What are the main beats/topics that you cover? 

Health insurance and protection. 

What formats do you work across?

Digital. 

Tell us about the articles/scoops you’re most proud of or any recent highlights? 

Our research on the true costs of different private medical treatment has been eye-opening and been picked up by other media outlets. Also, our updated review of the best PMI providers should be a real help to those looking to take more control of their healthcare. 

In your time as a money writer, how has the industry changed? Have these changes been positive/negative? 

The industry has shifted towards digital platforms, with people increasingly turning to blogs, podcasts and social media for financial advice. This has made financial information more accessible but there is a flood of unverified content that can do more damage than good. 

How can PRs help you with your work?   

Being able to put us in touch with experts who can answer technical product questions is invaluable. 

When are the best/worst times for PRs/press offices to contact you?

The best time is after 10am and the worst time is after 3pm. 

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone you’ve worked with? 

"Never assume, always ask." A former editor installed the importance of clarity in journalism, especially in finance where small details matter. 

What is the strangest story or assignment you’ve ever been sent on as a journalist? 

Not a story or assignment, but I remember being bemused at an industry event in my early years when two writers from rival titles had a punch-up. 

If you could interview anyone in the financial world, who would it be? 

Right now, Andrew Bailey at the Bank of England for his views on inflation and how it plans to tackle rising prices while balancing economic growth. 

Are there any pieces of financial services research you’d like to see commissioned?

It will probably never happen as personal finance isn’t taught in schools, but if it was introduced I would love to see research on whether financial education in schools does improve money management in adulthood. 

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

Always make it relevant to your audience. Readers connect with stories that feel personal to them, or that they can relate to. Leaving them with an action or an emotion that sticks makes for powerful copy. 

What was the last news item/statistic you came across that really shocked you? 

The high percentage of UK adults with less than £100 in savings always shocks me, especially with the cost of living crisis. 

What are your predictions for the biggest stories that will dominate 2025? 

On a global level it is hard to see beyond major world events like Ukraine, Gaza and potential tariff wars. Closer to home, the financial focus will inevitably stay on the cost of living crisis, interest rates and energy prices. 

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

Challenging, intriguing, rewarding. 

Do you have something that you’re secretly really good at? 

Drawing Scooby-Doo characters, which is a talent I discovered while sketching for my kids. It started as a doodle and now I can nail Scooby and the gang from memory. 

What’s your top petty gripe? 

Other drivers who don’t thank you when you give way. It takes half a second to lift a hand or nod. 

Finally, if you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? 

A sausage sandwich washed down with a mug of tea - simple, satisfying and a firm favourite for me and our dog Bobby. Preferably, eaten after a coastal walk.