How to build a financial plan (featuring Pete Matthew and Oliver Noelting)

How to build a financial plan (featuring Pete Matthew and Oliver Noelting)

You've probably planned your next holiday. But have you planned your financial future? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores how to build a financial plan – without getting lost in spreadsheets or sacrificing the life you want to live now. He's joined by financial planner Pete Matthew, who shares practical tips for understanding your finances and putting good habits on autopilot, and Oliver Noelting, whose journey towards financial independence at 40 took some unexpected turns. Together, they unpack why financial planning isn't about perfection or predicting the future. It's about giving yourself more options, more flexibility and more freedom to live the life you want. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcaster, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to Fund a Happy and Long Life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Pete Matthew and Oliver Noelting Pete Matthew is an author, podcaster, financial planner and CEO of Jacksons Wealth Management in Cornwall. You can follow Pete on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petematthew/], and find out more about MeaningfulMoney by visiting meaningfulmoney.tv [https://meaningfulmoney.tv/]. Oliver Noelting is a software engineer and author of Frügalisten.de [https://frugalisten.de/]. Read more about how Oliver’s plan to retire and be financially independent by 40 changed in his blog [https://frugalisten.de/so-gehe-ich-mit-40-in-rente-mein-masterplan-fuer-die-finanzielle-unabhaengigkeit/]. Resources Find out more about how to build a financial life plan by downloading Dr Tom’s planning template [http://aegon.co.uk/content/dam/auk/assets/publication/marketing-support/sample-financial-life-plan.pptx?src=aegon&cmp=money:mindshift&v=30_6_26&cnt=financial_plan&aud=cust&med=wbst], made in collaboration with Pension Geeks. Want to talk about how money makes you feel, but not sure where to start? Check out our money conversation starters guide [https://www.aegon.co.uk/customer/money-mindshift/how-to-use-this-guide?src=aegon&cmp=money:mindshift&v=30_6_26&cnt=conversation_guide&aud=cust&med=wbst] – full of useful prompts and tips about how to begin that conversation (with both yourself, and others).

How to retire abroad (featuring Federica Grazi and David Richardson)

Dreaming of retiring abroad? You’re not alone – but turning that dream into a reality isn’t always straightforward. In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores what it really takes to build a life overseas. From the exciting possibilities, to the practical (perhaps even boring) details many people forget about. He’s joined by relocation expert, Federica Grazi, who shares how to approach the decision with clarity and confidence, and David Richardson, who’s actually made the move himself. David offers an honest look at what works, what doesn’t, and what he wishes he’d known before making the move overseas. Together, they unpack how to balance lifestyle dreams with real-world considerations – and how to decide whether moving abroad is the right move for you. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to Fund a Happy and Long Life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Federica Grazi and David Richardson Federica Grazi is a relocation expert and the founder of Mitos Relocation Solutions – a firm designed to help people move abroad in retirement. You can follow Federica on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/federicagrazi/], and find out more by visiting www.mitosrelocation.com [https://mitosrelocation.com/]. David Richardson is an Aegon UK customer, and retired to Charente, in the southwest of France.

How to live well and sustainably (featuring Liz Dunn and Justine Palefsky)

What does it really mean to live well – without feeling like you need more? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom explores how to spend in line with your values, not expectations – and why living well doesn’t have to mean consuming more. He’s joined by social psychologist and author, Dr Elizabeth Dunn, who shares how making more joyful decisions could help shape a better future – not just for ourselves, but for the world around us. Then Justine Palefsky, co-founder of home-swapping community Kindred, explains what she’s learned about connection, consumption and choosing differently. Together, they explore how small shifts in how we spend, live and prioritise can help us feel more fulfilled – and a little freer. For both us, and the world around us. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Dr Elizabeth Dunn and Justine Palefsky Dr Elizabeth Dunn is an author, social psychologist and professor at the University of British Columbia. She’s co-authored a book titled: ‘Leave the lights on: How joyful decisions can save our species’, which is available to order now. Justine Palefsky is the co-founder of Kindred, a home swapping and exchange community with more than 300,000 members in 150+ cities globally. You can follow Justine on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-palefsky/], and find out more about Kindred on Instagram, and at their website: www.livekindred.com [https://livekindred.com/].

How (not) to talk about money (featuring Vicky Reynal and Abby Birch)

Why do so many of us feel awkward talking about money? And what are we really saying when we avoid it? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom explores why money conversations feel so uncomfortable – and why they’re rarely just about numbers. He’s joined by financial therapist and Sunday Times columnist, Vicky Reynal, who unpacks how our beliefs, behaviours and emotions shape how we earn, spend and save. Then financial wellbeing coach and ADHD money expert, Abby Birch, shares why money can feel even more complex for neurodivergent folks – from the ADHD tax to cycles of guilt and shame – and why traditional advice doesn’t work for everyone. Together, they explore how small shifts in how we talk about money can help us feel more in control – and much less awkward. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Research conducted by Opinium on behalf of Aegon’s Money:Mindshift campaign. The survey polled 2,000 UK adults between 14 and 17 April 2026. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Vicky Reynal and Abby Birch Vicky Reynal is a financial psychotherapist, Times and Sunday Times columnist, and author of award-winning book: ‘Money on your Mind: the Psychology behind your Financial Habits’. You can follow her on both Instagram and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-reynal/]. Abby Birch is an award-winning financial wellbeing and neurodivergent money expert, coach and speaker. You can follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-birch/] and find out more about at her website abbybirch.co.uk [https://abbybirch.co.uk/].

How to do nothing (featuring Olga Mecking and Ian Usher)

Why is doing nothing so uncomfortable? And when did rest start to feel like something we have to earn? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores why humans struggle to sit still – and how our constant urge to act, fix or feel something might actually be working against us. He’s joined by journalist and author, Olga Mecking, who explains why doing nothing without purpose can boost creativity and long‑term decision‑making. Then global adventurer, Ian Usher – who famously sold his life on eBay and later bought his own island – shares how a serious accident forced him into complete stillness. After a life lived at full speed, Ian reflects on what stopping completely taught him about acceptance, productivity guilt and finding peace (without a goal in mind). Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. AI was used in the editing of this podcast. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, ask a question, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Olga Mecking and Ian Usher Ola Mecking is a journalist and author of international bestseller ‘Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing’. You can follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgamecking/]. Ian Usher is an author, speaker and global sensation who sold his life on eBay to buy an island off the coast of Panama. You can follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianusher/] or find out more at his websites ianusher.com [https://www.ianusher.com/] and housesittingmagazine.com [https://housesittingmagazine.com/].