The Wallet

Women in the UK still retire with significantly less pension wealth than men, despite decades of progress. So why does the gender pension gap persist?

In this episode, Emilie Bellet is joined by Susan Hope, Business Development Director at Scottish Widows, to unpack the structural reasons behind the gap, from career breaks and caring responsibilities to workplace pensions and auto-enrolment.

They also share practical steps to help you understand your pension, make the most of employer contributions and build greater financial security for the future.

Topics we covered:
Why women are retiring with less than men
The £31 billion problem of lost pensions
The three questions everyone should ask about retirement
Why retirement planning starts earlier than you think
How career breaks and caring responsibilities affect pensions
Simple steps to find and reconnect with old pensions
Building financial confidence for later life

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

Connect with Vestpod
Join our free Vestpod Money Reset: https://www.vestpod.com/money-reset
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Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod
Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich
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Building better financial habits doesn't start with numbers. It starts with understanding behaviour.

In this episode of The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (founder of Vestpod) speaks with Jaskiran Mangat, financial adviser, coach and former banker, whose work sits at the intersection of money, mindset and behaviour.

Jaskiran shares how cognitive biases, habits and emotional patterns shape the way we earn, spend, save and invest, and explains how behavioural science can help us build.

They discuss:
What behavioural science is and why it matters for your finances
The common cognitive biases that make saving and investing harder
How childhood experiences shape our relationship with money
Why we sometimes sabotage our own financial progress
Practical ways to recognise and overcome unhelpful money habits
The psychology behind earning more and negotiating your salary
How to overcome fear of rejection and imposter syndrome
Science-backed strategies for building better financial habits
The power of automation, habit stacking and the 24-hour spending rule
How to stay motivated when working towards long-term goals like retirement

Whether you're trying to save more, invest with confidence, negotiate a pay rise or simply understand your financial behaviours better, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make better money decisions.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and difficult life circumstances.

Connect with Jaskiran: @moneywithjas

Follow Vestpod:
Instagram: @vestpod
LinkedIn: Emilie Bellet
Newsletter: www.vestpod.com

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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 Dr Ylva Baeckström about the hidden forces that shape our financial decisions.

From childhood experiences and financial attachment styles to confidence, investing behaviour and gender stereotypes, this conversation explores why money is rarely just about numbers.

Topics covered:
How financial identity is formed
Why many people avoid money conversations
The link between childhood experiences and money habits
Why women often outperform men as investors
The confidence gap in finance
Female financial advisers and investing behaviour
AI, financial advice and the future of investing
Why the real risk may be not investing at all

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

AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.
Wealthify makes investing simple by doing everything for you — from building your portfolio, to managing it on an on-going basis. Open your account at Wealthify.com.
With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Connect with Vestpod
Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribe
Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod
Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.

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.

Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. Open your account at Wealthify.com. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]

T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Connect with Vestpod
Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribe
Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod
Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women are often told the path to success is straightforward: be confident, negotiate harder, lean in, speak up.

But what happens when women do all of those things and still do not receive the same outcomes?

This week on The Wallet, Emilie Bellet (Vestpod) speaks with Stefanie O’Connell about ambition, work, money, and the hidden costs many women still face professionally and personally.

They discuss:
why negotiation advice alone is not enough
the backlash women can face when expressing ambition
burnout, invisible labour, and emotional load
how inequality is reinforced through systems and expectations
what financial independence and success can really look like for women today

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

AD | This episode is sponsored by Wealthify.
Wealthify makes investing simple by managing your investments for you. And if you deposit or transfer into their Stocks and Shares ISA, you could earn between £50 and £1,000 in cashback. [OFFER REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED]
Open your account at Wealthify.com. T&Cs and minimum investments apply. Registration closes on 31st May 2026. Cashback varies by total investment amount. With investing, your capital is at risk. Wealthify is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Resources
Order The Ambition Penalty
Website: Too Ambitious
Instagram: @stefanieoconnell
LinkedIn: Stefanie O’Connell

Connect with Vestpod
Sign up to The Edit newsletter: https://www.vestpod.com/subscribe
Courses and bootcamps: https://www.vestpod.com/courses
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestpod
Emilie’s book: You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.