Quilter Foundation invests £3.5m in financial education partnerships. Quilter has committed £3.5m in five-year strategic funding to three programmes designed to help people build personal finance knowledge, confidence and skills. The Quilter Foundation has selected Money Ready, Carers Trust and the London Foundation for Banking and Finance (LFBF) as the first organisations to access funds. Money Ready will receive £1.1m over five years to support 20,000 young adults with practical financial education. This will include budgeting, saving, debt and tax. Additionally, Money Ready will facilitate a volunteer-led financial education programme in schools to prepare children for financial independence. Rhodri Mason, chair of Money Ready, warned that too many young people reach major financial firsts, such as managing bills and debt, without the knowledge they need. "This investment will allow us to reach 20,000 young adults with practical financial education and skills they can carry with them throughout their lives," he said. Carers Trust will receive £1m over five years to develop a financial education programme for unpaid caregivers. The programme is expected to reach 16,830 caregivers, delivered through five local 'Quilter Hubs' alongside digital support. Leo Visconti, executive director of income generation and engagement at Carers Trust, said: "Becoming a caregiver can have a disastrous effect on someone's finances. "These financial problems are made worse when they come at the same time as caregivers find themselves facing significant demands on their time and wellbeing. "Our partnership will help thousands of unpaid caregivers build greater financial confidence and plan for the future. And, just as importantly, it will help us extend that support across our wider network of local caregiver services." LFBF, with support of up to £1.4m over five years, will develop an AI-powered money coaching solution, designed to provide personalised finance guidance. Its initial rollout will focus on university and college students, before the model is expanded through charity partners to reach wider groups. LFBF CEO Shelley Doorey-Williams stressed the importance of accessible and trusted solutions for people to ask financial questions and build their confidence. "Starting with students, our ambition is to combine technology with trusted financial education to make high-quality financial guidance available at scale," she said. The Quilter Foundation has also appointed two new independent trustees: LFBF director of research Sarah Dryden and former Quilter board member George Reid. Quilter CEO and chairman of the Quilter Foundation Steven Levin said: "Talk Money Week is an important reminder of the role that open conversations can play in building financial confidence. "But those conversations need to be backed by practical support. "Through these partnerships, Money Marketing is committing significant, long-term funding to three organisations with the expertise and ambition to help address this. "Whether someone is adapting to the financial impacts of becoming an unpaid caregiver, managing rent and bills for the first time or needs somewhere trusted to turn to with a money question, the right financial education can make a difference."

Quilter appoints Octopus' Kristy Barr to lead UK platform. Quilter has appointed Octopus Investments' head of retail Kristy Barr as managing director of UK platform and investment solutions. Barr, who is also a member of Octopus Investments' executive committee, will join Quilter in early 2027. She will succeed Nigel Jeffries, who is retiring in March after more than 15 years with the business. Barr previously held the role of distribution director at Octopus Investments and has also held senior leadership positions at Aberdeen and BMO Global Asset Management. Reporting to Steve Gazard, chief distribution officer at Quilter, Barr will be responsible for developing strategic relationships with advice firms and supporting the continued growth of the group's proposition. She will also work with advisers across the UK to help shape Quilter's approach to supporting advice businesses, drawing on insight into adviser needs, technology developments and wider industry trends.