This week on the Financial Planner Life Podcast, Chris Ball hosts a long-form, unedited conversation with Neil Woodford—one of the most talked-about figures in UK financial services.

Neil’s career has been one of immense ambition, remarkable success, and intense scrutiny. From humble beginnings sleeping on his brother’s floor to managing billions of pounds at Invesco Perpetual, Neil’s story takes us through his rise to the top of fund management, his role in creating some of the UK’s most successful funds, and the collapse of his own fund—a moment that left many investors facing significant losses.

This episode doesn’t shy away from the pain and fallout of those events. But it also raises bigger questions:
❓ What is truth, and what is lies?
❓ How far can media scrutiny go before it crosses a line?
❓ When does accountability turn into cruelty?

Neil reflects on the immense pressures he faced, the toll it took on his mental health and personal life, and the role the media played in shaping public perception. But this is more than a look back—it’s also about the future. Neil shares what he’s doing now, the lessons he’s learned, and his plans to rebuild and contribute to the financial services industry.

This episode offers a balanced, in-depth look at Neil’s extraordinary career, without overlooking the pain experienced by investors, or the challenges of being in the public eye.

One thing for sure is, Neil has had an interesting career story.

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