Is natural income outdated, risky… or the missing link in sustainable retirement planning?
In this episode of Money Wise UK, George welcomes back David Jane of Premier Miton to revisit one of our most debated topics: natural income. Together, they unpack whether it still has a role in modern portfolios, how it compares to total return strategies, and why client psychology plays such a big part in income decisions.

From sequencing risk to safe withdrawal rates, and from dividends to bonds, David shares 38 years of experience in investment management—along with practical insights on building retirement income strategies that balance growth, resilience, and peace of mind.

If you’re a financial adviser, investor, or simply curious about the future of retirement income, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer a fresh perspective.

Book: The Misbehavior of Markets: A Fractal View of Financial Turbulence

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Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

George, Money Wise UK, chats with Pietro Nicholls, co-manager of the VT RM Alternative Income Fund, about what “alternatives” really are, liquidity myths, the rate/inflation cycle, and why governance matters in investment trusts. They cover diversification, where real assets fit vs the 60/40, activism vs engagement (incl. Gore Street), and how VT RM balances income with capital preservation.

Follow, share, comment, rate and subscribe to Money Wise UK for thoughtful, independent conversations on the future of investing.

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

Chapter markers

• 00:03 Intro & guest background

• 01:13 Early influences & learning habits

• 09:12 What are “alternatives”?

• 12:19 Liquidity myths & real-world tests

• 15:49 Diversification through cycles

• 19:35 Rates, inflation & positioning

• 23:28 Investment trusts: safety, governance & discounts

• 27:36 Fees & the OCF confusion

• 31:20 Performance, cycles & today’s opportunity

• 33:17 Are alts too complex?

• 36:08 Engagement vs “activism” (Gore Street)

• 42:28 VTRM’s mission & portfolio mix

• 49:06 ESG & transparency

• 54:45 Best advice & final takeaway

China is often seen as either an unstoppable superpower or a risky bet – but what’s the real story? In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George sits down with Megan Ie, Senior Equity Analyst at GIB Asset Management, to unpack the nuances of investing in China. From common prosperity to geopolitical tensions, policy shifts, and overlooked growth opportunities, Megan brings fresh insights into one of the most complex and misunderstood markets in the world. A must-listen for curious investors.

Book: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie

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Learn more: GIB Asset Management

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

In this insightful episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George Ladds is joined by Kunal Desai, co-fund manager of the Emerging Markets Active Engagement Strategy at GIB Asset Management. They cut through the noise to discuss why emerging markets deserve more attention in today’s globalportfolios. From political risk to valuation opportunities, from sustainable investing to bespoke engagement strategies — this episode is packed with practical insights, real examples, and powerful ideas.

Key themes include:

• Why emerging markets remain underrepresented in global portfolios despite driving global GDP growth
• How GIB’s “PACE” framework identifies hidden value through active engagement
• The case for blending passive and active strategies in emerging markets
• A candid discussion on corruption, fragility, and the misunderstood risk of concentrated investing

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Books:

Michael J Mauboussin – Expectations Investing

Ayn Rand – Atlas Shrugged

Learn more: GIB Asset Management

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to afinancial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

In this episode of the Money Wise UK Podcast, George is joined by Ben Palmer, Senior Portfolio Manager at LGT and former Head of Responsible Investment at Brooks Macdonald, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about sustainable investing.

From the evolution of ethical investing to today's ESG, impact, and transition strategies, Ben explains the terminology, challenges, and real-world investment opportunities with clarity and balance.

We go beyond the headlines—exploring whether “woke is broke” is true, why investment trusts might still play a role in ESG portfolios, and whether governments, investors, or individuals are the real agents of change. We also dig into controversial topics like COP30’s rainforest conundrum, Trump’s “drill baby drill” energy stance, and whether EVs and renewables can truly make a difference.

Ben offers insight into how sustainability and economics increasingly go hand in hand—and why acknowledging imperfections matters more than chasing perfection.

💬 Topics Include:

• What ESG, impact, and sustainable investing really mean

• The FCA’s new fund labelling system

• Investment trusts and sustainability

• Climate science vs. political noise

• Can investment really drive global change?

🔗 Plus, learn more about LGT’s approach to responsible investing and why long-term thinking is core to their DNA.

Follow, share, comment, rate and subscribe to Money Wise UKfor thoughtful, independent conversations on the future of investing.

Learn more: https://www.lgtwm.com/uk-en

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice.If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Anymention of a company is not a recommendation.

Can fixed income be both sustainable and high performing? Or is it just another corner of the market vulnerable to greenwashing?

In this eye-opening episode of the Money Wise UK podcast, host George is joined by Samantha Lamb, Head of Fixed Income at GIB Asset Management, to break down what sustainability really means in the world of bonds — and why it’s time to challenge some long-held assumptions.

Drawing on decades of experience in ESG and credit markets, Samantha reveals:

• Why GIB doesn’t rely on bond labels like “green” or“sustainable” — and why these can mislead investors
• The difference between ESG risk management and truly sustainable investing
• How fixed income can deliver strong risk-adjusted returns without compromising values
• The power of a multi-thematic framework in building resilient portfolios for real-world problems
• Why certain sectors, like fossil fuels and tobacco, are ruled out — regardless of their ESG scores
• How to balance performance with purpose in a volatile and fast-evolving landscape

Whether you're a fund selector, financial planner, or simply curious about the future of sustainable investing, this episode offers clarity, insight, and real-world thinking that cuts through the jargon.

"There’s no performance penalty for investing responsibly — not if you do it right." — Samantha Lamb

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Learn more at www.gibam.com

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

#SustainableInvesting #FixedIncome #GreenBonds #ESG #ImpactInvesting#InvestmentPodcast #MoneyWiseUK

In this insightful episode from Money Wise UK, host George is joined by Lawrence Cook, CEO of Mabel Insights, to unpack how retirement planning is evolving — and why it’s more important (and complex) than ever before.

What to Expect:

• Why the traditional view of retirement is outdated

• The emotional and financial challenges of today’s retirement landscape

• The importance of cashflow modelling (and why many advisers still aren’t using it)

• How to manage conflicts around drawdown vs. annuities

• The value of a Withdrawal Policy Statement in giving clients clarity and control

• FCA's Thematic Review and why it’s an opportunity, not a threat

• Lawrence’s take on the natural income debate — and why "bonkers" might sum it up! That's natural income, not his take!

• How better technology and planning tools (like Mabel) are reshaping adviser-client conversations

🎧 Whether you're a financial planner or someone thinking about retirement, this episode is packed with real-world stories, practical insights, and future-focused thinking.

Listen now to discover how to turn uncertainty into confidence — and why having a plan is the real power move.

🔗 Learn more: mabelinsights.com

Money Wise UK Centralised Retirement Proposition templates for financial planning firms.

Resources: Abraham Okusanya, Beyond The 4% Rule: The science of retirement portfolios that last a lifetime

Behavior Gap

Retirement Researcher Basecamp

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Please note that this podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend consulting a financial advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future returns; investments can fluctuate in value. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.

In this episode of the MoneyWise UK & QuantQual Podcast, George sits down with Keith Balmer from Columbia Threadneedle to explore why the debate between active and passive investing might be missing the point.

Keith shares his career journey — from hedge funds at Man Group to launching a low-cost multi-asset franchise at Columbia Threadneedle — and explains why it’s not about choosing sides but blending investment styles for better client outcomes.

They cover:

• Why passive isn’t always the winner — and how 94% of top managers beat the MSCI World Index over rolling five years

• The three sources of added value in Columbia Threadneedle’s Universal Range: strategic asset allocation, stock selection, and tactical moves

• How the franchise keeps fees at 0.29% while delivering institutional-grade returns

• The real-world case for sustainable investing and why a long-term view matters

• Why consumer duty supports blending investment styles — not chasing the "best fund"

If you’re looking to rethink how you deliver returns, manage risk, and build long-term value, this one’s for you.

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Leave a comment—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Share with friends, colleagues, and fellow investors who care about sustainable finance.

Listen now on Spotify and be part of the conversation on thoughtful investing!

Please note: This podcast does not provide financial advice. If you have any questions, we recommend speaking to a financial adviser. Past performance does not guide future returns; investments can fall and rise. Any mention of a company is not a recommendation.