Question Time: Beginner investor: explain the risk? Faulty kitchen: getting money back? Self-employed: how to start a pension?

In this episode of The Martin Lewis Question Time Podcast, Martin tackles a packed agenda of your real-life money dilemmas, bringing practical advice to your most pressing financial questions. For those new to investing, there’s a question from a beginner worried about risk. Martin unpacks what “risk” really means, how to assess your tolerance, and why understanding volatility is key before putting your money into the markets. Martin explains pension options for the self-employed - a crucial topic for anyone without automatic workplace contributions. Martin breaks down the key choices, from personal pensions to SIPPs, explains how to get started and how to make your money work harder for your future. A listener asks what rights they have when a kitchen starts to fail five years after installation. Martin explains consumer protection laws, including how long goods should reasonably last and how to challenge retailers or manufacturers when things go wrong well beyond the guarantee period, going through his SAD FART acronym so you can easily remember your statutory rights under the UK Consumer Rights Act. There’s also a feel‑good moment, with a success story from a listener who successfully claimed on their travel insurance - highlighting the importance of knowing how to navigate the claims process. Plus, Martin reflects on his own biggest money‑saving faux pas, listen to find out if he is on the Energy Price Cap. And, England fast bowler Mark Wood steps up to become the first cricket World Cup winner to also be awarded an ESQ. If you want to ask Martin a question, you now can! His Question Time podcast lets you ask Martin absolutely anything and everything (within reason!) – so if you’ve always wanted to know his favourite ice cream flavour, if he’s ever pondered the meaning of life, or have a very complicated question about your personal finances, email it to MartinLewisPodcast@bbc.co.uk.

You can listen to Question Time: Beginner investor: explain the risk? Faulty kitchen: getting money back? Self-employed: how to start a pension? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Question Time: Beginner investor: explain the risk? Faulty kitchen: getting money back? Self-employed: how to start a pension? is an episode from 5 live Consumer Team with Martin Lewis by BBC.

This episode is 38:04 long.

This episode was published on May 18, 2026.

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