Podcast: Many Happy Returns

The Fear of Missing Out tempts us all. Amid fast-moving markets and 24-hour news, FOMO can be an investor’s worst enemy, derailing decision-making and undermining long-term goals. We discuss the strategies that help us stick to the plan. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: When is the right time to sell an investment?...

What do you get if you combine the world’s most important financial market, hedge funds, enormous leverage, and doom loop dynamics? Welcome to the Treasury ‘basis trade’. We discuss the risks that lurk behind the Treasury market and why regulators are sounding the alarm. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: What is the...

Over decades, index funds have delivered superior returns and surged in popularity. But some claim the rise of passive investing has come at the cost of less competitive markets and inflated prices for consumers. We look at the evidence that common stock ownership might harm economic efficiency. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week:...

The “Magnificent Seven” stocks have reigned supreme this year, accounting for almost all of the S&P 500’s returns. But what if these titans of tech begin to stumble? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: How long do companies last? Thanks to IG for sponsoring this episode. Find out more about IG Smart Portfolios...

Ever feel like investing in something unusual? From unlisted shares to commercial property to infrastructure, Investment Trusts could be your answer. Performance has waned of late, and many are available at chunky discounts. Is now the time to buy in? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: What is a “Long Term Asset Fund”?...

For decades, people have seen rental property as their ticket to financial freedom. But regulatory changes and rising interest rates have squeezed yields, leaving investors to wonder: Is the buy-to-let dream dead? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Does property outperform the stock market over the long-term? Thanks to IG for sponsoring this...

Government bonds are considered the world’s safest asset, setting the “risk-free rate” against which all other investments are judged. But with rising national debts and dwindling credit ratings, are they really above question? We discuss the implications for investors if government bonds are actually at risk of default. And in today’s Dumb Question of the...

Is Vanguard still the king of passive investing? Vanguard pioneered passive index funds, driving down fees and maximising returns for ordinary investors. But with the rise of innovative new brokers in the UK, has Vanguard lost its mojo? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Is one fund really enough? {{many-happy-returns-links}} {{pensioncraft-links}} {{disclaimer}} {{d-show-copyright}}

Smaller companies look much better value than the giants of the S&P 500. Yet despite attractive prices, small cap indices continue to get cheaper, further widening the gap. Is bigger really better? We look at what’s holding small caps back and if they are about to gain momentum. And in today’s Dumb Question of the...

Last week, an unexpected cooling of inflation allowed the Bank of England to leave interest rates unchanged. But with CPI still running more than three times above its target, has the Bank wimped out before the battle is won? And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: Instead of hiking interest rates to fight inflation,...

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published revised GDP figures, upending the post-pandemic economic narrative. It turns out that Britain’s economy recovered much quicker than previously thought and is no longer an international outlier. So how did the ONS find a load of economic output down the back of the sofa? And in today’s Dumb...

You don’t get to invest with the benefit of hindsight. Mistakes are made, and you have to live with them. But it begs the question: if you could travel back in time, what investing advice would you give your 21-year-old self? Would you champion index funds? Warn about risk? Or maybe suggest just getting started?...

In the early 2000s, the BRICS nations were the pick of emerging markets: vast, rapidly growing economies that promised stellar long-term returns. But it hasn’t played out like that. At least, not yet. Just last week, BRICS expanded its fold with six new members. But does the alliance actually make a difference? And in today’s...

During my 15 years in investment banking, I witnessed the brilliance of analysts, the buzz of the trading floor, and the chaos of the financial crisis. Today, we draw back the curtain on the world of high finance. And in today’s Dumb Question of the Week: What are “systemically important banks”? {{many-happy-returns-links}} {{pensioncraft-links}} {{disclaimer}} {{d-show-copyright}}