The Brooks Macdonald Podcast

From Geopolitical Headlines to Markets: What Investors Should Consider

26 March 2026
In the latest Brooks Macdonald podcast, Priscilla Cheung, Investment Specialist, and Mike Toolan, Co‑CIO, discuss how recent developments in Iran and the wider Middle East region have led to a rise in geopolitical risk and market unease.

Periods like this tend to generate intense news coverage, but for investors, it is important to distinguish near‑term developments from the forces that shape long‑term investment outcomes.

AI and Market Forces

3 March 2026
Priscilla Cheung, Investment Specialist and Mike Toolan, co-CIO at Brooks Macdonald, discuss two powerful forces that are at play in the markets - on one hand there is rapid innovation around AI, but on the flip side there are tariff and geopolitical risks. They discuss their belief that staying disciplined and realistic is the best way to navigate these forces when markets are being pulled in different directions.

2026 Investment Outlook

16 January 2026
Going into 2026, the investment landscape is changing and in this podcast Priscilla Cheung, Michael Toolan, and Richard Larner Richard Larner discuss some of the key topics. From uncertainty around Federal Reserve policy, whether the AI rally can last and why UK equities are now back in focus.

What does the 2025 budget mean for you?

27 November 2025
Chancellor Rachel Reeves released the 2025 budget. There’s a lot to unpack and so to help us understand more about the budget and its implications, we’ve asked Steve Webb, former Minister of Pensions to guide us through in a brief conversation with our colleague, Edward Backhouse from Brooks Financial.

Brooks Mortgages Podcast

18 November 2025
With just over a week to go until the budget, speculation around mortgages is heating up as we approach the budget. What does this mean for homeowners and buyers? Join Abbie Gaul and David Baker as they discuss all the latest rumours leading up to the Autumn Budget.

Melt-up or Meltdown

4 November 2025
With global equity indices reaching new highs and momentum driving prices higher in the hottest growth areas of the market, Henrietta Walker, Mike Toolan and Richard Larner discuss the reasons for a continued market 'melt-up' against the risks or a 'melt-down'.

Market dichotomy and seasonal risk

16 September 2025
Beneath the surface of markets reaching new highs, bond markets are flashing warning signals with rising yields in the US and Europe potentially pointing to broader economic uncertainties. Sticky inflation versus weakening growth, robust corporate earnings versus high valuations, cooling economic growth versus momentum that is still pointing up. In this latest podcast episode, Priscilla Cheung, Richard Larner and Michael Toolan explore the factors behind a market that is oscillating between optimism and caution, and the risks behind retail investment driven market growth.

Market Momentum and Risk

1 August 2025
Despite many indices trading close to all-time highs, these headline returns mask a lot of volatility, meaning diversification by asset class, geography and style remain key to managing risk. In this latest podcast episode, Henrietta Walker, Richard Larner and Michael Toolan explore the factors behinda momentum driven market and Brooks Macdonald’s diversification approach whichis driving performance.

Retirement Strategies

31 July 2025
With significant updates in the policy and regulatory space, there is growing attention on advice around retirement strategies. In our latest podcast episode, Neil Cowell, Group Director of Distribution at Brooks Macdonald, is joined by Sir SteveWebb, former Pensions Minister and Partner at LCP, to discuss where advisors fit in the new advice regulations, the need to provide a centralized retirement proposition and how Brooks Macdonald retirement strategies provide choice,clarity and confidence for advisors and clients.

Reflections from the Mansion House Speech

17 July 2025
With the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms in focus, what do the latest announcements mean for savers and investors? In our latest podcast episode, Dan Thompson, CFA, Director of Investments at Brooks Macdonald, is joined by Sir Steve Webb, former Pensions Minister and Partner at LCP, to unpack the government’s interest for more investment from retail investors, the noise around ISAs, and the importance of looking to the long term and not over reacting to the headlines.

Uncertainty and Volatility:

8 July 2025
Investors are no stranger to uncertainty, but with the end of the 90-day tariff pause fast approaching and recent global events still unfolding, the threat of market volatility remains. What does this mean for future opportunities? In this latest podcast episode, Henrietta Walker, Richard Larner and Michael Toolan discuss:

Tariffs: A Temporary Reprieve

8 July 2025
Markets welcomed a short-term pause in US-China tariffs, but beneath the relief lies deeper uncertainty. What does this mean for global markets, your portfolio, and the road ahead? In our latest podcast, Henrietta Walker, Richard Larner, Michael Toolan.

The Economic Ripple Effect of Trump's Tarrifs

9 April 2025
Good investment work starts with good financial planning. At Brooks Macdonald we’re building and investing in longer term robust portfolios for our clients while also looking for timely opportunities. Henrietta Walker, Head of Investment Specialist team, talks to Co-CIO’s Richard Larner and Michael Toolan.