This is Money Podcast

The Bank of England raises rates to 4%, putting mortgages and tracker deals under the spotlight. The discussion also explores Wall Street’s AI spending fears, data-centre politics and the risk of a wider market slump. Plus, why salary alone does not guarantee a comfortable retirement, and why relying on inheritance could be a costly gamble.

The Budget gets a mixed verdict, from a £100 energy payment and a last-minute cash ISA reprieve to higher taxes on savings and greater pension complexity. The discussion covers frozen student-loan thresholds, landlord tax changes, bank levies, carers’ support and first-time buyer measures. It also asks whether the plans offer any real solution to Britain’s sluggish growth and strained public finances.

Rachel Rickard Straus, a personal finance journalist covering tax, pensions and household money, joins a lively discussion on inflation’s return and the looming Budget. Fuel costs, interest rates, squeezed spending power and government debt take centre stage. They also explore possible backdoor rent controls, future tax changes, Premium Bonds luck and listeners’ biggest Budget frustrations.

George Mantilas, Chief Operating Officer at investment platform Trading 212, breaks down the essentials of self-invested personal pensions. Discover how SIPPs complement workplace pensions, support self-employed savers, and offer flexibility over investments. The conversation covers tax relief, compounding, consolidating old pensions, fees, diversification, automation, and common mistakes to avoid.

Steve Webb, a British pensions expert and former UK pensions minister, celebrates 500 columns by tackling listeners’ retirement questions. He discusses inheritance tax and pension pots, tax-free withdrawals, accessing pensions before 57, taxable state pensions, and the risks of deferring them. He also explores McCloud delays and the importance of keeping pension records in order.

Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax proposal puts family homes at the centre of a lively money debate, alongside practical ways to reduce future bills. The discussion also explores Lifetime ISA penalties and a replacement for first-time buyers, Tesco’s prediction of a less boozy Christmas, how to secure a free will, and Jaguar’s £120,000 electric gamble.

Could the pension triple lock be replaced by a double lock, and what would that mean for retirees and younger workers? The discussion also explores councils taking over long-empty homes, the fastest-growing self-employed jobs, handling a major workplace pay gap, and the impact of a new vape tax.

Could raising the tax-free personal allowance to £15,570 shake up the Budget? The team explores a radical income-tax overhaul, soaring UK energy bills and whether buy-to-let still pays. They also examine Airtel Money’s planned London listing, Airbnb’s indoor-camera privacy rules, the office-versus-home-working debate and the rising cost of filling a diesel car.

Mortgage rates are climbing despite the Bank of England holding interest rates, leaving borrowers facing painful remortgage shocks. The discussion weighs locking savings above 5% against investing in gilts, explores inheritance tax traps and looming pension changes, and examines why wealthy Britons are relocating to Greece. Plus, fixed energy deals that could beat future price-cap rises.

Could early retirement be within reach, and how much would you need to save at 45, 50 or 55? The discussion explores pensions, ISAs, housing costs and flexible work, alongside fresh inflation fears, rising bills and mortgage pressures. It also debates England’s new landlord register, the eye-watering tax bill of a hedge fund billionaire, and a rare Disney trading card worth thousands.