What do you freelance about?

I write about consumer finance areas – but I’m particularly interested in market failures and the impact of regulation and legislation.

Do you specialise in any particular areas?

I’m probably strongest on general insurance and banking. And I know more than I thought I ever might about funerals and funeral plans. After 23 years in the sector, I know my way around most consumer financial services issues.

Are you happy doing corporate work?

Yes. We will write for firms if we have editorial independence. For example, I wrote a series of guidance articles for Sunlife, which are live on their site and which I keep up to date for them. We also publish research reports sponsored by firms, but only if we agree that the topic will be of benefit to consumers – and we have editorial control over the output.

How can PRs help you with your work?    

I don’t like being pitched to very much (sorry!). We have our own PR support (Karen Mignon and Louise Ahuja) – who help try and get articles placed. I enjoy writing commentary in a wide range of publications so always happy to chat with PRs if they have an opportunity for me.

Tell us about the pieces of work you’re most proud of, or any recent highlights?

I’m proud of the work we’ve been doing on funeral plans. Lots of people have lost money after firms went bust in the run up to regulation – and we’ve been helping those people find a voice and campaign for some compensation. It can be hard to get the nationals to write about it – or accept articles – as people find funerals depressing. But it’s a really important topic.

When you’re telling a story, what’s the most important thing to remember?    

For me, the most important thing is remembering who I’m writing for. These days I probably write more for B2B audiences than consumers – and it’s important to think who’s going to be reading the piece, and what do I want them to take away from it. If I’m writing about a problem, I always like to provide some policy solutions – and if it’s for consumers, I want to make sure there’s some advice in there so people know what they can do about it now.

Congratulations on your success at the 2023 Headlinemoney Awards! How did you feel when you were announced as the winner?

It's always nice to win a prize. I think I won Rising Star at the very first Headlinemoney Awards back in the early naughties – and I used to go to the event every year. Over the last decade, I haven’t been, so it was fun to be back there – and great to receive some recognition for the work I do.

Why are peer-judged awards such as the Headlinemoney Awards important to freelancers?    

I think all of us need some positive affirmation – and to know that someone rates what we’re doing. Social media provides room for a bit of instant feedback – but it’s much more special to know that a group of your peers have sat down, thought carefully about your work and decided you’re worthy of a prize. 

What advice would you give to a new freelance journalist?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to editors you don’t know and pitch ideas. Most of us got a break somewhere in our careers from someone we didn’t know – and lots of editors are keen to pass that on. I was chatting to Toby Walne the other day, and we were both remembering that Anne Ashworth gave us a chance to write for the Times early on in our careers, when we were working on the trades. Those breaks are really important – and they don’t happen without taking a risk and reaching out to commissioning editors.

Sum up your time as a financial journalist in three words:

Making finance fairer.

If you were up for an award for any hobbies/activities outside of work, what would you be likely to win, and why

Well I did recently become an honorary alderman of Wandsworth – after completing 12 years as a councillor. Beyond that – maybe an award for obsession with chess (although definitely not for raw talent).

Finally, if you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Well I know it’s pretty boring, but I think I’d go with something like chilli con carne or spaghetti bolognaise. I love to eat a wide variety of food – but I’m rarely disappointed when I come back to those two.