The Money:Mindshift podcast

In the final episode of season two, Dr Tom takes on one of life’s toughest subjects and asks how we can prepare for death - not just practically or financially, but emotionally too. He’s joined by Swedish death cleaning coach, Asa Nilsson, who explains how decluttering our homes, finances and digital lives can reduce the burden we leave behind and bring peace in the present. Later, grief communication expert, Kathi Balasek, shares her personal story of loss and unpacks why grief isn’t something to "get over”, but something we learn to live alongside - and how honest conversations can help us and those we love navigate it.
 
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. 

Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools: aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift

Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift: linkedin.com/company/aegonuk.

Get to know Dr Tom

Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. 

Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.'

Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn.

And a huge thank you to our guests, Asa Nilsson and Kathi Balasek

Asa Nilsson is a Swedish Death Cleaning coach and founder of More Moss to the People. You can follow her on Youtube and visit her website More Moss to the People for more information.

Kathi Balasek is grief communication expert, speaker, and founder of Grief-Ready Communication. She trains financial advisers and firms to communicate with clarity, empathy, and confidence during loss. You can follow her on LinkedIn or visit her website kathibalasek.com for more information.

Between the hot stock and crypto tips, and big money headlines, is it possible to win big? Or does trying to beat the market just hold us back? This episode explores why trying to beat the market is such a powerful idea, and what influences the way we invest. Dr Tom is joined by former hedge manager, Lars Kroijer, to challenge the stereotypes of investors, before MoneyWeek editor, Kalpana Fitzpatrick, adds a journalist’s perspective on why many people struggle to move from saving to investing – especially women.

Considerations 

Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and don't necessarily represent the views of Aegon. The value of an investment can fall as well as rise, it isn’t guaranteed and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance of markets and investments shouldn't be taken as a reliable indicator of future performance. 

What’s discussed is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as financial advice. The correct investment strategy for you will depend on your personal circumstances, which you should discuss with a regulated 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. 

Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools at aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift.

Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift at linkedin.com/company/aegonuk.

Get to know Dr Tom

Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. 

Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.

Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn.

And a huge thank you to our guests, Lars Kroijer and Kalpana Fitzpatrick

Lars Kroijer is a former hedge fund manager, investor, and author of two books, including Money Mavericks and Investing Demystified. You can watch his investing series on Youtube, or follow him on LinkedIn. For more information, visit his website at kroijer.com.

Kalpana Fitzpatrick is a financial journalist and digital editor at MoneyWeek, as well as the author of Invest Now and Get to Know Money. You can also follow her on Instagram @kalpanafitz and LinkedIn.

What does it really take a build a career that feels meaningful? This episode explores how to navigate career changes with purpose and confidence to help find a job you love. Our host, Dr Tom, is joined by behavioural science expert, Alice Hooper-Scott from The School of Life at Work, to unpack the emotional and financial realities of leaving a job that isn't fulfilling and finding one that aligns with your values. The pair are also joined by Selina Flavius, leading financial coach and founder of Black Girl Finance in exploring why money worries, systemic societal stigma, and self-doubt shape our career decisions more than we realise.

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. 

Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools: aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift

Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift: linkedin.com/company/aegonuk.

Get to know Dr Tom

Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. 

Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.'

Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn.

And a huge thank you to our guests, Alice Hooper-Scott and Selina Flavius

Alice Hooper-Scott is director of The School of Life at Work, and behavioural science expert. You can find out more at The School of Life at Work website, or follow Alice on LinkedIn.

Selina Flavius is an author, financial coach and founder of Black Girl Finance, a financial coaching and training company. You can find out more on the Black Girl Finance website, or follow them on Instagram. You can also follow Selina on LinkedIn.

Who is your future self to you? Are they a friend – or a total stranger? Chances are, you might not have even thought about them yet. In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom sits down with world‑leading behavioural scientist, Hal Hershfield, to explore why so many of us struggle to plan for the future. They discover how feeling more connected to the person we want to become can transform the choices we make today. Dr Tom also takes the chance to check in with his listeners to hear their hopes and fears for the future, too – with surprising results. Tune in to find out how maximising your future happiness can start by visualising who you want to be.

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. 

Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools: aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift

Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift: linkedin.com/company/aegonuk.

Get to know Dr Tom

Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. 

Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.'

Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn.

And a huge thank you to our guest, Hal Hershfield

Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Decision Making at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. He is also the best-selling author of ‘Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today’. You can follow him on LinkedIn, or visit his website: halhershfield.com.

Reference:

Life expectancy calculator. Data source: Office for National Statistics, February 2025.

What does it actually mean to be wealthy – and is it the same as being rich? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom sits down with author Brian Portnoy and financial planner Shadi Kirk to explore ‘funded contentment’ – the idea that money should underwrite the life you want to live, not the endless search for more. Together, they unpack the difference between being rich and being wealthy, and why many of us are already wealthier than we think. Tune in to build your own version of wealth.

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. 

Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools.

Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift.

Get to know Dr Tom

Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. 

Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.'

Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn.

And a huge thank you to our guests, Brian Portnoy and Shadi Kirk 

Brian Portnoy is the best-selling author of The Geometry of Wealth, and the founder of Shaping Wealth - a learning technology platform that's transforming the human experience of money. You can follow him on LinkedIn, or visit Shaping Wealth's website.

Shadi Kirk is a financial planner in Edinburgh and a co-founder of Transform - a financial planning service in Scotland. You can follow Shadi on LinkedIn, or visit her website.