Money Clinic with Claer Barrett

With nearly 11m people in the UK set to file their tax returns by January 31, are you dreading the annual nightmare - or have you already got it licked? In this bonus episode of Money Clinic, we answer all of the questions about tax returns that you wanted to ask. With more people starting side-hustles and small businesses during the pandemic, how much extra income do you need to earn before you have to submit a return?Presenter Claer Barrett discusses how apps can make the whole process easier, and whether it pays to get an accountant. Plus, she explores how freelancers can legitimately reduce their bills by claiming tax-deductible expenses, or negotiate extra time to pay. Jacquetta Brown, tax specialist at HM Revenue & Customs, and chartered accountant Deborah Edwards, who runs the money mentoring programme Raised Up Finance, are on hand to demystify the jargon and pinpoint sources of help.If you would like to be a guest on the next season of the show, email the podcast team [email protected] or follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb.You can follow Deborah on Instagram @raisedup.finance Further reading: To find out more about using salary sacrifice to legitimately reduce your tax bills, check out this free-to-read FT piece from Claer: https://www.ft.com/content/ff8021b9-7847-4ef5-9f20-abb2ea2d6d93And if you’re looking for more tips about running a freelance business, this free-to-read piece has plenty of them: Financial Tips for the self-employed https://www.ft.com/content/3462f359-8a1d-4a1e-9098- a14bded3f00dTo claim the working from home allowance, follow this link to the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-homeTo check out the HMRC YouTube channel, click here https://www.youtube.com/user/HMRCgovuk/playlists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Lucy Kellaway left the Financial Times and retrained as an economics teacher, she could not have predicted how the cryptocurrency craze would sweep through British classrooms. But is there anything on the school curriculum to teach teens about the risks of unregulated investments, or even basic financial literacy? Lucy thinks not.The FT’s Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign — FLIC for short — is hoping to change all that.In this special Christmas edition of the Money Clinic podcast, presenter Claer Barrett hears why Lucy and other top FT writers are supporting a greater focus on teaching finance in schools, as they recall their own formative experiences with money.Taking listeners on a tour of the FT’s City of London office, she hears from Patrick Jenkins, the FT’s deputy editor and trustee of the charity, who shares financial mistakes he made as a teenager in the 1980s, and US managing editor Peter Spiegel who explains why he thinks there’s a specific culture around money in the US.If you would like to read more about FLIC’s charitable aims, or to make a donation to support the charity’s work, please visit www.ftflic.com You can follow FLIC on Twitter and Instagram @FT_Flic There are dozens of free-to-read articles about financial literacy here https://www.ft.com/ft-seasonal-appeal  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REPEAT: 2021, like 2020, was another turbulent year for most people’s finances, but the new year provides the perfect opportunity to set some “financial resolutions”.The guests on Money Clinic are millennial couple Toby and Siobhan and they’re looking for some timeless “fin-spiration” to get their money to work harder. They’ve paid off their credit cards under lockdown, and are wondering where to direct their spare cash. How much could they save if they overpaid their mortgage — and how would that compare to putting more into their pensions or other investments. There’s also one financial to-do that they’re been putting off for a long time — making a will. Money experts Ken Okoroafor from The Humble Penny and Dan Garrett, co-founder of digital will-writing service Farewill, provide expert tips.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.You can follow Ken Okoroafor on Twitter and Instagram @TheHumblePennyIf you’re looking for fresh ideas about what to do with your money in 2021, Claer has asked podcast hosts from the finance and business world to share their financial New Year’s resolutions for 2021. Covering investing, saving, financial planning and side hustling, you can read insights from Patricia Bright (Caught Off Guard), Emma Gannon (Ctrl Alt Delete), Chris Browning (Popcorn Finance), the FT’s former editor Lionel Barber (What’s Next?) and many more by clicking on this link: https://www.ft.com/content/8a09fc2d-4c25-4d81-8835-a5517c6cb3d3And here’s some further reading for listeners who are considering making a will. The pandemic has forced through legal changes making it much easier for people in England and Wales to make a “digital will” online. Read this FT Money piece to find out how: https://www.ft.com/content/4df16e49-940f-46f2-b0b4-6a82c011c3baAnd for a more general grounding in the topic, read this FT article - 10 things you need to know before making a will: https://www.ft.com/content/c5559861-6c19-4fdb-a652-4059cf5e6bd0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REPEAT: Claer explores how young people can use the popular tax-free Isa accounts to invest or buy their first property. This week, she meets Ryan, a 22-year-old graduate who confesses he has three Isa accounts, but doesn’t know how best to use them — or how to unlock savings bonuses potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds. Expert and practical help is on hand from Harleigh Reid, who used a Help to Buy Isa to buy her first flat at the age of just 24, and Young Money blogger Iona Bain who explains the rules of the new Lifetime Isa, which can be used for property or investing.  If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:If you’re new to investing, listen to this past Money Clinic episode on starting out https://www.ft.com/content/caedf0b3-4052-430c-99b4-107ea093d3fcIf you’re ready to rock with an investment Isa, check out this free-to-read FT column by Claer: https://www.ft.com/content/684dbb86-40b4-11e9-b896-fe36ec32aecHarleigh Reid also hosts her own YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHarlszCheck out Iona Bain’s Young Money blog here https://www.youngmoneyblog.co.uk/ or read her FT column about her Lifetime Isa here https://www.ft.com/content/52ad32d8-ac7b-11e9-b3e2-4fdf846f48f5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REPEAT: Putting all of your pension savings in one place to make it easier to manage your retirement plans sounds like a sensible idea — but it’s not necessarily the right solution for everyone. Claer Barrett meets 51-year-old Tina who has spent lockdown searching for all of her old pensions: some have performed better than hoped, but others have had high charges, and she has a gap in her UK state pension contributions due to working overseas. Experts Sir Steve Webb of Lane Clark & Peacock and Catherine Morgan, a financial planner behind the ‘In Her Financial Shoes’ podcast, provide tips for people of all ages looking to sort out their pension savings.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading Let’s start with the basics. If you’re struggling to get your head around what a pension is, why you need one, and how they work, then check out this free to read column from Claer https://www.ft.com/content/05e5ded2-7a74-11e6-b837-eb4b4333ee43 To track down lost pensions, try the UK government’s Pensions Tracing Service, which is free to use - but please do be careful of copycat websites run by commercial firms https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details To check how many years’ worth of UK state pension contributions you’ve made, what you could receive in retirement and if you have any missing years, use the government’s free Check your State Pension service https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension The UK government page Your State Pension Explained contains more information on what counts as a qualifying year https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-new-state-pension-explained/your-state-pension-explained Read this UK government advice page about extra National Insurance contributions to your UK state pension https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions Contact the Future Pension Centre to find out if you would benefit from voluntary NI contributions https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre The UK government’s International Pension Centre provides advice and information for those who have lived or worked overseas https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre Want to talk to someone about your pensions options? If you’re over 50, then you can use the UK government’s free Pension Wise service to get detailed guidance from an adviser on your retirement options https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/en Emma Maslin, who blogs as The Money Whisperer, wrote this FT column asking self-employed women how good their pensions are Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Money Clinic is having a pay rise takeover - we’ll be pulling apart that big, scary box labelled ‘Asking for a pay rise’ - and unpacking the dos, the don’ts, the tips and tricks for getting the salary you think you are worth.Visiting our pay-rise clinic today are three podcast listeners with three different financial predicaments: Natalie keeps getting knocked back when she asks for a raise; Max knows that he could get paid more elsewhere, and Charlotte is trying to negotiate a bonus that really matches the effort she puts into her job.With expert advice from Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times’ work and careers editor and presenter of the Working It podcast, and Jonathan Black, director of the University of Oxford’s careers service and the brains behind the FT’s popular ‘Dear Jonathan’ advice column, this is a podcast you can’t afford to miss. Listen and subscribe to the Working It podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/0mRZG4fxCheck out the Dear Jonathan column: https://www.ft.com/dear-jonathanPlus the FT’s recent article: Want to get a pay rise? Here’s how! https://www.ft.com/content/967db31f-f49b-4039-a295-23db588d2a1cWant to be a future guest? Email us at [email protected] or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB. Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the COP26 conference in Glasgow, many climate-conscious investors want to know how to match up their investments with their values. The short answer is environmental, social and governance investing — ESG for short. But there are plenty of questions around how ‘green’ this really is.Thirty-year-old Harri appeared on one of the first episodes of Money Clinic last year, and his decision to invest in ESG funds appears to have paid off: he has made a decent return. However, he wonders how much this has been down to the underlying investment performance and how much because of the soaring popularity of ESG investments. With a record $3.9tn now held in sustainable assets worldwide, is this outperformance sustainable? Claer is joined by the FT’s Manuela Saragosa and Share Action’s Catherine Howarth, who have put ESG investing to the test. They offer practical tips on how to make greener choices with your pension,Isa and becoming an activist shareholder. Plus, they debate how worried investors should be about ‘greenwashing’. If you enjoyed this episode, check out five ESG themed episodes on the FT podcast Behind the Money. Want to be a future guest? Email us at [email protected] or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerB. Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner.Clips: Sky News, CNBC International, UN Climate Change, Guardian News.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many dream of being an elite footballer, but what’s it like actually earning a professional player’s salary? In the second half of this two-part podcast special, Claer Barrett explores the darker side of earning staggering sums as a young player. Unscrupulous financial advisers, risky investments, gambling, injuries and early retirement can all cut short your earning potential - and there are lessons here for all of us. She hears from Gareth Farrelly, a former Premier League footballer who narrowly avoided death - and financial ruin - when his playing career ended, but has now reinvented himself as a top sports lawyer. Plus, former England player Sol Campbell and AFC Bournemouth full-back Jack Stacey reveal how they manage their money, and what listeners can learn from this. If you liked the show, please leave a review. Want to be a future guest? Email us at [email protected] or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerBFor more about the business of sport, head to Scoreboard, the FT’s weekly briefing on the key financial issues affecting the global sports industry, at www.ft.com/scoreboard. If you enjoyed this episode, check out this Financial Times article by sports reporter Sam Agini https://www.ft.com/content/6d074e57-adf3-494a-98b9-6d0bc169c440Or this article on the perils of making a fortune at a young age https://www.ft.com/content/a5297c2c-03fe-47e0-b13a-6d20f7d2b3f8Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner. Clips: afcbTV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many dream of being an elite footballer, but what’s it like actually earning a pro player’s salary? Top football players earn staggering amounts of money, but even they are not immune from financial challenges. These range from planning for a career that could end by the age of 35 to teenage players struggling to manage such large financial windfalls. In the first half of this two-part podcast special, Claer Barrett speaks to former England player Sol Campbell and AFC Bournemouth full back Jack Stacey about the reality, both good and bad, of earning a footballer’s salary. Plus, Daniel Geey on why there’s so much money in football.If you liked the show, please leave a review. Email us at [email protected] or reach out to Claer on Instagram and Twitter: @ClaerBIf you enjoyed this episode, check out this Financial Times article by sports reporter Sam Agini https://www.ft.com/content/6d074e57-adf3-494a-98b9-6d0bc169c440 Or this article on the perils of making a fortune at a young age https://www.ft.com/content/a5297c2c-03fe-47e0-b13a-6d20f7d2b3f8Check out Daniel Geey’s book and podcast here: https://www.danielgeey.com/Presented by Claer Barrett. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Produced by Persis Love. Assistant producer is Talia Augustidis. Sound design by Breen Turner. Clips: afcbTV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the podcast about doing work differently. Join host Isabel Berwick every Wednesday for expert analysis and watercooler chat about ahead-of-the-curve workplace trends, the big ideas shaping work today — and the old habits we need to leave behind. Subscribe on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/working-it/id1591925469 - On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5vNDHxEOc1pI1acJS7He5e Or wherever you get your podcasts.The wellness industry is a trillion-dollar business, and the pandemic has turbo-charged it. One of the biggest trends has been the rise in employers buying their staff access to meditation and fitness apps. But does this ‘quick fix’ approach work? And are there better ways to boost wellbeing ? Isabel talks to Lorna Borenstein, chief executive of Grokker, a corporate wellness app about the reasons why she set up the platform and how clients and her own staff use it. It’s all part of a culture of taking care of employees - a topic Lorna has explored more deeply in her book It’s Personal, offering advice to other managers on how to help staff feel better [tl;dr: talk less, listen more].We also speak to FT colleague Emma Jacobs, about the corporate care culture. She is a little more skeptical. We would love to hear from you - email us at [email protected]. You can also follow @isabelberwick on Twitter and Instagram or reach out via email: [email protected]. Thanks. Mentioned in the podcast and other interesting reading:Emma Jacobs’ prophetic pre-pandemic guide to workplace wellness by app: https://www.ft.com/content/d1d58aae-437c-11ea-abea-0c7a29cd66feFT series, Burnout: https://www.ft.com/burnoutDeloitte report [2020] on employee mental health showing £5 benefit for every £1 spent: https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consulting/articles/mental-health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment.html  Video, Emma Jacobs on how to detox from your smartphone: https://www-ft-com.newman.richmond.edu/video/b4115321-b915-3a42-9814-ad0be4c0e7f5?playlist-name=section-0b83bc44-4a55-4958-882e-73ba6b2b0aa6&playlist-offset=206Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Renée Kaplan. Assistant producer is Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Produced by Novel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to manage an investment portfolio worth hundreds of billions of pounds? Global equities specialist Malcolm MacColl is one of two managing partners at the helm of Baillie Gifford, the Scottish asset management company, which manages more than £350bn worth of investors’ cash. An early investor in Amazon, Tesla and Moderna, Baillie Gifford’s long-term approach to investing in tech companies has paid dividends. However, its approach is being tested by volatile markets in China, where the value of Chinese tech companies has been hit by a government crackdown. On today’s episode, Malcolm reveals how Baillie Gifford’s fund management team build an “investment hypothesis” for each company they choose to back, and why every investor should build a “coffee can portfolio” of shares they’d like to hold for 20 years. We also hear from FT investment columnist Merryn Somerset Webb who is less upbeat about China’s long-term prospects.Further reading:To listen to Merryn’s own Investment Masterclass, click here Read the FT’s profile on Baillie Gifford here Follow Claer on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB and send her a DM if you’d like to appear as a future guest, or email the team on [email protected] The podcasts Malcolm mentioned are:Farnam Street https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-knowledge-project-with-shane-parrish/id990149481Coburn Ventures https://open.spotify.com/show/3aKPYkLblhxAAPMj3BCgR6?si=QmAPgFCUSVWA5ENKXETuJAPatrick O’Shaughnessyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/22fi0RqfoBACCuQDv97wFO?si=QjYqX5dVRLC2K6e2uf8zyAPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Clare Williamson and Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Students were up in arms after reading the Financial Times scoop that the UK government is considering lowering the salary level at which graduates have to start repaying their loans. Currently, student loan repayments start when you earn more than £27,225 per year, but the FT has reported this could be reduced to around £23,000 in future. Any changes are expected to apply retrospectively to those who started university courses after 2012, including this week’s podcast guest, 24-year-old graduate Ola, who fears how much any changes could cost her. “If this is retrospective, then for me it's a breach of natural justice and it's certainly something I would be yelling about,” Martin Lewis tells Claer. “Should students be scared? Yes.”As well as exploring the likely impact on young people’s budgets, we hear from FT reporter Bethan Staton about the political motivation for any changes to the loans system. Further reading:Vote for Money Clinic in the Lovie Awards here (deadline Thursday Oct 21)Check out Claer’s free to read FT column on how student loan changes could add up for youWatch Martin’s YouTube video on why he opposes changes to the system Here’s the original FT news story on the expected changes Follow Ola on Instagram @AllThingsMoney     Follow Claer on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerB and send her a DM if you’d like to appear as a future guest, or email the team on [email protected] Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plenty of people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s have yet to start saving for retirement, and are anxious about how to begin. Today’s show is packed with tips for so-called ‘late starters’ like this week’s guest David, who is 38 and self-employed. Incredibly, David is planning for a retirement that he never thought he’d live to see. As Claer hears, a revolutionary new treatment for cystic fibrosis has transformed his life expectancy. Financial experts Claire Walsh and Moira O’Neill offer guidance for fellow late starters, weighing up the merits of pensions and stocks and shares Isas. Plus, they advise David how to factor in the additional challenges of living with a disability. Further reading:Check out our episode on finances for the self-employed here Or listen to our episode about tracking down and consolidating old pensionsMoira’s FT column about pension saving in your 40s is available hereClaire Walsh’s website is hereThe Cystic Fibrosis Trust has published this guide about employment rightsPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced and edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter McCormack, bitcoin bull and voice of the hugely popular 'What Bitcoin Did' podcast, joins Claer for a Money Clinic Investment Masterclass about cryptocurrencies. Recently back from a trip to El Salvador, the first country to make bitcoin legal tender, Peter tells Claer why he believes the cryptocurrency is the 'best form of money' and why regulatory crackdowns, volatile pricing swings and the divergent opinions of professional investors have failed to dampen his enthusiasm. An investor with a long-term view, Peter shares the highs and lows of his personal investment journey, and sets out the risks younger investors should know about before risking a single satoshi. With insight from Katie Martin, the FT’s market’s editor.Further reading:Check out Peter’s podcast 'What Bitcoin Did' Have you heard this Money Clinic episode? “Bitcoin: I’ll either be rich, or wrong”There’s a free-to-read column from Claer: Why young investors bet the farm on cryptocurrencies Here’s Vijay Boyapati’s The Bullish Case for Bitcoin Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Clare Williamson. Edited by Persis Love. Sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to match your money to your relationship status. Nearly one in four of us live on our own, but dealing with the financial and emotional strain of handling everything by yourself can be difficult. Jenny, 27, from Leeds, is being hit by the ‘single penalty’ and is exhausted trying to find everyday ways to save money. She’s looking for tips on investing in the stock market, whether to try to buy or stay renting and how to ease the worries that come with financial independence. In this Money Clinic episode, Claer is joined by ‘Alonement’ guru Francesca Specter who champions the single life and Iona Bain, a personal finance author and founder of the Young Money blog. Follow them on social media @ClaerB @chezspecter @ionajbainFurther reading:Here is Francesca Specter’s Alonement siteIona Bain’s Young Money blogListen to our previous episode about budgetingIf you want to get started in investing, listen to this episodeA free-to-read column about the costs of dating  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget about being a day trader, you need to let the money come in slowly and take a serious, business-like approach if you want to succeed - that’s the advice of Robbie Burns, better known as the Naked Trader. In this Money Clinic special Investment Masterclass Robbie shares his top tips about getting into trading - from whether you can combine trading with a full time job, why you need to be like a detective, what shares to be careful of and learning from his mistakes.Further reading:-Here is Robbie’s Naked Trader site-Listen to our previous episode about the advantages of tax free ISAs-If you want to get started in investing, listen to this episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you working to live, or living to work? Followers of the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) budget carefully so they can invest a greater proportion of their take-home pay. Is a life of extreme frugality worth the extra years of financial freedom later on - and how could you apply the principles of FIRE to your own finances? This week, Claer helps listeners Amy and Rory on their FIRE journey, with expert tips from Mr Money Mustache, AKA the US blogger Pete Adeney, and Kristian Danielson, the person behind the r/FIREUK subreddit. Further reading:-Here is Mr Money Mustache’s blog-You can get involved in the FIREUK subreddit here-If you want to get started in investing, listen to our previous episode-Claer’s free-to-read column about the problems with FIRE is here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an extra special Money Clinic Meets, Claer Barrett interviews Joe Lycett, the consumer campaigner and TV comedian. As the new season of his award winning show Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back returns to Channel Four, he drops into the Financial Times studio to tell us what he really thinks about the world of finance. Joe shares his own personal money story - including his charity shop thrifting, ESG investments and money rules - and the pair discuss why holding big consumer corporations to account is important. Plus, we get the low down on why Joe recently stormed off a daytime TV appearance.If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. If you want to read more about the topics covered in this week's episode, check out the following free to read FT articles:Clear wrote about rental fraud and the trap Joe laid for an unwitting scammer: Renters Beware is the column, and Joe’s telling of the story is available on YouTube.Summer vacations may be over, but car hire firms are still using high pressure sales tactics. Read about Joe’s consumer investigation: Don’t let politicians ruin your half-term holidaySay hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbYou can follow Joe Lycett on Twitter and Instagram @JoeLycett  You can follow FT Money on Twitter @FTMoney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REPEAT: Have you ever dreamt of starting your own business? It might sound more fulfilling — but being an employee has some perks you might miss. 33-year old Rhiannon set up her first business three years ago, offering virtual PA services. Even though she’s making a profit, Rhiannon is struggling to find a mortgage lender who will help her buy a property. Plus, she’s unsure about whether to leave her savings in cash — or risk tying them up inside a pension. Expert help is on hand from Holly Mackay, founder of Boring Money and mortgage broker Will Rhind from Habito.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.Further reading:-Writing a will is one thing that’s been on Rhiannon’s financial to-do list for a while. Listen to this Money Clinic to find out how to set one up online.-The pandemic has been tough on the self-employed. This Money Clinic with jewellery designer Roseanna Croft has expert tips to turn around a small business-Pensions have long been an issue for the self-employed. This free-to-read FT column has practical tips: Self-employed women - how good is your pension? -This free-to-read FT piece reviews the apps that can help the self-employed manage their finances-And this Money Clinic from the New Year has the lowdown on wills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REPEAT: In this week's episode of the Money Clinic, Claer chats to Naureen about getting started in investing. Naureen had a wake up call when she received her annual pension statement through the post, and saw that her projected income in retirement would not even cover the basics. But with so much information out there on investing, she doesn’t know where to begin. Experts Jason Butler, the FT columnist and Charlotte Brayton, financial planner at James Hambro & Partners join Claer to give their two pennies worth.If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. If you want to read more about the topics covered in this week's episode, check out the following FT articles - some of which are free to read:Even if you are not a fan of 90s rapper Vanilla Ice, Claer’s free primer on the tax advantages of investing through a stocks and shares Isa is a must-read for UK listeners: https://www.ft.com/content/684dbb86-40b4-11e9-b896-fe36ec32aeceIf you want to read more about budgeting, here is another free column of Claer’s: https://on.ft.com/2WTh1PPA more serious read for investors to get their teeth into is this piece by John Kay - How to build your own investment portfolio with £10,000: https://www.ft.com/content/24b98a82-b55e-11e6-961e-a1acd97f622dWe also heartily recommend John Kay’s book "The Long and the Short of It - A guide to finance and investment for normally intelligent people who aren’t in the industry".Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbYou can follow Jason Butler on Twitter and Instagram @JBtheWealthMan You can follow FT Money on Twitter @FTMoney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you fall for a £17,000 scam? You might think you are too smart to be duped by fraudsters, but under lockdown, criminals have come up with frighteningly convincing ways of parting us from our hard-earned cash. Claer Barrett talks to 31-year-old listener Jenny about how professional scammers conned her out of £17,000 after she clicked on a text message - and the battle she’s fighting with her bank to get the money back. Bank fraud expert Steven McMillan provides practical advice about spotting scams and how criminals use ‘phished’ data to fool victims, and Gareth Shaw from Which? tells listeners how to get compensation if they fall victim.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When 29-year-old Sam found out that his younger brother had made £30,000 trading bitcoin, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The self-employed musician decided to put the last £2,000 of his savings into various cryptocurrencies, hoping he could double his money. However, wild swings in crypto valuations are proving a test of his strategy. Presenter Claer Barrett explores the highs and lows of investing in cryptocurrencies with experts Abhishek Sachdev, a professional investor who has personally invested £20,000, and Eva Szalay, the FT’s currencies correspondent. They discuss crypto’s long-term potential as an asset class and the risks that investors such as Sam need to be aware of, as well as the allure of investing in highly volatile unregulated assets. Review clips: BBC Newsnight, CNBC.If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bothering you, get in touch — our email is [email protected] -— and you can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerB. Further reading:-Read Eva Szalay’s article Bitcoin: too good to miss, or a bubble ready to burst?-Following Elon Musk’s tweets about the environmental impact of mining Bitcoin, check out this FT article Bitcoin’s growing energy problem: ‘It’s a dirty currency’ -Here is how the FT covered the story of the Bitcoin price crash last week -Check out our recent investment masterclass episode with FT columnist Merryn Somerset Webb, where she chats to Claer about Bitcoin and all kinds of other investment trends Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s easy to create a budget to manage your spending - but can you stick to it? 32-year old project manager Rosie contacted Money Clinic as she kept making the same mistakes. Despite starting the month with good intentions, online shopping sprees frequently pushed her into the red. Battling with ‘buyer’s remorse’ as she returned her impulse purchases, Rosie asked Claer what psychological factors could be causing her to break the budget? Tim Harford, FT columnist and author, turns to behavioural economics to show how we can train our brains to resist the urge to splurge. Financial coach and blogger Ellie Austin-Williams, known online as This Girl Talks Money, encourages Rosie to explore her ‘money mindset’ and probe her emotional connections with money. If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is [email protected]. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerB.Further reading:Tim Harford writes the ‘Undercover Economist’ column in the Financial Times. His bestselling book How to Make the World Add Up is out now in paperback. Follow him on Twitter @TimHarfordRead Ellie Austin-Williams’s blog on exploring your ‘money mindset’ on her website This Girl Talks Money and follow her on Instagram @ThisGirlTalksMoneyIf like Rosie, you need some help working through maternity pay and pensions issues, check out our previous episodes Will having a baby break my finances? and Should I combine my pension pots?And if you’re after budgeting tips, check out Claer’s recent column: Lock down your budget before the economy opens up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accountant Peter knows that to grow a business, you have to take on debt. But can he apply that same logic to his personal finances? He tells Claer how he is tempted to take out a bigger mortgage against his London flat and invest that money in a buy-to-let property - or even in the stock market. Has he come up with a brilliant shortcut to making some extra money, or is his plan to leverage up a recipe for disaster? Personal finance expert and FT columnist Jason Butler stresses that debt is no shortcut to wealth, while the FT’s European economics commentator Martin Sandbu looks at recent consumer debt trends.If you are a regular Money Clinic listener and want to be in with a chance of winning £250, then let us know what you think of the show at www.ft.com/moneyclinicsurvey If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is [email protected] and Jason will be doing an Instagram Live on Tuesday 18th May at 7.30pm UK time discussing the issues raised on this episode. If you would like to take part and ask questions, follow Claer @ClaerB or Jason @JBtheWealthman on InstagramFurther readingHere’s our Money Clinic episode on how to get out of problem debt, and here’s the one about whether it's a good idea to pay off credit cards Follow Martin on Twitter and check out his book, The Economics of BelongingJason’s FT columns are available here. You can follow him on twitter and instagram and be sure to checkout his podcastJason recommends reading John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Great Crash 1929 and watching Capital in the Twenty-First CenturyFor the latest on market trends, follow the FT’s markets page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retail is not dead. Brexit could help UK companies. Take a small punt on bitcoin, keep your money invested in fossil fuel companies, and reassess your holdings in expensive tech stocks. These are pretty punchy opinions about the investment world — and they come from one of the FT’s top opinion writers, columnist Merryn Somerset Webb. In this special episode of the Money Clinic podcast, Merryn chats to presenter Claer Barrett about her personal investment strategy — and the forces she believes will shape the stock market in the years to come.Listeners should be aware that the discussion of investment trends on this podcast is for information only, aimed at people who feel confident making their own investment decisions. It doesn’t constitute an investment recommendation, or individual financial advice — if you want that, you’ll need to see an independent financial adviser.Find out more:- Both Merryn and Claer write a weekly column in the FT Weekend and you can follow them on Instagram and Twitter @MerrynSW @Claerb - Hear Merryn’s tips for 19-year-old investor Ross in a previous Money Clinic, Beyond GameStop: The day trader turned investor- For a different take on ESG investing, check out this episode Can ESG investing really change the world? And if you’re new to investing, listen to How can I get started as an investor?- If you would like to chat to Claer about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email: [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I take a job outside the UK, what are the options for my investments, property and pension? After months spent in lockdown, 31-year-old finance professional Viktoria is longing for a change of scene, and is planning to relocate overseas.She talks to Claer about her desire to escape the corporate lifestyle in London and her concerns about what would happen to her property, pensions and investments if she were to uproot. David Denton, chartered financial planner at Quilter International, reveals the financial dilemmas commonly faced by Brits taking jobs overseas, and what someone in Viktoria’s position needs to consider. Theresa Wallace of property firm Savills talks through the pros and cons of renting out your home versus selling it when you move to another country. Useful links:For tips and guidance on investing in ISAs, listen to How can I get started as an investor? If you’re considering becoming a landlord and want to know more, check out Should I rent out my property?The FT’s Family Money columnist Lucy Warwick-Ching has some useful articles on the tax implications of working abroad during lockdown, and the need for sound financial advice when moving abroad. You can follow her on twitter here.Follow Claer @ClaerB on Instagram and Twitter. If you’d like to talk about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Boden spent over three decades in the traditional banking sector, watching the world around her being transformed by technology. In 2014, she decided that the time had come for banking to undergo the same shift, and quit her job to found Starling Bank. Since then, Anne has built Starling from an idea into a digital bank with 2m customers. Claer talks to her about making the leap into fintech, the determination needed to turn an idea into a business and how she persuaded investors to back her. Budding business owners should sit tight as Anne shares some of the key lessons she learnt along the way - and why she thinks we should prepare for cash to completely disappear. Read Claer’s review of Anne Boden’s autobiography, ‘Banking On It: How I Disrupted an Industry’. If you want to know more about how Anne Boden set up Starling Bank, you can buy a copy here.Follow Claer @ClaerB on Instagram and Twitter. If you’d like to talk about a real-life money problem on a future episode of the podcast, then drop us an email [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making the ‘greener choice’ comes naturally to listener Ros. As more people become increasingly aware of how their daily decisions affect the environment, Ros is wondering if she can make a difference to the planet - and her pocket - through her bank account, pensions and plans for investing. Claer talks to the FT’s Alice Ross, author of 'Investing to Save the Planet' and Bevis Watts, chief executive of Triodos Bank UK. Review clip: Global Ethical Finance Initiative.If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is [email protected] or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerBFurther reading:-Follow Alice Ross on Twitter and check out her book here-To read further about greening your money, check out Ethical Consumer Magazine, Good with Money or Make My Money Matter-You can read an FT interview with Bevis here or check out the FT’s climate hub for the latest on climate change-For a deep dive into ESG investing, listen to this episode of Money Clinic -Here’s some further reading on Danone’s sustainability credentials and on Natwest’s climate pledge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny and her partner are planning to have a baby but, beyond forking out for nappies and a pushchair, she has no idea how much becoming a parent will cost. How big a budget will the couple need to cover parental leave, childcare costs, and other unexpected expenses? Claer talks to Tobi Asare, founder of parental finance blog My Bump Pay, and Maike Currie, FT columnist and investment director at Fidelity International.If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch — our email is [email protected] or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ClaerBFurther reading:-Tobi’s blog My Bump Pay can be found here and has a wealth of resources for soon-to-be parents and she is on instagram @mybumppay You can download her baby equipment spreadsheet here, or use her planner to calculate how to spread out the ‘income shock’ of parental leave-Follow Maike Currie on Twitter @MaikeCurrie and check out her FT columns here-Check if you are eligible for the UK government’s Tax-Free Childcare account-Hiring a nanny: what I wish I’d known. Click here to read -More than one million parents in the UK are estimated to have lost state pension credits by mistakenly not registering for Child Benefit. This free article explains what to do Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last October Claer spoke to listener Lucy who was on the cusp of buying a shared ownership flat with her partner — but was getting cold feet. The shared ownership model enables buyers to take out a mortgage on part of the property, and pay rent on the rest. Lucy was hoping that this would be her first step towards being able to afford to own 100 per cent of her home, but worried about how much it would cost. Six months later, is she comfortably settled in the flat or did the couple stay renting? Claer hears from experts, independent property expert Henry Pryor and mortgage broker Andrew Montlake from Coreco.  If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.Further reading: -Henry Pryor tweets @HenryPryor and has a website packed with tips for property buyers-Andrew Montlake tweets @Montysblog and blogs about the mortgage market (which is genuinely more interesting that it sounds!) Read it here-This Millennial Money column from Kate Beioley, the FT’s legal correspondent, reveals how being single made it practically impossible for her to pursue the shared ownership route Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special ‘What happened next’ Money Clinic episode, Claer catches up with US financial services worker Josh. When they spoke last October, he was hiding thousands of dollars in credit card debt from his wife. Under lockdown, the couple had managed to save up enough money to pay them off - but she wanted to use this cash for a deposit on their first home. The podcast experts had plenty of advice about dealing with credit card debt, and what could happen if Josh took on even more debt with a mortgage. Six months later, has he paid off his debt and cut up his cards, did he buy a property, and are he and his wife still talking openly about money? The experts were Sara Williams aka The Debt Camel, and the FT’s US finance editor Robert Armstrong. The original podcast was released on October 20 2020.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected], with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer @Claerb and read her Serious Money column. Further reading:-Free UK sources of debt advice include StepChange and Citizens Advice -In the US the government’s Dealing with Debt has plenty of pointers-Read, for free, Claer’s article on the UK’s biggest debt helpline and advisers’ tips, and her column Six ways to manage money - and not fall out with your partner-For a different take on debt, listen to this previous episode: Starting your debt free journey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claer catches up with 30-year-old jewellery designer Roseanna Croft. When they spoke last October, her small business was reeling from the impact of coronavirus and cancelled weddings. Money Clinic experts advised Roseanna on accessing financial support, and finding a new direction for her business under lockdown. Five months on, has she managed to hammer out her financial issues? The experts were Suli Breaks, the entrepreneur, poet and presenter of the 7even Figures Business podcast, and Andy Chamberlain, head of policy at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed. The original podcast was released on Nov 10th 2020.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected], with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer @Claerb and read her Serious Money column. Further reading:-Claer has written extensively about issues facing small business owners during the pandemic, and has more advice in this recent Money Clinic-Follow Suli @SuliBreaks  and Andy @AndyChamberlain-The IPSE website has lots on the help available for the self-employed and limited company directors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Young investors have rushed to open day trading accounts under lockdown, using tips gleaned from chat rooms and social media as they attempt to make a fast buck. But betting on short-term market movements carries a high risk of losing money — something that 19-year-old Ross has found out the hard way trading stocks like GameStop and AMC. If he invested his money for a matter of years instead of a matter of minutes, would he get a better return? Claer Barrett hears from experts Merryn Somerset Webb, the FT columnist and editor-in-chief of MoneyWeek, and Damien Fahy, founder of investment website Money to the Masses.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.Read more:-Claer’s thoughts about good investment habits to build for the future: Where do the next generation of investors go from here? -Merryn Somerset Webb’s column every Saturday in the Weekend FT. Follow her @MerrynSW -Damien Fahy’s website Money to the Masses for information about investing, including a blog about his own £50,000 portfolio and a podcast. Follow him @Money2theMasses -And finally… those book recommendations. From Merryn: Investing for Growth by veteran fund manager Terry Smith; Effective Investing by former Hargreaves Lansdown research director Mark Dampier, and The Anatomy of the Bear by Russell Napier, the equity market strategist (disclaimer: Merryn wrote the introduction to the new edition). From Damien: How to own the world by Andrew Craig, adding that this book “explores the whole concept of why you’d want to invest” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gina Miller’s campaigning spirit has made her front-page news — but what’s less well known is the personal story behind her own financial journey.As one of the highest profile women working in the City of London, the anti-Brexit campaigner has raised awareness of unfair investment charges, the impact of the gender pay gap and the need for women to embrace investing. Her latest fear? That the pandemic has set back women's’ careers and earnings prospects.In honour of International Women’s Day next week, the co-founder of wealth management firm SCM Direct chats to Claer for a special edition of Money Clinic.Aptly, the theme of IWD this year is Choose to Challenge. Follow the hashtags #ChoosetoChallenge and #MoneyClinic on social media, and follow Claer and Gina @Claerb and @ThatGinaMiller.If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue that’s bugging you, get in touch - our email is [email protected] If the podcast has left you wanting to learn more about managing your money, this free to read column by Claer is a great place to start - Six financial mistakes that women need to avoid. Finally, we promised to link to some sources of support for who are experiencing domestic abuse or seeking to leave abusive relationships. Here are links to the websites of UK charities Refuge, Women’s Aid and Respect Men’s Advice Line (for male victims of domestic violence). For listeners in the US, this website has links to charities and organisations.Acknowledgements: Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders. Hipgnosis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever dreamt of starting your own business? It might sound more fulfilling — but being an employee has some perks you might miss. 33-year old Rhiannon set up her first business three years ago, offering virtual PA services. Even though she’s making a profit, Rhiannon is struggling to find a mortgage lender who will help her buy a property. Plus, she’s unsure about whether to leave her savings in cash — or risk tying them up inside a pension. Expert help is on hand from Holly Mackay, founder of Boring Money and mortgage broker Will Rhind from Habito.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.Further reading:-Writing a will is one thing that’s been on Rhiannon’s financial to-do list for a while. Listen to this Money Clinic to find out how to set one up online.-The pandemic has been tough on the self-employed. This Money Clinic with jewellery designer Roseanna Croft has expert tips to turn around a small business-Pensions have long been an issue for the self-employed. This free-to-read FT column has practical tips: Self-employed women - how good is your pension? -This free-to-read FT piece reviews the apps that can help the self-employed manage their finances-And this Money Clinic from the New Year has the lowdown on wills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many people would like to move to a life with less or no debt, but taking the first step requires great courage. This week Claer hears from a couple in their 30s who have each run up large credit card debts. Duncan and his partner found that the pandemic made their debt problems worse. How can they get their finances back on track? Could a debt adviser help? Chris Browning, presenter of US podcast Popcorn Finance, has practical tips, and debt advice specialist Alan McIntosh explores different solutions.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column.Further reading:-If you’re struggling with problem debt, this week’s experts say don’t wait for things to get worse before seeking advice. The earlier you seek help, the more options you’re likely to have-Free UK sources of debt advice include StepChange and Citizens Advice -In the US the government’s Dealing with Debt has plenty of pointers-For a different take on debt and budgeting, check out this previous episode: Should I pay off my credit cards, or buy a house? -Read, for free, Claer on the UK’s biggest debt helpline and advisers’ tips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With “Isa season” fast approaching in the UK, Claer explores how young people can use the popular tax-free accounts to invest or buy their first property. This week, she meets Ryan, a 22 year old graduate who confesses he has three Isa accounts, but doesn’t know how best to use them — or how to unlock savings bonuses potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds. Expert and practical help is on hand from Harleigh Reid, who used a Help to Buy Isa to buy her first flat at the age of just 24, and Young Money blogger Iona Bain who explains the rules of the new Lifetime Isa, which can be used for property or investing.  If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-If you’re new to investing, listen to this past Money Clinic episode on starting out -If you’re ready to rock with an investment Isa, check out this free-to-read FT column by Claer-Harleigh Reid also hosts her own YouTube channel-Iona Bain shortly releases her second book on investing and features in the FT talking about her Lifetime Isa  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Claer meets Lowri, who runs a small events business. She’s had no work for nearly a year, and as a director of her own limited company is one of an estimated 3m people in the UK who has fallen through the cracks of government support. Living on state benefits and reliant on her local food bank, Lowri’s previous experiences of business failure have prepared her for what she fears is to come. Legal and insolvency experts provide practical tips for small business owners in a similar situation, and we have the latest on the growing political campaign for directors to be included in UK government grants. If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Thanks to podcast experts Rebecca Seeley Harris, founder of Re Legal Consulting, and Peter Sargent, insolvency expert and consultant at Quantuma Further reading:Read the FT story about how 262 MPs have backed Rebecca’s campaign to reform coronavirus support measuresIf your business is in financial trouble, here are links to some free sources of support mentioned in the podcast: Business DebtlineForgotten LtdExcluded UK The charity Turn2Us has a very user friendly benefits calculator If you are looking for more information about finding an insolvency practitioner, please see: The Insolvency Service R3 (the trade body for insolvency practitioners)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disruption from the pandemic has created plenty of ‘accidental landlords’ - homeowners with an empty property they could potentially let out. This week’s guest, Jeremy, has relocated for work - he’s renting a room in a shared house, but wants to make some cash renting out his former home. He asks Claer what taxes he’d have to pay, the rules he’d have to comply with, whether or not to use a letting agent, and how to assess whether becoming a landlord makes sense financially. Expert guidance is provided by professional landlords Ayesha Ofori, founder of the PropElle network for female property investors, and David Lawrenson, author of the bestselling book Successful Property Letting.  If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further information:-David Lawrenson took part in a live Q&A with FT readers last year on renting property-Read this FT Money article on ways landlords are tackling the effects of the pandemic  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putting all of your pension savings in one place to make it easier to manage your retirement plans sounds like a sensible idea — but it’s not necessarily the right solution for everyone. Claer Barrett meets 51-year-old Tina who has spent lockdown searching for all of her old pensions: some have performed better than hoped, but others have had high charges, and she has a gap in her UK state pension contributions due to working overseas. Experts Sir Steve Webb of Lane Clark & Peacock and Catherine Morgan, a financial planner behind the ‘In Her Financial Shoes’ podcast, provide tips for people of all ages looking to sort out their pension savings.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:Let’s start with the basics. If you’re struggling to get your head around what a pension is, why you need one, and how they work, then check out this free to read column from Claer, A lunchtime lesson about pensions for millennials. Also Claer has written on the pandemic and pensions planningTina’s first task was to work out what she had in which pensions, and where. To track down lost pensions, try the UK government’s Pensions Tracing Service, which is free to use - but please do be careful of copycat websites run by commercial firmsTo check how many years’ worth of UK state pension contributions you’ve made, what you could receive in retirement and if you have any missing years, use the government’s free Check your State Pension serviceThe UK government page Your State Pension Explained contains more information on what counts as a qualifying year Read this UK government advice page about making extra National Insurance contributions to your UK state pensionContact the Future Pension Centre to find out if you would benefit from voluntary NI contributions The UK government’s International Pension Centre provides advice and information for those who have lived or worked overseasWant to talk to someone about your pensions options? If you’re over 50, then you can use the UK government’s free Pension Wise service to get detailed guidance from an adviser on your retirement optionsEmma Maslin, who blogs as The Money Whisperer, wrote this FT column asking self-employed women how good their pensions areFinally, if you need some further pensions inspiration on social media, you can follow Catherine Morgan on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2020 was a turbulent year for most people’s finances, but the new year provides the perfect opportunity to set some ‘financial resolutions’. The guests on the first podcast of the New Year, couple Toby and Siobhan, are looking for some ‘fin-spiration’ to get their money working harder in 2021. They’ve paid off their credit cards under lockdown, and are wondering where to direct their spare cash: overpay the mortgage, or put more into pensions or other investments? There’s also one financial to-do that they’re been putting off for a long time: making a will. Money experts Ken Okoroafor from The Humble Penny and Dan Garrett, co-founder of digital will-writing service Farewill, provide some useful tips.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-You can follow Ken Okoroafor on Instagram -If you’re looking for fresh ideas about what to do with your money in 2021, Claer has asked podcast hosts from the finance and business world to share their financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2021. Covering investing, saving, financial planning and side hustling, you can read insights from Patricia Bright (Caught Off Guard), Emma Gannon (Ctrl Alt Delete), Chris Browning (Popcorn Finance), the FT’s former editor Lionel Barber (What’s Next?) and many more.-Here’s some further reading for listeners who are considering making a will. The pandemic has forced through legal changes making it much easier for people in England and Wales to make a ‘digital will’ online. Read this FT Money piece to find out how-For a more general grounding on wills, read this FT article - 10 things you need to know before making a will -And here’s a useful Money Clinic podcast on credit card debt. Claer finds how to keep credit card spending under control Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money Clinic is taking a break until December 31st, so why not delve into our back catalogue of podcasts to find useful discussions on how to manage your money during the pandemic, from starting in investing and shared ownership to the dangers of 'money mules' and moving into a second career. Our next episode focuses on how best to plan your finances in the New Year while Covid-19 continues to affect all our lives.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She earns a six-figure salary working an 80-hour week on Wall Street but 20-something Anna spends her spare moments dreaming about starting her own business. She chats to presenter Claer Barrett about the challenge of resisting “lifestyle creep” - the pressure to spend more as you earn more - in New York City. But how much will she need to save up to support herself if she pursues her passion project? Experts Bola Sokunbi, the founder of Clever Girl Finance, and Emilie Bellet, founder of Vestpod, share stories of how they quit high-flying jobs to launch their own personal finance platforms - and have plenty of tips for listeners who are tempted to go it alone. If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, email the Money Clinic team [email protected] with a brief description of your story. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-If all this talk of ‘lifestyle creep’ has inspired you to take a closer look at your spending habits, check out this free to read FT column by Claer which is packed with budgeting tips: Simple rules for managing your money-Clever Girl Finance, the personal finance platform founded by podcast guest Bola Sokunbi, is full of free content, courses and resources covering all kinds of financial issues. You can hear more from Bola on her Clever Girls Know podcast, follow her on Instagram @CleverGirlFinance and check out her book, Clever Girl Finance: Ditch debt, save money and build real wealth-Emilie Bellet quit her City of London career to found Vestpod, a platform dedicated to empowering women on their investing journey where you can sign up to her free weekly newsletter. Follow Emilie on Twitter and Instagram, and check out the Vestpod Facebook group. She also presents a weekly podcast The Wallet and her first book is called You’re not broke, you’re pre-rich-Anna's project is Young Money Plans Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re offered the chance to make some easy money during the pandemic, what should you do? Money Clinic was emailed by 19-year-old student Henry who, along with many of his friends, had been contacted on Snapchat and Instagram and asked: ‘Do you want to make money working from home?’ To earn a few hundred pounds, students are being asked to open bank accounts, then receive and transfer money. This may sound innocuous. But as presenter Claer Barrett reveals, acting as a ‘money mule’ is a criminal offence, and could involve money laundering. Reformed fraudster Tony Sales and anti-fraud expert Mike Nathan explain how it works and how to stay safe online. If you would like to talk to Claer for a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your dilemma, and how you would like us to help. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-If you have been a victim of cyber crime, or want to report a scam attempt, here are the agencies to contact, depending on where you’re based, in the UK, the US or Europe -Claer’s FT column this week goes into much greater detail about money muling, and how parents can spot the signs-Claer won a Wincott Award for this 2018 column exposing “Modern Day Bank Robbery”, which highlights the techniques criminals use to steal money from the unwary online-You can also read Claer’s column: Don’t fall for these 10 financial scams -And Tony Sales, the reformed criminal we heard from on today’s show, will shortly be releasing his autobiography - The Big Con: How I stole £30m and got away with it, published by Mirror Books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding a side hustle that earns you  money alongside your main job is an attractive idea — but it can be hard to achieve as Jonny, this week’s guest, has found out, with his side hustles costing him time rather than earning much extra cash. He’s also looking to volunteer as a side hustle to further his ambition of campaigning on personal finance issues, but how can he find the right balance of money and time? Presenter Claer Barrett hears from experts Abadesi Osunsade, founder of Hustle Crew and presenter of the Techish podcast, and Juliet Tomlinson from the Oxford university’s careers service on “success metrics” and acquiring the right skills. If you would like to talk to Claer for a future podcast episode, she is very keen to find someone who is resolving to sort out their finances for the new year and could do with some expert help. If that sounds like you, please email the Money Clinic team with a brief description of your story to [email protected]. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-If like Jonny, you’re seeking inspiration from how others are earning money on the side, check out this FT Magazine piece — How lockdown encouraged young people to develop their side hustles -If your side hustle is successful, there could be tax implications, but this piece from FT Money gives some useful tips about tax returns and the kinds of expenses you might be able to offset -Abadesi Osunsade is the founder of Hustle Crew, which runs workshops and events for people working within the tech space, and presents the Techish podcast which is focused on the intersection of tech, pop culture and life. Follow Abadesi @Abadesi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since they moved in together at the start of the UK lockdown in March, Marijke and Danny’s relationship has gone from strength to strength. Marijke owns the flat they both live in — but Danny has recently come into an inheritance and wants to finance building an extension to their home. How can the cohabiting couple structure this arrangement in a way that will be fair to both of them if they later split up? Presenter Claer Barrett seeks guidance from experts, Michael Gouriet, partner in the family law team at Withers, the legal firm, and Angela Marson, chartered financial planner at Fairstone, the financial advisory business.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your dilemma, and how you would like us to help. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-Our guests on this episode were shocked to find out that cohabitation is such a ‘grey area’ of the law in England and Wales.-This FT Money article by Lucy Warwick-Ching — Is my boyfriend entitled to a share of my flat if we split? — covers many of the legal options couples like Marijke and Danny could consider.-Of course, talking about money is a big issue for many couples. This FT column by Claer — Six ways to manage money and not fall out with your partner — is packed with practical tips and is currently free to read.-Michael Gouriet, the legal expert featured on this podcast, has also made a more in-depth podcast series with his firm Withers focusing on the issues arising from cohabitation agreements.Finally, this column by the FT’s economics correspondent Delphine Strauss — Unmarried couples in the UK pay the price of an outdated system — looks at repeated attempts to reform the laws concerning the rights of cohabiting couples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 61-year old Margaret, and millions of other women, being able to retire with a pension has become an unaffordable dream. She has relied on working as a supply teacher to pay the bills. But she says employers don’t want to hire older workers. After many unsuccessful job applications, Margaret has gone back to university to study creative writing and to seek a new career. Lindsay Cook, the FT’s Money Mentor columnist, suggests how women in Margaret’s situation can maximise their retirement income, and Stuart Lewis, the founder of over-50s online community Rest Less, has plenty of tips for older jobseekers.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your dilemma, and how you would like us to help. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:-The experts had plenty of practical tips for UK listeners looking to get on top of their retirement planning.-To track down lost pensions, Lindsay Cook suggested that Margaret uses the government’s Pensions Tracing Service, which is free to use. As we said on the show, please be careful of copycat websites run by commercial firms.-You can also check how many years’ worth of State Pension contributions you’ve made, and what you could receive in retirement-Looking for a job in your 50s and 60s can be a very challenging and lonely experience, as Margaret has found. Rest Less is an online community and recruitment website for older workers which is packed with all kinds of tips and advice. Membership is free, and has trebled since the start of lockdown.-Claer’s latest FT column is full of practical advice for job seekers, drawing on a live video Q&A with Jonathan Black, the FT’s “Dear Jonathan’ columnist and director of the careers service at Oxford University. This contains useful suggestions of how to reach out to contacts for help finding your next position, and the strange theory of why wearing smart shoes in Zoom interviews could boost your performance — even though your feet are out of shot!-Finally, if you’re considering going back to university in later life, you may be concerned about student loans. In the UK, these operate more like a graduate tax than a conventional loan, as this free to read column by Claer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29-year-old jewellery designer Roseanna Croft is having her mettle tested by the pandemic. Wedding cancellations have dented her sales, and now the second UK lockdown threatens Christmas trading. As a limited company director, she has restricted access to government support and must rely on her own efforts to redesign her business plan. Claer finds creative inspiration for Roseanna from Suli Breaks, the entrepreneur, poet and presenter of the 7even Figures Business Podcast, and financial tips from Andy Chamberlain, head of policy at IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed).Further reading:-Claer has written extensively about issues facing small business owners during the pandemic, and the problems of accessing government support schemes. Her recent FT column Help for the self-employed won’t save everyone is free to read -Suli presents the 7even Figures podcast, where he interviews an entrepreneur who has set up a business from scratch, finding out how they grew their passion into a million pound company-Watch Suli in action on his website and follow him on Twitter @SuliBreaks-Andy Chamberlain is head of policy at IPSE, and tweets @AndyChamberlain-The IPSE website has a hub full of advice and information for the self employed and limited company directors detailing the help available during the pandemic-You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy is on the cusp of buying a shared ownership flat with her partner — but she’s getting cold feet. The shared ownership model enables buyers to take out a mortgage on part of the property, and pay rent on the rest. However, Lucy is worried this could be more expensive than she bargained for, and fears she will never be able to afford to own 100 per cent of her new home. Claer hears from independent property expert Henry Pryor and mortgage broker Andrew Montlake from Coreco. Further reading:-Henry Pryor tweets @HenryPryor and has a website packed with tips for property buyers.-Andrew Montlake tweets @Montysblog and blogs about the mortgage market (which is genuinely more interesting that it sounds!) Read it here.-Claer’s recent column in FT Money tackled the pitfalls of shared ownership properties, the government’s Help to Buy scheme and a mad-sounding new idea to let young people borrow from their pensions to get on the property ladder.-This Millennial Money column from Kate Beioley, the FT’s legal correspondent, reveals how being single made it practically impossible for her to pursue the shared ownership route. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Claer Barrett chats to Harri about the challenges of building an ethical investment portfolio. The 29-year old is saving £1,000 a month into his retirement fund, and has noticed a growing array of ESG options (a label applied to investments that address environment, social and governance considerations). Are they genuinely doing good — or have they just done a good job on their marketing? And does investing ethically mean he has to sacrifice some investment returns? Experts Gillian Tett and Moira O’Neill offer their tips.If you would like to talk to Claer for a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your dilemma, and how you would like us to help. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb and read her weekly Serious Money column in the FT Money section of the FT Weekend newspaper.Further reading:--Gillian Tett chairs the FT’s editorial board, and set up Moral Money, the FT’s online hub for all things ESG. Read the latest stories and sign up for the twice-weekly newsletter at FT.com/moralmoney (the newsletter is currently free for the first 30 days). You can follow Gillian on Twitter: @GillianTett.--Moira O’Neill is an investment columnist in FT Money, and the head of personal finance at Interactive Investor. Read Moira’s latest column about why it’s a myth that only the “young and woke” are interested in ESG investment at ft.com/goodmoneyweek. You can follow Moira on Twitter: @MoiraONeill.--The dilemmas of ESG investors are explored in a forthcoming book by Alice Ross, the FT’s deputy news editor. You can read an extract from Investing to Save the Planet via this link ft.com/investingtosavetheplanet and it will be published by Penguin Books in November 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.