January 2026

How the tables have turned – we finally get to ask you some questions! You’ve had a long career writing on markets and investments, 20+ years at Shares magazine and a stint at the Investors Chronicle. What prompted the move to launch Sharesify, what is it and what gap in the market does it fill?

First, what is Sharesify. Ian, James and I have been bashing out news, features and analysis on global stocks, funds, trusts etc for years, so we have a lot of experience, and, dare I say, expertise, with great contacts in the industry.

We want Sharesify to be a place where ordinary investors can get help navigating the investment jungle. We don’t give financial advice, but assistance and intelligence that can hopefully help them make good, sensible decisions for themselves. And increasing numbers of people are looking for help. We are all being asked to take greater control of our own long-term savings and retirement planning as defined benefit and final salary schemes bite the dust, and to do that effectively, Brits must shed this image that stock markets are just an iffy bet on a roulette wheel.

Leaving money in the bank really doesn’t give you a real return, even after the effects of inflation. Share markets average 5%-6% a year, better than most mainstream assets based on decades of data, and that compounded over time can be the difference between a comfortable retirement, or being left financially struggling.

Can investing be complex? Yes, but it needn’t be. Grasping the basics is not beyond anyone, and we hope to provide help, with educational content alongside our more analytical stuff.

We also hope to become a bridge between ordinary investors and, on the other side, companies, funds and trusts. Greater communication and transparency between all parties is in everyone’s best interests, and while we are not alone in trying to fill this gap, we hope that by keeping things simple and in language we can all understand, we will become a trusted hub for retail investors, funds and trusts of all stripes.

The investment media world feels very different even compared with a few years ago. From your perspective, has the audience evolved and what’s changed most in the way people discover and consume investment content?

Like so many industries, media has been transformed – first the internet, then smartphones, now social media platforms… and the changes keep coming. Most of these changes bring advantages that far outweigh the drawbacks, but it does make for a lot of noise, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to spot fake news, hype-sters and generally, bad actors.

That makes trust so important. Sharesify has been built on core values of openness, honesty and a genuine desire to improve information access. I like to think that this is where the many years working for a popular national investment publication gives us an advantage, but time will be the true test.

User habits have also changed markedly. People tend to have less patience, which has led to changes in how we write and communicate. We at Sharesify are on top of many of the changing trends and behaviours and try to act accordingly, writing more short, convenient items that can be read on a train or bus, for example.

But we believe there is still a place for longer, thought-provoking features with more data. We’ll try to find the right balance.

Lasty, smartphones make communication so much easier, which is great for us, because we want to engage with our users… we’re open to ideas, suggestions, questions.

On the Sharesify podcast, you cover a real mix of themes, from UK supermarkets to investment trusts and broader market risks. Which topics tend to spark the most interest or the liveliest debate among listeners?

It’s a great question and I really wish I had a more informed answer, but the truth is, we don’t know yet. Remember, Sharesify is embryonic, the three founders only got the business going in late November 2025, and the website went ‘live’ in early Jan 2026.

There simply hasn’t been enough time to draw any meaningful conclusions.

But our regular Sharesify Talks Shares poddy was born on the premise of keeping it short, sharp and spontaneous… we don’t want to go rattling on and on, that would fast become boring, so we aim for around 10 mins just chatting through things that interest us, and hopefully, listeners too. Going forward, we hope to get guests on, we think there’s value for listeners to get a fund manager’s view about something, or a company to talk about how they are dealing with an industry or economic issue, say, but that’s probably down the line.

If anyone has any ideas, or would like to get involved, email us please editorial@sharesify.com

Stepping back a little, what excites you most about building Sharesify and what’s been the biggest surprise since making the jump from writer to founder?

Speaking personally, when Shares mag closed, I wasn’t sure where or what would come next. But I’ve always enjoyed speaking with professional investors, and writing about stocks, funds and trusts. So, the chance to continue doing that, yet with greater control over content output, is something I am really embracing.

And I really like the fact that I am doing this with Ian and James (and Hatel on our commercial side), who I’ve worked with for a long time and have a lot of faith in. The three of us have learned to be all-rounders, but we all bring something to Sharesify the other two don’t, so while the team is small right now, there’s a lot of know how.

I can’t say anything much has surprised me so far, but it’s early days. Obviously, running our own show ups the pressure ante, but not uncomfortably so (yet!). Ask me again in six months 😊.

There are a few parallels between the markets and Spurs in recent years: patchy results, swings in sentiment and a lingering sense of uncertainty. As a Spurs fan, which do you back to hit form first?

Hmm, this sounds like I’m being set up for a fall… OK, I’ll bite. I think there are parallels between being a Tottenham fan and a journalist in that both require hefty dose of scepticism.

It’s been a bleak season so far, but they say it’s ‘always darkest before the dawn’, ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, ‘what doesn't kill you makes you stronger’… yeah, you’re right, I’m not even convincing myself.

Oh well, at least I’m not a Bristol City fan…

(To clarify, this is a friendly, unprovoked dig at our lovely colleague David Ison, who is a long-suffering supporter).

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Please note: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the individual financial professional(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Alma Strategic. These insights are provided for informational purposes only and may not be relevant at the time of reading, as market conditions can change rapidly. The information provided should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial product or security. Individuals should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Alma Strategic disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this interview.