Dear listener

Lallygagging. A friend of mine the other night accused some local officials of doing that. I had never heard the word. But this American term dating back to 1862 means – nowadays – loitering, hanging around in a pointless manner, dawdling. So perhaps she was right. And talking of language, “The price of gold has touched a new all time high…” reported colleagues on the BBC website. The only way that sentence makes sense is if the price of gold will never be higher in all of time – past and future. If that was true it would be a clear message to sell, sell, sell! But it’s not. The price of gold can go up as well as soar. If it was a printed notice I would get out my magic marker and insert “/so far” after it.

In fact the price of gold is now so high that coin dealers can be found selling sovereigns for less than the value of the gold in them which is £155 at Monday’s record level. You can find numismatically poor quality sovereigns for less than that. So if you’re quick there are bargains to be had. But make sure they weigh the regulation 7.99g. And then there is the problem of selling them again for a profit. So if you can’t be bothered why not just lallygag around, like me, and watch for a new, all time high?

As you read this on Friday I shall be chairing a day long conference in Westminster organised by the Council of Mortgage Lenders called ‘All Eyes On Us’. As indeed they are. We’ll see during the day how the mortgage industry reacts to the unprecedented scrutiny of its lending practices and how it approaches repossession – a Government minister will give his view on that last point. The conference will also discuss regulation, new entrants, house prices, and, inevitably, getting their message across.

That hefty meeting follows an evening dinner on Thursday in Birmingham talking for people who want to become financial advisers and the companies who want to employ them. I shall be addressing them on the subject of financial advice – what it means, who needs it (and who doesn’t), what it should be, and where it’s going.

Which is why I am writing this on Thursday morning. At a time when what will actually be in Money Box – which I will be back to broadcast live on Saturday – is one day less certain than it usually is. But I can give you the following idea of what will be…

… IN THE BEST RADIO PROGRAMME (Voice of the Listener and Viewer) AND FINANCIAL PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR (ABI Media Awards)…

We will be following up last week’s protest meeting at the Houses of Parliament by more than a hundred pensioners. They were complaining about the high cost of living in purpose-built retirement flats – both while you live there and when you leave. But are the criticisms of the company which operates 70% of the retirement homes in the UK justified? Campaigners say ‘yes’. At the moment the company is pondering its reply.

It’s ethical investment week. And to mark it we will be looking at unethical investing, sometimes called ‘vice’ or ‘sin’ funds, which put your money in the things ethical people reject such as arms, tobacco, mining, oil, alcohol, and gambling. Are the wages of sin death? Or will it breathe new life into lallygagging investment returns? Both sides battle it out.

Last week the Bank of England held the official Bank Rate at its all time (so far) low of 0.5%. This week listeners contrast that with credit card providers who are sending out notices of huge increases in the interest rate they charge. A new study says it will happen more. What can you do if your credit card interest rate rises?

We report on a little known exemption to inheritance tax for those whose death is caused or hastened by events on active service.

And the Co-op’s business banking service is, listeners tell us, not the business.

Check out what new stories elbow their way in and which survive the brutal transmission day cull by tuning in to Radio 4 Saturday at noon, listening to the repeat on Sunday at 9pm, or logging on to the website bbc.co.uk/moneybox where you can listen 24/7 or subscribe to the podcast, as well as read stuff, watch videos, follow up items, download transcripts and documents, and send us things you want us to look into.

Best wishes,

Paul

PS Don’t forget the programme taster on BBC Breakfast between quarter to nine and nine o’clock.

e-mail Paul Lewis