Many Happy Returns

Stock markets tend to go up over time — but every so often, they fall off a cliff. Some crashes are brief and recover quickly, while others shake the financial world to its core. But what can we learn from the scariest days in stock market history? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is a circuit breaker? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. --- Try PensionCraft's Premium Membership and get 75% off your first month. Simply use coupon code SAVE75 before July 1st, 2025. Gain access to premium content, and remember, you can cancel anytime and still retain access to our Beginner's bundle of courses. pensioncraft.com/investor-education/membership ---Get in touch

Beating the benchmark is the holy grail of active management — but it's notoriously difficult and rare. Still, against the odds, a handful of portfolio managers do outperform the index, even if only fleetingly. We explore the tactics funds use to gain an edge. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the ‘Information Ratio'? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. --- Try PensionCraft's Premium Membership and get 75% off your first month. Simply use coupon code SAVE75 before July 1st, 2025. Gain access to premium content, and remember, you can cancel anytime and still retain access to our Beginner's bundle of courses. pensioncraft.com/investor-education/membership ---Get in touch

The US is gearing up to turn a trade war into a capital war. Trump's signature fiscal bill proposes retaliatory levies on investors from countries the US deems to have “unfair” tax regimes. But what exactly counts as an “unfair” tax? How likely is this to become law? And what could it mean for investors holding US assets or doing business in America? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is capital flight? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Big changes could be coming to ISAs — the tax-free savings wrapper used by 22 million Brits. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a major review of the ISA market, aiming to nudge savers away from cash and into stocks and shares. Could we soon see a cap on cash ISAs? And if so, how might that reshape the way millions of us save and invest? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the ‘cost of capital'? --- Thanks to Raisin UK for supporting this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use platform where you can access savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies — all in one place. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft --- Try PensionCraft's Premium Membership and get 75% off your first month. Simply use coupon code SAVE75 before July 1st, 2025. Gain access to premium content, and remember, you can cancel anytime and still retain access to our Beginner's bundle of courses. pensioncraft.com/investor-education/membership ---Get in touch

We all like to think we can handle a little risk – until the market drops 20% and we're refreshing our portfolio every ten minutes. Understanding your true risk tolerance is one of the most important – and most overlooked – parts of building an investment plan. But what exactly is risk tolerance? Can it be measured? And how should it shape the way you invest? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Should I wait until I've educated myself fully before investing? --- Thanks to Raisin UK for supporting this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use platform where you can access savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies — all in one place. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Diversification is famously the only free lunch in investing. But when asset correlations shift, that meal might come with an unexpected bill. Economic cycles, inflation surprises, and market crises can all rewrite the rules when you least expect it. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Can adding an asset with negative expected returns ever be good for your portfolio? --- Thanks to Raisin UK for supporting this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use platform where you can access savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies — all in one place. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

After six decades at the helm, Warren Buffett has announced he'll step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway later this year. But as the Oracle of Omaha prepares to hand over the reins, can Berkshire thrive without him? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Why aren't there more investors like Warren Buffett? --- Thanks to Raisin UK for supporting this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use platform where you can access savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies — all in one place. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Trump's return to the White House is already reshaping the global order — sending shockwaves through financial markets. Asset prices have tumbled, correlations have fractured, and investors are reassessing risk itself. We're joined by Katie Martin from the Financial Times to help us make sense of the turmoil. Katie writes The Long View column and co-hosts the FT's Unhedged podcast. --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

It's April—ISA season is here. But what should you buy? Should you stick with a classic index fund, or is there a case for doing something different this year? And if you're tempted to have a little fun with your investments, how much is too much? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What's the point of a ‘fun' portfolio if it's not going to beat the market? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

America's economic dynamism, deep capital markets, and stellar equity returns have long made it the top destination for capital. But with US stocks, Treasuries, and the dollar all sliding together, cracks are appearing in the image of American exceptionalism. Could mounting chaos really lead investors to turn away from Uncle Sam?And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Why would you ever buy another country's bonds? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Global stock markets have plunged, wiping out nearly $10 trillion in market value. As the fallout from Trump's tariff bombshell spreads, investors are left to wonder: How much worse could the selloff get? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the Fed Put, and is it dead? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

National debt figures are staggering, running to trillions of pounds in the UK and tens of trillions of dollars in the US. Headlines warn of unsustainable paths and ticking time bombs under our economies. But is government debt really out of control? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is government debt just like household debt, only much bigger? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

The UK tax year is about to end, and most people know about ISAs and pensions. But how much could you really invest tax-free if you made full use of every allowance? From Junior ISAs and SIPPs to dividend and capital gains allowances, we crunch the numbers to find out how much a typical family can shield from the taxman. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What would the ISA allowance be today if it had kept pace with inflation? --- Thank you to Lightyear for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a new account on Lightyear and receive $10 worth of a US fractional share when you use this link: https://lightyear.com/pensioncraft or enter our special code PENSIONCRAFT manually in the Promotions section. Code conditions: Complete onboarding and fund at least £50 into your General Investment Account after entering the code. The code can only be used if you haven't redeemed any code before. Once all conditions are met, you will be granted $10 worth of a US fractional share of your choice. Capital at risk. Provider of the investment services is Lightyear U.K. Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: https://lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary. This is not investment advice. ---Get in touch

The S&P 500 entered a correction last week, dragged down by Big Tech. But not all sectors are struggling. From booming defence manufacturers to resilient miners and banks—some corners of the market are defying the gloom. We look at which countries, industries and themes are thriving in 2025. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Are market corrections healthy? --- Thank you to Lightyear for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a new account on Lightyear and receive $10 worth of a US fractional share when you use this link: https://lightyear.com/pensioncraft or enter our special code PENSIONCRAFT manually in the Promotions section. Code conditions: Complete onboarding and fund at least £50 into your General Investment Account after entering the code. The code can only be used if you haven't redeemed any code before. Once all conditions are met, you will be granted $10 worth of a US fractional share of your choice. Capital at risk. Provider of the investment services is Lightyear U.K. Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: https://lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary. This is not investment advice. ---Get in touch

The world order is being shaken to its core. Old alliances are fracturing, trade wars are escalating, the US economy is faltering, and Europe is rapidly rearming. With markets in turmoil, how can we invest amid unprecedented uncertainty? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the ‘Mar-a-Lago accord'? --- Thank you to Lightyear for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a new account on Lightyear and receive $10 worth of a US fractional share when you use this link: https://lightyear.com/pensioncraft or enter our special code PENSIONCRAFT manually in the Promotions section. Code conditions: Complete onboarding and fund at least £50 into your General Investment Account after entering the code. The code can only be used if you haven't redeemed any code before. Once all conditions are met, you will be granted $10 worth of a US fractional share of your choice. Capital at risk. Provider of the investment services is Lightyear U.K. Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: https://lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary. This is not investment advice. ---Get in touch

Growing your wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. But it's important to celebrate milestones you reach along the way. Let's raise a glass to shedding debt, investing wisely, and securing your financial future. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is all debt bad? --- Thank you to Lightyear for sponsoring this episode. Sign up for a new account on Lightyear and receive $10 worth of a US fractional share when you use this link: https://lightyear.com/pensioncraft or enter our special code PENSIONCRAFT manually in the Promotions section. Code conditions: Complete onboarding and fund at least £50 into your General Investment Account after entering the code. The code can only be used if you haven't redeemed any code before. Once all conditions are met, you will be granted $10 worth of a US fractional share of your choice. Capital at risk. Provider of the investment services is Lightyear U.K. Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: https://lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary. This is not investment advice. ---Get in touch

When a big investor decides to sell, markets can move sharply. And some assets are particularly vulnerable, with ownership concentrated among a few large holders. What happens when the biggest whales dump their stocks, bonds or gold? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: How does a stock exchange set a price if there's a buyer for every seller? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Financial markets are awash with timeless wisdom, dubious anecdotes, and questionable ‘rules of thumb'. But how do we separate fact from fiction? We put 10 famous investing adages to the test. And in the Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: Why are investors described as Bulls and Bears? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Leverage is a double-edged sword that amplifies both gains and losses. But even if you haven't borrowed to invest, hidden leverage may still lurk below the surface of your portfolio. From gearing to derivatives to fragile operating models, we discuss the unseen risks of our investments. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Can leverage ever be used to reduce risk? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Donald Trump's trade war has begun! Or has it? Markets breathed a sigh of relief as sweeping tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods were suspended at the 11th hour. But with tariffs on China now in force—and Beijing hitting back—will the reprieve be short-lived? And in the Dumb Question of the Week: How do you measure the strength of a currency? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Markets are unruly beasts, swayed by shifting narratives, sudden rumours, and ever-changing expectations. But a handful of all-important stories will shape investor returns throughout 2025. From interest rates to trade policy to AI, ​​we explore what's capturing the market's attention — and why it matters. And in the Dumb Question of the Week: Can bad news be good news? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link: raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Credit Suisse's collapse shook the global financial system, forcing regulators into a frantic search for solutions. We're joined by Duncan Mavin, author of the new book ‘Meltdown: Scandal, Sleaze and the Collapse of Credit Suisse' to discuss the downfall of a banking giant. And in the Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: How do you stop a bank run? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link: raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Gilt yields are surging, straining government finances and raising fears of tax rises or spending cuts. But is this a UK-specific problem? And will the Bank of England be forced to respond? We're joined by Simon French, Chief Economist and Head of Research at investment bank Panmure Liberum. Simon writes on economics for The Times and previously worked in senior government roles at the UK cabinet office. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: Why does the government need fiscal rules? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link: raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Since the sweeping reforms of the 1980s, China's rapid industrialisation and extraordinary growth have transformed it into a true global power. But the engine of China's economic miracle is starting to sputter. Sluggish demand, mounting debt, and unfavourable demographics suggest trouble ahead. We're joined by George Magnus, a leading China expert who has written extensively on the risks facing the world's second-largest economy.And in the Dumb Question of the Week: Can we trust China's economic statistics? ---Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, for a limited time only, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please visit the link: raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Investor sentiment is more bullish than ever, with a record share of Americans expecting the S&P 500 to rise in 2025. Is this the peak of euphoria? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What's the difference between hard and soft data? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Compared to developed countries, emerging markets have rarely looked cheaper. With valuations, economic growth, and demographic trends in their favour, is now the time to invest? Or could climate change, protectionism and debt hold them back? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is South Korea an emerging market? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Germany is one of few Western countries to remain truly industrialised, boasting a massive manufacturing base and trade surplus. And yet, things have gone off the rails, with the economy contracting and the governing coalition collapsing. We're joined by Wolfgang Münchau, whose new book argues we are witnessing the end of the German economic miracle. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: Why don't Germans invest in the stock market? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: Sponsored Link. Terms apply - trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Sensationalist headlines often lead to poor investment decisions, causing many investors to fixate on issues that have little impact on long-term returns. So, where should investors really focus their attention? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Should you invest if you're very nervous? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please go to raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Political risk is one of the most unquantifiable aspects of investing — and one of the most consequential. Shifts in regulation, tax and trade policies can shake economies and upend asset prices. Our guest today is economist Larry Hatheway, who argues that markets vastly underestimate the dangers of a second Trump presidency. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: Are trade deficits a problem? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please go to raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

How should you invest when everything is expensive? Stock market valuations are stretched, gold is up 40% on a year ago, and bitcoin has hit an all-time high. With some analysts forecasting a ‘lost decade' for US stocks, is it time to look elsewhere? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Why is Warren Buffett holding so much cash? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please go to raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Gilt yields rose after the Autumn budget as markets absorbed sharp rises in investment, taxes and borrowing. Does Liz Truss's mini-budget still haunt UK debt markets? And is there a risk that investors will shun UK debt? In today's Dumb Question of the Week: Does public investment ‘crowd out' or ‘crowd in' private sector activity? --- Thank you to Raisin UK for sponsoring this episode. Raisin UK is a free, easy-to-use online savings platform, with savings accounts from over 40 FSCS-protected banks and building societies. Simply register, apply to open as many accounts as you like, and manage everything with a single login. Elevate your savings game today. What's more, you can receive a £100 bonus when you register and fund your first savings account with a minimum of £10,000 using the code "SAVINGS100". For more details, please go to raisin.co.uk/pensioncraft ---Get in touch

Investing is an uncertain journey, where chance, risk, and luck are constant companions. But can understanding probability help us live with the unknown? We're joined by Sir David Spiegelhalter, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the University of Cambridge and author of 'The Art of Uncertainty: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk, and Luck'. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week, we ask: ‘Would you want to know when you will die?' --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

The US Presidential election is less than two weeks away, and the result hangs in the balance. While markets appear calm, a second Trump term could have profound effects on global economies and investments. We discuss how the so-called 'Trump Trade' might impact different assets and sectors. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is a strong or weak dollar better? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Investing, at its core, is about postponing consumption in the belief that time is your friend. Yet time has powerful effects on all aspects of markets, magnifying returns, blunting volatility, and warping the very value of money itself. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Why can't we time the market? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Despite record tax revenues, Britain's public services are struggling. So what's gone wrong and how do we fix it? We sit down with Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and author of Follow the Money, to unpick the issues behind Britain's stagnation. We explore the structural challenges facing the UK economy, strategies to revive growth, and which taxes might rise in the upcoming budget. --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

China's economic boom has slowed as debt, deflation, and demographics weigh on the economy. Beijing belatedly announced a massive stimulus package, cutting interest rates and funnelling money into the stock market. But will it be enough to turn around the world's second biggest economy? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What's the difference between fiscal and monetary policy? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Europe has suffered relative decline in recent decades, beset by sluggish economic growth, ageing populations, and stagnant wages. Meanwhile, the success of US Big Tech firms has seen America come to dominate global markets. We dig into a new report from the European Union to see if it offers a way to get Europe growing again. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is “productivity”? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Sometimes you need a safe place to stash your cash. Savings accounts, bonds and money market funds are all options but how can you maximise returns? And should you ‘lock in a rate'? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What's wrong with Premium Bonds? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Creating a financial plan for your future requires estimating numerous unknown variables. How fast will your investments grow? How much will inflation erode your savings? Will taxes increase? We discuss the most important risks to consider and how to build a reliable plan in an uncertain world. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Will care costs ruin the plan? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Mean reversion is one of the most powerful forces in financial markets. When returns, valuation or concentration rise to extreme levels, it's usually only a matter of time before they come back into line with history. We discuss which aspects of markets are subject to mean reversion, and how long we might have to wait. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: If you love mean reversion so much, why do you hate technical analysis? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Asset bubbles are an occasional, inevitable, and sometimes devastating feature of financial markets, making and breaking fortunes along the way. But what is the greatest bubble of all time? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Are markets rational? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Nine out of ten people are invested in their employer's default pension strategy. However, a hands-off approach might not suit your personal circumstances, goals, or risk appetite. So, what should you consider before switching your pension? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is it worth filling gaps in your National Insurance record? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Volatility comes with the territory when owning risky assets, yet investors still seek ways to hedge against it—or even profit from it. So, how can you capitalise on market turbulence, and is it worth the effort? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What is the MOVE index? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Stock markets have been pummelled in recent days — is this is a flash crash or the start of something bigger? And why has fear spread so suddenly? We look at the potential culprits, including weak economic data, central bank surprises, and sky high valuations. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Should you buy the dip? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" within 10 days of signing up, or use the following link: trading212.com/join/RAMIN When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions. Free shares can be fractional. Terms and fees apply. ---Get in touch

Copper is integral to the global economy, and its importance will only increase as the world decarbonises its energy infrastructure. Bulls have long argued that supply will fail to keep up with rising demand, driving copper prices higher. So why have prices slumped in recent months? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Who is ‘Doctor Copper'? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

A botched software update hobbled IT systems around the world, grounding planes and taking TV stations off-air. But it's not just computer systems that can crash and burn from an innocuous mistake — welcome to the ‘single point of failure'. We discuss underappreciated risks that could devastate your personal finances. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Is any investment completely safe? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Last week saw a massive shift in markets, with unloved sectors and smaller stocks outperforming the mega-caps by a record amount. Is Big Tech's dominance drawing to a close? And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Are small-cap funds forced to sell their winners? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

After prices peaked two years ago, higher mortgage costs have caused the market to stall. But with rate cuts on the horizon, is normal service about to be resumed? We discuss how the change of government will affect the housing market. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Does building more houses really lower prices? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

Diversification is the only free lunch in investing, yet many investors choose to overweight their domestic stock market. While the UK makes up a mere 4% of global markets, off-the-shelf portfolios often include shockingly large allocations to British firms. We discuss whether home country bias is a problem or if there are good reasons to favour domestic stocks. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What are safe-haven currencies? --- Thank you to Saxo for sponsoring this episode. Sign up to claim GBP 200 back in online trading fees when you open an account with Saxo today via: PensionCraft | Saxo (home.saxo) Capital at risk. T&C's apply. ---Get in touch

We're halfway through the year, and it's time to take stock. The AI narrative continues to power the equity bull market. Central banks have started to cut interest rates. And the US Presidential election looms large. We debate if things are as good as they look and what risks lie ahead for the second half of 2024. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: What isn't priced in? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" or via trading212.com/join/ramin When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Other fees may apply. Interest applies on the uninvested cash in your account. Free shares can be fractional. Terms apply. ---Get in touch

Labour is 20 points ahead in the polls and looks set to form the next UK government. But how will their economic, tax and spending plans impact investors? We look at the promises included in Labour's manifesto and what was left unsaid. And in today's Dumb Question of the Week: Why are capital gains taxed at a lower rate than income? --- Thank you to Trading 212 for sponsoring this episode. Claim free fractional shares worth up to ‎£⁠100. Just create and verify a Trading 212 account, make a minimum deposit of £1, and use the promo code "RAMIN" or via trading212.com/join/ramin When investing, your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Other fees may apply. Interest applies on the uninvested cash in your account. Free shares can be fractional. Terms apply. ---Get in touch