Can you give a quick overview of what your Masterclass session will cover?

Millions of UK savers say they plan to start investing in the next few years, signaling that the UK may be at a tipping point in its investing journey. This session will explore what's driving that shift, the barriers still holding people back, and four principles that can help turn good intentions into long-term investment success. We'll discuss the importance of confidence, behaviour and staying focused on what investors can control, whatever the market environment.

What are the current issues in your area journalists should help their readers understand?

• Why and how to invest – balancing the need to invest for tomorrow with the costs and priorities of today
• How much cash is too much cash?
• Why confidence is the biggest barrier to investing.
• The UK retirement savings challenge.
• Behavioural mistakes during market volatility.
• What Gen Z's investing boom means for the future.
• How normal people can access financial guidance and support.

With the Budget coming up, are there any particular topics you are planning to discuss in the Masterclass?

The Budget will undoubtedly generate headlines. We’re particularly interested in the longer-running themes underneath it: how we help more people invest with confidence, how do we help people reach their financial goals, such as buying a home or preparing for retirement. And how policymakers, industry and the media can help close the gap between people's good intentions and their financial actions.

Any general tips for money writers covering your sector?

Build relationships, be curious and build your knowledge, keep the end reader in mind – what is useful to them, how best to keep them informed.

What would you like to change about how journalists cover your area?

Less about what markets are doing day to day, and more on what people should do. In short less focus on helping readers predict the future or the perfect investment, and more focus on helping them build good financial habits that will serve them regardless of what the future holds.

From a Vanguard point of view our big stories have been around the launch of our British Money Mindset Report:

• 68% of UK savers say they plan to start investing in the next two years. This growing appetite signals a clear shift in mindset, with investing becoming more mainstream – particularly among younger generations.
  • 91% of Gen Z savers who are not currently investing say they plan to start investing within the next two years.
• An estimated £218 billion is being held in surplus cash savings. Much of this money could be working harder over the long term, with more than one in four people holding excess cash of nearly £17,000 each.
• Confidence is the biggest barrier preventing people from getting started. Around 70% of savers say they lack confidence in their investment knowledge, often due to perceived complexity, fear of loss and uncertainty about where to begin.
• Encouragingly, 71% of investors say investing was easier than they expected. For many, taking that first step helps build confidence quickly and changes how they think about managing their money.
• 37% of Gen Z investors took their first step into investing in the past two years, equivalent to almost 780,000 people, contributing £25 billion of new investor inflows.
• Gen Z were a major driver of the 1.5 million people (11% of investors) who became first-time investors over the last two years.

As well as recent fee cuts and ETF launches, such as the new Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ETF.

Finally, why is it important for journalists to have access to initiatives such as Headlinemoney Masterclasses?

Personal finance impacts everyone. But is becoming increasingly complex. Trusted journalism has never been more important. These initiatives give journalists direct access to experts, research and emerging trends that can help them cut through complexity and translate important issues into practical, accessible information for their readers.

The Headlinemoney Masterclass will be held on Wednesday 16 September 2026. Experts from three other financial services companies will give succinct overviews of their sectors for financial journalists. Find out more and book a place.