After a whirlwind March – both in and out of the IFA Talk studio – we’ve turned the page on another tax year. But while tax year-end might be behind us, there’s been no shortage of conversation in April – much of it revolving around the ‘T’ word as Trump announced his so-called ‘liberation day’ tariffs on April 2nd. Sadly we don’t have all the answers to the hundreds of questions advisers have about this new level of uncertainty, but we can unpick the main issues and make sure you’re up to date with those.
At its heart, IFA Magazine’s regular podcast, IFA Talk, remains a trusted source of insight and inspiration for financial advice professionals. Each episode brings timely discussions with leading voices from across the industry – sharing expert views, fresh perspectives, and practical strategies which we hope will really support your thinking as well as your advice and business practices. Our approach is always informal and – we hope – informative, as Sue, Jenny, Matt and Meg welcome different guests to the studio.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, explore new ideas, or just keep up with the latest industry developments, we always make sure that each edition of IFA Talk is short and snappy – at just 20 minutes a time – which is perfect for listening on the move. We’re always so lucky to have such great guests and this month was no exception.
Here’s a look back at April’s highlights – and a quick preview of what’s coming up in May too.
10 years of pension freedoms
Hard though it is to think that it’s been 10 years, we kicked off April’s podcasts with a conversation around the 10-year anniversary of Pension Freedoms, joined by Ed Monk, Associate Director at Fidelity International.
Ed offered reflections on how this landmark change has reshaped retirement planning – and what it means for the future. He also shared Fidelity’s latest research into how early retirees under the new rules have fared, highlighting the growing need for personalised, sustainable advice.
Trump’s tariffs and turbulent markets
Given the huge importance of Trump’s tariffs, we’ve dedicated two episodes to it this month. First in this camp, we explored the latest US political and economic developments with Paul Vincent and Will Nott from Ninety One’s Quality investment team, which we recorded just hours before Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs made global headlines and shook the markets.
They shared their views on how advisers and investors can navigate the uncertainty and volatility stemming from US policy shifts, which continue to cause such chaos in markets worldwide.
Later in the month, we welcomed Morningstar’s Nicolò Bragazza, who is Associate Portfolio Manager on Morningstar Wealth’s Multi-Asset team for some more straight talking on tariffs. Nicolò joined Sue and Matt to explain the latest economic developments and how they affect investment decisions. They talked about Trump’s latest U-turn, plus wider implications of the latest tariffs – from economic growth to trade tensions – and what advisers should watch out for in the weeks and months ahead.
New strategies and smarter solutions
IFA Talk also welcomed Bernadine Reese, Managing Director in the Risk and Compliance team at Protiviti, for a timely conversation about the FCA’s new strategic direction and its five-year plan.
Bernadine unpacked what the regulator’s latest approach means for advice firms – particularly in terms of competition, innovation, and the evolving global regulatory landscape.
And in our final regular April episode, Greg Davies of Oxford Risk introduced the firm’s new Investor Personas tool, powered by its proprietary Behavioural Engagement Technology. He shared how this solution aims to help advisers drive better client engagement, improve client outcomes, and help advisers deliver more tailored financial planning solutions.
Special podcast editions
Mortgage and property
In one of our most popular Mortgage & Property episodes to date, Chris Blewitt, Head of Mortgage Distribution at Darlington Building Society, joined us to explore how advisers can support clients with more complex borrowing needs.
Chris covered topics such as visa-based lending solutions, mortgage options for ex-pats, and the growing popularity of holiday lets.
Insurance and protection
In a special Insurance & Protection edition, Shelley Read, Senior Technical Manager at Royal London, made a welcome return to IFA Talk.
Shelley shared insights from Royal London’s latest report on the value of protection and gave practical tips on how advisers can position protection more effectively in client conversations.
Looking ahead to May
May is shaping up to be another exciting month on IFA Talk. We’re kicking off a brand-new podcast series in partnership with Legal & General Investment Management, with James Giblin, Multi-Asset Fund Manager at LGIM, joining us for the inaugural episode.
Also on the way are fresh editions of our Mortgage & Property and Insurance & Protection specials – plus new insights from the world of GBI investments.
Whatever’s going on in the advice world, we’ll aim to be talking about it.
Catch up on all IFA Talk podcast episodes at www.ifamagazine.com/podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’re on all the main podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
