Raising The Curve

Soph is back with property guru, Peter West to break down the story behind her second investment property, and how she managed to buy it without putting down a brand-new deposit. In this episode, they walk through what actually happened after the first renovation: how the house was revalued, how equity can be released through refinancing, and how that money can be used to help fund the next property. They also unpack key concepts like gross yield, cash flow, and why buying well in the first place makes such a big difference to the outcome of a project. Along the way, Soph shares what surprised her most about going again so quickly, why the second renovation was a little more complicated than the first, and how the numbers ended up stacking up in the end. Peter also explains how they evaluate locations, what they look for in a property with renovation potential, and why buying in the right market at the right time can create opportunities to repeat the process again. If you've ever wondered how investors climb the property ladder, how equity actually works in practice, or what it takes to turn one property into two, this episode breaks down the process step by step.Interested in working with Peter? If you'd like to explore investing in property with Pete's help, email us at hello@thecurveplatform.com and our team will point you in the right direction.Watch the first episode with Peter WestWatch part two of the conversationWe've partnered with BNZ because buying a home isn't the same for everyone. Their Home Loan Partners can help you understand your options, including the TotalMoney home loan – which lets you use money in connected BNZ TotalMoney transactional accounts (parents can even link their own TotalMoney accounts to their children's loan) to offset your mortgage and help you get mortgage free faster, while still keeping your money accessible. Whether you've got extra help or you're going it alone, BNZ's team is there to guide you from search to settlement. 

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This week, we get stuck right into a gloriously chaotic mix of finance news and media gossip, starting with the very juicy on-air fallout that may have blown up a $200 million radio deal. They also unpack what the latest conflict in the Middle East could mean for oil prices, inflation and the stock market, give the final update in the Warner Bros-Netflix-Paramount saga, and look at whether working from home could actually help solve the fertility crisis. Plus, Berkshire Hathaway drops its first annual update without Warren Buffett at the helm, Soph celebrates her Netflix gains like she's the Wolf of Wall Street, and we round out with a brilliant community question on starting a business that reminds us that building wealth isn't just about what you invest in, but what you're brave enough to start.WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:S&P 500 – The 500 biggest companies in the US stock market.Passive Investing – Investing in funds that track the market automatically.Conglomerate – A massive company that owns lots of different businesses.Share Price – The cost of buying one slice of a company.Shareholder – Someone who owns shares in a company.Cash Reserves – Money a company keeps ready to invest later.Long-Term Investing – Holding investments for years, not days.Core–Satellite Investing – Safe investments at the centre, riskier bets on the side.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline

You've been asking for it… our annual predictions episode is FINALLY HERE! We're revisiting the calls we made for 2025, including one that genuinely made us feel like stock market geniuses, and a few that should've come with a “do not quote us” disclaimer. Then we roll straight into our 2026 predictions: what we think the markets are in for, whether Bitcoin's about to have its main character moment, which big names could IPO, and the one theme we think might quietly run the whole year

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It's the final Curve Weekly of the year and yes, we somehow open with eggs, sleep, and the pillow-fort Sophie made last night on her sleepover. But once we snap out of the delirium, we're diving into a wild week in finance: Warner Brothers is officially the belle of the ball with Netflix and Paramount clawing for it's attention (hostile bids, political puppeteering, billion-dollar drama - it's basically Succession but with more streaming). Then we chat about the world's biggest ice-cream brand going public, yep, Magnum is now a standalone stock, though the whole “health and wellness trend meets frozen sugar block” debate gets very real. Nvidia's China green light is finally confirmed, bringing in billions (and maybe some legally questionable tax mechanics). And to close out 2025? The best global news for women we've seen all year: India has started compensating women for unpaid domestic labour. No strings attached. No forms. Just cash, dignity, and a serious shift in economic power. If you need a year-end episode with corporate drama, sweet treats, geopolitical spice, and a big feminist mic drop… this one's for you!WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Acquisition – One company buys another.Bidding War – Companies fighting over who gets to buy something.Hostile Takeover – A takeover nobody asked for.Shareholder – Someone who owns a slice of a company.Equity – Shares.Spin-Off – A company turning part of itself into a new company.Conglomerate – One big company made of lots of little ones.GLP-1 Drugs – Ozempic-style appetite suppressants.Addressable Market – Everyone a company could sell to.Lobbying – Schmoozing politicians for business wins.Revenue – Money coming in (before bills).Red Tape – Annoying admin that slows everything down.Takeover Target – A company everyone suddenly wants to buy.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline

We asked for your financial horror stories, and wow, did you deliver. In this episode, we read (and listen to) real money mistakes from our community, from missed investing wins to term-deposit disasters, stock-picking heartbreaks, property nightmares and everything in between. We break down what went wrong, what we can all learn from it, and why these stories will genuinely make you better with money. Huge thank you to everyone who sent theirs in. And while you're here, drop your thoughts (or your own money mishaps) in the comments, we read them all.

This week's Curve Weekly starts with Soph's financial dilemma of the month - a perfect storm of overspending, £5 left in the bank, and a 4% phone battery in Mayfair. Then, just as we got rolling, Vic's mic cut out (classic), so yes… this is take two. Once the tech drama settled, Vic breaks down why the market is down 2%, what's spooking investors, and how the AI bubble ties into it. We also dive into that viral “Did women ruin the workplace?” headline and unpack why the real problem is a system that was never built for women to thrive. Then it's onto Trump threatening to sue the BBC for $1B - what happened, why it matters, and why the media world is slightly sweating. And finally, we look at what Brits are really using ChatGPT for… and let's just say the answer might surprise you.WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Market Drop – When the stock market has a tiny sulk.AI Bubble – When AI stocks get too hyped.Diversification – Don't put all your money eggs in one basket.S&P 500 – The 500 biggest US companies in one group.CapEx – Big-ticket spending by companies.Government Shutdown – When the US government can't agree and… stops.The Fed – The US interest-rate boss.Defamation – Saying something untrue and getting sued for it.Algorithm – The puppet master deciding what you see online.50:30:20 Rule – A simple budget split: needs, wants, investing.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline

If AI still feels like a scary robot in the corner, this chat will calm your nerves and fire up your curiosity. Natalie Piucco (Google's applied-AI whiz) breaks down where AI is really headed - think helpful life assistant that sorts your calendar, shopping and bills - and why that future could be worth backing with your pounds (or dollars). We cover simple ways to spot opportunities in everyday life (what are you and your mates actually using?), how to dip a toe in with an ETF before picking any “spicy” single stocks, and Nat's golden rule: confidence comes after you start, not before. TL;DR: pop on your “investor glasses,” chuck in a tenner, and let AI's next chapter work for you.

Warren Buffett (aka the GOAT of investing) is sitting on a jaw-dropping $382 billion in cash. Yep, the man who literally buys companies is taking a breather, and Vic breaks down what that means for the rest of us (hint: things might be a tad overpriced). We also chat about bitcoin's big dip (Soph's thrilled), why AMD's results weren't enough to keep investors happy, and how gold's having its main-character moment again. Plus, we celebrate the UK finally adding financial literacy to the school curriculum (goodbye, recorder lessons), unpack the mass Kiwi move to Australia, and somehow veer into royal neighbours, countryside dreams, and near-misses with Lorde.WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Bear Market – When stocks fall and vibes are low. Bull Market – When prices rise and everyone's buzzing. Valuation – What a company thinks it's worth.Cash Pile – A giant stack of money waiting for action.Berkshire Hathaway – Warren Buffett's money empire.Revenue Growth – When sales go up. Yay, more money!Correction – A market “oops” before it (hopefully) recovers.Defensive Stocks – Boring-but-reliable companies.Safe Haven – Where nervous investors hide their cash (hi, gold).Bitcoin – The drama queen of digital money.Crypto – Internet money. Risky but exciting.IPO – A company's stock market debut.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline

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