How to make a big decision

When did looking after our money become so complicated? Maybe we don’t need the perfect plan. Maybe ‘good enough’ really is good enough. In this special episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom Mathar is joined by Alice Tapper, founder of Go Fund Yourself, to explore the financial rules of thumb that can make things feel a little simpler. From tackling debt and adapting the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, to building an emergency fund, putting the brakes on impulse spending and thinking about your future, they look at some familiar money shortcuts and why they won’t work exactly the same way for everyone. Because, yeah, life is messy, things change, and sometimes the most useful money rule is simply the one that helps you get started. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guest, Alice Tapper Alice Tapper is the founder of Go Fund Yourself, a community making conversations about money more open, honest and human. Find out more on the Go Fund Yourself website or follow @gofundyourself on Instagram.

Sometimes a fresh start is a choice. Sometimes it's chosen for us. But how do we make it stick? Liz Selman of The School of Life at Work and ProAge CEO Mike Mansfield join host Dr Tom Mathar to explore how we can make a fresh start – whether that's at work, in our relationships, or through our daily habits. In the final episode of season four, we look at the three Rs of a successful reset, how to let go of what no longer serves us, and what Mike learned from rebuilding his career after redundancy. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Liz Selman and Mike Mansfield Liz Selman is Head of Learning Experience at The School of Life at Work, where she designs and delivers learning focused on emotional intelligence and modern workplace dynamics. Visit theschooloflife.com for more information. Mike Mansfield is CEO of ProAge, a charity dedicated to age inclusion and reducing age discrimination in the workplace. After redundancy prompted a fresh start of his own, Mike now works with employers to recognise the value of older workers and build stronger multigenerational teams. Visit proage.org for more information.

The news is designed to keep us informed. But is it helping us make better decisions? Media researcher Jodie Jackson and Positive News editor Tom Pattinson join host Dr Tom Mathar to explore how the stories we consume shape the way we see the world, our future and our finances. In this episode of season four, we look at why bad news grabs our attention, how to avoid doomscrolling without becoming uninformed, and why a healthier media diet could help us make better long-term decisions. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Jodie Jackson and Tom Pattinson Jodie Jackson is an author, TEDx speaker and media researcher. Through her work on media literacy and neuroconditioning, she helps people understand how the information they consume shapes their lives. Follow Jodie on LinkedIn, or visit her website jodiejackson.com. Tom Pattinson is the editor of Positive News, a media platform dedicated to reporting progress, possibility and solutions. His work focuses on telling stories that inspire action and help people see the opportunities as well as the challenges facing the world.

Life rarely goes to plan, so what happens when everything changes? Bestselling author Bruce Feiler and financial planner Romany Youell join host Dr Tom Mathar to explore how we navigate the moments that shake up our lives. Whether it's a redundancy, a divorce, a health scare or a change you never saw coming, these ‘lifequakes’ can leave us questioning what's next. In this episode of season four, we look at why the idea of a linear life is a myth, how to find growth in periods of uncertainty, and why sometimes the goal isn't to bounce back to who we were before – but to get cosy with moving forward. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Bruce Feiler and Romany Youell Bruce Feiler is a bestselling author, speaker and expert on life transitions. Through his research, TED talks and writing, he helps people understand periods of change, uncertainty and reinvention – coining the term ‘lifequake’ along the way. For more information, you can visit his website www.brucefeiler.com. Romany Youell is the founder of The Finance Woman and was the UK’s youngest financial planner at 18. She helps people makes sense of major life changes with confidence and permission, using her award-winning business to create clarity, security and a sense of what's possible next.

Ever feel like you're standing at a crossroads? We definitely have – and it’s hard to know which path to take. Financial psychologist Meghaan Lurtz and gelato entrepreneur Marguerite Spina join host Dr Tom to explore why big life decisions can feel so overwhelming. In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, we look at why difficult decisions can leave us feeling stuck, how experimenting can build confidence, and what Marguerite learned when she left corporate life behind to start her own business. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts and tips about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. He’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education, too. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Meghaan Lurtz and Marguerite Spina Meghaan Lurtz is a financial psychologist, professor and writer. She helps people understand the psychology behind money, decision-making and living a meaningful life. You can subscribe to her Substack, (Less) Lonely Money and follow Meghaan on LinkedIn. Marguerite Spina is the founder of handmade Italian gelato company, Villaggio Gelato. Her journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship has given her first-hand experience of taking leaps into the unknown. You can visit villagiogelato.shop for more tasty information, or follow Marguerite on LinkedIn.

AI is changing the way we think, work and build careers. But should we be worried? Career coach Michelle Schechter and AI entrepreneur Sachin Goyal of Clarity Loop join host Dr Tom Mathar to explore how to navigate AI anxiety in a rapidly changing world. In this episode of season four, we look at why our value is bigger than our job title, the skills that matter most in an AI-powered future, and why human strengths may be our greatest advantage. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Michelle Schechter and Sachin Goyal Michelle Schechter is a career coach and founder of Career Gym. A former comms leader at LinkedIn, she helps people navigate career change, uncover their strengths and build confidence in an evolving world of work. Sachin Goyal is the founder and CEO of Clarity Loop, an AI-powered workplace learning platform. He’s passionate about helping people use technology to learn, grow and reach their potential at work.

You can't buy more hours in the day. But you might be able to buy more moments that matter. Financial planner Derek Hagen and listening bar founder Jessica Roberts join host Dr Tom Mathar to explore a surprisingly simple idea: buying time. In the first episode of season four, we look at why all years aren’t created equal, how money can help us create more experiences that matter, and why slowing down might be one of the smartest investments we ever make. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others). You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker. You can follow Dr Tom on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Derek Hagen and Jessica Roberts Derek Hagen is a financial life planner at Root Financial, author and creator of Meaning.blog. He helps people align their money with what matters most, exploring the connections between time, meaning and financial wellbeing. Jessica Roberts is the founder of Edinburgh listening bar Lounge 33, a unique space dedicated to music, connection and the art of slowing down.

You've probably planned your next holiday. But have you planned your financial future? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores how to build a financial plan – without getting lost in spreadsheets or sacrificing the life you want to live now. He's joined by financial planner Pete Matthew, who shares practical tips for understanding your finances and putting good habits on autopilot, and Oliver Noelting, whose journey towards financial independence at 40 took some unexpected turns. Together, they unpack why financial planning isn't about perfection or predicting the future. It's about giving yourself more options, more flexibility and more freedom to live the life you want. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to Fund a Happy and Long Life’, or follow him on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Pete Matthew and Oliver Noelting Pete Matthew is an author, podcaster, financial planner and CEO of Jacksons Wealth Management in Cornwall. You can follow Pete on LinkedIn, and find out more about MeaningfulMoney by visiting meaningfulmoney.tv. Oliver Noelting is a software engineer and author of Frügalisten.de. Read more about how Oliver’s plan to retire and be financially independent by 40 changed in his blog. Resources Find out more about how to build a financial life plan by downloading Dr Tom’s planning template, made in collaboration with Pension Geeks. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide – full of useful prompts and tips about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others).

Dreaming of retiring abroad? You’re not alone – but turning that dream into a reality isn’t always straightforward. In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores what it really takes to build a life overseas. From the exciting possibilities, to the practical (perhaps even boring) details many people forget about. He’s joined by relocation expert, Federica Grazi, who shares how to approach the decision with clarity and confidence, and David Richardson, who’s actually made the move himself. David offers an honest look at what works, what doesn’t, and what he wishes he’d known before making the move overseas. Together, they unpack how to balance lifestyle dreams with real-world considerations – and how to decide whether moving abroad is the right move for you. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to Fund a Happy and Long Life’, or follow him on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Federica Grazi and David Richardson Federica Grazi is a relocation expert and the founder of Mitos Relocation Solutions – a firm designed to help people move abroad in retirement. You can follow Federica on LinkedIn, and find out more by visiting www.mitosrelocation.com. David Richardson is an Aegon UK customer, and retired to Charente, in the southwest of France.

What does it really mean to live well – without feeling like you need more? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom explores how to spend in line with your values, not expectations – and why living well doesn’t have to mean consuming more. He’s joined by social psychologist and author, Dr Elizabeth Dunn, who shares how making more joyful decisions could help shape a better future – not just for ourselves, but for the world around us. Then Justine Palefsky, co-founder of home-swapping community Kindred, explains what she’s learned about connection, consumption and choosing differently. Together, they explore how small shifts in how we spend, live and prioritise can help us feel more fulfilled – and a little freer. For both us, and the world around us. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Dr Elizabeth Dunn and Justine Palefsky Dr Elizabeth Dunn is an author, social psychologist and professor at the University of British Columbia. She’s co-authored a book titled: ‘Leave the lights on: How joyful decisions can save our species’, which is available to order now. Justine Palefsky is the co-founder of Kindred, a home swapping and exchange community with more than 300,000 members in 150+ cities globally. You can follow Justine on LinkedIn, and find out more about Kindred on Instagram, and at their website: www.livekindred.com.