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inflation.”
    “Aha,” puts in Rory wisely. “Inflation.”
    “In twenty years’ time, it could well be worth very little—compared to what it would probably have achieved on the market. So if Bill is only in his thirties and wants to make a long-term investment—although it seems risky, it’s in many ways
safer
to choose a balanced stock market portfolio.”
    “I see!” says Emma, and gives me an admiring look. “I would never have looked at it like that.”
    “Successful investment is often simply a question of thinking laterally,” I say, smiling modestly.
    I
love
it when I get the answer right and everyone looks impressed.
    “Does that help you, Judy?” says Emma.
    “Yes,” says Judy. “Yes, it does! I’ve videotaped this call, so I’ll show it to Bill tonight.”
    “Oh right!” I say. “Well, check what kind of tie he’s wearing first.”
    Everyone laughs, and I join in after a pause—though I wasn’t actually joking.
    “Time for one more quick call,” says Emma. “And we have Enid from Northampton, who wants to know if she’s got enough money to retire on. Enid, is that right?”
    “Yes, that’s right,” comes Enid’s voice down the line. “My husband Tony’s recently retired, and I was on holiday last week—just at home with him, cooking and so forth. And he . . . we got to thinking . . . how about I retire early, too? But I wasn’t sure I had enough saved up, so I thought I’d call in.”
    “What kind of financial provision have you made for retirement, Enid?” I ask.
    “I’ve a pension which I’ve contributed to all my life,” says Enid hesitantly, “and I’ve a couple of savings plans . . . and I’ve a recent inheritance which should see off the mortgage . . .”
    “Well!” says Emma brightly. “Even
I
can see that you’re pretty well set up, Enid. I’d say, happy retirement!”
    “Right,” says Enid. “I see. So—there’s no reason for me not to retire. It’s just as Tony said.” There’s silence apart from her breathing unsteadily down the line, and Emma gives me a quick glance. I know the producer, Barry, must be yelling into her earpiece to fill the space.
    “So good luck, Enid!” she says brightly. “Becky, on the subject of retirement planning—”
    “Just . . . hold on a moment,” I say, frowning slightly. “Enid, there’s no obvious financial reason for you not to retire. But . . . what about the most important reason of all? Do you actually
want
to retire?”
    “Well.” Enid’s voice falters slightly. “I’m in my fifties now. I mean, you have to move on, don’t you? And as Tony said, it’ll give us a chance to spend more time together.”
    “Do you enjoy your job?”
    There’s another silence.
    “I do. Yes. It’s a good crowd, at work. I’m older than most of them, but somehow that doesn’t seem to matter when we’re having a laugh . . .”
    “Well, I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got time for,” cuts in Emma, who has been listening intently to her earpiece. She smiles at the camera. “Good luck in your retirement, Enid . . .”
    “Wait!” I say quickly. “Enid, please stay on the line if you’d like to talk about this a bit more. OK?”
    “Yes,” says Enid after a pause. “Yes, I’d like that.”
    “We’re going to go to weather now,” says Rory, who always perks up as the finance slot comes to an end. “But a final word, Becky?”
    “Same as always,” I say, smiling at the camera. “Look after your money . . .”
    “. . . and your money will look after you!” chime in Rory and Emma. After a frozen pause, everyone relaxes and Zelda, the assistant producer, strides onto the set.
    “Well done!” she says. “Great stuff. Now, Becky, we’ve still got Enid on line four. But we can get rid of her if you like . . .”
    “No!” I say. “I really want to talk to her. You know, I reckon she doesn’t want to retire at all!”
    “Whatever,” says Zelda, ticking something on her clipboard. “Oh, and