The Smart Money Show

The Smart Money Show

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  1. Bonus Episode: The NEFS Conference and The Students Building It - with Haaris Khan and Misgana Berhane

    12/31/2025โ€„ยทโ€„BONUS

    Bonus Episode: The NEFS Conference and The Students Building It - with Haaris Khan and Misgana Berhane

    A massive finance conference OUTSIDE London FOR students!? ๐Ÿค” In the season of giving - hereโ€™s a BONUS episode of The Smart Money Show, about the University of Nottinghamโ€™s Economics and Finance Society 2026 Annual Conference. Firstly, we're really excited to announce our partnership with the NEFS Conference. As part of this collaboration, weโ€™ve got exclusive access to a range of professional speakers from elite financial institutions, and on the day of the conference weโ€™ll be setting up a studio to record interviews with speakers and senior professionals in attendance! So to kick off our collaboration, we are joined by their two co-presidents Haaris Khan and Misgana Berhane. After experiences across financial services and healthcare, Haaris is an incoming Industrial Placement Analyst at Lazard. Misgana completed spring weeks at Jefferies, Citi, and Scotiabank, alongside internships at Octopus Energy and Grosvenor, and is gearing up for a return internship at Jefferies this summer. In this bonus episode, we unpick their career journeys so far, their time with NEFS and why you should attend their flagship conference in the new year! Plus a Happy New Year from the team at The Smart Money Show! ๐Ÿ™Œ Contacts and Details: Get your tickets here! - https://www.instagram.com/uonnefs?igsh=cWc3OWlwbTI1emNn Haaris Khan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/haariskhanlinkedin/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BhS%2BbHsVcRh6soIKalYihbg%3D%3D Misgana Berhane - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misganaberhane/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BhS%2BbHsVcRh6soIKalYihbg%3D%3D NEFS TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@nefsconference?_r=1&_t=ZN-92dI7LvKENy NEFS Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uonnefs?igsh=cWc3OWlwbTI1emNn ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 23rd December 2025 Chapters: 0:00 โ€“ Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 1:07 โ€“ NEFS Conference Partnership Announcement ๐Ÿค 1:40 โ€“ Guest Introductions: Haaris Khan & Misgana Berhane ๐Ÿ‘‹ 2:44 โ€“ Why Finance? Early Motivations ๐Ÿ’ก 5:57 โ€“ Early Perceptions of Finance & Misconceptions ๐Ÿง  7:52 โ€“ Degrees, Backgrounds & Transferable Skills ๐ŸŽ“ 9:42 โ€“ Breaking the โ€œNon-Financeโ€ Barrier ๐Ÿšช 11:20 โ€“ The Moment Finance Became Real ๐ŸŽฏ 16:22 โ€“ Testing Career Paths & Gaining Exposure ๐Ÿ” 20:59 โ€“ Rejection, Resilience & Bouncing Back ๐Ÿ’ช 24:28 โ€“ Converting a Spring Week into a Summer Offer ๐Ÿ” 26:36 โ€“ Why Societies Matter for Careers & Confidence ๐Ÿ›๏ธ 29:10 โ€“ Inside NEFS & Its Growing Influence ๐Ÿ“ˆ 31:36 โ€“ Stepping Into Leadership Roles ๐Ÿง  34:37 โ€“ Balancing Academics, Societies & Applications โš–๏ธ 40:51 โ€“ Building the NEFS Conference Vision ๐ŸŽค 45:27 โ€“ Why the Conference Matters for Students ๐ŸŽ“ 46:23 โ€“ Who Should Attend & What Youโ€™ll Gain ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ 48:02 โ€“ Getting Involved & Making the Most of It ๐Ÿš€ 49:16 โ€“ Final Reflections & Key Lessons ๐ŸŒฑ 55:30 โ€“ Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    56 min
  2. Episode 30: Inside the World of Credit Ratings and Global Finance - with Olivier Beroud

    12/04/2025

    Episode 30: Inside the World of Credit Ratings and Global Finance - with Olivier Beroud

    Risk, ratings, and a rise in reputation... โš ๏ธ In our THIRTIETH episode, join Ali and Noman as they meet Olivier Beroud, the Executive Chair of ARC Risk Group, to discuss credit ratings and the future of risk management. With an illustrious career spanning continents and household names, Olivier has held senior positions in risk management at GCR Ratings, Moodyโ€™s Investorsโ€™ Service, Barclays and Standard & Poorโ€™s. Passionate about risk appetite but also education and mentorship, Olivier's consulting firm allows him to coach executives, lecture around the world and mentor students with financial fanaticism. Elaborating on his various roles and hot-takes on the function of credit ratings as a foundation of the global financial ecosystem, both his theoretical insights and practical advice turn this episode into a must-watch for anyone who envisions themselves with a future in finance! Olivier Beroud - https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivier-beroud-3854423/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 9th October Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 3:11 - Olivierโ€™s Career Snapshot ๐Ÿงญ 5:03 - What Drew Him to Risk & Credit ๐Ÿ“š 6:17 - Mentors, Networks & Early Lessons ๐Ÿค 9:57 - Why Accounting Still Matters ๐Ÿงพ 12:21 - Inside S&P: Learning Credit ๐Ÿญ 15:06 - How Rating Agencies Really Work ๐Ÿ“Š 19:54 - Handling High-Stakes Meetings as a Young Analyst ๐Ÿง‘โ€โš–๏ธ 23:40 - Big Agencies vs Niche Players ๐Ÿšข 27:25 - How Banks Rate Risk Internally ๐Ÿฆ 30:54 - The ThyssenKrupp Downgrade Case โš–๏ธ 35:03 - Independence, Conflicts & the 2008 Impact ๐Ÿงฉ 42:13 - Tech, AI & The Future of Ratings โฑ๏ธ 46:57 - ESG in Practice: Real-World Challenges ๐ŸŒ 55:02 - Building ARC into a Global Player ๐Ÿ“ˆ 1:03:40 - Key Lessons & Advice for Students โœจ 1:09:10 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    1h 14m
  3. Episode 29: From Bank Warnings to AI Issuance and Buffett's Patience - with Dylan Ilett and Wahy Yahya

    11/10/2025

    Episode 29: From Bank Warnings to AI Issuance and Buffett's Patience - with Dylan Ilett and Wahy Yahya

    Another month, another market shake-up... ๐Ÿ’ก Welcome to our October economic recap, the TWENTY-NINTH episode of The Smart Money Show! We analyse a month full of evolving macro narratives and noteworthy corporate stories with our Head of FICC, Wahy Yahya, and Head of Equities, Dylan Ilett. Tune in as we uncover how the US and UK economies have been performing since the beginning of Q4, as well as the performance of indexes like the S&P 500 and FTSE. Major banks have also been reporting a string of losses and Dylan will be sharing what has been causing this and how markets have been reacting. ๐Ÿ“‰๐Ÿ“ˆ We also look at Buffett's so-called "noninvestment" strategy, Gunvor's $22 billion deal with Lukoil and its effects on the energy market, Microsoft's earnings and the AI momentum driving Big Tech, and why inflation in the Eurozone may finally be in a "good place." This is also the final appearance for Wahy on The Smart Money Show. We are sad to see him go and wish him the best for the future - savour the last time we hear him! Guest Contacts: Dylan Ilett - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-ilett/ Wahy Yahya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahy-yahya-1b1563301/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 5th November Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 2:31 - US Macro: Shutdown & Fed Rate Decisions ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 5:59 - UK Macro: Sticky Inflation & Bank of England ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 11:14 - S&P 500 vs. FTSE 100 ๐Ÿ“ˆ 14:14 - The $200B AI Credit Issuance Flood ๐Ÿค– 18:23 - Bank Earnings: Regional Losses & Systemic Risk ๐Ÿฆ 24:09 - Norway's $2.1T Fund vs. Elon Musk's Pay Package ๐Ÿ’ฐ 28:44 - Microsoft Earnings & The Hidden $3.1B OpenAI Loss ๐Ÿคซ 39:14 - Commodity Risk: Gunvor's Deal with Lukoil ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ 43:10 - Warren Buffett's $382B Cash Pile: A Warning Sign? ๐Ÿค” 48:36 - Good News: Euro Zone Inflation Nears Target ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ 53:10 - Show Announcements & Schedule Change ๐Ÿ“ข 53:54 - A Farewell to Wahy ๐Ÿค 57:50 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    59 min
  4. Episode 28: From UBS to LBS and the Decision to Explore Again - with Pearl Thakrar

    10/27/2025

    Episode 28: From UBS to LBS and the Decision to Explore Again - with Pearl Thakrar

    Early internships, the buy-side and risky decisions... ๐Ÿซก Welcome to the TWENTY-EIGHTH episode of The Smart Money Show! This week, we sit down with Pearl Thakrar, whose journey from Warwick to UBS and now London Business School is anything but linear. From first-year internships to the fast-paced world of alternatives and private equity, Pearlโ€™s story is about saying yes early, learning fast, and staying open-minded throughout. We unpack what itโ€™s really like to break into finance before youโ€™ve even graduated, how to turn short-term chances into long-term wins, and how to prioritise self-growth and academic curiosity in a fast-paced work environment. Guest Contacts: Pearl Thakrar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearlthakrar/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 4th October Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 3:29 - The "Warwick Finance Bubble" & Early Influences ๐Ÿ’ญ 5:14 - Why She Chose Management Over a Pure Finance Degree ๐ŸŽ“ 7:29 - Advice for Non-Finance Students Breaking Into the Industry ๐Ÿ”‘ 10:55 - The Internship Grind & The Power of Networking ๐Ÿค 17:01 - How Firms Actually Evaluate Interns (Beyond the CV) ๐Ÿ“ 19:32 - The Secret to Converting a Spring Week to a Summer Offer ๐Ÿ”‘ 22:28 - Inside UBS: Graduate Training, Rotations & Team Culture ๐Ÿ“ˆ 28:18 - A Deep Dive into Alternatives & Real Estate Private Equity ๐Ÿ’ผ 31:30 - The CFA Grind: Balancing Full-Time Work & Intensive Study ๐Ÿ“š 35:31 - The Big Pivot: Why She Left UBS for a Master's at LBS ๐Ÿ”„ 37:53 - LBS vs. Warwick: The Master's Experience ๐Ÿ›๏ธ 40:57 - Master's: Career Accelerator or a "Reset"? ๐Ÿค” 42:42 - Final Reflections: Proudest Moment & Advice to Self โœจ 44:17 - The Biggest Takeaway: "Follow Your Gut" ๐Ÿ’Œ 45:49 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    47 min
  5. Episode 27: Signals and Surprises Across Markets in September - with Wahy Yahya

    10/13/2025

    Episode 27: Signals and Surprises Across Markets in September - with Wahy Yahya

    It's been another busy month in markets for September... ๐Ÿšจ Welcome to the TWENTY-SEVENTH episode of The Smart Money Show, our September economic recap. Featuring Ali and our Head of FICC, Wahy Yahya, we learn about the massive rallies in the Euro and Gold, whatโ€™s moving in the energy market, the risks posed by shadow banking and much more! Guest Contacts: Wahy Yahya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahy-yahya-1b1563301/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 8th October Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 3:25 - US Macro Data: Strong Growth, Softening Labor & a Fed Rate Cut ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 6:07 - UK Macro Data: "Stubborn" Inflation & Bank of England's Outlook ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 9:53 - Unpacking Shadow Banking: A "Systematic Blind Spot"? ๐Ÿ‘ป 16:02 - BP's Energy Outlook: Is Higher Oil Demand Here to Stay? โ›ฝ๏ธ 19:17 - The Euro's Rally: A Shift Away from the Dollar? ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ 24:19 - A Sneak Peek: Inside the New FICC Demo Portfolio ๐Ÿ“ˆ 28:05 - Gold Smashes Through $3,800: What's Driving the Surge? ๐Ÿช™ 31:38 - How to Navigate Conflicting Forecasts from Top Banks ๐Ÿค” 33:45 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    37 min
  6. Episode 26: Shaping the Future of Client Relationships on the Buy-Side - with Wealth Managers at RBC Brewin Dolphin

    10/02/2025

    Episode 26: Shaping the Future of Client Relationships on the Buy-Side - with Wealth Managers at RBC Brewin Dolphin

    Shaping portfolios, giving back, and building impact that goes beyond returnsโ€ฆ โœ๐Ÿผ Welcome to the TWENTY-SIXTH episode of The Smart Money Show, recorded at RBC Brewin Dolphinโ€™s Birmingham offices. This week weโ€™re joined by three rising stars in investment management: Wolfie Papirnik, Harjot Wahiwala, and Reece Smith.  Wolfie, recently recognised in Citywireโ€™s Top 30 under 30, combines sharp technical expertise with a passion for community responsibility. Harjot works with RBC Brewin Dolphinโ€™s Midlands Charity team while on her way to becoming a Chartered Wealth Manager, championing accessibility in finance and mentoring future talent. Reece brings nearly five years of experience across private client and portfolio management, building on his early career in PwCโ€™s M&A division and his Masterโ€™s in Investment Management. Together, their stories reveal how the next generation of wealth managers are redefining finance, blending performance with purpose and showing that impact matters as much as returns. From community leadership to client trust, this episode dives into what excites them about the future of the industry and what advice theyโ€™d give to students and aspiring professionals. ๐Ÿ’ก Guest Contacts: Wolfie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfie-papirnik-865474100/ Harjot - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harjot-wahiwala-acsi-894a36111/ Reece - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-smith-630452170/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 4th September Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 3:11 - Origin Stories: Three Unique Paths into Finance ๐Ÿ’ก 8:46 - The Value of a Master's, Professional Exams & Taking a Gap Year โœˆ๏ธ 14:34 - Early Career Lessons from Goldman Sachs & PWC โœ๏ธ 21:05 - The Brutal Reality of Breaking In: "A Thousand Applications" ๐Ÿ’ฅ 28:16 - The Secret to a Successful Interview? Be Yourself. ๐Ÿค 37:09 - Life at RBC Brewin Dolphin: Culture, People & Purpose ๐Ÿ’ผ 44:50 - A Day in the Life: From Private Clients to Portfolio Management ๐Ÿ“ˆ 47:40 - The Fulfilling Work of the Midlands Charity Team ๐Ÿ™ 54:31 - Personal Impact & The Drive to Give Back ๐ŸŒ 1:05:15 - The Biggest Lessons Learned in Their Careers ๐Ÿง  1:08:18 - Proudest Moments & The Power of Small Wins โœจ 1:15:13 - The Biggest Takeaway for Aspiring Professionals ๐Ÿ’Œ 1:16:24 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/ Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.

    1h 18m
  7. Episode 25: Exploring Industries and Shaping Strategy at McKinsey - with Vedika Akhramka

    09/22/2025

    Episode 25: Exploring Industries and Shaping Strategy at McKinsey - with Vedika Akhramka

    From Mumbai to McKinsey, to building decks and community... โœ๐Ÿผ Welcome to the TWENTY-FIFTH episode of The Smart Money Show! Weโ€™re joined this week by Vedika Akhramka, a London-based consultant at McKinsey & Company and founder of Whatโ€™s Her Network, a thriving community of 300+ young women professionals. Her story is an exemplar of agility and inclusivity. She has shaped strategy across industries, spanning aerospace to live music, while also championing spaces that empower women to connect and lead with purpose. Vedika shares her journey into consulting and the lessons she's learned from working across diverse sectors. She also reflects on why building supportive, women-led networks matters just as much to her as climbing the corporate ladder. This is a conversation about resilience and creating the kind of purposeful community you want to belong to. Guest Contacts: Vedika Akhramka - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vedikaakhramka/ ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 3rd Sept Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 2:49 - The "Bollywood Banker": An Early Start in Finance ๐ŸŽฌ 3:45 - The First Internship & The Pivot to Consulting ๐Ÿค” 5:00 - From Mumbai to the UK: A Journey of Independence โœˆ๏ธ 8:30 - University Lessons: Why Extracurriculars Matter More Than Your Degree ๐ŸŽ“ 12:10 - The Strategic Master's: Reclaiming Uni Life Post-COVID ๐Ÿ“š 17:51 - Inside Consulting: Luck, Networking & The McKinsey Toolkit ๐Ÿ’ผ 23:20 - A Consultant's Life: From Live Music to Aerospace ๐ŸŒ 28:46 - The Most Defining Factor for Your Career (It's Not Your Degree) โœจ 32:11 - Founding "What's Her Network?": A Community for Women in Business ๐Ÿค 37:53 - The Future of Work: Overcoming Barriers for Women ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ผ 40:45 - Final Reflections & Career Advice ๐Ÿ’ก 43:22 - The Biggest Takeaway: Find What Truly Fulfills You ๐Ÿ’Œ 44:47 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so

    46 min
  8. Episode 24: What Tennis and Wall Street Teach About Sacrifice and Burnout - with Vitoria Okuyama

    09/15/2025

    Episode 24: What Tennis and Wall Street Teach About Sacrifice and Burnout - with Vitoria Okuyama

    Smashing serves to banking burnout, forging a new path... ๐ŸŽพ Welcome to the TWENTY-FOURTH episode of The Smart Money Show, where we're joined by Vitoria Okuyama. She first scaled the heights of tennis, ranking #118 in the world U18, before climbing the Citi towers on Wall Street, working as an IB analyst. Three years in, she decided to step away from investment banking in a bid to find what truly inspires her and grow her ambition sustainably. Today's conversation explores what it takes to achieve such a high level, comparing sports with finance, and the importance of reflecting on your emotions when pursuing such high-pressure roles. Guest Contacts: Vitoria Okuyama - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitoriaokuyama ๐ŸŽฅ Recorded: 8th Sept Chapters: 0:00 - Intro ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ 3:18 - The First Chapter: Forging a Pro Tennis Career in Brazil ๐ŸŽพ 7:55 - The Pivot: Why She Swapped the Tennis Court for Finance ๐Ÿ’ผ 11:01 - College Life as a Student-Athlete & The Mental Toll ๐Ÿง  14:39 - Breaking In: The Unconventional Grind for a "Dream" Internship โœ๏ธ 20:04 - The Reroute: Using a Master's for a Second Chance at Wall Street ๐Ÿ”„ 21:42 - Landing the Job: How Networking Got Her into Citi ๐Ÿฆ 24:24 - The Brutal Reality of Wall Street: 10 AM to 4 AM & Burnout ๐Ÿ˜จ 28:04 - A Full Circle Moment: Pride, Pain & What She Learned ๐ŸŒŸ 37:28 - The Recovery Journey: "It's Easier to Repair Than to Rebuild" โœจ 42:39 - Life After Banking: The Next Chapter of Reinvention ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ 45:21 - Final Reflections & Career Advice ๐Ÿ’ก 48:23 - The Biggest Takeaway: Reverse-Engineer the Life You Want ๐Ÿ’Œ 49:16 - Outro ๐Ÿ‘‹ As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! ๐Ÿ’š Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so

    51 min

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Watch this space! ๐Ÿ’š