London Fintech Podcast
Insights, stories & inspiration from a golden age of creativity, opportunity and innovation
What is LFP?
For a decade, the London Fintech Podcast has been providing an overview of the dominant influences and initiatives across FS. Mike Baliman, who launched the podcast in 2014, created a remarkable catalogue of over 250 high-quality episodes, which you can watch here.
The LFP, which was launched in July 2014, is the longest running and most blue-chip Fintech podcast in Europe, with gravitas and respect in both Fintech and incumbent Financial Services. Guests include Lord Turner the former head of the FSA, Sir Paul Tucker former Deputy Governor Bank of England, the Lord Mayor of London, the leading economist Professor John Kay as well as blue-chip FS incumbents and Fintechs around the globe.
The mission of the show is to educate and entertain, and it has had 800,000 downloads in 202 countries since its launch. More importantly, the aim has never been to produce content that targets audience size at all, rather to produce blue-chip reference material on the many topics within Fintech.
Latest Episodes
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LFP 259 – Qin En Looi
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In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Qin En Looi, a leading figure in the Asia fintech space, to explore the future of digital assets and the convergence of fintech and blockchain technology. Qin shares his journey from a traditional Singaporean upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur and investor, co-founding Glints and leading Saison Capital. He reflects on how these experiences shaped his understanding of fintech’s potential in Southeast Asia.
The conversation covers blockchain's evolution, the growing institutional interest in digital assets, and the importance of trust within the crypto space. Qin emphasises the role of tokenisation in the future of finance, particularly in streamlining transactions and overcoming the limitations of traditional systems like SWIFT. They also discuss how fintech innovation is accelerating in Southeast Asia, the challenges of tokenised assets, and the critical importance of choosing the right technology and jurisdiction for protection.
Qin also offers practical advice for entrepreneurs in fintech, stressing the importance of learning to sell, building strong distribution networks, and how financial discipline is crucial as the fintech sector undergoes a phase of consolidation.
Topics Covered:
• Qin's background, dropping out and then completing a Stanford degree in half the time (and achieving top marks!)
• The potential of digital assets and blockchain technology in fintech
• The rise of tokenisation and its impact on the financial industry
• Importance of trust and regulatory clarity for blockchain adoption
• Challenges and opportunities for startups in the digital asset space
• Insights into fintech’s growth in Southeast Asia and global liquidity trends
• The convergence of fintech and blockchain technology
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs: mastering sales and distribution
• The role of institutional finance in the digital asset ecosystem
Learn More:
Chinen Lui: https://www.linkedin.com/in/looiqinen/
Saison Capital: https://www.saisoncapital.com/
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
Industry:
Investment Venture CapitalTopics:
Start ups Tokenised Finance Blockchain Asia Fintech Scene
LFP 258 – Robinhood comes to the UK – with Jordan Sinclair – VIDEO EPISODE
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Listen on Spotify:
Industry:
Investment TradingTopics:
Financial Education UK expansion Innovation and localisation
LFP 257 – Risks, Regulations & Remedies – a FinCrime deep dive with Paul Caulfield
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In this episode Tony Clark sits down with Paul Caulfield for a deep dive into the troubling world of Financial Crime.
Paul is a practising attorney. He’s been a chief legal officer and a chief risk officer at major Financial Institutions, and he’s worked with pretty much all the market regulators in the sector, including the Department of Justice, the OCC, OFAC, and the Fed. Paul is also an adjunct professor at Fordham Law in New York.
This is a ‘must-listen’ for anyone in the Risk, Compliance or Legal space.
This conversation centres on Money Laundering and Cyber Crime as two key dimensions of the criminal activity challenge that the FS sector faces. In today’s market, illegal activity manifests in so many different ways and some surprising places. Paul shares some of his practical stories of the threats, regulations and remedies that firms must pay attention to.
Topics covered include:
- The Growing Threat of Financial Crime
- Introducing Paul Caulfield: Expert in Financial Crime
- Regulatory Challenges and Innovations
- The Role of Technology in Combating Financial Crime
- Money Laundering innovations in surprising places – diamonds, gaming & crypto
- The Importance of Collaboration in Financial Security
- Leveraging AI and Technology for Better Compliance
- The Future of Financial Crime Prevention
- Voice & Avatar Synthesis and Cyber Attacks
- Real-Life Scenarios of Cybercrime
- The Rise of Romance Scams and Social Engineering
- Election Security and Media Influence
- The Dark Web and Cybercrime as a Service
- Regulations and the Role of Citizen Activism
- The Future of Cybersecurity and Financial Crime
- Personal Reflections and the Impact of 9/11
- The Importance of Cyber Hygiene and Human Factors
- Unexpected Inspirations: Japanese Haiku
Learn more:
Paul Caulfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcaulfieldny/
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
Industry:
LegalTopics:
Risk & Regulation Financial Crime Compliance
LFP 256 – Technology and the Law – with Louis Glass, Board Member, CMS
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In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark is joined by Louis Glass, the head of CMS’ TMT-sector M&A group in the UK, Managing Partner of the firm’s Tel Aviv office, and a member of the management board.
Louis brings a wealth of experience as a corporate lawyer with specialist expertise in tech, internet, and e-commerce transactions. His career spans over two decades, including extensive cross-border work for multinationals, startups, and venture capital funds. Louis’ journey into the world of law and fintech is as unique as it is impressive.
Tech-obsessed from a young age, he was writing database software by the age of 15. Today, his work revolves around complex international transactions, particularly in the tech sector, where he represents clients across 45 countries.
This conversation explores the intersection of law, technology, and fintech, focusing on how legal frameworks can support innovation while ensuring compliance in the ever-changing regulatory environment.
Louis also opens up on his personal journey, mental wellness and the vital importance of team and company culture.
Louis offers key insights into navigating the legal challenges fintech companies face, from securing licenses to managing cross-border transactions, and balancing rapid growth with stringent regulatory standards.
Throughout the episode, Louis provides practical advice for fintech leaders, sharing how companies can leverage legal expertise to innovate while staying compliant. He also touches on the future of regulation in fintech and how businesses can anticipate and adapt to evolving legal landscapes.
Topics covered include:
- Louis’s journey from writing software to leading M&A transactions in the tech and fintech sectors.
- The twin ‘fairytales’ of company law and money.
- Resilience, mental health & corporate culture.
- The critical relationship between legal frameworks and fintech innovation.
- Balancing regulatory compliance with business growth in a global context.
- Managing cross-border transactions and securing licenses in different jurisdictions.
- The future of fintech regulation and how businesses can stay ahead.
- Aligning legal teams with business objectives to drive long-term success.
- Louis’s experience working across the UK, US, and global markets.
- Practical strategies for legal professionals in the fintech space.
- Building trust with regulatory bodies through proactive compliance.
- Insights from Louis’s work across over 45 countries.
- Interesting reads (and podcasts…)
Learn more:
Louis Glass: https://cms.law/en/gbr/people/louis-glass
Tony Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-clark-07160b/
Industry:
LegalTopics:
Technology Ecommerce Entrepreneurship
LFP255 – Wealth management for the Zillenial Generation with Sarah Levy, CEO of Betterment
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Sarah Levy.
Sarah has over 25 years of experience launching and growing new brands, however Sarah’s journey to FS is an unconventional one, having crossed over only 4 years ago from a super successful career with Disney, Nickelodeon and Viacom, to leading one of the fastest growing and most progressive digital wealth management firms in the US.
There are approximately 60,000 wealth firms globally of all sizes offering propositions that span pure advisory, self-directed, robo-advisory and hybrid models in a market characterised by shifting demographics, consolidation and new asset classes. So how do firms differentiate and get ahead?
This conversation explores Betterment’s use of technology for competitive advantage and delivering a purpose-led wealth solution to the “zillennial” generation of investors.
Sarah shares her unique insights on building targeted consumer brands for specific demographics and customer segments, the power of hyper-personalisation, and the misalignment between traditional firms and the digitally accelerating ecosystem. “If Schwab and Fidelity and Vanguard are my parents brands, Betterment will be the Zillennial wealth brand”.
Additionally, she provides some really practical insight for C Suite leaders and fintech entrepreneurs on building a growth company, transitioning to fintech, building customer loyalty, and creating a balanced corporate culture.
- Moving from big-media to Wealth Management
- Transforming businesses for the Digital Age
- The importance of brand in all sectors
- Solving problems for customers and laser focus
- The ‘Zillennial’ generation need for technology driven solutions
- The direction of the Wealth Management sector
- “Selling eat your vegetables while some of the others were offering candy” during the pandemic
- How Important is Enterprise scale for Wealth Firms?
- Betterment’s Mission – making people’s lives better
- How Betterment Works
- Digital vs Real Life advisors
- Betterment’s Portfolio Strategy
- Betterment’s Market Positioning as a FinTech
- How Betterment Differentiates from Competitors
- Simplicity and the elegance of the user experience
- Sarah’s Team Building Journey and Betterment’s Culture
- Food as a team-builder..
- The Rise of AI in Wealth Management
- Sarah’s Challenges and learning every day
- Switching from corporate to fintech
- Future Plans for Betterment
- Where to Learn More
Learn more:
Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-kirshbaum-levy-889881a1/
Betterment: https://www.betterment.com
Industry:
Investment Wealth Management FintechTopics:
Digital Acceleration Entrepreneurship Fintech Digital Advisers
LFP254 – Changing the game – the new era in banking with ClearBank. A conversation with Charles McManus, CEO
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Which bank was the first UK clearing bank in 250 years, grew income 91%, last year despite the fintech downturn, doubled its deposits and provides banking services to 250 companies, including 16 other banks?
In this episode of the London FinTech podcast, Tony Clark is joined by Charles McManus, Founding CEO of ClearBank.
Charles is an international banking professional with over 30 years in global investment banking, wealth management and retail. Before ClearBank, he was the group CFO of RBS Ulster Bank and spent 13 years at the Royal Bank of Canada, where he became CFO for Europe and Asia and Global Head of Product Control.
This conversation explores ClearBank’s pioneering role in embedded banking and its remarkable growth and success. Charles offers deep insights into the firm’s journey, its innovative solutions, and its leadership in the fintech sector.
Topics include the future of embedded banking, ClearBank’s successful navigation of regulatory challenges, and the expansion into Europe post-Brexit. Additionally, Charles shares his personal experiences, stress management strategies, and advice for fintech entrepreneurs.
Topics covered include:
- ClearBank’s remarkable journey to-date
- Charles’ background & career Journey
- Setting up ClearBank in Europe post-Brexit
- Learning to ride a horse at 50..
- The Fintech revolution and the Embedded Banking sector
- ClearBank’s business model
- Banking for banks
- Stablecoin and tokenised deposits
- ClearBank’s competitive landscape and differentiators
- Tech company vs bank
- Hiring an amazing team & psychometric testing
- Agile working
- AI in the Embedded Banking sector
- Future plans for ClearBank
- Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, including those thinking of swapping the corporate world for the fintech world
Learn more:
Charles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-mcmanus-/
ClearBank: https://clear.bank
Industry:
Banking Financial Services FintechTopics:
Digital Acceleration Entrepreneurship Fintech Embedded Banking
LFP253 – Connections in a FinTech World: A Conversation with Niall Cameron
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Niall Cameron. They explore Niall’s journey from heading trading teams to leading digital transformation at HSBC and now building a unique Fintech community through FinTech Connex.
There are by some estimates over 26, 000 FinTechs globally. However, as this audience will know, the sector has been on a rollercoaster ride since 2020. Post COVID FinTech funding dropped dramatically in 23 and in investment terms, the first half of last year was down 57 percent year on year versus 2022. Q1 24 this year was the worst performing fintech quarter since the start of 2020.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom. There is optimism across the sector from both the investment community and the fintechs themselves, particularly for those firms who have a clear niche product, a rapid growth rate and effective partnerships. A lot of this is down to product focus and leveraging the fintech ecosystem, something that Niall is an expert in.
Niall shares his insights on achieving product-market fit, staying ahead of trends, and the importance of narrowing focus for deep expertise. Additionally, he provides practical advice for fintech entrepreneurs on making their products more buyable and actionable in a swiftly evolving industry landscape.
Niall, not just had a stellar career in trading, rising to the top of his business with several thousand traders reporting to him at one point, but he also made a successful move to digital leadership at one of the world’s largest banks and more recently. built a unique fintech community and network business across the sector.
- Meet Niall Cameron: A Fintech Connector
- The State of the Fintech Industry
- Urban art & meeting Banksy (maybe..)
- Niall’s Career Journey and Influences
- Transition to Digital Leadership
- The Birth of FinTech Connex
- Challenges and Opportunities in Fintech
- Mice dancing with elephants
- Segmenting and Labeling Products for Different Clients
- The Role of AI in Transformational Solutions
- AI’s Impact on Various Financial Sectors
- Challenges and Strategies for FinTech Companies
- Future Trends and Predictions in FinTech
- Navigating AI Adoption and Corporate Challenges
- Final Thoughts and Advice for FinTech Entrepreneurs
- Where to learn more & Connector invitation…
Learn more:
Niall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-cameron-8a1aab6/
FintechConnex: https://fintechconnex.com
Industry:
Fintech Community Network BusinessTopics:
Digital Acceleration Entrepreneurship Fintech Partnerships
LFP 252 – the forensic AI that can predict corporate collapse! – The Transparently Story
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In his inaugural episode of the London Fintech Podcast, host Tony Clark takes over from Mike Baliman and takes a deep dive into the world of AI powered forensic accounting.
Research shows that 1 in 10 US firms are cooking the books and that accounting manipulation is a $4.7Tn industry problem, in the US alone. Transparently has built an AI platform that can detect and score accounting manipulation, often years ahead of corporate collapse!
Tony talks with Dr. Hamish Macalister, the founder and CEO of Transparently AI. They discuss the prevalence of accounting manipulation in global markets, the statistical mechanics behind Transparently’s AI system, the varied use cases spanning banking, asset management, auditing, and regulation, and touch upon the ethical commitment Transparently has towards transparency and accuracy.
Hamish shares his journey, the company’s rapid evolution, and exciting future prospects involving generative AI integration. The episode provides deep insights into the significance and mechanics of forensic AI in tackling financial fraud.
- Meet the New Host: Tony Clark
- Tony’s Background and Vision for the Show
- Introducing Dr. Hamish McAllister – quant strategist, professor & AI inventor
- The potential of AI in Finance
- Transparently AI: Forensic Accounting
- Time away from the startup – Scuba diving
- Hamish’s Career Journey & asking the Singapore government to reduce their research grant!
- Founding Transparently AI
- Building the Transparently AI Team
- Cooking the books – the $4.7Tn problem (and opportunity..). Forensic reports in seconds..
- 85,000 companies – scoring every listed company since the 80’s
- Predicting corporate collapse – years ahead..
- Exploring Corporate Governance and Asset Quality
- Minimizing False Positives in Financial Systems
- Client Base and Use Cases
- Ethical Considerations and Transparency
- How Transparently AI Works
- Real-World Applications and Case Studies
- Investment from Franklin Templeton
- Transparently 2.0 – Generative AI Integration & Google AI acceleration
- The world’s first AI Forensic accountant that you can actually talk to
- Advice for FinTech Entrepreneurs
- Where to Learn More (and free trial offer)
More info:
Transparently.ai: https://www.transparently.ai
Hamish: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamish-macalister-phd-0b558bb/
Industry:
Fintech AITopics:
Digital Acceleration Entrepreneurship Fintech AI Technology-2-1.png?width=1000&height=563&name=Tony%20(2)-2-1.png)
LFP 10th Anniversary! The Future of the Global System, FS, Fintech and the LFP! w/Tony Clark CEO Next Wave
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In this episode of the London Fintech podcast, Tony Clark talks to Niall Cameron. They explore Niall’s journey from heading trading teams to leading digital transformation at HSBC and now building a unique Fintech community through FinTech Connex.
There are by some estimates over 26, 000 FinTechs globally. However, as this audience will know, the sector has been on a rollercoaster ride since 2020. Post COVID FinTech funding dropped dramatically in 23 and in investment terms, the first half of last year was down 57 percent year on year versus 2022. Q1 24 this year was the worst performing fintech quarter since the start of 2020.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom. There is optimism across the sector from both the investment community and the fintechs themselves, particularly for those firms who have a clear niche product, a rapid growth rate and effective partnerships. A lot of this is down to product focus and leveraging the fintech ecosystem, something that Niall is an expert in.
Niall shares his insights on achieving product-market fit, staying ahead of trends, and the importance of narrowing focus for deep expertise. Additionally, he provides practical advice for fintech entrepreneurs on making their products more buyable and actionable in a swiftly evolving industry landscape.
Niall, not just had a stellar career in trading, rising to the top of his business with several thousand traders reporting to him at one point, but he also made a successful move to digital leadership at one of the world’s largest banks and more recently. built a unique fintech community and network business across the sector.
- Meet Niall Cameron: A Fintech Connector
- The State of the Fintech Industry
- Urban art & meeting Banksy (maybe..)
- Niall’s Career Journey and Influences
- Transition to Digital Leadership
- The Birth of FinTech Connex
- Challenges and Opportunities in Fintech
- Mice dancing with elephants
- Segmenting and Labeling Products for Different Clients
- The Role of AI in Transformational Solutions
- AI’s Impact on Various Financial Sectors
- Challenges and Strategies for FinTech Companies
- Future Trends and Predictions in FinTech
- Navigating AI Adoption and Corporate Challenges
- Final Thoughts and Advice for FinTech Entrepreneurs
- Where to learn more & Connector invitation…
Learn more:
Niall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-cameron-8a1aab6/
FintechConnex: https://fintechconnex.com
Industry:
Fintech Digital Acceleration ConsultingTopics:
Digital Acceleration Entrepreneurship Fintech Financial Services Strategy SolutionsAbout the London Fintech Podcast
The LFP has a leaning towards the business end of the Fintech spectrum – FinFintech, if you like, rather than technology per se. Its episodes can be seen to fill a pyramidal shape that is at the base a triangle of Entrepreneurialism, Financial Services and Technology.
At the vertex of the pyramid is “Finance and Society”. Whilst Financial Services is a societal construct whose form has varied over space and time – by laws, by regulations, by political design, by the very nature of the definition of money – equally it is a huge influence on the society in which it resides.
As sectors go, Fintech has been by far one of the hottest over the past decade which has had tons of money poured into it and therefore seen evolution on steroids and given us in a decade of insights into what, in more leisurely times, it might have taken fifty years to learn about (such as the nature of entrepreneurialism, what works and what doesn’t)
As the LFP enters it’s second decade, the show now has a new host in long time listener and LFP guest Tony Clark, who is also founder and CEO of NextWave Consulting, a next generation consulting firm in the fintech space.
Tony will continue to foster engaging discussions with industry leaders bringing innovation to the ever-evolving Fintech and FS landscape. As he lives and works at the coalface of the implementation of all these new fascinating technologies, he will be "able to return the LFP to its origins".
We are looking forward to presenting the most interesting guests in the FinTech space. Join us biweekly for episodes packed with actionable insights, expert analysis, and a fresh perspective dedicated to sharing stories of innovation and success from the world of finance and technology. Share and enjoy!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The gold standard
for Fintech podcasts
Ryan Weeks
Fintech Editor⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
There are many fintech podcasts but Mike brings a dose of English humour, perspective, truth and insights that not only am I entertained but remain informed. Great job and top form.
Stitcher Review
Editor⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Essential listening for anyone wanting to get a better grasp of London’s flourishing fintech scene and how it all fits together. Cuts through the hype, which is rare.
iTunes Review
Listener⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Its focus is topics, not firms, quality not quantity, and understanding how Financial Services as a whole is being impacted and changed by the new digital world. It is highly educational, un-hyped, a kind of “grown-up Fintech”.
Review
LFP Editor⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very much appreciate your deep-dive insights and questions, clearly avoiding high-level ‘marketing pitches'
Dan Zakowski
Chief of Staff Auxmoney⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Regularly quoted in the top 15 best fintech podcasts from across the web.
Tony Clark
NextWave Founder & LFP Host.png?width=600&height=498&name=tony%20(1).png)
Tony Clark
Tony is the new host of the LFP (starting in 2024), and is carrying on the legacy of the podcast as the "gold standard" in fintech.
Tony is also the founder and CEO of NextWave Consulting and has 30 years of big-firm consultancy, startup, and enterprise experience across business, digital and technology, working with some of the world’s leading banks and financial institutions.
Tony has worked at Accenture, m.a.partners, and was a founding team member at Crossbridge. More recently, as Synechron MD and Head of the UK business, Tony ran the UK Consulting, Digital and Technology practices.
Mike Baliman
Mike is a paid chair, host, moderator, and speaker at public and private online and offline events. He was the founder and host of the LFP until 2024, when he decided to take a well deserved break and pass the torch to Tony.
He has 40 years of experience in FS, tech and entrepreneurialism in senior roles (Global Head Fixed Income, Global Head of Risk, Board-level Consultant), as well as having founded a Fintech in 1998.
Mike’s other work falls into three categories: Non-Executive Director, Advisory Director, Founder-Mentor, Consultancy and Media.
Mike is the author of “The Realpolitik Of The Unlisted Company Board: Making Your Board An Engine Of Growth”.
Be a guest on The London Fintech Podcast
Please contact us if you think you have an interesting story that will resonate with our audience, or would like to recommend a leader who is making an impact in the world of fintech.
