Why Money News Makes Us PanicWith Kalpana Fitzpatrick
Why headlines trigger anxiety, what actually matters, and how to make calmer financial decisions
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.
Together, they explore how headlines shape emotions, how click-driven content fuels fear and urgency, and how to separate useful information from noise, hype, or manipulation, so you can make better long-term money decisions.
Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Why money news feels overwhelming
Kalpana explains that the problem is not just the volume of news, but how we now consume it. Financial stories no longer come from one trusted source. They appear on social media, podcasts, apps, and feeds, often repeated and amplified.
Once you show interest in a topic, algorithms push more of it at you, usually in its most emotional form. Fear, urgency, and drama travel faster than nuance. That is why money news can feel relentless and anxiety-inducing.
But Kalpana is clear: avoiding money news entirely is not the answer. Some stories genuinely matter, especially those that affect savings rules, pensions, ISAs, taxes, and long-term planning.
The key is learning to filter.
Clickbait, fear, and the problem with headlines
One of the biggest drivers of confusion is how headlines are written. Sensational language, fear of missing out, and urgency are often used to attract clicks, not to help people make decisions.
Kalpana explains that if a headline makes you feel panicked, rushed, or like you are about to miss out, it is usually a sign to slow down, not act. Real financial journalism is about context, not pressure.
A simple rule she shares is this:
If it makes you feel like you need to act now, step away.
How to research investments without getting overwhelmed
For people starting out, Kalpana strongly advises against picking individual stocks straight away. Instead, she encourages thinking in themes. Technology, healthcare, regions, or global markets, and using funds to gain diversified exposure.
Reading long-form journalism is part of that research. Not to act instantly, but to understand how industries, companies, and markets actually work.
As she puts it, “Don’t invest in anything you don’t understand.”
Why social media and AI can distort decisions
The episode also explores the risks of getting financial information from social media, family, or AI tools. Kalpana warns that while short-form content can be useful, it is also where misinformation spreads fastest.
She highlights that using AI tools for investment advice is dangerous, with research showing a large proportion of generated information can be inaccurate. Journalism, she explains, is about speaking to experts, analysing data, and putting information in context, not producing instant answers.
How to stay informed without reacting
A central theme of the episode is this: news should inform, not dictate your decisions.
Kalpana shares that most financial news should not change your portfolio at all. Long-term investing is about consistency, not reacting to daily headlines. Ups and downs are normal.
Instead, she suggests using news to ask better questions:
Does this actually matter for me?
Is this short-term noise or a long-term shift?
Does this affect my savings rules, taxes, or pension?
If the answer is no, it is often safe to do nothing.
The biggest myths about investing
In a quick-fire round, Kalpana debunks some of the most common investing myths:
Investing is gambling
You need a lot of money to start
You need to constantly change your portfolio
You need to understand everything before you begin
In reality, investing can start small, be simple, and grow over time through consistency.
One question to ask before acting on any headline
Kalpana leaves listeners with a filter for money news: “Does it really matter?”
Most of the time, the answer is no. And that is often the most calming financial decision you can make.
Resources
Instagram @kalpanafitz
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