Informed Choice Radio Personal Finance Podcast

This week in episode 36 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about investment sharks who are after your pension fund, why couples are choosing to put in place 'pre-pup' agreements in case of divorce, and how the rapper 50 Cent tricked us into believing he was living a luxury lifestyle. There's also a roundup of the latest personal finance and investment news. If you have a money question for Martin, you can leave a voicemail by calling 020 8144 2745 or visit our online voicemail system at www.icfp.co.uk/podcast.    

In episode 35 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin answers a listener question about whether cautious investors should still be investing in fixed income funds, there's a roundup of the latest personal finance news, and the big topic this week is staying healthy in old age. You can find all of the notes from this episode at www.icfp.co.uk/episode35. Follow Martin on Twitter at www.twitter.com/martinbamford or send him an email at martin@icfp.co.uk. To find out more about Informed Choice, visit their website at www.icfp.co.uk.

In episode 34 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin shares the latest personal finance news, and talks about coping with higher interest rates and your biggest money regrets.     How would your household cope with higher interest rates? There’s been a lot of talk recently about interest rates rising. As the British economy continues to improve, the prospect of a rate rise becomes more likely.     According to a new report from credit ratings agency Moody’s, British households will be able to withstand a rise in interest rates as they have been "toughened up" by the global financial crisis.     Is this really the case? Martin shares a couple of exercises you might want to complete today to make sure your household budget could cope with higher interest rates.     Question of the week; when do you think interest rates will rise and by how much?     What are your biggest money regrets? A recent survey conducted by banking group Wells Fargo found wealthy individuals wished they had made better investing decisions, saved more and spent less, and stopped to enjoy their wealth more often on the road to accumulating their wealth.     Is Financial Planning the answer to investing with purpose and spending more time on 'fun'? Martin thinks it might be and explains why.  

In episode 33 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about the ten principles for the ideal retirement, a rather expensive new retirement community opening in London, and why investment fund managers are increasing the cash balances in their funds. If you listen to this podcast, please take one minute to leave an honest review on iTunes.   Reviews from listeners are so important to help others find the podcast, and we also really want your feedback so we know which elements of the show you enjoy and what we can improve. To leave a review, simply visit www.icfp.co.uk/itunes. Martin will read out reviews at the end of each future episode, so please make sure you leave a note of your real name, so you get a mention. If you have a personal finance or investment question you would like Martin to answer on the podcast, you can leave a voicemail for the show by following the link at icfp.co.uk/podcast. We’ll answer your question in a future episode and send you a gift to say thank you for taking part.

In episode 32 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about getting divorced, care fees cross-subsidy, and how well the new pension freedoms are actually doing. If you listen to the Informed Choice Podcast, please take a moment to leave us a review on iTunes at www.icfp.co.uk/itunes. We will read out your review during a future episode. You can follow Informed Choice on Twitter at www.twitter.com/informedchoice and find Martin on Twitter at www.twitter.com/martinbamford. For more information about the Informed Choice Podcast, and the show notes for each episode, visit www.icfp.co.uk/podcast.

This week in episode 31 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about a stock market plunge in China, why the lifetime cap on residential care fees might be postponed, and of course the emergency Summer Budget.

This week in episode 30 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about what people want from the emergency Budget next week, properly qualified Financial Planners, the cost of a housewife, the Golden Age Index from PwC and what on earth is going on in Greece.     According to some new research by SunLife, the public would cut state support for older people in the emergency Budget next week. Why do we favour short-term gratification over long-term reward?     Greece owes its various creditors an awful lot of money. Martin explains what has been happening with Greece this week as the possibility of a ‘Grexit’ draws ever closer.     When you seek advice from a Financial Planner, you expect them to be qualified. Here in the UK, the minimum qualification requirement is at QCF Level 4. Many Financial Planners believe the minimum should be higher. What’s the difference between Level 4 and Level 6 qualifications?   PwC has developed a new ‘Golden Age Index’ to compare how well different countries are utilising workers aged 55 and over. Their Golden Age Index includes relative employment, earnings and training rates for older workers for 34 OECD countries over the period since 2003. Martin reviews the findings.   How many hours do you work each week? Some new research from LV= has found that homemakers work an average of 56 hours a week, not including childcare duties. What are the financial and lifestyle implications? Leave a review for the Informed Choice Podcast at www.icfp.co.uk/itunes. Check out our podcast episode archive at www.icfp.co.uk/podcast. Follow Martin on Twitter @martinbamford. Follow Informed Choice on Twitter @InformedChoice. Find out more about Informed Choice at www.icfp.co.uk.

This week in episode 29 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about how private wealth managers are shunning the moderately rich, why Britain's ageing population will ruin the budget surplus plan, and how a new blood test could pick up the early signs of dementia.

This week in episode 28 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks about a return to inflation in the UK, interest rates expectations in the US and why experiences make you happier than material possessions. He answers a listener question about taking tax-free cash from a pension pot, but leaving the taxable bit behind. And he talks about why the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has banned the sale of a complex investment instrument called CoCos for retail investors.

This week in episode 27 of the Informed Choice Podcast, Martin talks silver splitters, retirement as a worst case scenario, and the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney.