Merryn Talks Money

Latest Episodes:

Why Now Is the Moment for Bitcoin and Gold Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

Regular listeners of the Merryn Talks Money podcast know that Merryn Somerset Webb usually ends her interviews with one question. If you had to invest all of your money into one of these assets, and hold it for the next 10 years, which would it be: Bitcoin or gold? In this week’s episode, she makes that question the foundation for a conversation with Charlie Morris, chief investment officer and founder of ByteTree, and Alexander Chartres, a fund manager at Ruffer.
The episode was taped in front of audience at the Bloomberg offices in London.
Want to see Merryn live? Check out her shows in Edinburgh at Fringe Festival this August!

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Reasons to Put Your Money in a ‘Fragile’ Europe Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s Merryn Talks Money, host Merryn Somerset Webb speaks with Daniel Avigad, partner and fund manager at Lansdowne Partners, a global investment management boutique entirely focused on active equities investing. He explains why Europe, though debt heavy and over-regulated, may actually be a place to put your money.

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Living Longer Means Rethinking How You Work Right Now May 31, 2024

Show notes

If aging doesn’t happen all at once, why should retirement? That’s the question Merryn Somerset Webb explores with economist and author Andrew J Scott in this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of living longer in the 21st century, and the complications it may inflict on your financial planning.
Plus, senior reporter John Stepek joins to talk the quadruple lock and the pensions bidding war.

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How To Protect Your Pension From a New Government May 24, 2024

Show notes

A general election in the UK has been called for July 4. What does that mean for your money—and is there anything you can (or should) do in advance of a possible tide of new policy?
Those are the questions host Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek explore with guests Helen Thomas, chief executive of macroeconomic consultancy BlondeMoney, and Tom McPhail, director of public affairs at The Lang Cat.

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The Argument Against Relative Performance May 17, 2024

Show notes

Tellworth’s John Warren tells Merryn Talks Money investors aren’t interested in a manager’s record versus an index—they just want to make money.
And it has happened again. Another new high for the FTSE 100. Merryn would love to talk about something else, but John Stepek can't.

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Why Everyone Believes What They Want to Believe with Alex Edmans May 10, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money, London Business School professor and author Alex Edmans joins to discuss his new book, May Contain Lies. Edmans explains why he believes that stories, statistics and studies exploit pre-existing biases.

Plus, John Stepek joins to discuss yet another boring Bank of England rate decision.
Emails to merrynmoney@bloomberg.net

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Making the Case for Active Investing May 03, 2024

Show notes

Downing Fund Managers’ Simon Evan-Cook joins this week to talk about the case for active versus passive investing.

Cook says Jack Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group and arguably the father of passive investing, did “more for individual wealth than anyone in history.” He deserved a knighthood for creating a low risk, reliable and comprehensive way of investing, Cook says. Nevertheless, the fund manager explains why he’s an investor in active funds, and discusses how to find the rare manager who might make you real money over the long term.

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Why Sunak May Quit Ahead of a July 4th Election Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Get ready for a UK election this summer, says Helen Thomas, an ex-adviser to former Conservative finance minister George Osborne and CEO of BlondeMoney. On this week’s Merryn Talks Money, she joins Merryn Somerset Webb to explain her core scenario for the British government: Rishi Sunak will resign and hand over to Penny Mordaunt, the House of Commons leader. She will call a July 4th election — and Labour leader Keir Starmer will be prime minister by the middle of July.
Plus, John Stepek joins to discuss a new high in the FTSE 100 and Opinion Columnist Adrian Wooldridge joins the post-interview discussion to share his views on Helen's predictions.
Love/Hate mail to the usual address: merrynmoney@bloomberg.net

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Why the UK Stock Market May Be Slowly Dying with Peel Hunt's Charles Hall Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Peel Hunt head of research Charles Hall tells Merryn that pension funds, wealth managers and individuals are pulling money out at an alarming rate. Plus, John Stepek talks inflation targets.

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How to Reach Net Zero Within a Capitalist System Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Many people contend that getting to net-zero emissions means smashing capitalism. While its destruction seems unlikely, another path would be to work within the capitalist system. Bloomberg senior reporter Akshat Rathi discusses the second path with Merryn Somerset Webb on this week’s episode of Merryn Talks Money. Together, they break down how business and government can work together in the fight against global warming.
Email us at merrymoney@bloomberg.net

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