Merryn Talks Money

Latest Episodes:

Understanding Freehold Versus Leasehold in UK Real Estate May 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Merryn Talks Money UK housing mini-series, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek delve into the complexities of freehold and leasehold properties with guest Anthony Emmerson, who has worked in the mortgage industry for 20 years and is currently director at Trinity Financial.

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The Best Investment Ideas Outside the US May 06, 2025

Show notes

The dollar is wobbling. Not everyone is mad for Treasuries anymore. The US is likely headed for recession and it looks like the future of technology might be in China. What’s an investor to do?
Move with the times, says Gavekal founding partner and Chief Executive Officer Louis-Vincent Gave. In other words, you don’t have to invest in the US, and in conversation with Merryn this week, he shares his thoughts on the best places to move your money.
Gavekal Research: https://research.gavekal.com/article/prejudice-and-china/
Erik Prince video Louis mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsKtfLRSo2c

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The Growing Chorus Singing Nuclear Power’s Praises May 02, 2025

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Not long ago, it was seen as too slow, too expensive and too controversial to play a major role in the future energy mix. Not anymore.

Nick Lawson, chief executive of investment firm Ocean Wall, and Jake Jurewicz, CEO and co-founder of modular reactor startup Blue Energy, join this week’s Merryn Talks Money to explain why they think nuclear power is becoming one of the most compelling long-term energy bets.

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There’s More to the US Market Downturn Than Tariffs Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about why the Nvidia share price is a magic number, falling UK mortgage rates, buying the dip and covid-level shortages caused by tariffs.

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Making Sure You Don’t Buy the Wrong House Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

“ Going into the property market without a buying agent is a bit like going to court without a lawyer,” says Black Brick Property Solutions founder Camilla Dell. “You’d never dream of representing yourself, and yet when it comes to buying property, which is often one of the most significant and largest financial commitments that somebody will do in their entire lifetimes, people tend to do that without proper representation.”

On this episode of the Merryn Talks Money UK housing mini-series, Dell, who has worked in the London property market for more than two decades, joins hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek to explain the importance of a buying agent.

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Where One Top Value Investor Thinks You Should Put Your Money Now Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Renowned UK value investor Ben Whitmore joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss why he left Jupiter Asset Management, the mission behind Brickwood Asset Management (his new venture) and the focus behind its first fund.
Whitmore is zeroing in on buying shares of undervalued UK companies. He tells us which companies, and speaks more generally about the trends he's seeing in the markets.

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The Great Rotation is Here, What's Next For Gold, and UK Borrowing Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

In this week's roundup, Merryn Somerset Webb, speaks with Money Distilled newsletter author John Stepek about the recent volatility in the markets, significant increases in gold prices and the role of US President Donald Trump in market shifts and the theoretical versus practical independence of central banks.

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Is It Really a Good Idea to Buy New in the UK? Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Merryn Talks Money UK housing mini-series, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and Money Distilled author John Stepek are joined by Paula Higgins, founder and chief executive of HomeOwners Alliance, to tackle the question: are new-build properties a wise choice?

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Are Shared Ownership Properties Actually Worth it? Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

As hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek, continue on with part 3 of their UK housing mini-series, they help answer a listener question on the pros and cons of buying a shared ownership property in the UK. They are joined by Ray Boulger, of independent mortgage brokers, John Charcol.

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Why Economists Are Looking at Economics All Wrong Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

(This interview was recorded before the market chaos of this week.)

On this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money, Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with economist James Galbraith, who says there’s a problem with economists. The problem, he says, is that almost all of them are working with the wrong models. They look at economics in terms of equilibrium, as though the natural destination of an economy is “some kind of stable state,” Galbraith says. But absolutely nothing else tends to equilibrium.

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