Parenthood changes everything- including your bank balance. With shifts in your income, sleep deprivation and little ones to care for, how do you make sure your money is working as hard as you are? From parental leave rights and pension gaps to childcare costs and budgeting on a tighter income, the financial side of starting a family can feel overwhelming. But it doesn't have to. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by Katie Guild, mum and co-founder of Nugget Sav...
May 07, 2026•19 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Buying a car used to be relatively simple. But with so many options and ways to buy nowadays, it can be tough to know which option is best and what you’re actually signing up for. With approximately 80% of new cars in the UK now bought on finance, it’s a decision millions of people are making, often without fully understanding the options and the impact on their long-term finances. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by Stuart Masson, founder of The Car Expert. S...
Apr 23, 2026•19 min•Season 2Ep. 32
If you think pensions are complex and something to put off for another day, then this episode is probably for you. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by Tom Trennery from the Workplace Pensions team at L&G to recap the basics. Tom highlights how the choices we make about our pension savings now will impact the life we can live in later years. Tom breaks down why your workplace pension might actually be one of the easiest (and smartest) ways to build long-ter...
Apr 09, 2026•13 min•Season 2Ep. 31
What does your future financial self really need from you today? In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by financial educator and content creator Tolu Frimpong to explore the powerful (and often overlooked) relationship between your present-day decisions and your longer-term wealth. Tolu shares the real-life choices and mindset shifts that transformed her relationship with money. And together, they unpack being stuck in “survival mode” with finances, why you can’t a...
Mar 26, 2026•18 min•Season 2Ep. 30
In part two of our investing special on A Little Bit Richer, Iona Bain is back with financial educator and founder of Vestpod, Emilie Bellet. Together they unpack the practical side of investing from building a balanced portfolio to understanding risk, diversification and the difference between passive and active investing. They talk about a good mindset, why spreading your money across a range of investments matters, and Emilie shares a simple habit that can help you build wealth over time. So ...
Mar 12, 2026•19 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this first part of a two-episode investing special on A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain sits down with financial educator and founder of Vestpod, Emilie Bellet, to explore the foundations of investing. Emilie and Iona talk through the differences between saving and investing and offer some tips for those who’re keen to build their longer term wealth. They delve into the emotional side of investing and how fear, greed, FOMO and panic can all influence our decisions, often at the worst po...
Feb 26, 2026•20 min•Season 2Ep. 28
With new ISA changes announced in the Autumn Budget and updates to cash ISA limits on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get clear on how these powerful, tax-efficient savings and investment tools can help you build long-term financial confidence. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by Paula Hughes from L&G to demystify the world of ISAs and help you understand how they can work for you at every stage of life. Together, they explore the different types o...
Feb 12, 2026•18 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Being self-employed can be incredibly freeing but financially, it can also feel like a rollercoaster. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by accountant and behavioural expert Krystal McGilvery to discuss ways to manage money when your income isn’t guaranteed. From cash-flow anxiety and chasing invoices to saving for retirement without an employer pension, Krystal shares practical, no-nonsense tips to help you feel more in control of your finances. Together, they ...
Jan 29, 2026•19 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Divorce can emotionally, practically and financially turn your world upside down. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by friend of the show Jenny Hazan to unpack the impact on your finances when a relationship ends and how to protect your future. Drawing on both her professional expertise at L&G and her personal experience of divorce, Jenny explains why separation is often “two break-ups”, how the so-called “singles tax” can hit overnight, and she shares one ...
Jan 15, 2026•21 min•Season 2Ep. 25
In our special Book Club episode, we’re starting the year a little differently by digging into the books that can genuinely transform how we think, feel, and behave around money. Because personal finance isn’t just about numbers. It starts with mindset, habits, and our relationship with money. Our host Iona Bain is joined by self-confessed bookworm Sean Philip from L&G’s Workplace Pension team, to explore four powerful reads: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Money Together by Heather...
Jan 01, 2026•25 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Heading into 2026, we’ve lots more episodes to come. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Is there a financial topic you’ve been curious about? A financial challenge you’d like help navigating? Tell us how we can make next year the one where your money goals really take off. Send us a DM or write a comment on our Instagram and TikTok . Leave us a comment on Spotify or write in the review section on Apple Podcasts. You can play the podcast and find other useful content on L&G’s website: https://w...
Dec 25, 2025•1 min
Celebrate the festive season with Iona Bain as she unwraps the 12 Financial Days of Christmas! A collection of the most practical, inspiring, and feel-good money tips shared on the podcast this year. From smart investing and tackling career change fears to managing debt, boosting your pension, remortgaging with confidence, handling inheritance conversations, and creating passive income, this episode brings together the very best insights from our 2025 guests like Claer Barrett, Rotimi Merriman-J...
Dec 11, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Saving money feels great in theory… but sticking to it in real life? That’s the tricky part. In this episode of A Little Bit Richer, our host Iona Bain is joined by financial coach Laura Ann Moore to unpack how to gamify your savings and make your money habits stick. With Christmas spending peaking and New Year’s resolutions looming, Laura shares practical ways to keep saving, even when life feels expensive. From reframing your identity as a “saver,” to mastering habit stacking, to using tech, c...
Nov 27, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In part two of our tax special, our host Iona Bain and accountant Tim Paul dive deeper into the tax topics that matter most - from side hustles and rental income to tax-free childcare and ISAs. Tim breaks down what the rules really mean, how to stay on the right side of HMRC, and the quick wins that can stop you overpaying tax like checking your tax code, understanding allowances, and making the most of your pension. If you’ve ever wondered how much you can earn tax-free, when you need to declar...
Nov 13, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Tax. It’s something we all pay, but few of us truly understand much about this large deduction from our earnings. In this first of two bite-sized episodes, our host Iona Bain sits down with accountant and finance content creator Tim Paul to shed some light on how it works. Tim explains how you can reduce your tax bill through clever tools like salary sacrifice and pension contributions, putting more of your hard-earned money to good use while still playing by the rules. If you’ve ever wondered w...
Oct 30, 2025•13 min•Season 2Ep. 20
If you’ve ever changed jobs, chances are you’ve collected a few different pension pots along the way. Did you know bringing them together is easy and could save you money and time in the long term? In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by Mike Crossley, Head of Workplace Pension Consolidation at L&G, to demystify the process of consolidation. Together, they tackle the big questions: How easy is it to do? Could lower fees and clearer tracking of your savings make it worthwhile? How do...
Oct 16, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Is your mortgage deal coming to an end soon? Or maybe you’re not tied in and could check if there’s something better out there? Hopefully this episode will help save you some money. Our host Iona Bain is joined by friend of the show Sarah Tucker, aka The Mortgage Mum, to demystify the world of remortgaging. Together, they unpack what remortgaging really means, why it matters more than ever in today’s market, and the pros and cons of fixing versus tracking your rate. You’ll hear how life changes ...
Oct 02, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 18
What is the one thing splitting our generation? It shapes our future, divides us from friends and maybe even matters more than a university degree. In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by historian and generational expert Dr. Eliza Filby to explore the rise of the “inheritocracy” - a world where the Bank of Mum and Dad increasingly decides who gets ahead. They unpack how family wealth shapes education, housing, childcare, and even relationships, and what this means for millennials and G...
Sep 18, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 17
What will give you a stronger financial future? Buying a home or putting extra into your pension so you have enough to retire one day. With high property prices and changing retirement plans, millennials and Gen Z face a tricky financial dilemma. In this episode, Iona Bain sits down with Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and host of the Money Clinic podcast, to unpack the debate around investing in a property and building a good pension pot. They explore why home ownership fe...
Sep 04, 2025•16 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest financial and emotional milestones, but it can also feel overwhelming. From deposits and legal fees to mortgage rates and market changes, there’s a lot to consider before you get the keys. In this episode, our host Iona Bain sits down with Sarah Tucker, mortgage expert and founder and CEO of The Mortgage Mum, to break down the home buying journey step-by-step and what it all might cost. With recent changes to Stamp Duty and mortgage lending, Sarah shares he...
Aug 21, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Around 1 in 5 people in the UK are neurodivergent, but it often doesn’t get discussed enough when it comes to personal finance. In this episode, our host Iona Bain speaks with accountant and behavioural finance expert Krystle McGilvery about the often-overlooked link between neurodiversity and money. Krystle shares her personal experience of living with ADHD and dyslexia, and how these conditions impact her financial habits. From budgeting struggles to impulsive spending and long-term planning c...
Aug 07, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 14
There’s been lots in the news about workplace pensions recently. In this episode, our host lona Bain is joined by L&G's CEO of DC and workplace savings, Paula Llewellyn. They unpack changes in the pipeline and what you can do to help your pension savings grow. From the government’s push to simplify pensions and tackle the issue of multiple small pots, to a change which could see more of your money invested in UK companies and private markets, they explore how these reforms could help your fi...
Jul 24, 2025•14 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Money talk can be awkward and vulnerable, but it doesn’t have to kill the romance. In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by financial adviser and author Bola Sol to unpack the dos and don’ts of managing money with your partner. From combining accounts to spotting red flags, Bola shares practical advice for couples at every stage, whether you've just started dating or planning for a long-term future. You’ll learn smart strategies on financial fairness, keeping your independence, and build...
Jul 10, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Digital payments have become the norm in managing our money but why has there been a boost in cash spending? In this episode, our host Iona Bain sits down with financial advisor, author and content creator Emmanuel Asuquo to unpack our evolving relationship with money in a cashless world. Emmanuel explores the psychological impact of contactless spending, why so many are returning to cash, and how to create ‘friction’ in your finances to avoid mindless purchases. They also dive into emotional sp...
Jun 26, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Debt has become a fact of life for many, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate or talk about. In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and a passionate advocate for financial literacy. Together, they tackle the reality of debt among young people in the UK - from student loans and credit cards to the rise of buy now, pay later. Claer breaks down how credit scores work, the traps of high interest borrowing, and why ‘negative wealt...
Jun 12, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 10
No matter how much you have to invest, setting good and solid foundations is vital. In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by friend of the show and financial adviser Rotimi Merriman Johnson, aka Mr. MoneyJar, to demystify the world of investing. From choosing the investment platform to understanding index funds, stocks and tax-efficient accounts like ISAs and SIPPs, Rotimi shares clear, practical advice without the jargon. They also discuss the psychology of investing, the importance of ...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 9
It can be hard to look beyond managing your money from one payday to the next. But if you have dreams for your life in the future, you’ll need a plan on how to fund this. In this episode our host Iona Bain is joined by financial adviser, author and money columnist Bola Sol to unpack what it really takes to be in the best position to afford it. From budgeting with purpose, deciding what your work-life balance is, building solid money habits and managing setbacks with compassion, Bola shares her n...
May 15, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Do you feel like you’re working hard but hardly moving up the career ladder? Is success only achievable through promotion? What will give you satisfaction? In this episode our host Iona Bain is joined by Helen Tupper, co-founder of Amazing If and co-author of The Squiggly Career, to explore why success doesn't always mean a straight line to the top. They discuss how to rethink promotions, build confidence and find purpose in a working world that’s increasingly non-linear. You’ll learn how to ide...
May 01, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Do you spend more than you should? Or maybe the opposite and you’ve a tendency to be frugal? ? In this episode, our host Iona Bain is joined by financial psychotherapist Vicky Reynal to explore the emotional undercurrents behind our money habits. From childhood experiences and family dynamics to social media and FOMO, Vicky unpacks the complex psychology that shapes how we think, feel, and behave with money. You’ll hear about the subtle difference between overspending and self-sabotage, how scar...
Apr 17, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Whether you're looking for some extra income, creative fulfilment, or a path to financial independence, side hustles are a great way to do this. In this episode, financial advisor Emmanuel Asuquo and our host Iona Bain dive into the world of side hustles— from what you could offer, when you might need to pay tax and ideas to generate business. They explore the highs and lows, the myths and realities, and strategies to balance it with your full-time job. Because taking time to develop a side hust...
Apr 03, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 5
