The Wallet

Why do some people confidently invest while others avoid money conversations altogether?In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet speaks with behavioural finance expert, psychotherapist and King's College London senior lecturer Dr Ylva Baeckström about the hidden forces that shape our financial decisions.From childhood experiences and financial attachment styles to confidence, investing behaviour and gender stereotypes, this conversation explores why money is rarely just about numbers.Topics covered:How financial identity is formedWhy many people avoid money conversationsThe link between childhood experiences and money habitsWhy women often outperform men as investorsThe confidence gap in financeFemale financial advisers and investing behaviourAI, financial advice and the future of investingWhy the real risk may be not investing at allThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.AD |  This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.Wealthify makes investing simple by doing everything for you — from building your portfolio, to managing it on an on-going basis. Open your account at Wealthify.com.With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Connect with VestpodSign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribe Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify. Most people think investing is about picking the right stocks. It is not. This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Jessie Kwok, Chief Investment Officer at Wealthify, to unpack what drives investment outcomes over time. They cover:Why asset allocation matters more than stock pickingHow to think about risk in a practical wayWhat shapes long-term portfolio performanceWhy staying invested is often the hardest partHow to build a portfolio you can stick to The information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. Open your account at Wealthify.com. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED] T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Connect with VestpodSign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

Women are often told the path to success is straightforward: be confident, negotiate harder, lean in, speak up.But what happens when women do all of those things and still do not receive the same outcomes?This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) speaks with Stefanie O’Connell about ambition, work, money, and the hidden costs many women still face professionally and personally.They discuss:why negotiation advice alone is not enoughthe backlash women can face when expressing ambitionburnout, invisible labour, and emotional loadhow inequality is reinforced through systems and expectationswhat financial independence and success can really look like for women todayThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]Open your account at Wealthify.com. T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.ResourcesOrder The Ambition PenaltyWebsite: Too AmbitiousInstagram: @stefanieoconnellLinkedIn: Stefanie O’ConnellConnect with VestpodSign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

When money feels hard, it is often the system, not you.This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Krystle McGilvery, behavioural finance expert and Chartered Accountant, to unpack why traditional money advice fails so many people, especially those who are neurodivergent.They cover:Why financial avoidance is often a form of protectionHow time blindness impacts spending and planningThe link between impulse spending and frictionless paymentsWhy “discipline” is the wrong framework for moneyWhat a system that actually works for your brain looks likeThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.ResourcesConnect with Krystle via Krystle McGilvery and NeuroFinance OSInstagram: @krystle_mcgilveryLinkedIn: Krystle McGilveryAD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]Open your account at Wealthify.com. T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.Connect with Vestpod:Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

High income, low progress: the hidden leak in your finances.This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) sits down with Philly Ponniah to unpack the gap between earning and actually building wealth.They cover:Why money still disappears at £100K+The lifestyle creep you don’t noticeThe belief that quietly blocks investingThe UK’s £100K childcare tax trapWhat a real financial system looks likeThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]Open your account at Wealthify.com. T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.ResourcesConnect with Philly at Philly FinancialInstagram: @phillyfinancialLinkedIn: PhillyConnect with VestpodSign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-RichThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Why does building wealth feel complicated, slow, or out of reach, even when you are earning and doing “the right things”?In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Mary and Ken Okoroafor, founders of The Humble Penny and authors of The Wealth Habit. Together, we unpack why wealth is less about income and more about habits, identity, and systems, and how small, consistent actions can create long-term financial security.We discuss:Why wealth starts with habits, not incomeThe identity shift required to become a wealth builderThe systems that matter most, including paying yourself firstWhy mindset without action leads to “analysis paralysis”How emotional spending happens, and how to add frictionThe £1 shift and how to start earning beyond your main incomeThe trade-offs required to build long-term wealthAD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]Open your account at Wealthify.com. T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.ResourcesMary & Ken's new book: The Wealth HabitThe Humble Penny WebsiteInstagram @thehumblepenny and @financialjoyacademyConnect with VestpodSign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-RichThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Building financial independence often starts with earning more, and learning how to negotiate your salary.In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet speaks with Nicole Michler, founder of Phase 20, a career strategy and negotiation platform that helps women navigate competitive corporate environments.Nicole shares how she went from earning around £27,000 a year to building financial independence, and explains how salary negotiation, career strategy, and mindset shifts can help women ask for a pay rise and grow their income over time.Connect with Vestpod:Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

Why do credit cards so often feel manageable at first, and then quietly turn into long-term debt?In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Iona Bain, award-winning broadcaster, columnist, and author, following her Panorama investigation Maxed Out: The Credit Card Trap. Together, we unpack how credit card products are designed, why minimum payments and rising credit limits keep people stuck, and why debt can linger for years, even when people feel responsible and are doing their best.We discuss:What the “credit card trap” really is, and why it is not about being bad with moneyWhy minimum payments create a false sense of safetyHow credit limit increases quietly make debt harder to escapeBalance transfers, when they help and when they just delay the problemThe emotional side of debt, and why shame keeps people stuckWhat actually helps people stay in controlThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.#ad This episode is sponsored by MoneyWeek.MoneyWeek gives you a clear weekly roundup of the stories, trends, and market moves that matter, written by expert journalists and delivered in print or on the app. You can try six issues for free, then enjoy an exclusive £5 discount on a quarterly subscription for The Wallet community at moneyweek.com/wallet with the code WALLET.Connect with Vestpod:Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribeCourses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/coursesFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpodEmilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich

How do you actually build an investment portfolio, and what is the simplest way to start?In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Caroline Brady (Net Purpose, ex BlackRock) to break down portfolio building in plain English, from asset allocation and diversification to the difference between stocks and funds. We also cover how ESG and impact investing fit into long-term investing without overcomplicating it.We discuss:Asset allocation vs portfolio construction (simple framework)Stocks vs funds, and why many people start with index fundsRisk, diversification, and when to sellESG vs impact, and how to avoid greenwashingThe information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Investing carries risk, your capital is at risk.#ad This episode is sponsored by MoneyWeek. MoneyWeek gives you a clear weekly roundup of the stories, trends and market moves that matter, written by expert journalists and delivered in print or on the app. You can try six issues for free, then enjoy an exclusive £5 discount on a quarterly subscription for The Wallet community at moneyweek.com/wallet with the code WALLET.Connect with Vestpod:Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribe   Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses  Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod   Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich