Five simple steps to start investing

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura break down how to start the new tax year by investing. We're diving into allowances, key dates, debt, emergency funds, budgeting and building a long-term view with the right types of accounts to look after future-you.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by Olivia Bowen from Castlefield to talk about wills. We're determined to break down taboos around money, and talking about finances in relation to death is both generally seen as a no-go and also one of the most important decisions you can make. March is Free Wills month so what better time to discuss common mishaps, pensions, how much a will costs to make and how long it tends to take. We also touch on inheritance tax and how to avoid leaving it "messy" for your loved ones.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we're joined by tech start-up CEO Victoria Smith and tech recruiter Claire Simpson to share their career tips. Both finance and tech are still male-centric sectors, so how can women help shape company policies and boost their career prospects? We also discuss the key role of a good mentor and why a battle with confidence can hold women back.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by financial psychotherapist and author Vicky Reynal. With couples mainly arguing about overspending and not saving for the future*, and younger couples having more disagreements about finances than those in retirement, we wanted to get to the bottom of the trend. Understanding why emotions are heavily linked to money, and importantly how to break cycles makes this a must-listen episode, for those coupled up or not. *Survey conducted for AJ Bell by Opinium of 2,000 nationally representative Brits of which 1,291 were in couples. Survey completed between 6-10 February 2026.

In this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by financial planner Kat Lowers, to discuss the sneaky effects of lifestyle creep. It may not be obvious at first, but when given a pay rise, many find the extra cash each month is disappearing as lifestyle creep takes hold. So how can you be aware of it and also enjoy good spending and saving habits?

On this episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura are joined by AJ Bell expert Hannah Williford as they share simple habits that make a big difference to your wallet. Whether you fall foul of auto-renewals for things like insurance, forget how many subscriptions you've signed up to, or keep forgetting to pay future-you at the start of the month, no matter your level of financial knowledge, we have top tips to help build your confidence.

On this week's AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, we are celebrating our 100th episode! Laura and Danni are reflecting on their financial journeys and setting new year's resolutions. We hear from some of our most popular podcast guests and hear how their finances have changed since their interviews including Laura Ann Moore, Kalpana Fitzpatrick and Rachel Peru. The team also reveal that there are some changes coming to the podcast in 2026.

On the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast this week, Danni and Laura reveal that more than half of Brits in relationships are keeping some spending secret from their partner - find out what they’re buying. We also hear from Abbie Glew, accountant at The Orenda Collective - as 2025 comes to an end, the deadline for self-assessment tax returns draws closer. But how do you know if you need to file one? We break down all the key dates and share Abbie's top tools to set yourself up for a great 2026.

This week on the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura explain how finances have changed in the past 50 years for women in the UK. We also speak to Elena Assimakolpoulos, a social media influencer with thousands of followers, who shares her top tips on making money from side hustles. From starting with selling books and then clothes in 2021, she's been able to make it her full time job and start investing for her future.

In this week's episode of the AJ Bell Money Matters podcast, Danni and Laura discuss how taxes could change in this month's Budget, and break down what they actually mean for your finances. Ahead of International Men's Day, we also hear from Lee Chambers from Male Allies UK, who helps challenge systems and barriers that historically elevate men and leave women behind. He shines a light on how men need to be involved in creating equitable workplaces, and what steps men can take to support our cause.