Cheques and Balances

Property or shares - which one will actually build wealth for the next generation? In this episode, James and Michael break down the long-running debate between property and shares, exploring historical returns, whether housing growth could slow in the future, how KiwiSaver and share investing are changing younger investors’ behaviour, and what it could mean for New Zealand’s economy if wealth shi...

Could the KiwiSaver changes really mean an extra $100,000 at retirement - and is locking that money away actually the smartest move? In this episode, Jess and Makayla break down the increase from 3% to 3.5% and then 4%, explain how that seemingly small shift could materially grow your retirement balance, and debate whether contributing more to KiwiSaver stacks up against paying down your mortgage,...

New Zealand works harder than ever - so why does it feel like we’re falling behind? In this episode, we sit down with Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the Green Party, to unpack wealth tax, inequality, productivity, housing, KiwiSaver, capital gains, and why New Zealand’s economy is stuck in a loop of speculation instead of innovation. Chlöe does not endorse any products or services provided as per P...

Most of the tax advice you see online isn’t just wrong - it could cost you thousands. In this episode, James sits down with Lighthouse Senior Accountant Vinay Reddy and Managing Director Matt Harris to react to the worst tax advice online and break down what you can actually claim, what you can’t, and the costly mistakes business owners make. Next Steps: Bad tax advice can cost you real money - if...

They paid off $45,000 of debt in months and didn’t feel restricted doing it. In this final episode of Inside a Financial Plan, we review Rachel and Dion’s progress since October - breaking down their budget using PocketSmith, selling down shares to reduce their mortgage, setting up a separate rental property account, restructuring KiwiSaver into a high-growth fund, upgrading insurance, and navigat...

KiwiSaver holds $145 billion so why are so many Kiwis still heading for a broken retirement? In this episode, we’re joined by Dean Anderson, Founder and CEO of Kernel , to unpack what’s holding KiwiSaver back - from weak incentives and disengaged members to election-year policy risks, default fund underperformance, gaps for the self-employed, and why short-term political decisions could cost New Z...

New Zealand used to punch above its weight - so why does working harder now feel like it’s getting us nowhere? In this episode, we unpack New Zealand’s productivity problem from slowing output and wage stagnation to brain drain, innovation gaps, capital shortages, and why productivity isn’t about longer hours, but smarter systems, better incentives, and backing people to actually have a crack. For...

Is the sharemarket dangerously expensive or just evolving with a new era of growth? In this episode, the team unpacks whether today’s valuations actually signal a bubble, what price-to-earnings ratios really tell us, how AI and the Magnificent Seven are distorting markets, why timing the market rarely works, and the long-term strategies investors should focus on instead - including diversification...

Bitcoin just lost $3.2B in a single day and this crash wasn’t random. We unpack what triggered the February 5 sell-off, how leverage and forced liquidations created a domino effect, why Bitcoin is behaving more like a volatile tech stock than digital gold, and what the broader crypto drawdown since October means for investors and diversification. Next Steps: If Bitcoin’s in your portfolio but ther...

Silver surged, crashed, and reminded investors just how quickly sentiment can turn. In this quarterly investment update, we break down global market performance, diversification away from US tech, bond and property headwinds, silver’s explosive rise and sudden pullback, and what it all means for portfolios heading into 2026. Next Steps: If market volatility has you questioning your positioning, no...

Structure your debt smarter - because how you own assets can be the difference between paying more tax or keeping thousands. Drawing on a real example of an investor saving $9,000, the team unpacks tax-efficient debt structuring, interest deductibility, trusts vs look-through companies, common mistakes property investors make, and why treating your portfolio like a business can materially improve...

Debt is rising and relief hasn’t arrived. In this episode, the team unpacks rising mortgage arrears, increasing unemployment, stubborn interest rates, and the growing risk of stagflation - asking the critical question: can households actually afford the debt they’re carrying? Next Steps: If you’re feeling the pressure of rising debt or a mortgage rolling off soon, reviewing your loan structure cou...

You can be paying thousands for insurance and still be dangerously under-covered. In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Callum walks Rachel and Dion through a full insurance reset - restructuring life, trauma, income protection, and health cover to reduce wasted premiums, close major coverage gaps, and align everything with their real financial plan, while increasing protection by thousands...

New Zealand’s economy is sending mixed signals and the outlook for 2026 isn’t as simple as “good” or “bad.” In this episode, the team breaks down inflation sitting above the Reserve Bank’s target, what it means for interest rates and the OCR, why spending is soft despite rising non-discretionary costs, and why first home buyers may actually be sitting in a rare “Goldilocks” window - all while unpa...

Elon Musk says we don’t need to save for retirement - but should we actually believe him? In this episode, the team breaks down Musk’s viral comments on AI, robots, and the future of work, explores why the idea resonates with so many people, stress-tests the timelines against reality, and explains what relying on tech, KiwiSaver, or “someone else saving us” could really mean for retirement in New...

If you haven’t filed your tax return yet, what you don’t know could already be costing you money. In this episode, the team breaks down how to legally minimise tax, the must-have documents every business owner and property investor should keep, common record-keeping mistakes, deductible expenses like interest and insurance, why structure matters, and when to engage an accountant so your tax strate...

Is the classic buy-and-hold strategy still enough in today’s property market? In this episode, we’re joined by Jim Dodd, Founder of Property CEO, to unpack whether long-term holding still stacks up - or if more active strategies like property trading are the smarter path forward - covering how investors can shorten timelines, manage risk, and regain control as growth rates, lending rules, and mark...

Mortgage rates aren’t rising because of one headline number - there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. In this episode, we break down the real drivers behind rising mortgage rates, including wholesale funding costs, swap rates, global uncertainty, and why banks can lift longer-term rates even when the OCR hasn’t moved - plus how borrowers should think about fixing, floating, and avoiding emo...

Insurance isn’t about ticking boxes - it’s about protecting the life you’re actually building. In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Lighthouse Insurance Adviser Callum Gilmour breaks down Rachel and Dion’s real insurance setup, covering life, trauma, health, and income protection, how much cover is actually enough, where self-insurance makes sense, and how insurance should change as your as...

Can you actually get a mortgage after 50 or does age quietly change the rules? In this episode, we break down how banks assess lending as you get older, including servicing requirements, loan terms, retirement runways, exit strategies, and the key differences between owner-occupied and investment property lending - and why age itself isn’t the decision-maker. Next Steps: If you’re navigating lendi...

New Zealand’s healthcare system isn’t broken - but it is under serious strain. In this episode, we’re joined by Nick Astwick, CEO of Southern Cross Health Society, to unpack why demand is overwhelming supply, what rising waitlists and costs really mean, how public and private healthcare intersect, and what needs to change to improve access, outcomes, and long-term health in New Zealand. Next Steps...

Property can make you look rich... while quietly leaving you cash-poor in retirement. In this episode, Mike and James break down why relying solely on property can undermine retirement income, covering liquidity, cashflow realities, transaction costs, leverage, when property works best, when it doesn’t, and how blending property with diversified investments creates a retirement that actually pays...

Most people think they know where their money goes... they don’t. In this episode, Jason Leong, CEO of PocketSmith, breaks down how budgeting software, open banking, and real spending data reveal hidden leaks, lifestyle creep, and why even high-income earners feel broke. Nest Steps: If you don’t know where your money is going, you can’t plan your future - Download PocketSmith today and get 50% off...

The property market is waking up but it won’t be a straight line. In this episode, Matt Harris, Michael Vincent and Adam Farrell unpack their 2026 property predictions, covering expected price growth, interest rate risks, election uncertainty, capital gains tax chatter, and where the best opportunities sit across townhouses, multi-unit and commercial property. Next Steps: In a slower, more fragmen...

If you couldn’t work tomorrow, how long would your income really last? In this episode, we break down how ACC actually works, the key differences between standard ACC and Cover Plus Extra, common misconceptions around income protection, and why self-employed Kiwis should rethink how they protect their income when injury or illness strikes. Next Steps: Talk to the Lighthouse insurance team today ab...