PersonalFinance Journalists - UK

As a lead consumer affairs journalist at The Guardian, Tims specializes in:

• Consumer Protection Systems: Analyzing gaps in digital age safeguards
• Aging Infrastructure Impacts: Documenting human costs of technological transitions
• Housing Policy Failures: Investigating systemic issues in social/rental markets

Pitching Priorities

• Lead with Human Stories: Concrete examples of individuals facing institutional neglect
• Provide Regulatory Context: How current laws/policies enable the issue
• Highlight Systemic Patterns: Demonstrate broader implications beyond isolated cases

Achievement Highlights

• Catalyzed 3 parliamentary inquiries into consumer protection reforms (2022-2024)
• Consistently ranked in Press Gazette's Top 50 Consumer Journalists since 2018
• Pioneered The Guardian's "Consumer Champions" column, resolving 89% of featured cases

David Byers is the Deputy Property Editor at The Times and Sunday Times, specializing in real estate markets, personal finance systems, and regulatory frameworks. With 19 years at News UK, he’s become a vital voice for consumers navigating complex financial landscapes.

Key Coverage Areas

• Housing Policy: Analyzes legislation impacting homeownership, from stamp duty reforms to building safety regulations
• Retirement Planning: Focuses on pension accessibility and intergenerational wealth transfer mechanisms
• Consumer Protection: Investigates financial scams and regulatory enforcement gaps

Pitching Insights

• Data Depth Required: Requires Office for National Statistics-level rigor in market analyses
• Human Angles: Seeks personal stories illustrating systemic financial challenges
• Regional Focus: Prioritizes UK-wide trends with local case studies

“The best financial journalism doesn’t just explain numbers—it reveals who those numbers fail to protect.”

At The Telegraph, Lumsden deciphers complex investment vehicles for mainstream audiences, specializing in:

• Trust Resurrections: Tracks funds transitioning from “discount graveyards” to premium valuations
• Shareholder Power Plays: Analyzes activist campaigns in closed-end fund structures
• Economic Crosscurrents: Contextualizes trust performance within macro cycles

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with innovative discount management strategies or niche activist investors
• Don’t: Pitch retail-focused ETFs or individual stock recommendations

“The best trust stories reveal market inefficiencies – gaps between perception and fundamental value.”

Career Highlights

• 15+ years demystifying institutional investing mechanics
• Regular commentator at AIC and Morningstar conferences
• Developed The Telegraph’s trust discount tracking methodology

As editor of A Place in the Sun and contributor to major UK outlets, Rowlinson has become the essential resource for mid-market international property investors. Her work combines granular financial analysis with deep cultural insights, particularly focusing on:

• Tax-Efficient Relocation: Breaking down complex fiscal policies into actionable family budgets
• Emerging Markets: Identifying undervalued regions through cultural and infrastructure metrics
• Community Dynamics: Tracking how immigrant populations reshape local service economies

Pitching Priorities

Successful story angles typically include:

Policy-to-Practice Timelines

Detailed mappings of how visa changes affect local rental markets within 6-18 month windows

Mid-Market Service Innovations

Profiles of businesses catering to £300k-£800k property buyers (bilingual contractors, international schooling logistics)

Cultural Yield Calculations

Data correlations between UNESCO site investments and surrounding property value appreciations

Rowlinson's groundbreaking work has been recognized with the 2023 Property Journalist of the Year award and special commendation from EU migration policymakers. Her analysis frameworks now inform both individual investment decisions and government housing strategies across Southern Europe.

As a staff writer for The Daily Telegraph, Hunt masterfully intersects travel, property, and personal finance. Her work provides unique financial lenses on luxury experiences - whether analyzing £100k ski chalet budgets or tracking treasure hunt impacts on local housing markets.

Key Coverage Areas

• High-Value Travel Economics: Breaks down costs/benefits of luxury experiences
• Residential Market Innovations: Tracks workation homes and holiday let reforms
• Education Financing: Developed popular university cost calculator tools

Pitching Priorities

"Always lead with verifiable data - if claiming a hotel saves money, show the spreadsheet"

• Provide 3+ comparable pricing examples
• Include architect/designer commentary for property features
• Highlight climate data in travel pitches

Awards: 2024 Travel Media Awards Finalist, 2023 Property Press Awards Shortlist

As Senior Property Writer for The Times and The Sunday Times, Lees operates at the intersection of policy, finance, and design. Her work consistently drives national conversations on housing equity and safety reforms.

Key Coverage Areas

• Building Safety: Track record of holding developers and regulators accountable (e.g., cladding scandal investigations)
• Affordable Housing: Analyzes funding models and planning innovations across tenure types
• Homeowner Finance: Demystifies mortgage products, retrofit grants, and leasehold reforms

Avoid These Pitches

• Lifestyle-focused interior design trends without affordability considerations
• Speculative commercial real estate projects lacking community benefit clauses

Recent Impact

Her 2024 investigation into evacuation protocols directly influenced amendments to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, cited five times in parliamentary debates. Lees maintains a solutions-focused approach, exemplified by her 2025 series on modular housing’s potential to accelerate safe construction.