s Me...
Markets Round Up: Private Equity, ISAs, Rachel Reeves
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about new proposals to get pension funds to in...
Navigating the Paperwork of Buying a UK Home
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek continue their mini-series on UK housing, with a focus on conveyance. In this context, that means navigatin...
The UK's Trade Deals: A Turning Point?
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the Bank of England's somewhat surpr...
Understanding Freehold Versus Leasehold in UK Real Estate
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Merryn Talks Money UK housing mini-series, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepe...
The Best Investment Ideas Outside the US
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The dollar is wobbling. Not everyone is mad for Treasuries anymore. The US is likely headed for recession and it looks like the future of technology m...
The Growing Chorus Singing Nuclear Power’s Praises
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not long ago, it was seen as too slow, too expensive and too controversial to play a major role in the future energy mix. Not anymore. Nick Lawson, ch...
There’s More to the US Market Downturn Than Tariffs
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about why the Nvidia share price is a magic nu...
Making Sure You Don’t Buy the Wrong House
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“ Going into the property market without a buying agent is a bit like going to court without a lawyer,” says Black Brick Property S...
Where One Top Value Investor Thinks You Should Put Your Money Now
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Renowned UK value investor Ben Whitmore joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss why he left Jupiter Asset Management, the mission behind Brickwood ...
The Great Rotation is Here, What's Next For Gold, and UK Borrowing
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the recent volatility in the markets, si...
Is It Really a Good Idea to Buy New in the UK?
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Merryn Talks Money UK housing mini-series, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek are joined by...
Are Shared Ownership Properties Actually Worth it?
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek, continue on with part 3 of their UK housing mini-series, they help answer a listener question on the pr...
Why Economists Are Looking at Economics All Wrong
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
(This interview was recorded before the market chaos of this week.) On this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money, Merryn Somerset Webb sits down...
Trump, Trade Wars and the Basis Trade
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about trade wars, the end to American exceptio...
Why Hiring a UK Mortgage Broker Is Probably a Good Idea
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s installment of Merryn Talks Your Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek continue their UK ...
Why This Is China’s Year in Markets
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It wasn’t long ago that China was considered “uninvestable” and that the “exceptional” US market was the only game in to...
Tariffs, Brexit Benefits and the Minimum Wage
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about how US tariffs have highlighted a benefi...
How to Buy a House in the UK Right Now
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're kicking off our special series on how to navigate the UK housing market. Professor Yolande Barnes at University College London joins host Merryn...
There’s a Stock Picker’s Paradise Waiting for You
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alyx Wood, chief investment officer of UK-focused hedge fund Kernow Asset Management, joins Merryn this week. We discuss his contrarian approach to in...
Spring Statement Reaction: Reeves’s Margin of Safety Looks Too Narrow
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement. They ...
Where to Invest $1 Million Right Now
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bloomberg personal finance reporter Suzanne Woolley is back on Merryn Talks Your Money. She discusses her latest in the 'Where to Invest' series, wher...
Buy and Hold is Dead. Billionaire Michael Spencer on Why Good Investors Trade A Lot.
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
UK billionaire Michael Spencer joins Merryn this week to explain why he’s betting big on Nutshell Asset Management’s trading strategy. The...