This is Money Podcast

On this special This is Money podcast episode to celebrate his 500th column as our retirement agony uncle, Steve Webb is back to answer your pension questions.The former pensions minister joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to talk through what he has learnt over those 500 columns and reply to the questions he has been sent in specially for this episode.01:54 – The £118,000 state pension underpayment that exposed a huge scandal 05:01 – Inheritance tax: What's changing for pensions in April 2027? 07:39 – Will final salary pensions be caught by inheritance tax? 09:02 – How to make life easier for loved ones when you die 10:09 – Can you give money to relatives' pensions without paying inheritance tax? 12:07 – Gifting from surplus income: What records do you need? 13:47 – Can you access your pension at 55 without triggering a tax trap? 15:53 – Why is the private pension access age rising to 57? 19:19 – Tax-free lump sums: Can you take another 25% if your investments grow? 23:36 – Why is the state pension taxable when other benefits aren't? 30:54 – Is deferring your state pension for nine years a costly mistake? 33:31 – The McCloud ruling: Why are public sector pensions still delayed? 36:47 – What would Steve Webb change about the pension system? 38:37 – The biggest pension mistake people make 39:39 – Are you missing out on a better workplace pension? 41:19 – Why checking your pension paperwork could save you thousandsFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The triple lock's days appear to be numbered. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed bold plans to ditch the pension guarantee from 2030 and replace it with what has been dubbed a 'double lock' at the Labour party conference this week. Is it the right move? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane discuss on this week's This is Money Podcast. Elsewhere, Angela Rayner announced that councils could soon be allowed to take over empty buy-to-let properties, if they had been vacant for as little as six months. Helen explains EDMOs and who could be stung.Fancy working for yourself? We reveal the ten most in-demand self-employed roles... plus what to do if you find out a colleague is being paid a lot more than you for doing something similar. Finally, a new vape tax comes into force this week. What's changing, and will it really encourage people to kick the habit? 01:17 – Is the triple lock on the way out?19:21 – State Pension myths busted22:50 – Could councils take over empty homes?30:00 – The most in-demand self-employed jobs34:53 – My colleague earns £20,000 more than me – what can I do?39:52 – The new vape tax: how much will it cost?45:17 – Lee’s tip of the weekFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank of England held the base rate again on Thursday but mortgage rates have soared this week.Major lenders have made a wave of hikes and there are warnings that more are on the way, so what's going on?Is this just another temporary spike as the mortgage market throws one of the wobblies we've seen a number of times in recent years or serious bad news, with rates set to stick higher?On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss interest rates, what this could cost people and what you can do if you need to remortgage.Plus, what does this all mean for gilts and the Budget and did the Bank of England quietly make a decision that could make things materially better?With more investors buying gilts direct, should you take advantage of the higher rates on offer and how do you invest in UK government bonds?Or should you choose a fixed rate savings account at 5.2 per cent instead.A This is Money reader question highlights the worst inheritance tax trap that lies at £2million.And finally, would you do a Rokos and move to Greece – and other than the weather what are the attractions?Helpful linksTo check the best mortgage rates you could apply for go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgage-finderTo check the best savings rates go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/saveRead Joanne Hart's guide to investing in giltsTIME STAMPS00:00 Welcome to the podcast 00:52 Interest rates held – so why are mortgages getting more expensive? 03:30 Mortgage rates are rising again: how bad could it get? 06:22 From 0.99% to 4.88%: the remortgage shock facing borrowers 10:57 Savings rates are back above 5% – should you lock in? 18:05 Five-year fix or invest instead? 19:43 Gilts 101: what are government bonds and how do they work? 24:24 Why are gilt yields so high – and how do they compare with savings? 27:18 How do you actually buy gilts? 29:59 Inheritance tax: could a £2m estate lose the home allowance? 33:07 Pensions and inheritance tax: what changes from April 2027? 36:02 The inheritance tax trap that could produce eye-watering tax rates 39:48 Why are wealthy Britons moving to Greece? 41:59 Greece's tax breaks – and who can benefit 42:08 Thinking of moving to Greece? What you need to consider 47:20 Seven energy deals that could beat the price cap rise 48:04 That's all for this weekFollow us on Instagram @dmgnewmedia.Follow us on TikTok @dmgnewmediaFollow us on X @dmgnewmediaEmail us [email protected] us  020 7938 6000.Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen CraneProducer: Georgie Frost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.