Money Clinic with Claer Barrett

Deborah Meaden, star of the hit BBC show “Dragons’ Den” is one of the highest-profile investors in the UK, famed for grilling entrepreneurs who want to secure financial backing for their businesses. In this episode of Money Clinic, first aired in October 2023, Deborah speaks to host Claer Barrett about how she goes about picking which companies to invest in, her commitment to green investment choices and her latest book, “Why Money Matters”, which explains money and finance to children. For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseIf you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on X, Instagram and TikTok. Want more?Check out Claer’s column, The hunt for good value UK stocks.Listen to more episodes, such as Can ESG investing really change the world?, How can I scale up my side hustle? and more. Links:https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/https://ftflic.com/Clip: BBCPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot on the heels of a UK Budget announcement that promised to boost the childcare offer for working families, host Claer Barrett marks International Women’s Day by speaking to a panel of experts about the true cost of childcare, and how investing in this “essential infrastructure” could boost the UK economy as well as helping to close the gender pay and gender pensions gap.On the panel are ‘Flex Appeal’ campaigner Anna Whitehouse, known to her social media audience as Mother Pukka, Joeli Brearley, childcare campaigner and founder of the charity ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’, and Maike Currie, who spearheads Hargreaves Lansdown’s ‘Financially Fearless’ female investing campaign. This episode is a recording of an event organised by FLIC, the FT’s financial literacy and inclusion campaign.For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseFor more on FLIC, see www.ftflic.com If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.Want more?Check out Claer’s column, What women want their financial future to look like.Listen to more episodes, such as Mind the gap! What women need to know about investing, Childcare in crisis and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered a £10bn tax-cutting Budget, promising to create a “new generation of investors” — but what does he actually have in store for our personal finances? Host Claer Barrett is joined by an expert panel to discuss tax changes coming in April, with higher-earning working parents set to see the biggest boost. Armed with direct guidance from HMRC, Miranda Green, the FT’s deputy opinion editor and Rafe Uddin, FT politics reporter, talk us through changes to child benefit, and whether plans for a new “UK Isa” and a retail offering of NatWest shares this summer will really boost the fortunes of London’s stock market — and of investors. They’re joined by Carl Emmerson, deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, who sets out what people on different salary bands can expect to see from the second cut to national insurance — plus what tax policies the opposition Labour party might be thinking up after Hunt shamelessly borrowed some of its biggest ideas. For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseIf you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.Want more?For a full guide to tax changes, read this FT Weekend piece: Will the Budget leave you better off? Listen to more episodes, such as Tax cuts: will they or won’t they?, When is a tax cut not a tax cut? The Autumn Statement digested and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investors are expecting artificial intelligence to power the next tech revolution - but are they right? Positive numbers from AI chipmaker Nvidia have powered a global stock market rally in recent weeks, with valuations of the so-called Magnificent Seven soaring as AI enters the mainstream. In this episode, Claer sits down with “AI maximalist” Ben Rogoff, lead fund manager of the £3.5bn Polar Capital Technology Trust. With more than 80 per cent of his fund’s underlying investments aimed at capturing future growth from AI, he explains what’s informing his investment strategy and responds to fears of a valuation bubble. He also shares with Money Clinic listeners why “odd” behaviour from tech leaders could be a sign that change is happening faster than markets think.For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseIf you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.Want more?Check out Claer’s column, Overheard in the newsroom: who will be this year’s Budget winners?Listen to more investor masterclasses, such as What’s in your global tracker fund?, Four ways to beat the market and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people know that you need a good credit score to be able to borrow money, but how to start building one is a mystery. First aired in June 2022, in this episode of Money Clinic, host and FT consumer editor Claer Barrett sits down with listener Emma, 22, who has never been in debt before, aside from her student loans. Emma has heard that getting a credit card could increase her chances of taking out a mortgage in the future, but before she applies for one, what does she need to consider? In this episode, Claer gives Emma’s credit score an MOT with help from Katie Watts, a consumer expert at moneysavingexpert.com, and debt adviser Sara Williams, who runs the Debt Camel blog. Together, they explain the hidden world of credit scores, credit files and tips on how to use credit responsibly, as well as offer tips on how to improve your credit score — and why this might be worth doing.For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseIf you would like to be a guest on a future episode of Money Clinic, email us at money@ft.com or send Claer a DM on social media — she’s @ClaerB on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.Want more?Check out Claer’s column, A dating app with credit scores: what’s not to love?Listen to more episodes, such as Credit scores: when a small debt becomes a big problem, Should I pay off my student loan early?, and more. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This bonus season, will the UK’s top earners invest their payouts tax-efficiently into pensions and Isas, or use them to pay down debts? In this episode, Money Clinic host Claer Barrett and FT communities editor Lucy Warwick-Ching discuss key findings from nearly 3,000 responses to the FT’s annual anonymous bonus survey. They are joined by Nimesh Shah, the tax expert and CEO of advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, and financial planner Adam Walkom, partner at Permanent Wealth Partners and author of Plan For Happy. Even if you’re not lucky enough to receive a bonus this year, learning what other FT readers plan to do with theirs provides some valuable – if enviable – financial insights. Read Claer and Lucy’s full breakdown of this year’s FT readers’ bonus survey, Pay out or doughnut? FT readers’ bonus secretsFor more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseFollow Claer on social media @Claerb and contact the Money Clinic team via money@ft.comWant more?Check out Claer’s column, A dating app with credit scores: what’s not to love?Listen to more episodes on bonuses and tax, such as Should I save, spend or invest my bonus?, When is a tax cut not a tax cut? The Autumn Statement digested, and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The viral ‘finfluencer’ Clare Seal, better known by her handle, My Frugal Year, to her almost 120,000 Instagram followers, is known for her compassionate approach to managing debt. Having cleared £27,000 of credit card debt, the author and financial coach sat down with host Claer Barrett to share practical tips on how to start repaying debt, manage the cost of parenthood and address feelings of shame surrounding indebtedness.If you need to speak to someone about your debts, please seek advice from free debt advice charities such as the National Debt Line and Step Change. This episode contains a mention of suicide. If you are in need of urgent mental health support, please contact your local emergency services or reach out to a mental health helpline, such as the Samaritans.For more tips on how to organise your money, sign up to Claer's email series 'Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett' at FT.com/moneycourseFollow Claer on social media @Claerb and contact the Money Clinic team via money@ft.comWant more?Check out Claer’s column, A dating app with credit scores: what’s not to love?Listen to more episodes on financial planning, such as How to Sort Your Financial Life Out in 2024, Credit Card Clinic: How to get on top of your debts in 2024, and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will taxes rise or fall in next month’s Spring Budget? Host Claer Barrett visits the recently appointed financial secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston. He addresses the topic of tax cuts as well as listener concerns about static personal allowance thresholds, reduced entitlements to child benefit and ISA withdrawal penalties. Back in the studio, FT’s Whitehall editor and Political Fix podcast host Lucy Fisher joins Claer to scratch beneath the surface of the minister’s comments on progressive tax policy in light of the IMF’s latest warning to chancellor Jeremy Hunt not to lower taxes. The two also discuss the national insurance reduction, the future of Lifetime ISAs and the importance of appealing to younger voters in the run-up to the election.Read the full news story here. For tips on how to organise your money, sign up to email series Sort Your Financial Life Out With Claer Barrett at FT.com/moneycourseFollow Claer on social media @Claerb and contact the Money Clinic team via money@ft.comWant more? Check out economics editor Sam Fleming’s article, IMF warns Jeremy Hunt against tax cuts in call to shore up UK public financesListen to more episodes on tax, such as When is a tax cut not a tax cut? The Autumn Statement digested, Understanding economics: why it matters for your money, and more.Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Tamara Kormornick and Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob has been invited to nine weddings this year and it’s playing havoc with his finances! How can wedding guests approach the subject of money when the costs of travel, accommodation, hen dos, stag dos and suits are all totting up? Presenter Claer Barrett is joined in the studio by Alice Tapper, founder of Go Fund Yourself, and Hamish Shepherd, chief executive of wedding planning app Bridebook. They explore the latest trends in wedding planning, and share stories of the lengths to which people have gone to attend, or get out of, a wedding.If you’d like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner and Simon Panayi, with original music from Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbie is a big spender and high earner, fast approaching the age of retirement. But after a long and varied career that has seen her build a portfolio of multiple dreamhouses and a low-commitment, long-distance relationship with casual boyfriend Ken, what financial advice should she be looking for? Presenter Claer Barrett is joined in the studio by wealth manager Christine Ross from Handelsbanken and FT personal finance columnist Moira O’Neill, who share their tips on everything from prenups to investing.Want more?Annuities look sexy again: should Barbie buy one at 64? If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.Clips: Warner BrosRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exchange traded funds or ETFs have been growing in popularity recently but as Money Clinic listener Saranya has found, there’s a bewildering array of different types of ETFs to choose from. Presenter Claer Barrett is joined in the studio by Dave Baxter, funds editor at the Investors’ Chronicle, and Lynn Hutchinson, head of ETF and index solutions at investment manager Charles Stanley. They unpick the many different types of ETFs, how to use them to build an investment portfolio and what to look out for in terms of fees.Want more?Top 50 ETFs 2023: The best ETFs to buyIf you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.This podcast has been corrected from an earlier version which gave the wrong calculation of an OCF charge.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you an insurance addict? Listener Joss thinks he might be and wants to know what type of insurance he really needs and whether he's getting the best possible deal. Presenter Claer Barrett speaks to Dean Dunham, who presents the Friday night ‘Consumer Hour’ show on LBC Radio, and Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, the magazine of the consumer campaign group. They share guidance on finding the right insurance cover for your needs, how to look out for overlapping policies and how to request compensation if you believe you have been missold insurance. Find more advice on picking the right insurance on the Which? website.Listen to Dean Dunham’s consumer show every Friday on LBC at 9pm.If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love and Laurence Knight. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Algy Hall has four strategies for seeking out stocks that will outperform the index, highlighted in his new book Four Ways to Beat the Market. They are: quality, value, income, and momentum. Each one homes in on a very different kind of company – from the undisputed champion to the comeback kid, and from the slow-but-steady to the on-a-roll. Presenter Claer Barrett gets Algy to explain the thinking behind each strategy. The two also reminisce about their time working together as financial journalists at the Investors' Chronicle, and Algy reveals his unusual polymathic side-gig.Find out more about Algy’s book Four Ways to Beat the Market hereYou can listen to the previous Investment Masterclass with Lord John Lee, which Claer mentions in this week’s episode, here.If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Laurence Knight and Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has just extended the deadline to April 2025 for people to top up their National Insurance contributions. For many people approaching retirement, especially women, it offers a fantastic opportunity for them to increase their state pension by thousands of pounds by paying in only a few extra hundred. As you can imagine, the demand is huge, and has jammed the government pensions hotline. Money Clinic host Claer Barrett speaks to Sir Steve Webb, the former pensions minister and now a partner at consultancy Lane Clark & Peacock. He fields questions from FT readers and listeners about who should apply (and who should not), how to apply, and what kind of a deal to expect.The episode features a clip from the Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.Want more?Deadline to plug UK state pension gap extended until April 2025Find out more about voluntary National Insurance contributionsSee your State Pension forecast and find any gaps in your National Insurance recordCheck your State Pension ageIf you live or plan to retire abroad, click here for the the UK’s International Pension CentreIf you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  Say hello on social media: you can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb, and Claer’s guest Sir Steve Webb is @stevewebb1Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Laurence Knight. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 13th interest rate rise in a row has piled on the pain for many homeowners. Money Clinic host Claer Barrett has assembled a team of experts to talk through the options for managing the hit on overstretched wallets. Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, Adrian Anderson of mortgage brokers Anderson and Harris, and the FT’s Chris Giles offer analysis, strategies and solutions. Want more?Banks must play fair as mortgage rates riseQ&A: What should I do about my mortgage?For details on the latest government support for mortgage holders see hereMentioned by Claer in the podcast: https://debtcamel.co.ukIf you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbPresented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Philippa Goodrich. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Simon Panayi, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a live debate in the UK over whether regulation of crypto trading should come under the scope of financial services or be treated like gambling. The FT’s digital assets correspondent Scott Chipolina and our producer Persis Love report from Castle Craig in Scotland, a rehab centre where people are being treated for crypto addiction. Plus presenter Claer Barrett and Scott Chipolina discuss what different regulation would mean for crypto investors.If you’ve been affected by a crypto or gambling addiction, reach out to GamCare for help.Want more?‘There needs to be a health warning’: How crypto trading can lead to addiction by Scott Chipolina and Oliver BarnesDon’t treat crypto like gambling – even if it’s largely pointless by Helen ThomasOur weekly Crypto newsletter, written by Scott, is designed to keep you informed and up to date on all the developments in this fast-moving space. This newsletter is for Premium subscribers, who can sign up here. To upgrade from Standard to Premium, click here.If you’d like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord John Lee of Trafford was the first person in the UK to reach £1mn invested in his stocks and shares ISA. He has a clear strategy based around choosing UK smallcap companies that pay dividends. He tells presenter Claer Barrett why this is his investment strategy and how he chooses stocks.Want more?My Isa has suffered - but I’m still a firm believer‘I’m 22 and I earn more than my parents’What should I do with my cash savings?Click here for tickets to the Investor's Chronicle Future of Private Investing event on Thursday June 15 where you can hear John Lee, Claer Barrett and many others talking about the big stories in the world of investing. If you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  Say hello on social media: you can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former asset manager Stuart Kirk writes about investing for FT Weekend in a column where he shares both his investment successes and failures with readers. He tells host Claer Barrett what he’s investing in now, how he chooses stocks, why he isn’t keen on funds that follow a particular theme and what he thinks needs to change in the world of ESG or sustainable investing.Want more?Being honest about my portfolio’s performance Active management is a sham — no wonder my returns are suspectSectors make sense for investors, not themesIf you would like to talk to Claer on a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.  Say hello on social media: You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @Claerb Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brooke Masters, the FT's US financial editor, speaks to Anne Ackerley, managing director of the Retirement Group at BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investment companies. Anne spends her days thinking about how to make good retirement plans accessible to more people. Lately, that has included focusing on one particular problem: the differences between men and women when it comes to retirement planning. Anne tells Brooke about the challenges faced not just by women but also gig economy workers and others who have non-standard employment patterns.If you would like to talk to the FT’s consumer editor Claer Barrett about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. You can follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerbFollow Brooke Masters on Twitter @brookeamastersPresented by Brooke Masters. Produced by Zach St Louis. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With inflation running higher than the interest rates provided by most banks, cash accounts can rapidly lose value. What does that mean for emergency savings funds? Brooke Masters, the FT’s US financial editor, speaks to investing columnist Moira O'Neill, and Georgia Lee Hussey, founder of wealth management company Modernist Financial, about how much savings to have in cash and where to keep it - both in the UK and the US.Want more?Keep up with the latest from Brooke on FT.com and follow her on Twitter @brookeamastershttps://www.ft.com/brooke-masters?segmentId=09d1c097-c0ef-7dd1-2d95-bfc6eb43e74eCheck out Moira’a latest column herehttps://www.ft.com/content/e04ddbf1-bf9c-490c-94ac-657743d55c25?segmentId=09d1c097-c0ef-7dd1-2d95-bfc6eb43e74eFor more from Georgia, check out the Modernist Financial websiteIf you’d like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at money@ft.com with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help. Presented by Claer Barrett. Produced by Persis Love. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design is by Jake Fielding and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.