US economist Arthur Laffer — the man behind the famous “Laffer Curve” — joins Merryn Talks Money to explain why he thinks Western economies, especially the UK, have pushed taxes too far. As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares for her next budget, Laffer warns Britain is heading for stagnation, not growth. He makes the case for a radical rethink: lower taxes, less red tape, and a return to pro-growth policies inspired by Reagan, Kennedy, and Thatcher. Tune in to hear why he believes the UK could be...
Oct 29, 2025•44 min
Host John Stepek and author of the Money Distilled newsletter is joined by Bloomberg reporter Helen Chandler-Wilde and Stuart Trow, author of “Young, Poor and Totally Screwed” to unpack one of the Labour government's key reforms; the Renters’ Rights Act. The act, which has just received Royal Assent, aims to moderate rent increases, ban “no-fault” evictions, and end fixed-term tenancies. But without any meaningful supply side reforms, there are questions over how effective the new policy will be...
Oct 27, 2025•26 min
On this week’s market wrap, host and author of the Money Distilled newsletter, John Stepek is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to dissect the latest market moves. The pair discuss the pullback in gold and other precious metals, falling bond yields amid expectations of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, and consider how the election of Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, could shape the country’s markets and investor sentiment. See omnystudio.com/...
Oct 24, 2025•12 min
Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age , argues hyper-globalization is giving way to a world split into US- and China-centric blocs, reshaping trade, technology, and security. He explains why de-risking will likely be concentrated in strategic sectors (chips, batteries, biotech), bringing more volatile inflation and new portfolio implications—from being cautious on China exposure to watching critical minerals and long-run AI-driven U.S. tech. Se...
Oct 20, 2025•34 min
On this week's markets wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack a series of headlines that seem to confirm their long-standing warnings — from fiscal cracks and risky lending to energy costs and gold’s sudden rise. They connect the dots between market anxiety, political inaction, and the “outbreaks of reality” shaping the UK economy. Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-15/uk-s-top-energy-suppliers-warn-bills-will-surge-on-grid-upgrades Check out that video: ...
Oct 17, 2025•15 min
In this episode of Merryn Talks Your Money, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack the FCA’s decision to lift its ban on retail access to crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs). They discuss what ETNs are, how investors can buy them, and whether these regulated products really make crypto investing safer—or simply more accessible. Along the way, they debate crypto’s place in a portfolio, regulatory motivations, and the ongoing risks behind this “innovative finance” frontier. See omnystudio.com...
Oct 15, 2025•15 min
Activist investing is back. On this week's episode of Merryn Talks Money , Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Joe Bauernfreund, chief executive of Asset Value Investors, about buying quality companies at deep discounts—and actively forcing a catalyst. The conversation spans Japan’s ongoing governance-driven rerating, South Korea’s push to be the new Japan and moneymaking special situations from Mitsubishi Logistics to News Corp. They also unpack why AVI tilts away from the US, how private-equity t...
Oct 13, 2025•38 min
On this week's markets roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek dive into the surging precious metals market — from gold’s decades-long shine to silver’s sudden rally — and what the “debasement trade” says about global confidence in fiat currencies. They unpack investor psychology, fiscal risks facing the UK, and why even major institutions are rethinking the classic 60/40 portfolio. Plus, a discussion on stamp duty and whether cutting it could truly revive Britain’s housing and equity mark...
Oct 10, 2025•16 min
John Stepek, senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter, is joined by pensions expert Tom McPhail to talk about pension protection. It's no secret that UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is looking for ways to raise cash to balance the nation's books in the upcoming November budget. Stepek and McPhail discuss ways to keep your pension protected and keep more of your money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 08, 2025•17 min
Gold’s on a tear — and host Merryn Somerset Webb asks Dominic Frisby, investor and author of the investment newsletter The Flying Frisby and a new book The Secret History of Gold why. They dig into central-bank buying, de-dollarization, and the metal’s timeless allure, from Roman coins to modern ETFs, plus the case for $7k gold and the pivotal $50 line in silver. Practical takeaways include how physical sovereigns, miners, and ETFs can fit into a portfolio today. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Oct 06, 2025•44 min
In this week's markets round up, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the news that London has slipped out of the world’s top 20 initial public offering markets as the third quarter ends, overtaken by Mexico and Singapore. Meanwhile, US tech stocks surge despite bubble worries, and Japan’s market hits fresh highs with renewed investor enthusiasm. Become a Bloomberg.com subscriber today. Check out our special intro offer right now at bloomberg.com/podcastoffer See omnystudio.com/lis...
Oct 03, 2025•16 min
This week, host Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek examine the policy signals coming out of the Labour Party conference—and what they could mean for your finances. They break down why a standalone wealth tax looks unlikely, the risks of lowering the VAT threshold for small businesses, and the political realities shaping pension reform. Plus, they consider whether proposals to tackle youth unemployment could shift the debate on work and welfare. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...
Oct 01, 2025•14 min
Roger Lee, head of equity strategy at Cavendish, joins Merryn Somerset Webb to explain why he thinks the UK’s worsening public finances could morph from “slowly, then suddenly” into a fiscal event, and what that means for the Labour government, Britain’s international standing and investors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 29, 2025•45 min
Kindbody, one of the largest fertility companies in the US, sought to disrupt egg freezing and IVF by combining spa vibes with Silicon Valley efficiency. The startup raised millions, opened dozens of clinics, and became a billion-dollar unicorn. But its ambition came with consequences. In IVF Disrupted: The Kindbody Story, reporter Jackie Davalos takes listeners beyond Kindbody’s millennial-friendly waiting rooms and into the clinics themselves, showing the sometimes-heartbreaking consequences o...
Sep 28, 2025•2 min
In this week’s Markets Wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek weigh Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s bond-market remarks against fiscal reality, unpack financial services group Gavekal’s so-called “Turkish Portfolio” of equities, and consider gold’s role as a hedge in an increasingly crowded market. As always, questions and comments welcome at merrynmoney@bloomberg.net See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 26, 2025•15 min
In lieu of a personal finance episode this week, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek host a mailbag session answering listener questions on pensions, taxation, absolute return funds, and the risks around UK debt. They clarify common misconceptions, discuss practical investment considerations, and explore how policy decisions could shape the financial outlook. As always, send thoughts to merrynmoney@bloomberg.net See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 24, 2025•27 min
Is US exceptionalism over? Pictet Asset Management's Chief Strategist Luca Paolini joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to explain why the world is entering an “age of convergence.” They cover why America’s market dominance may fade, where Europe and China are heading, what AI hype really means and why it might be time to rethink bonds, gold and diversification. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 22, 2025•36 min
In this week's market wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek unpack Next’s half-year report to reveal what falling vacancies, rising applications, and higher labor costs say about jobs, productivity, and AI. They also break down the Bank of England’s rate hold, the Fed’s cut, and what diverging policies mean for growth, inflation, and investors. https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/next-plc-v4/documents/2025/half-year-results-july2025.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...
Sep 19, 2025•13 min
Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Mark Wood, Chairman of Everest Funeral Concierge, Chair of PensionBee, and former CEO off Prudential UK and AXA, to discuss how sweeping pension reforms could transform the way UK earners save and draw down their pensions. Update: We wanted to add clarification to a point made in the show. In the interview, it was suggested that taking your 25% tax-free lump sum at age 55 or later means you’ve “retired” and can no longer put money into your pension with tax re...
Sep 17, 2025•24 min
These days, UK energy policies arguably seem more ideological than anything else. But that doesn’t seem to be working, so perhaps it’s time for it to be practical instead? With that in mind we invited Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at the University of Oxford, to join this week’s Merryn Talks Money podcast. He discusses how the UK, which consistently ranks among the most expensive countries for consumer electricity prices, should address its energy problem. See omnystudio.com/listen...
Sep 15, 2025•32 min
In this week's markets roundup, host Merryn Somerset Webb, editor-at-large for Bloomberg UK Wealth, sits down with Noor Al Ali from Bloomberg Markets Live to unpack gold’s remarkable rally and its implications for global markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 12, 2025•18 min
September signals the end of summer in the UK and the start of the school year. Gearing up to start university can be a daunting time for many young people, often catapulted into a situation of continuous firsts—first time living away, first time having to cook all their own meals and the first time having to manage their own money. On this personal finance episode of Merryn Talks Money , host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by award-winning journalist Marc Shoffman to discuss all things student ...
Sep 10, 2025•15 min
We'll be back next week with more Merryn Talks Mone y interviews, but for now we bring you an interesting conversation from the Odd Lots team. These days, everyone is talking about high interest rates across the rich, developed world, while warning of eventual fiscal disaster. But we may have gotten an early glimpse of this anxiety in October 2022, when then-UK Prime Minister Liz Truss unveiled her mini-budget that spooked the gilt market. Well today, rates at the long end of the British yield c...
Sep 08, 2025•59 min
In this news round up episode of Merryn Talks Money , host Merryn Somerset Webb has returned from her holiday and is joined by Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth. The pair discuss why the IMF won't be bailing out the UK anytime soon, gold's stellar performance, soaring high gilt market yields and the whether the stamp duty regime is all that complicated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 04, 2025•17 min
On the final panel at this year's Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, host Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Richard Wilson, chief executive of one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, Interactive Investor, Anna MacDonald, investment manager at Aubrey Capital, and journalist and author Alex Massie. The episode is taped in front of an audience at Adam Smith’s final remaining home, Panmure House. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 03, 2025•47 min
In this episode of Merryn Talks Money , host Merryn Somerset Webb is joined by Bloomberg senior reporter John Stepek, author Dominic Frisby and Interactive Investor Chief Executive Officer Richard Wilson for a roundtable discussion at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The conversation takes place at Panmure House, the last home of economist and philosopher Adam Smith. The panel share their favorite Adam Smith quotes and their relevance to our current economic and financial climate. They question ho...
Sep 01, 2025•40 min
Could Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith make sense of the economic world that exists today? In this episode of Merryn Talks Money , Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Alec Cutler, portfolio manager of the Orbis Global Balanced and Cautious funds, Tom Slater, manager of Scottish Mortgage and Bloomberg senior reporter John Stepek about how portions of Smith’s bestsellers The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations relate to today’s issues in global trade, technology, renewab...
Aug 29, 2025•44 min
Daniel Rasmussen, founder of Verdad Advisers and author of The Humble Investor: How to Find a Winning Edge in a Surprising World, joins Merryn. They discuss his book, why all forecasts are wrong (and why we need them anyway), the case for selling US tech and buying small caps, whether we’re in an artificial intelligence bubble, and Japanese equities. This is a replay of a conversation taped in January this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 15, 2025•46 min
John Stepek, Bloomberg senior reporter and author of the Money Distilled newsletter is joined by Opinion columnist Marcus Ashworth to discuss the unexpected good news about the UK economy, why we’re currently in a buyers market when it comes to housing and why the Bank of England needs to continue to hold its nerve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 14, 2025•13 min
There’s no tradeoff between net zero and growth in the UK. That’s the conventional wisdom and the position of the current government. But what if it’s the decline in available electricity that’s causing productivity, GDP and living standards to stagnate? Research from Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt, suggests there may indeed be a connection. He joins Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek on Merryn Talks Money to explain that the rise of power-hungry artificial inte...
Aug 08, 2025•33 min
