Money Clinic with Claer Barrett

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 money@ft.com 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 money@ft.com 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 money@ft.com 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 money@ft.com 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 money@ft.com 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.