Cheques and Balances

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...

Think tax is just something you pay and forget? This episode proves otherwise. We break down the best tax insights of 2025, covering provisional tax, cashflow pressure on NZ businesses, smart entity structures, chattel depreciation, home office deductions, and how debt restructuring can legally turn tax into a strategic advantage for business owners and property investors. Register now: ⁠ Buying a...

In a changing property market, investors face a critical decision: flip for short-term gains or hold for long-term wealth. In this episode, Jim Dodd, co-founder of Property-CEO, breaks down his proven system for finding, renovating, and selling properties for profit, while Matt Harris explains how to structure, finance, and manage buy-and-hold portfolios - including the tax strategies that can mak...

Property strategy matters more than ever in 2026. In this episode, we revisit the biggest property conversations of the past year - from first-home and investor case studies to buyer’s agent insights, auction tactics, cash flow vs capital gains, interest rates, OCR cuts, and what actually drives confident property decisions heading in 2026 Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better con...

Investing doesn’t need to be complicated. In this episode, we break down how the fundamentals of how the sharemarket actually works - what a share is, when you should (and shouldn’t) invest, the risks to watch for, how platforms make money, and why diversified, long-term investing beats trying to pick winners. Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better control of your money? Join Micha...

Summer spending is easy - staying on top of your money is harder. In this episode, we walk through how to set clear financial goals, build a sustainable budget, make smarter KiwiSaver choices, manage debt properly, and create a practical roadmap toward buying a home and building long-term wealth without blowing up your lifestyle. Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better control of yo...

Four standout guests. Four conversations that shaped how we think about money, markets, and growth. In this special episode, we’ve pulled together our favourite guest moments from 2025 - revisiting the ideas, debates, and insights that sparked the biggest conversations throughout the year. From investing psychology and compounding, to housing reform, economic recovery, and scaling global businesse...

Buying before you sell sounds simple - until it isn’t. In this episode, we break down bridging finance, when it makes sense to use it, the difference between open and closed bridging loans, how banks assess risk, the real costs involved, and the common mistakes that can turn a house upgrade into a financial headache. Next steps: If you’re thinking about upgrading, downsizing, or buying before you...

2026 is shaping up to be a year of recovery but not without risk. In this episode, we break down our 2026 predictions across the New Zealand economy, covering GDP growth, interest rates and OCR expectations, share market risks and opportunities, AI’s real economic impact, property market forecasts, election uncertainty, and the global factors that could derail momentum. For more money tips follow...

The property market doesn’t wait and the best deals rarely come with notice. In this episode, the Lighthouse Property team breaks down what’s really happening in the market heading into 2026, why speed and preparation matter, and walks through real case studies covering discounted new builds, regional yield opportunities, developer risk, and how first-home buyers and investors can secure strong de...

From his first house at 18 to managing over ten projects a year - this is how Kyle turned building skills into a property empire. In this episode, we dive into Kyle’s journey from buying his first property as a teenager to scaling a portfolio through joint ventures, private finance, and smart subdivision strategies. He shares how he mitigates risk, structures his business, and what it really takes...

A real-world look at how tracking your money actually works - without spreadsheets or guesswork. In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Jess walks through a PocketSmith onboarding session with Rachel and Dion, covering how to set up accounts, track cash flow, build realistic budgets, categorise spending, handle transfers correctly, and use clear insights to stay aligned with their financial p...

Passive investing has taken over - but what happens when nobody’s actually picking the stocks? In this episode, we unpack the explosive rise of passive investing, the growing concentration inside major indices like the S&P 500, and whether mechanical money flows into big tech could distort markets, create instability, or even open the door for active management to matter again. Next Steps: If...

Buying your first investment property? Here are the three game-changing rules every investor needs to know before they make their move. In this episode, we break down exactly how to use your equity, why structuring your debt correctly matters, and the essential tax steps - from interest deductibility to chattel valuations and tidy accounting - that can make or break your investment success. Next s...

Is NZ’s property market really unproductive — or is everyone getting it wrong? In this episode, we break down the real economic impact of New Zealand’s property sector - from its $50B GDP contribution and 235,000 jobs, to how domestic trade, construction, KiwiSaver investment, and smarter intensification strategies shape whether property truly helps or hinders national productivity. This episode i...

The North and South Islands are living two completely different financial realities - and the wealth gap is bigger than you think. In this episode, we break down why regions like Canterbury, Otago, and Southland are outperforming the major centres - from lower debt loads and cheaper housing to booming primary industries - while Auckland and Wellington grapple with high mortgages, sluggish sectors,...

Buying your first home just got a whole lot easier and the numbers prove it. In this episode, we break down the five biggest shifts helping first-home buyers right now: falling interest rates, lower test rates, flexible deposit options, smarter bank approvals, easier due-diligence pathways, and a market where negotiation not auctions is finally back on the table. Next Steps: If you want to know ex...

Cashflow or capital gains? Why choose when the smartest investors are structuring their deals to get both? In this episode, we sit down with Ilse Wolfe, Director of Wolfe Property, to unpack how investors are navigating 2025’s shifting market, from falling interest rates and rising optimism to real case studies showing how strategic renovations, multi-unit deals, and value-add tactics can create b...

Mortgage rates are dropping and the right move now could add over $100K to your net worth. In this episode, we break down how holding your repayments at the higher level you’re used to can shave decades off your loan, save hundreds of thousands in interest, accelerate your equity, and set you up for smarter investing and long-term financial freedom. Next Steps: Want to see how much faster you coul...

Is NZ’s property market actually broken or are the headlines missing the real story? In this episode, we break down 30 years of market history, supply and demand pressures, migration, affordability, investor psychology, and the real maths behind when (and whether) investment property still works in New Zealand. Next steps: If you want clarity on what you can borrow, what you can buy, or whether an...

Insurance premiums have exploded and Kiwis are feeling the squeeze like never before. In this episode, we break down the shocking 15-year surge in insurance costs - from health and house premiums skyrocketing over 200–400% to the real impact of climate events, reinsurance costs, medical system pressure, and how listeners can reduce their cover without losing protection. Next Steps: If you want to...

Will the RBNZ pull the trigger on 25 or 50? Here's what really sits behind Wednesday’s OCR call. In this episode, we break down the latest inflation data, card-spending trends, bank pass-through (or lack of it), how summer spending could shape the economy, and why confidence - not just cuts - will determine whether 2026 finally turns a corner. Next Steps: If you want to find out whether you qu...