The Pension Confident Podcast

We usually talk about generational wealth flowing down the family tree, from parents to kids or grandparents to grandchildren. But today we're looking at money moving across the whole family tree, because plenty of people are now sandwiched financially supporting the generations above, as well as those below.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss building generational wealth:

In this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Jonathan as he shares his pension story. From the trusty spreadsheet he started with his wife 24 years ago, to now being on track to be mortgage-free in two years - before they hit age 50.

We unpack Jonathan's financial journey with pensions expert Dan Stean from PensionBee, covering:

If you had some spare cash each month, where would you spend it? Overpaying your mortgage or giving your pension savings a boost? Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and Maike Currie, VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, as they discuss the benefits and considerations of making extra payments on your mortgage vs. topping up your pension pot.

00:38 Inflation, interest and mortgage rates

05:59 Pensions and tax relief

12:00 Getting the order of priority right

14:23 So what should you actually do?

To...

Do you know what your money is invested in? And do you feel confident you're making the right choices?

Some of us are investing in the 'default' plan, whether that's through a Stocks and Shares ISA or a workplace pension. Others are dabbling in crypto or gold. And many of us aren't even investing at all, preferring the safety of keeping cash tucked away in a savings account.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss investing fundamentals:

In this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Joumana as she shares her pension story. From moving to the UK from Lebanon 13 years ago with no idea a personal pension was even an option, to buying back missing National Insurance years and picking an investment plan that matches her appetite for risk as a freelancer.

We unpack Joumana's pension journey with pensions expert Dani Skerrett from PensionBee, covering:

With the kids back at school, is now the time to start saving or investing for their future? Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and Maike Currie, VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, as they break down the key differences between a Junior ISA and a Junior SIPP, how each is taxed, and which one might be right for your family.

00:51 Junior ISAs and Junior SIPPs at a glance

02:29 How Junior ISAs and Junior SIPPs are taxed

06:07 Cash Junior ISA versus Stocks and Shares Junior ISA

08:04 How to decide...

We're over halfway through Series 5, and it's already covered a lot of ground: whether marriage makes financial sense, what to do if you're 50 years old with nothing saved for retirement, how to stop lifestyle creep swallowing your pay rise, and plenty more.

So our Host, Philippa Lamb, pulled Series Producer, Lucy Greenwell, out from behind the glass to argue over their favourite moments from the 33 guests who've joined the podcast so far this year.

01:42 Best episode for first-time listeners

04:20 Most surprising number

08:16 Funniest episode

10:40 Best...

In this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Andy as he shares his pension story. From two decades living and working abroad and untangling the dormant pensions he left behind, to returning to the UK and working out what "enough" really means when you're planning around a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.

We unpack Andy's pension journey with pensions expert Veronica Morozova from PensionBee, covering:

It's time for your Series Five rewind and sneak peek at what's coming up on The Pension Confident Podcast.

If you missed an episode, don't worry, you can catch up on every single episode so far wherever you get your podcasts:

For the first time ever, fewer than half of UK adults are married or in a civil partnership, yet the law hasn't caught up with how many of us now live together instead. So, legally and financially, is it still worth getting married?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss whether marriage still pays off financially and legally, and what unmarried couples need to put in place instead:

In this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Sally as she shares her pension story. From decades of putting money into living over saving, and losing her husband suddenly in his 40s, to retirement in her 60s and choosing a pension plan that truly reflects her values.

We unpack Sally's pension journey with pensions expert Veronica Morozova from PensionBee, covering:

Market volatility is back in the headlines, and if you've noticed your pension balance moving up and down, you're not alone. From tariffs to geopolitical tensions, there's no shortage of reasons to feel uneasy. But before you rush to make any changes, it's worth understanding how volatility actually works and why, more often than not, staying put is the smartest move.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, Maike Currie as they discuss:

Are you earning more than you were five years ago but still don't feel better off? You might be experiencing 'lifestyle creep'. The subtle way spending expands to quietly swallow every pay rise, bonus, and promotion. From Ocado upgrades and subscription sprawl to beauty routines that keep growing, lifestyle creep is surprisingly easy to fall into and remarkably hard to spot.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss how to identify, resist, and even reverse lifestyle creep:

In this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Nigel. Now 76 and retired, he spent decades commuting into Central London, raising two children, and telling himself he'd sort his pension "someday". A bad experience with an active fund manager and an IFA changed all that - and a tip from his son led him to PensionBee.

We unpack Nigel's pension journey with pensions expert Dani Skerrett from PensionBee, covering the tax benefits of saving into a pension, when a financial adviser is (and isn't) worth it, how to think about how much you actually need in retirement...

Premium Bonds and Cash ISAs are two of the most popular savings options in the UK, but which one is right for you? With interest rates fluctuating and the cost of living still a real concern, it's more important than ever to make your savings work as hard as possible.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, Maike Currie as they discuss:

An estimated 7 million people aged over 50 in the UK have no private pension savings at all. Here's the reality: if you're one of them, it can feel too late to start. It isn't. Whether it's career breaks, the cost of living, a divorce, or simply never getting round to it - millions of people reach 50 with little or nothing put away. So how do you go from £0 to a pot that actually makes a difference?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss starting a pension from scratch at aged 50:

On this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer Becca. Auto-enrolled into her first workplace pension, she assumed retirement saving would always just happen in the background. Then she went self-employed, and for eight years, it didn't happen at all.

We explore the self-employed pension gap with the help of pensions expert Dani Skerrett, Head of Content Marketing at PensionBee, covering everything from why Auto-Enrolment leaves millions of freelancers and sole traders behind, to the surprising cost of those years of disengagement. We also share how contributing just £30 a month can make a difference of thousands of p...

In this bonus episode of The Pension Confident Podcast, we cover the key pension contribution rules and limits for the new 2026/27 tax year, and what they could mean for your retirement savings.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, Maike Currie, as they break down everything you need to know about:

Becoming a landlord with Buy-to-Let properties has often been seen as a way to build long-term wealth. But with brand new rules, higher taxes and more paperwork, it's becoming harder to turn a profit.

Did you know that since 2022, the rental sector is the only area of the housing market to have lost value? So, are Buy-to-Lets still a good bet? And where does this leave existing landlords trying to make sense of a changing market?

Today, we're breaking down the real story behind Buy-to-Lets and what you need to know before you think about...

On this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer, David. He spent years quietly accumulating pension pots across various employers without paying them much attention. That all changed when an unexpected cancer diagnosis forced him to confront his finances head-on, and think hard about what would happen to the people he loves if he wasn't around.

We unpack the decisions David has navigated, from consolidating old pots and rethinking his investment risk to naming beneficiaries and having long-overdue conversations with his family, with the help of pensions expert Dani Skerrett, Head of Content Marketing at PensionBee. Plus...

In this bonus episode of The Pension Confident Podcast, we cover some of the key changes from the new 2026/27 tax year and what they could mean for you and your finances.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, Maike Currie, as they unpack the changes impacting:

01:09 What is the tax year?

02:25 Minimum and statutory pay for workers

04:08 The State...

Did you know that over the next 30 years, Baby Boomers are expected to pass down an astonishing £5.5 trillion in assets? It's being called one of the largest movements of wealth in British history. So are you ready for the 'great wealth transfer'?

Many Millennials are facing tough financial challenges - with lingering student loans, high rent or mortgage costs and expensive childcare. A wealth transfer could be transformative for this generation.

But here's the catch: without proper estate and financial planning, many families could face hefty tax bills. And from April next year, pensions will b...

On this bonus episode, we hear from PensionBee customer, Sanna. Like so many, she's juggling family life, buying her first home, and trying to save for retirement - all at the same time. Since having her daughter and moving back in with family to save on rent, her pension savings have taken a back seat.

We unpack the choices Sanna has faced - from rising living costs and childcare to finding faith-aligned financial products - with the help of pension expert Rachael Oku, VP Brand and Communications at PensionBee. Plus, we share helpful guidance for prioritising your...

One in every three households in the UK is now single occupancy. Here's the issue: being single could be costing you more. The so-called 'Singles Tax' is real. Cohabiting couples pay less per person on everything from energy bills to hotel rooms. So if you're single, or living alone, how much extra are you paying and what can you do about it?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the 'Singles Tax':

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In this bonus episode we hear from PensionBee customer, Tony, as he tells us his pension story. Now in his early sixties, Tony's working part-time as a handyman to top up the income he's receiving from his pension savings.

With the help of pension pro, and VP Brand and Communications at PensionBee, Rachael Oku, we'll unpack the tips you might want to take from Tony's story. This episode offers especially useful lessons for older savers approaching retirement, helping you make sense of what a 'phased retirement' could mean for your finances.

01:07...

Where do you see yourself in five years? In a rapidly changing world of work, that's becoming harder to answer. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030, nearly 92 million jobs will disappear. The upside? 170 million new jobs will emerge.

With UK businesses feeling the squeeze, more workers will be forced to reconsider their career in the coming years. The combination of higher secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions, increased National Minimum Wage, and the new Employment Rights Act is leading experts to forecast a rise in redundancies.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel...

On this special bonus episode, we're doing something new! We're going to hear from PensionBee customer, Tara-Jane, as she tells us her pension story in her own words. From starting early at 17 years old, to the impact of ignoring her pension for 20 years - it's been a rollercoaster of retirement decisions.

With the help of pension pro, and VP Brand and Communications at PensionBee, Rachael Oku, we'll unpack the tips you might want to take from Tara-Jane's story. There are useful lessons for every saver in this episode, whichever stage of retirement planning you're at.

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Happy New Year from all of us at The Pension Confident Podcast. Every month, with expert guests, we dig into those money and pension questions that can feel so complicated. We just lay out the answers in simple, jargon-free language.

There'll also be bonus content throughout the year to keep you up to speed on everything from stock market trends to Downing Street decisions. Plus, we'll be hearing from savers just like you.

The first episode of 2026 will be live at the end of this month, and with change in the air, it's all about b...

On this special bonus episode, we're turning the mic around. We hear from our Host, Philippa Lamb, and Producer, Lucy Greenwell, as they discuss their favourite moments from Series 4 of The Pension Confident Podcast.

We've had some brilliant guests - from divorce lawyers to behavioural experts, authors to financial influencers, along with some of our favourite people from PensionBee HQ. On this episode, we'll hear from:

Imagine hitting pause on your career, not decades from now, but far sooner. What would you do with all that freedom? Today we're talking about the rise of micro-retirements, or sabbaticals, as they're better known.

It's becoming increasingly popular with Gen Z as a bold way to take control of their time, blending career progression and meaningful rest. Unlike traditional retirement, which often feels like a distant milestone, micro-retirements offer the chance to hit pause regularly.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the rise of micro-retirements:

Labour said this year's Autumn Budget aims to address an economy that's "not working well enough for working people". But will the changes they've announced leave you better off?

Before Budget day, analysts were estimating that the government was facing a £30 billion shortfall. The challenge for Chancellor Rachel Reeves was to fill that hole while balancing economic growth and fairness.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert guest as they unpack exactly what the Chancellor announced and what it means for your savings:

Founder and CEO of Boring Money, Holly Mackay.

From Buy Now, Pay Later plans to monthly subscriptions, modern conveniences promise to make our lives easier. But these small payments can quietly stack up into a sizable debt that jeopardises our financial future.

For example, a £10-a-month streaming service seems harmless, but six months later, you might be paying for five you barely use. Or those 'Buy Now, Pay Later' purchases you thought were manageable could turn into growing debt.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the hidden cost of convenience:

Building a £1 million pension pot may be more achievable than you think. But how much money will that £1 million give you in retirement?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss what it takes to build £1 million in your pension from the monthly contributions needed depending on your age, to the role that compound interest and employer contributions can play.

Financial Expert and Founder of Much More with Less, Faith Archer;

Founder of Money to the Masses, Damien Fahy; and

VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, Mai...

University has never been more expensive. A 2025 report from the Higher Education Policy Institute found that students need £61,000 to have a minimum socially acceptable standard of living over a three-year degree.

But even the maximum annual Maintenance Loan available to students from the lowest income households would only cover half this. So who's expected to plug the gap: the students or their parents?

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the financial realities new students are facing and how parents can support their children through university.

For this Pension Awareness Week bonus episode, we're looking at how the pension transfer process works and why it should be improved to give savers more control of their money.

We're spotlighting the need for reform in the pensions industry, specifically with a 'Pension Switch Guarantee' to make pension transfers as simple as switching banks. Only the government has the power to change this, so if you'd like to see a 10-day Pension Switch Guarantee, you can sign the government petition running until 24 January 2026.

Pension switching is a subject close to the heart...

We're taking a short break over August, but we'll be back in September with brand new Series Four episodes and bonus content.

We've covered a lot of ground already this year, everything from relationships, to AI and tech, the economy and - clue's in the title - pensions.

If you missed one earlier in the year, don't worry, you can catch up on every single episode so far wherever you get your podcasts:

Why are more families choosing to live with two, three, or even four generations under one roof? Rising rent, home prices, and living costs can make sharing a home a smart way to save money.

Maybe that's why multi-generational living is the fastest-growing household type in the UK right now. But not all reasons are financial. For some, it's a cultural norm or a chance to care for young children and elderly relatives.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they discuss the financial impact, cultural motives, and care challenges of multiple...

For this special bonus episode, we're looking at how automation can help you manage your personal finances. Standing orders, calendar reminders and apps - they can all save us time and make sure we keep our payments and savings on track. We've gathered six top tips and insights from our guests to help you get your finances in order.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb and our expert guests to hear the best bits from the following episodes:

ADHD can affect how your brain handles things like planning, focus and organisation, which can make it particularly challenging to stay on top of your finances. Things like paying off debt, saving into a pension, paying a bill on time can feel really overwhelming.

In this episode we explore exactly why money and ADHD can clash, find out what can help, and take a look at how to build systems that could work for you.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb, and our expert panel as they break it all down.

In this special bonus episode of The Pension Confident Podcast, we're discussing how to manage your pension and your personal finances whether you're self-employed, freelance or running your own business. PensionBee's Invisible Worker research - which surveyed 1,000 British gig workers - found more than half of them can't afford to save into a pension. Nearly 30% of them also said they wouldn't know where to start if they did want to set one up.

Join our host, Philippa Lamb as she shares helpful tips from our expert guests from the following episodes: