Merryn Talks Money

Latest Episodes:

What to Buy Now as The US Loses Its Edge Sep 22, 2025

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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.

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UK Jobs Squeeze, AI Disruption, and Diverging Rate Cuts Sep 19, 2025

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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

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UPDATE: Why Your Tax-Free Pension Lump Sum Is Under Growing Threat Sep 17, 2025

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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 relief. It is correct that from the normal minimum pension age (currently 55, rising to 57 in 2028), you can access up to 25% of your pension pot tax-free. The restriction only arises if you also start taking taxable income (for example, via drawdown or as a lump sum payment). At that point, the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) rules apply, and your future tax-relievable contributions are capped at £10,000 per year (current rules). However, withdrawing this lump sum alone does not mean you are treated as retired. You can continue to contribute to your pension and receive tax relief on those contributions, subject to the standard annual allowance.
Thanks as always to those who wrote in seeking clarification.

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The Real Reason UK Energy Prices Are Skyrocketing Sep 15, 2025

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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.

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Gold vs. Bitcoin: What’s Driving the Safe-Haven Rally in 2025 Sep 12, 2025

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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.

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How University Students Should Approach Their Finances Sep 10, 2025

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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 finance.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2024-09-09/merryn-talks-your-money-paying-university-fees-podcast

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Odd Lots: Liz Truss on the 'Doom Loop' Engulfing the UK Economy Sep 08, 2025

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We'll be back next week with more Merryn Talks Money 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 curve are even higher. So what's going on? Why all this angst now about UK fiscal sustainability and the economy itself? In this episode, we speak with Liz Truss about what she learned during her brief time as the PM. She talks about the political reality of fiscal consolidation, and how difficult it is on both the tax and spending side. And we also discuss what her economic vision was really all about, had she not been forced from the position so quickly. In addition, we talk about the general state of politics, the media, and free speech in the UK.

Only Bloomberg.com subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox — now delivered every weekday — plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

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Gilts, Gold and Property Tax Sep 04, 2025

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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.

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Live from Fringe: Virtue, Vice and the Price of Money Sep 03, 2025

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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.

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Live from Fringe: How to Prevent AI From Causing an Economic Catastrophe Sep 01, 2025

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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 how relevant the ideas of Adam Smith are today and the lessons we can learn from his writings.

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