In this month’s special Tax-Efficient Investment (TEI) Magazine edition of IFA Talk, IFA Magazine’s Content Editor Matt Williams and Deputy Editor Jenny Hunter take a look back at the 2025 Budget and the changes to VCTs.
Joining us to unpack all of this are not one, but two great guests. First, returning to the IFA Talk studio is Toyin Oyeneyin, Tax Product Specialist at Octopus Investments. Toyin joined us back in November ahead of the 2025 Budget to discuss the major changes in the 2024 Budget, along with the topic of pensions and the complex IHT landscape.
This time, Toyin is also joined by Tim Dickens, Head of Investment Specialists at Octopus Ventures. Together, they reflect on the key takeaways from the 2025 Budget, the changes to VCTs and what they mean for financial advisers, and why private markets are becoming increasingly popular.
Be sure to check out this episode and all other episodes of IFA Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon!
Toyin Oyeneyin
Toyin Oyeneyin is the Tax Product Specialist for Octopus Investments, being the technical lead across all their tax products. She has been with Octopus for over 6 years having joined Octopus from her previous role as a Senior Manager in M&A tax at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
She is a Chartered Tax Adviser and a Council member of the Association of Tax Technicians and has 20 years’ experience across professional practice, industry, accounting, tax and finance.
Tim Dickens
Tim Dickens is a Chartered Wealth Manager with almost 20 years’ experience in financial services, having held senior roles at institutions including HSBC Global Asset Management and Close Brothers Asset Management. Having worked at Octopus Investments for the past 3 years, he currently heads up the Investment Specialists team, where he works closely with the Octopus Ventures team to deliver technical support and guidance to financial advisers and clients across the firm’s Venture Capital solutions.
Tim specialises in adviser education and client engagement, helping to demystify venture capital and improve understanding of the private markets landscape. His work focuses on supporting informed decision-making through clear, practical insights into portfolio construction, risk, and the role of venture capital within long-term investment strategies.
Disclaimer
IFA Talk is for financial professionals only. All material has been carefully checked for accuracy, but no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Wherever appropriate, independent research and whatever necessary legal advice should be sought before acting on any information contained in this podcast.
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