Merryn Talks Money

Hosted by Bloomberg

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Episodes

358

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Merryn Talks Money with Bloomberg senior columnist Merryn Somerset Webb is your key to understanding how markets work – and how you can make them work for you. Every episode features a relaxed but in-depth conversation with a fund manager, a strategist, a Bloomberg expert or just someone Merryn finds particularly interesting in any given week. Listen in for the kind of insights and explanations everyone can use to help them make better saving and investing choices.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202638 min

This Hated Corner of the Stock Market Is Yielding Big Returns

Laurence Hulse, founder and lead fund manager of Onward Opportunities, explains how he launched and grew a specialist UK small-cap investment trust despite one of the toughest environments in decades for both investment trusts and British equities. He shares his "gems among the rubble" approach to uncovering overlooked companies, discusses why UK small caps remain deeply undervalued and reveals how active engagement, artificial intelligence-powered research tools and intensive company analysis have helped his fund significantly outperform its peers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 12, 202615 min

Are Public Markets Back?

On this week's Merryn Talks Money markets wrap, Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss gold's recent correction and debate what healthy allocation could actually look like. They also consider what upcoming bumper IPOs mean for the return of public markets and whether inheritance tax free "patriotic bonds" could help Britain fund its defence budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 10, 202625 min

The Rich Are Getting Richer: What Do They Want From Wealth Managers?

Who became wealthier in 2025 and what do they want from their financial advisor? Merryn Somerset Webb sits down with Capgemini's Gareth Wilson to discuss the latest World Wealth Report, the rise of robo-advisors and family offices and why traditional wealth management firms are facing growing competition. They also debate the question: Do investors want empathy from their wealth manager or simply better returns?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 9, 202617 min

SpaceX Emergency Podcast: FOMO is Not an Investment Strategy

On this special episode of the Merryn Talks Money markets wrap, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the SpaceX IPO. How can UK investors get access? Do the numbers add up? Why will it make life more complicated for passive investors? And what are the implications for the long queue of AI IPOs still to come, and for wider markets?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 8, 202632 min

Why Democracy Needs the Rich: John O. McGinnis on Wealth, Power and Pluralism

At a time when politicians across the West are calling for higher taxes on the wealthy, legal scholar and author John O. McGinnis offers a strikingly different view: what if democracy needs the rich? He joins Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss power, inequality, free speech and what he says is the hidden role wealth plays in keeping democratic societies healthy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 5, 202622 min

SpaceX Fever, Bitcoin's Bad Week and How to Get the UK Investing

On this week's markets wrap, John Stepek and Sam Unsted, editor of the Markets Today blog, explore the implications of SpaceX’s anticipated $75 billion IPO, debating whether its massive size could reshape market structure, passive investing, and investor appetite for AI-related assets. They also highlight Bitcoin’s sharp decline this year and the UK’s long-running challenge of encouraging retail investors to move cash savings into investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 3, 202624 min

Inheritance Tax Is Catching More People — Here's How to Fight Back

Inheritance tax is catching more families than ever, and recent rule changes will only extend the net even further. In this episode, hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek discuss the most effective ways to reduce an IHT bill with inheritance tax specialist Rob May, including a detailed look at the types of insurance available, and how much they're likely to cost you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 1, 202632 min

Why Africa’s Population Boom Could Power Its Next Growth Era

Could Africa’s long-misunderstood population boom become its greatest economic advantage? Economist and author Joe Studwell joins host Merryn Somerset Webb to discuss his book, How Africa Works: Success and Failure on the World's Last Developmental Frontier. He argues that rising population density is already transforming the continent by creating deeper markets, boosting agricultural productivity, supporting urbanization and making manufacturing more viable. While governance, debt and commodity dependence remain risks, he sees a more diverse, locally driven growth story emerging across Africa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 29, 202631 min

Blair Versus Starmer - Can the Government Get Out of Britain's Way?

How can Keir Starmer - or whoever leads the country next - help to turn the UK’s fortunes around? Simon French, Managing Director, Chief Economist and Head of Research at Panmure Liberum joins co-host John Stepek to discuss former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s 5000-word prescription for the UK economy, the growing backlash towards Net-Zero policies and why the UK is at risk of sliding towards another “Liz Truss Moment”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 27, 20269 min

What's the Smartest Way to Save in 2026?

Hosts Merryn Somerset Webb and John Stepek take another listener question, this time around the pros and cons of ISAs, LISAs, and SIPPs. They debate the most tax-efficient method of saving depending on one's circumstances and why savers need to be aware of the withdrawal rules to avoid any nasty surprises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.