Merryn Talks Money

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...

Sort Your Finances Out Before Reeves’s Big Day

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about Chancellor Rachel Reeves's upcoming fiscal event a...

Why Dying Broke May Not Be a Bad Idea

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss a selection of reader que...

Looking to Protect Your Wealth In Crazy Markets? Here's How.

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Troy Asset Management founder Sebastian Lyon joins Merryn this week to talk strategies for protecting your capital in these crazy markets. They also d...

Time To Consider Investing in German Companies and What About That 'Trump Put'?

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The great John Authers, senior markets editor and Opinion columnist at Bloomberg, joins Merryn and John Stepek for this week's roundup. He talks about...

Is There a Tradeoff Between Net Zero and UK Growth?

06 Mar 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....

Where to Invest $100,000 Right Now

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Merryn speaks with Bloomberg personal finance and wealth reporter Suzanne Woolley about the latest instalment in her "Where to Invest" series. They di...

GMO's Jeremy Grantham Warns US Stocks Are About to Be Crushed

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Merryn Somerset Webb interviews GMO co-founder and notorious caller of market bubbles Jeremy Grantham. Grantham, who also serves as the firm’s l...

Magnificent 7 Stocks Slip Into Correction, Bitcoin Dips and Trump's "Gold Card" Idea

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the souring mood on America’s equity market,...

Which Golden Visas Are the Shiniest of All?

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Want a different passport? Wish you lived somewhere with a better tax policy or even better weather? With enough money, it is possible. It’s cal...

Why Avoiding Investments Is as Important as Investing

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every decade has its story for investors. The 1970s were all about gold. The 1980s were all about Japan. In the 1990s it was the Internet. In the 2000...

UK Inflation Rises to 10-Month High, Protecting Your Savings, and Energy Talk

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about why the inflation reading was so surprising, why i...

What Do You Need All That Cash For?

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Bloomberg Money Distilled author John Stepek ...

What Would Adam Smith Think of Donald Trump? 

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What would philosopher and political economist Adam Smith think of Donald Trump’s love of tariffs? What would he make of the Republican presiden...

What to Make of Gold’s Tremendous Rise

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gold is enjoying a bump after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on US steel and aluminum imports this week. Merryn speaks with reporte...

The Perpetual Hunt for ‘Alpha’

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All investors look for an edge. You only make real money by having “alpha,” as the jargon goes. On this week’s episode of Merryn Tal...

Trump's Tariff Threats and Central Banks, Gold's Surge, and US Equities

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, senior writer and Money Distilled author John Stepek speaks with Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth. They discuss what Tru...

Don't Leave Your Family a Nightmare When You Die

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s personal finance edition of Merryn Talks Money, the conversation revolves around effective financial planning for one’s eve...

Reeves' Heathrow-Fueled Growth Plan, DeepSeek and the Effect on US Big Tech, and Mini-Bubbles are Bubblin'

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about Chancellor Rachel Reeves' growth speech this week,...

DeepSeek's Disruption and What It Means for Your Investments

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Founder and Manager of the Blue Whale Growth Fund Stephen Yiu joins this week to discuss the Big Tech selloff, his outlook for AI and where he’s...

To Get The UK Growing Again, We Need Cheap, Secure Energy with Simon French

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Panmure Liberum Chief Economist Simon French joins host Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek to discuss why boosting the UK's growth s...

Trump Memecoin Frenzy, Herald Trust Says No to Saba, and Rachel Reeves in Davos

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's roundup, Merryn speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about what TrumpCoin signals for the US presidency ...