AJ Bell Money & Markets

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Sarah Coles and Dan Coatsworth look at the growing problem of lost pension pots and explain how to track down forgotten retirement savings. We also discuss the billions of pounds sitting in unclaimed Premium Bonds, and Child Trust Funds gathering dust. Importantly, Sarah explains ways to check whether some of that money belongs to you. 

The team reveal six tax tips that could save people up to £8,500 ahead of the Budget and discuss what Chancellor John Healey might have in store for investors, savers and taxpayers. From pension tax breaks and income tax thresholds to ISAs, stamp duty and the state pension tax dilemma, Sarah and Dan run through the key areas to watch. 

You can hear from interview with Sonia Bainbridge from Invesco on what it will take to get more people investing. The pod also discusses another week of cyber-attacks, an IMF inflation warning, AI stock weakness. James Flintoft reveals the AJ Bell investment team’s view on the recent bond market selloff. 

Finally, hear about activist pressure at Whitbread, unusually low CEO turnover among FTSE 100 companies, and an important court case involving a romance scam.

Time stamps:  
[01:10] Lost pension pots, unclaimed Premium Bonds and forgotten Child Trust Funds 
[09:21] Six tax tips that could save people up to £8,500 
[15:24] Autumn Budget preview: what could change for your money? 
[30:10] Sonia Bainbridge from Invesco on how to get more people investing 
[42:31] Cyber-attacks, inflation risks and AJ Bell’s James Flintoft on bond market volatility 
[58:33] AI stock wobble 
[01:01:03] Premier Inn owner Whitbread targeted by activist investor 
[01:03:16] Where’s all the CEO changes among FTSE 100 companies? 
[01:05:30] Romance scam

ASOS has been hit by a damaging cyberattack, reviving concerns about the threat facing UK retailers after incidents at Co-op and Marks & Spencer. This episode examines what happened, how ASOS could be affected and what might come next. We also explain why five-year fixed mortgage rates have reached 6% and what worried borrowers can do. Plus, we explore takeover talk involving Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, BT’s acquisition of TalkTalk, Jaguar’s electric vehicle rethink, record highs for the S&P 500, moves in oil and bond markets, SpaceX’s AI chip plans and the buzz around Meta’s Muse AI model.

We also talk to fund manager David Harrison from Rathbones about whether investors who rank sustainability highly can ever back AI companies given the water and energy usage involved.

Timestamps 

[01:51] Oil prices, bond yields, a record high for the S&P 500 and SpaceX’s AI chip plans 

[03:57] Meta’s Muse AI model, the buzz around it and the risks for the wider business 

[09:01] Paramount and Warner Bros, BT’s takeover of TalkTalk and competition concerns 

[14:55] Why a possible Sainsbury’s and Morrisons deal has revived talk of UK supermarket mergers 

[18:11] The ASOS cyberattack and comparisons with Co-op and Marks & Spencer 

[23:00] Five-year fixed mortgage rates hit 6% and what borrowers can do 

[25:56] The headline announcements from the Conservative Party conference 

[29:51] Eve Maddock-Jones speaks to David Harrison from Rathbones on AI and sustainability

[39:14] Jaguar’s electric vehicle rethink and the challenges facing carmakers’ EV strategies

Anthropic IPO investors are beginning to assess one of the most talked-about artificial intelligence companies in the world.

In this week's Money & Markets podcast, Charlene Young, Sarah Coles and Tom Sieber discuss reports surrounding the potential Anthropic IPO, including the company's rapid growth, its Claude AI platform, valuation questions and the opportunities and risks facing investors. Featuring insights from Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh, the team explores whether Anthropic could become one of the biggest technology listings in recent years.

The episode also covers:

Help to Buy reforms and what they mean for UK housebuilders

Stock market reaction to Labour conference announcements

Proposed changes to the state pension triple lock

Social care funding and retirement planning implications

How giving up smoking and alcohol could significantly boost long-term savings and pension wealth

Chapters

Intro [00:00]

AI latest [01:22]

Mandeep Singh, Bloomberg Intelligence on Anthropic [06:56]

Burnham bounce for housebuilders [21:10]

GB grid announcement and water companies in focus [26:27]

Social care and pension triple lock [31:52]

Stoptober and sober October – how much you could save [41:54]

Are the warning lights flashing for a new cost of living crisis? In this week's AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Sarah Coles and Dan Coatsworth examine the biggest threats facing household finances, from rising oil prices and inflation to mortgage costs and Budget tax rumours.

They explain the key signals everyone should be watching, explore the winners and losers from changing consumer spending habits, and discuss what potential tax changes could mean for investors.

Plus: the Hyrox fitness boom, supermarket wars, capital gains tax (CGT) speculation, and a surprising ISA trend that could leave many families exposed later in life.

Subscribe for weekly insights on investing, markets, pensions, tax and personal finance. The podcast that gives you practical tips and valuable insight.

01:41 Are we heading for a new cost of living crisis?

03:32 The key indicators to watch: inflation, wages and energy bills, and where we stand now

13:39 Hyrox: Dan talks to Ruby Bollington on the fitness craze attracting big-money investors

22:34 Retail sales, M&S on trend, and how supermarkets are fighting for customers

31:20 A different way to invest in the weekly food shop: Interview with Supermarket Income REIT boss Rob Abraham

41:16 Budget rumours: property taxes, holiday lets and CGT changes

49:29 The biggest Budget fears among UK households

52:43 The ISA trend that could put family finances at risk

This week on the AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast, Dan Coatsworth and Sarah Coles discuss the growing debate around artificial intelligence, including warnings from industry leaders that AI could pose serious risks to humanity, and what that means for investors. Tech journalist Will Guyatt joins the show to talk about using AI to find investing information.

Dan and Sarah explore rising inflation, soaring oil prices, bond market volatility, and the outlook for interest rates. Plus, they look at the latest state pension increase forecasts, new ISA savings data, and the persistent gender pension gap.

Elsewhere, listeners share their approaches to saving for university costs, and Sarah explains why divorce enquiries often spike after the summer holidays, and the financial steps people can take to protect themselves.

Timestamps:

[00:09] Introduction and what's coming up
[01:48] AI warnings: Could AI become a threat to humanity?
[07:54] Can AI help investors? Interview with tech journalist Will Guyatt
[22:11] Markets update: Oil prices, bond sell-off and inflation concerns
[23:58] UK inflation rises to 3.1%: What's driving prices higher?
[27:38] Listener insights: Saving and investing for university costs
[39:48] Why divorce enquiries spike after the summer holidays
[44:49] State pension forecast: Triple lock points to a 3.9% increase
[48:47] ISA data: More people investing for the long term
[51:46] Gender pension gap: Why women retire with significantly less pension wealth
[54:01] Practical ways to boost pension savings during career breaks and part-time work
[55:58] Closing thoughts and preview of next week's episode