Following a number of listeners getting in touch over the summer, we’ve dedicated this episode to answering your questions. Kyle is joined by Craig Rickman, ii’s personal finance editor, to tackle questions related to investments and pensions. We kick off by asking whether record stock market highs are a concern.

Below are links to recent articles that Kyle mentions in the episode:

• Should you invest when markets are at all-time highs?
• The biggest risks keeping fund managers awake at night

Do you have an investment or pension question you’d like Kyle and Craig to answer in a future Q&A episode? If so, we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch by emailing OTM@ii.co.uk.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Returning following a two-week break, Kyle is joined by colleague Sam Benstead for this episode. The duo run through what private investors should look for when researching funds. Topics discussed include charges, the trap of performance chasing, how to identify funds that take significant active bets, and the importance of not buying too many funds in the same sector.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The sharp stock market sell-off earlier this year served as a reminder that volatility is par for the course in investing. During such periods, defensive growth businesses are expected to hold up better than those that are more cyclical and sensitive to economic cycles. In this episode, Kyle speaks to James Thomson, lead manager of Rathbone Global Opportunities fund. Part of the fund is devoted to recession-resistant businesses, including companies that are not as closely linked to the economic cycle, and those where demand is more predictable. James explains what he looks for in ‘weather-proof businesses’ and shares stock examples.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Most investors will have a sizeable weighting to the US stock market, particularly those who own global index funds or ETFs, which have weightings of around 70% to US companies. Some active global fund managers go against the crowd by holding less in the US, including James Harries of STS Global Income & Growth Trust. James explains why over a quarter of the portfolios invested in UK shares, and runs through changes made to the investment trust during the stock market sell-off in April triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Over the past decade, Asia-Pacific companies have become more dividend friendly. This episode examines that trend, with the region arguably an overlooked one for generating income and generally seen as more of a growth play. Joining Kyle to discuss this topic is Isaac Thong, manager of Aberdeen Asian Income Fund, an investment trust.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

In this episode, Kyle is joined by interactive investor’s Sam Benstead to examine key trends among the 50 most-popular funds, investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the second quarter of 2025. Among topics discussed are the types of funds investors are favouring to ‘own the market’, why interest in US funds is cooling, the investment trust sector attracting income-seeking investors, and how the top 50 has changed compared with a year ago.

The data discussed is from the ii Top 50 Fund Index. Every three months, this index reveals the 50 most-bought collective investments. You can read the latest report here.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Kyle is joined by Craig Rickman, personal finance editor at interactive investor, to cover the key personal finance announcements made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Mansion House speech this week. The duo examine the government’s ambition to turn Britain into a nation of investors, the news that further changes to ISAs are being considered, and the omission of new pension reforms in the speech.

The podcast was recorded remotely shortly after the Mansion House speech.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Asia-Pacific region is an adventurous area that can potentially add spice to a portfolio. Joining Kyle to share his outlook on the region and talk through how he aims to strike a balance between risks and opportunities, is Doug Ledingham, manager of Pacific Assets Trust. Doug explains why the investment trust has been increasing exposure to China, offers his view on India, and discusses other countries he favours.

On The Money is an interactive investor (ii) podcast. For more investment news and ideas, visit www.ii.co.uk/stock-market-news.

Kyle Caldwell is Collectives Editor at interactive investor.

Important information:
This material is intended for educational purposes only and is not investment research or a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy. The value of your investments can rise as well as fall, and you could get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The investments referred to may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, you should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser. SIPPs are aimed at people happy to make their own investment decisions. Investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. You can normally only access the money from age 55 (57 from 2028). We recommend seeking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser before making any decisions. Pension and tax rules depend on your circumstances and may change in future. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of these products, you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. Interactive Investor Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.