Why do some people confidently invest while others avoid money conversations altogether?

In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet speaks with behavioural finance expert, psychotherapist and King's College London senior lecturer Ylva Baeckström about the hidden forces that shape our financial decisions. From childhood experiences and financial attachment styles to gender stereotypes, confidence and investing behaviour, the conversation explores why money is rarely just about numbers.

Ylva explains why women are often better investors than they think, how financial identity develops from an early age, and why the biggest investment risk for many people is not investing at all. The episode also examines the role of financial education, female financial advisers, AI, and the changes needed to help more people build long-term wealth with confidence.

Most people think investing is about picking the right stocks. It is not. This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Jessie Kwok, Chief Investment Officer at Wealthify, to unpack what drives investment outcomes over time.

They cover: Why asset allocation matters more than stock picking, How to think about risk in a practical way, What shapes long-term portfolio performance, Why staying invested is often the hardest part, How to build a portfolio you can stick to.

The information shared is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

What happens when your salary hits £100K in the UK? In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) speaks with Philly Ponniah about the financial reality facing high earners. From the £100K childcare tax trap and 60% marginal tax rate to lifestyle creep, investing hesitation, and lack of financial structure, this episode explains why earning more does not automatically build wealth. Practical insights cover financial planning for high earners, how to manage income thresholds, build a system, and make intentional decisions to grow long-term wealth.

Why does building wealth feel complicated, slow, or out of reach, even when you are earning and doing “the right things”?

In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Mary and Ken Okoroafor, founders of The Humble Penny and authors of The Wealth Habit. Together, we unpack why wealth is less about income and more about habits, identity, and systems, and how small, consistent actions can create long-term financial security.

How do you actually build an investment portfolio, and what is the simplest way to start?

In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) is joined by Caroline Brady (Net Purpose, ex BlackRock) to break down portfolio building in plain English, from asset allocation and diversification to the difference between stocks and funds. We also cover how ESG and impact investing fit into long-term investing without overcomplicating it.

Financial news is everywhere. Markets, interest rates, crypto, AI, pensions, gold, recessions, bubbles. For many people, it creates more stress than clarity, and often leads to reactive money decisions they later regret.

In this episode of The Wallet, Vestpod founder Emilie Bellet is joined by Kalpana Fitzpatrick, Digital Editor at MoneyWeek, to unpack how financial news is made, why it can feel overwhelming, and how to consume it without panic.

Let’s be honest — “start investing” has probably been sitting on your to-do list for months (or years). You know it’s important, but it can feel confusing, risky, or just… something future-you will figure out.

The truth? You don’t need thousands of pounds or a finance degree to begin. You can start investing with as little as £100 — and doing it today can make a real difference to your financial future.

This is your simple, no-jargon guide to getting started.

For years, the world of investing has felt like a closed club, historically dominated by men. The imagery surrounding stock markets—the shouting, the fast-paced trades, the risk-taking—has often alienated women from these financial conversations. Yet, despite this, recent research shows that women not only make great investors but often outperform their male counterparts. So why does the myth persist that women aren’t as savvy in the investing world?

We’ve all heard about the gender investment gap, and it rightly riles us up. But here’s the reality: this isn’t just a personal issue—it’s deeply systemic. It didn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of generations of inequality, where women have been shut out of financial conversations and opportunities.  The system wasn’t built with women in mind, and it shows.

Notes (and some links I looked up) on crypto context and practicalities for other newbies who cannot tell the difference between bitcoin and blockchain. Consider it a beginner’s guide to the beginner’s session that Clara so patiently and eloquently ran through!