Want to know more about your money? The penny drops podcast is here to help you understand your money and make better informed financial decisions. Presenter and Broadcast Journalist Andrea Fox will be grilling financial experts on your behalf to get the best tips on topics such as savings, pensions, budgeting, debt and retirement. This podcast series is brought to you by Royal London, the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company.
Episodes
Monday Jun 07, 2021
PRIDE month and LGBT+ finances
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
For many countries around the world, June marks PRIDE month. In this episode we find out why PRIDE month and the events associated with it are still so important and touching on some of the financial issues and barriers faced by the LGBT+ community.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
You can also find lots of helpful information on the following sites:
LGBT Foundation: https://lgbt.foundation
Stonewall: www.stonewall.org.uk
Mind Out: https://mindout.org.uk
Albert Kennedy Trust: https://www.akt.org.uk
General information and guidance
- Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/insurance/insurance
- Association of British Insurers: abi.org.uk
- British Insurance Broker’s Association: biba.org.uk
This episode was recorded during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Why it’s time to think differently about our finances
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
For most of us, when we think about finance, we might consider what products we need or how to save for that big purchase. But in this month’s episode Andrea Fox speaks to Royal London’s Sarah Pennells, a personal finance expert and broadcaster, about why it’s time to think differently about our finances and what we want from them. We explore how we can both save for the future and invest responsibly, helping us to build financial resilience as well as a better and more sustainable world to live in.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
You can also find lots of helpful information on some of the topics discussed in this episode on the following sites:
Responsible investing
- Royal London: royallondon.com/mutuality/together-for-good
- Royal London: royallondon.com/about-us/members/understanding-your-finances/how-we-manage-your-money/what-is-responsible-investing
- Money Advice Service: moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/ethical-saving-and-investing
Climate change and net zero
- United Nations, Race To Zero: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign
- The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change: iigcc.org
- Climate Action 100+: climateaction100.org
Pensions
- Pension Wise: pensionwise.gov.uk
- The Pensions Advisory Service: pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
Case studies
This episode was recorded in June 2021 during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.
Monday Aug 02, 2021
How to start your own business
Monday Aug 02, 2021
Monday Aug 02, 2021
The past year has seen many people reassess their career options, and potentially think about starting a business themselves. But what are some of the things you might need to consider before taking the plunge? On this episode Andrea Fox speaks to Dan Moosah, founder of keepemquiet.com, a company that creates entertainment packs for children, about all things business – from side hustles, choosing a partner and developing a product, to funding, risks and hidden costs.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
You can also find lots of helpful information on starting a business on the following sites:
- UK: www.gov.uk/browse/business/setting-up
- Money Helper: moneyhelper.org.uk/en/work/self-employment/thinking-of-starting-up-in-business
- Prince’s Trust: princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/tools-resources/business-tools
- Royal London: royallondon.com/about-us/members/understanding-your-finances/your-personal-finances/top-10-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-starting-a-business
This episode was recorded in July 2021 during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Where to get financial help if you’re disabled
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
For people living with a disability, their condition can often affect them financially, as well as physically or mentally. While there’s support available for those that need it, with so many benefits and information out there, it can be confusing to work out what you might be entitled to and how to apply. On this episode Andrea Fox joins the MS Society’s Benefits Advisor, Bez Ely, and Head of Policy, Phillip Anderson, to discuss how having a disability can impact someone financially and how to find the right support.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
You can also find lots of helpful information on financial support and disability on the following sites:
Information on benefits
Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits
Money Helper: www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits
GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
Benefits and grants entitlement
Turn2us Benefits Calculator: benefits-calculator-2.turn2us.org.uk
Turn2us Grants Search: grants-search.turn2us.org.uk
Benefits appeals
GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision
Employee rights
ACAS: www.acas.org.uk/advice
Support for travel
Motability: www.motability.org.uk
Blue Badge Scheme: www.gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-information-council
Disabled Persons Railcard: www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
Useful helplines
MS Society: www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/ms-helpline
Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us
Scope: www.scope.org.uk/helpline
Disability Law Service: dls.org.uk/free-advice
MS Society resources
Financial help: www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/financial-help
Fact sheets and booklets: www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/resources-and-publications
This episode was recorded in July 2021 during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.
Monday Oct 11, 2021
What is responsible investment?
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Monday Oct 11, 2021
People often assume that their pensions just sit there. But they’re invested for us – and, when invested responsibly, they can be used to help us move to a more sustainable world. On this episode Andrea Fox speaks to Ashley Hamilton Claxton, Head of Responsible Investment for Royal London Asset Management, about all things responsible investment – what it is, why it’s important and how it can play a role in helping us to tackle big global issues like climate change.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
You can also find lots of helpful information on responsible investment at www.royallondon.com/pensions/investment-options/investing-responsibly.
This episode was recorded in September 2021 during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you could get back less than you pay in. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Why is COP26 so important?
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
The action taken on climate change over the next decade will radically shape the health of the planet for generations. COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties happening in Glasgow in November 2021, aims to help us rise to that challenge together. On this episode Andrea Fox is joined by Kaisie Rayner, Climate Change Lead at Royal London, who tells us all about COP26, why it’s such a crucial event for climate change and what it’s got to do with finance.
How can you find more information?
Royal London recommends you seek professional independent financial advice before making financial decisions. You can learn more about the value of financial advice on our website.
Get more information on COP26, including the key goals and ambitions and programme of events, on the official conference website: ukcop26.org
You can also find lots of helpful content on responsible investment, including information on Royal London’s approach and case studies, at: www.royallondon.com/mutuality/responsible-investment/the-invested-generation
This episode was recorded in October 2021 during the coronavirus outbreak. For the latest information on financial support and benefits, visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
Please note that all topics discussed in this episode can vary depending on your personal circumstances. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you could get back less than you pay in. Any figures quoted were accurate at the time of recording.