Investors' Chronicle

Very few people enjoy admin, especially when it comes to money. And for women, who already take on the bulk of the ‘mental load’ of managing other aspects of family life, financial planning can feel especially daunting.After a short hiatus, funds editor Val Cipriani and personal finance editor Holly McKechnie are back in the studio to dive into why managing our finances becomes such a challenge and how to make space for it in a busy life. Val and Holly get into the nitty-gritty of what the mental load actually is, the scale of the problem, and how it can affect your financial planning. The pair offer solutions to balancing life and finances, as well as exploring how to navigate the tricky topic of money in relationships.Women and Wealth is a monthly podcast from Investors’ Chronicle. You can listen to and watch episodes of Women & Wealth, alongside our other podcasts, on ACast, Apple, Spotify or YouTubeTimestamps00:00 Introduction01:19 What is the mental load06:22 How the mental load can affect your financial planning09:58 Tips to make money admin easier13:09 Why pensions and wills are often neglected 20:39 Managing money as a coupleIf you have any questions you’d like Val and Holly to answer, email val.cipriani@ft.com or holly.mckechnie@ft.com

This week, we break down the biggest stories in what has been an especially busy week for companies and markets news, starting with AI giant Anthropic firing the starting gun on its imminent IPO plans.Our tech reporter Arthur Sants dives into everything you need to know about the Claude owner’s stock exchange filing, including its rapid growth and major financial obligations, as well as whether the company represents a good investment, a risk to humanity, or both.We then turn to the Burnham government’s first Budget, revealed yesterday by chancellor John Healey. Our personal finance editor Holly McKechnie explains how the important announcements will affect you and your money, taking in Isa changes, tax increases and more.The episode wraps up with a focus on UK banks, after Healey announced that the sector would be subject to higher taxes, albeit not quite as high as some had thought. Chris Akers talks through the implications, as well as taking a look at third-quarter updates released this week from Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.00:00 Intro01:11 Anthropic IPO16:49 What does the Budget mean for your money27:02 UK banksListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Infrastructure lies at the very heart of the AI opportunity. There is no Claude or ChatGPT without data centres or power. But how can investors avoid overpaying for such prized assets?3i Infrastructure (3IN) is a £4.2bn trust that invests in physical assets that combine income and growth, taking advantage of trends such as digitisation, the energy transition and demographic changes.Its chief financial officer James Dawes and the IC’s funds editor Val Cipriani sit down to discuss the trust’s new data centre investments, opportunities and risks across the sector and how to apply a private equity mindset to infrastructure.Timestamps00:47 3i Infrastructure’s investment strategy08:00 Megatrends driving investment14:45 How rising interest rates and inflation affect infrastructure investments18:12 Investing in a Norwegian data centre36:12 What's going on with DNSnet now?You can listen to the interview, alongside all of our other podcasts, on ACast, Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

This week, we return to our ultimate guide to Britain’s junior market, as we mark the release of Part Two of our Aim 100 Special Report. We kick off with medical technology business Niox, which has just completed that relatively rare thing: a tender offer to shareholders. Julian Hofmann investigates whether the company is a safe haven in a volatile sector. We then cast our ears to a stock that’s been an incredible rollercoaster ride in 2026: hydrogen electrolyser manufacturer ITM Power, whose shares soared and then came back down to earth again. Mike Fahy weighs up whether its commercial prospects square up with its still-lofty valuation. Finally, Valeria Martinez considers data and information management business Restore. Valeria finds out if its turnaround plan is now bearing fruit.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro00:56 Niox08:37 ITM Power18:34 RestoreListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Third-quarter earnings season (Q3) is under way and it’s taking place amid some renewed wobbles for AI and chip stocks.With this in mind, this week’s show considers two companies that could be construed as defensive. First, we turn to emerging market-focused asset manager Ashmore – while not the most obvious port in a storm, its focus on debt rather than stocks means it offers resilience. Mark Robinson explains its recent trading update.We then look at healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, perhaps less of a defensive staple than it once was following the spin-off of its consumer division, but still a potential haven nonetheless. Julian Hofmann has the details and explores why, after a good year so far, its Q3 figures were not well received.Julian also dives into this week’s Big Read: How to profit from profit warnings. He talks through recent trends, market reactions and what it all means for the wider economy.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:02 Ashmore10:16 Profiting from profit warnings 23:14 Johnson & JohnsonListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

This week’s episode marks the publication of the first half of our annual Aim 100 special report – our review of the biggest companies trading on London’s junior market.While Aim has had its share of issues in recent years, there are still plenty of stocks worth investors’ attention. The episode kicks off with one business that has had some problems of its own, including US budget cuts: equipment maker Judges Scientific. Julian Hofmann weighs up whether it can make a comeback.We also dig into rare earths business Mkango Magnetic Materials, which combines exploration and recycling projects and has several global ventures to keep tabs on. Mark Robinson explains what’s going on with the company.For those who are more risk-averse or looking to add a bit of balance to their holdings, we examine the state of play for wealth-preservation trusts: the trio of funds that often act as countercyclical portfolio picks. Holly McKechnie has the details on Ruffer, Personal Assets and Capital Gearing.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro01:11 Judges Scientific10:59 'Safe' funds20:06 Mkango Magnetic MaterialsListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

This week’s episode begins by looking into Labour’s new ‘Your First Home’ scheme, a replacement for the controversial Help to Buy programme. Announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, it is designed to give more people a chance of buying their first property. But what does it actually entail? And will it succeed, or will it just prop up the housing market and housebuilders like its predecessor? Hugh Moorhead discusses the potential beneficiaries.We then cast our ears to another bid for a UK-listed company: materials specialist RHI Magnesita’s attempt to acquire rival Vesuvius. Mike Fahy outlines what the takeover will look like and whether it’s likely to succeed.We wrap up with our Big Read of the week on what history teaches us about investing. James Norrington explains why we need to look further than the recent past. From the 17th century to the pandemic, James discusses rising debt levels, trade wars and much more.Timestamps 00:00 Intro01:05 'Your First Home' scheme11:35 Bid for Vesuvius22:07 Future-proofing portfoliosListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Lord John Lee and Alex Newman are back on the mics to get into the nitty-gritty of small-cap stocks, looking at software provider Pebble Beach Systems (PEB).With a market capitalisation of £38mn, the company is a bright spot in Lord Lee’s portfolio and specialises in ‘playout’ automation and solutions for broadcasters and streamers.The duo are in the studio with the Aim stock’s chief executive Peter Mayhead to discuss how Pebble benefits services both traditional broadcasters and increasingly streamers. They also explore the group’s competitive advantage, its balance sheet turnaround and a potential dividend.Elsewhere, the podcast looks at tumultuous market conditions, what this means for Lord Lee’s portfolio and how he plans to ride out the volatility.Time stamps01:01 The markets04:47 Inside Pebble Beach20:22 Pebble’s turnaround36:41 What’s behind the growth42:42 Lord Lee’s portfolio updatesLet us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing alex.newman@ft.comListen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle by clicking here or heading to Apple, Spotify and YouTube

This week’s episode kicks off with the latest batch of London-listed AI players. Up first are the IT resellers who are reaping the rewards of the boom; we discuss Computacenter and Softcat, the latter of which tapped investors for several hundred million pounds last week.On the other side of the ledger, there has been a fresh sell-off for the likes of Rightmove after Meta released its AI agent, Muse. But the question is: have these ups and downs gone too far? Our technology reporter Arthur Sants discusses the prospects for resellers, Meta, and online marketplaces.We then cast our ears to the burgeoning business of prize draws, be it high-profile ‘win your dream home’ competitions or all manner of niche prizes. Is this a new UK national obsession? Which companies are trying to muscle in on the sector? And what does all this say about our saving habits? Erin Withey has the answers.The show wraps up with a look at our pensions special report: all you need to know about using a personal pension, how to invest it and how to plan the perfect retirement, in one helpful guide. Helen Kirrane explains when to use a pension versus an Isa and outlines some quirks to watch out for.Timestamps: 00:00 Intro1:09 AI winners18:47 British prize draw boom31:30 Planning your pension: Our special report Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube