ICR002: Financial Planning Week, Under 30s & Inflation Figures

This week on the Informed Choice Podcast we speak to Sue Whitbread about Financial Planning Week 2014, critique an article in The Telegraph by Alex Proud about being financially screwed if you’re under 30, and look at the latest price inflation figures.

Listen to the Informed Choice Podcast: Episode Two

Martin started the podcast with a recap of his week. He mentioned the Meaningful Money Podcast by Pete Matthew, as he was interviewed by Pete for this podcast on Monday, along with another Chartered Financial Planner, Justin King.

Martin and Justin were chatting to Pete about a couple of big projects they are launching next week; Martin’s documentary, Boom! Demographics Are Destiny, and their book together – Ready, Steady, Retire!

There will be more about the movie and the book on the next episode of the Informed Choice Podcast, along with an interview with Justin King about the book and his approach to Financial Life Planning.

Martin talked about the book he is currently reading, The Hard Thing About Hard Things by tech investor and entrepreneur Ben Horowitz. Martin also mentioned the book he has just finished reading, the excellent fiction time-travel novel The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North.

Martin invited your Financial Planning and investing questions which he will answer in future episodes of the Informed Choice Podcast. You can leave your question for Martin using the online voicemail system here.

The article by Alex Proud in The Telegraph Martin discussed in this episode can be found here – If you’re under 30, bad luck. You’re screwed.

Martin interviewed Sue Whitbread, Communications Director of the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP), about Financial Planning Week 2014. This runs from 23rd to 29th November 2014, and is an exciting campaign raising the profile of Financial Planning and its benefits.

Sue mentioned that over 60 firms across the UK are offering free 1:1 Financial Planning surgeries next week. You can find the full list here. Prestwood are offering a free Financial Planning Tool to recognise Financial Planning Week, called Truth Lite.

Martin and Sue talked about the CFP accreditation and also Accredited Firms.

Sue mentioned you can follow @wayfinderIFP on Twitter, and use the hashtag #FPWUK. To contact the IFP, follow them on Twitter @ifp_uk or Sue at @swhitbread. The email address for specific queries is [email protected].

We apologise for the sound quality on this interview! Yesterday we placed an order for some powerful recording equipment including a mixing desk and lots of cables, which will enable us to conduct podcast interviews over Skype in the future with much higher quality sound.

Earlier this week, the Office for National Statistics published their latest price inflation figures, with CPI at 1.2% and RPI at 2.3%. Martin talked about these latest inflation figures and what they might mean for the economy and interest rates in the future.

You can use the comments box below to tell us any thoughts you had about the show or ask questions. Until next time!

Listen to the Informed Choice Podcast: Episode Two