Cheques and Balances

A $300 million tax break for property investors. But who's really going to benefit? We sit down with Lighthouse Financial Managing Director and tax expert Matthew Harris to unpack ACT's proposal to remove property tax ring-fencing, what it could mean for landlords' tax refunds, rental prices and property investment returns, and whether the policy has any chance of becoming law. Next St...

Not everything a real estate agent tells you is the full story. We sit down with Alex Martelli, founder of Martelli Buyers Agents, to unpack real estate agent horror stories, from questionable multi-offer tactics and misleading property listings to hidden flood risks, dodgy sales techniques, and the red flags every buyer should know before purchasing a home. Next Steps: Looking for expert support...

Is New Zealand entering a new era of business growth? We sit down with Robbie Paul, CEO of Icehouse Ventures, to explore the future of Kiwi entrepreneurship, the rise of billion-dollar businesses, the role of venture capital, and why New Zealand could be on the brink of its biggest era of innovation yet. Next steps: learn more about Icehouse Ventures and the Kiwi businesses they're backing. Fo...

Think your index fund is diversified? You might be taking on more risk than you realise. In this episode, we unpack the hidden risks of index investing, from the S&P 500's heavy exposure to the Magnificent Seven and the surprising decisions behind supposedly passive funds, to why diversification, portfolio structure and your stage of life matter more than simply chasing returns. KiwiSaver...

You could be worth millions and still struggle to fund your retirement. We unpack why property wealth doesn't always translate into retirement income, the pros and cons of term deposits, bonds, cash funds and shares, and how to balance investment growth, risk and cash flow to fund the retirement lifestyle you actually want. Next Steps: Want to make sure your investments can fund the retirement...

The world's wealthy are turning their attention to New Zealand, and they're bringing serious money with them. Alex Martelli, founder of Martelli Buyer's Agents, joins us to unpack why wealthy international buyers are choosing New Zealand, the impact of the new investor visa rules, growing demand for luxury property in Auckland and Queenstown, and what an influx of foreign investment co...

Tax-free KiwiSaver could mean millions more in retirement. But there's a catch. We unpack ACT's proposal to scrap tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings, including how compounding returns could dramatically increase retirement savings, the trade-off of losing Government Contributions, what it could mean for NZ Superannuation, and whether tax-free KiwiSaver could fundamentally change the way...

Interest deductibility is staying… but property investors aren’t necessarily off the hook. We unpack Labour’s position on interest deductibility, the case for and against a capital gains tax, what future tax changes could mean for property investors and business owners, and whether tax should influence where you invest. Next Steps: If you’re investing in property or thinking about your next move,...

Could 2027 finally be the year New Zealand’s economy turns a corner? Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr joins us to unpack the outlook for growth, inflation and interest rates, what could happen to the property market, the economic impact of the election, and why infrastructure investment could be critical to getting New Zealand moving again. Next Steps: Want to make sure your finances are posit...

The way Kiwis invest their money is changing. We sit down with Oliver Mander, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Shareholders Association, to unpack the shift from direct shares towards funds, KiwiSaver and overseas markets, the rise of DIY investing, and whether Kiwis are making the right decisions with their money. Next Steps: Want to take your investing knowledge a step further? Join us at the...

Bought in 2021 and feel stuck? You might have more options than you think. We break down what it takes to move on from a property bought near the market peak, including buying with less than 20% equity, low-equity lending costs, servicing requirements, getting pre-approved, selling and buying at the same time, and when staying put could make more sense. Next Steps: Watch our previous episode for m...

Property is under pressure, but the headlines don’t tell the whole story. Mike Vincent, Adam Farrell, Lighthouse Property Director, and Grant Watson, Senior Buyers Advocate at Rethink Investing, unpack the latest residential and commercial property data, rising interest rates and lending conditions, election uncertainty, and the opportunities they’re seeing for investors across the market. If you’...

New Zealand businesses are still feeling the fallout and the worst may not be over yet. Brent Norling, Director of Norling Law, joins James and Mike to unpack rising business liquidations, billions in overdue tax debt, the pressure facing construction and hospitality, why businesses are still dealing with the fallout from Covid, and what struggling owners can do before it’s too late. If your busin...

What would it actually take to retire 10 years earlier? In this episode, we break down the three big levers that could get you there - paying off your mortgage faster, getting control of your spending and consistently investing - before running the numbers on what retiring at 55 could actually look like for a Kiwi couple. Next Steps: Want to know what your own path to financial freedom could look...

A property valuation can open up your options or make your next move a whole lot harder. In this episode, we unpack when getting a registered valuation makes sense, how falling property values affect usable equity, what to do if a valuation comes in lower than expected, and why having less than a 20% deposit doesn’t necessarily stop you from buying your next home. Next Steps: If you’re thinking ab...

Has New Zealand’s property market finally reset? Nick Goodall, Head of Research at Cotality, joins James and Mike to unpack what’s changed since the 2021 property boom, from improving mortgage affordability and regional differences to investor returns, economic confidence and what realistic house price growth could look like from here. Next Steps: Explore Cotality’s latest Pain & Gain Report L...

Helping your kids shouldn’t come at the cost of your retirement. James and Jess unpack the Bank of Mum and Dad, how much support is too much, the difference between giving your kids a head start and funding their lifestyle, and how to work out what you can actually afford to give without compromising your own financial future. Next Steps: see if you’re on track for retirement with our free Retirem...

A no from the bank doesn’t always mean you can’t borrow. We break down what happens when a mortgage application is declined, from specialist and second-tier lenders to full doc, alt doc and no doc loans, why some borrowers pay significantly higher interest rates, and the importance of having a clear exit strategy back to a main bank. Next Steps: If the bank has said no to your mortgage, it doesn’t...

Is the worst finally behind the New Zealand economy? Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen joins James and Mike to unpack where the NZ economy really stands, from stubborn inflation and unemployment at an 11-year high to rising interest rates, the OCR, economic growth, the property market and what needs to happen before Kiwis finally start feeling better off. For more money tips, follow us on...

Saving enough for retirement is only half the battle - knowing when to spend it could be just as important. James sits down with Ben Brinkerhoff, Head of Advice at Consilium, to unpack why the first 10 years of retirement matter so much, the psychology that stops retirees spending their wealth, how retirement spending changes with age, preparing for market downturns, and why your 40s and 50s could...

A 5% deposit could get thousands more Kiwis into their first home - but is it really as good as it sounds? James and Mike unpack National’s proposed changes to the First Home Loan scheme, including the new $300,000 income threshold, what buying with just 5% actually looks like, the risks of taking on more debt, and whether bringing more first-home buyers into the market could ultimately push prope...

The OCR is up but that doesn’t tell you the whole story about where mortgage rates are heading. James and Mike break down what actually determines your interest rate, unpacking the OCR, swap rates, wholesale funding, customer deposits and bank competition, before looking at what rising rates could mean for borrowers and the property market. Next Steps: Want to understand what rising rates could me...

Another economic shock is coming. Is your money ready for it? James and Mike break down the financial fundamentals that can help you weather whatever comes next, from setting clear goals and building an emergency fund to managing your budget, investing consistently and taking action instead of waiting for the perfect time. Next Steps: Help your team feel more confident with money - check out our F...

Owning the wrong property is one thing. Working out what to do next is the hard part . In Part 2, James, Mike and Adam break down the options for investors stuck with an underperforming townhouse, including whether to hold or crystallise the loss, how to assess the ongoing cashflow, when selling and reinvesting could make sense, and why buying another property could actually improve your position....

Not all new-build townhouses are created equal. In this episode, Adam Farrell, Property Director at Lighthouse Financial, joins us to unpack real examples of townhouses that have lost hundreds of thousands in value and break down what went wrong, from oversupply and poor locations to impractical layouts, lack of parking and large developments plus the fundamentals buyers should look for when choos...