New Zealand's Financial Market's Authority Podcasts

Join FMA Chief Executive Samantha Barrass as she shares an overview of the Financial Conduct Report (FCR) and what it means for the year ahead. The Financial Conduct Report sets out the FMA’s regulatory priorities for the next 12 months, highlighting the key risks and opportunities we see across financial markets and how we plan to respond. It also reflects on the progress made over the past year...

Join Michael Hewes, Director of Deposit Taking, Insurance and Advice, as he discusses the risks incentives can pose to fair consumer outcomes. Why non‑monetary benefits and sales campaigns can create conflicts of interest What insurers need to consider under CoFI and Fair Conduct Programmes Where the FMA is seeing gaps in incentive design, governance and oversight Listen now for a practical overvi...

Feeling unsure about your KiwiSaver right now? You’re not alone. With rising costs and market ups and downs, many New Zealanders are asking whether they should be making changes to their KiwiSaver. In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest , Jess speaks with John Duffy from Consumer NZ about what’s happening  and what to think about before making decisions. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why KiwiSav...

We’ve released updated guidance to help issuers clearly and accurately disclose sustainability‑related characteristics of financial products. As products are increasingly marketed as ethical, sustainable, ESG or green, good disclosure matters.  Our updated Sustainability‑related disclosure guidance: ✔ explains how existing fair‑dealing and disclosure obligations apply  ✔ outlines what good practic...

Kiwis are increasingly turning to social media for money advice from finfluencers and online forums to podcasts. Some of this content can be genuinely informative, but other posts can be misleading, heavily promotional, or even linked to scams. In this episode of our Occasional Conversation podcast, Jess is joined by Anna Godfrey from our Financial Advice team and Elizabeth Asmerom Asfaha from our...

Financial advice can make a real difference to people’s financial wellbeing but not everyone in New Zealand is able to access it. In this episode of 5 mins with the FMA, we talk with Romil Ghelani, Head of Financial Advice at the FMA , about the findings from the FMA’s Access to Financial Advice Review. The review looks at: How many New Zealanders are accessing financial advice Why some groups are...

In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, Jess sits down with Tom Hartmann, Personal Finance Lead at Sorted, to unpack one of the most important concepts in investing: portfolio diversification. Together, they break down what a portfolio actually is, why diversification matters, and how spreading your investments across different assets, industries and regions can help manage risk over time. They...

Jess Learns to Invest is back for Season 2! In Episode 1, Jess is joined by Dr Pushpa Wood, Director at Massey University, to unpack investment psychology and explore how emotions and biases influence the way we make money decisions. This episode covers loss aversion, anchoring, and herd behaviour along with practical, behaviour‑based strategies to keep investing aligned with your goals.   In this...

Jess Learns to Invest season 1 offers a comprehensive introduction to investing, emphasising the importance of starting small, being consistent, and learning progressively. The series covers fundamental concepts such as compounding interest, market volatility, and different investment types, while also addressing practical tips and ethical considerations. Some of the key takeaways from this season...

Join FMA Head of Audit, Financial Reporting and Climate Related Disclosures, Jacco Moison, as we unpack the latest Audit Quality Monitoring Report.    ✔ Why audit quality matters  ✔ Key findings from this year’s review  ✔ What auditors and directors should focus on Watch now and stay informed about how we’re building trust in New Zealand’s financial markets. Read the full report here:  Audit Quali...

Join Jess from the FMA External Communications team for a deep dive into the world of cryptocurrencies! In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, tech journalist Peter Griffin shares his insights on what crypto is, how it works, and how to invest safely. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned investor, you’ll learn about the evolution of crypto, market risks, scams, and practical tips for...

As part of their CoFI licence obligations, financial institutions have a legal obligation to comply with a set of standard conditions. Two of these – Standard Condition 4 and Standard Condition 5 – are critical to operational resilience.  Standard Condition 4 relates to outsourcing .   If a financial institution outsources any system or process essential to providing services, it must ensure the p...

In this episode of 5 Minutes with the FMA, host Heidi Norman is joined by Executive Director Licensing and Conduct Supervision, Clare Bolingford to discuss why complaints are a focus for the FMA the We want financial service providers to ensure their complaints processes are accessible, fair, and effective, not only by making it easy to complain, but also by understanding and addressing the reason...

All licensed Financial Advice Providers must submit an annual regulatory return as part of licensing conditions. With seven more calendar days to go have your submitted your return?  The submission period closes on 30 September 2025. Regulatory returns should be submitted through the FMA Online Services portal: https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/online-services You can find frequently asked question...

In this powerful episode, Jess from the FMA’s external communications team sits down with Samantha McGuire, Manager of Regulatory Services, to unpack the growing threat of investment scams in Aotearoa. From slick fake crypto platforms to deepfake endorsements featuring celebrities and politicians, scammers are getting smarter and everyday New Zealanders are being targeted. In this episode: What de...

In this episode, Jess sits down with Victoria Harris from The Curve to explore the world of ethical investing. What does it mean to invest ethically? Can you still get good returns? And how do you know if your KiwiSaver or investment fund aligns with your values? From fast fashion and fossil fuels to greenwashing and generational shifts, Victoria breaks down the key concepts behind ethical investi...

Join Jess, a 28-year-old newbie in the world of investing, as she navigates the ups and downs of becoming an investor. Just like you, she's learning the ropes. Each month, Jess teams up with a different expert who shares practical insights and tips to help demystify investing. In this episode, Jess sits down with Natalie Ferguson from Powrsuit to explore the world of shares. What are they? Ho...

In the first episode of our new podcast series Inside the FMA, we discuss the Financial Markets Authority’s efforts to ensure fair dealing in New Zealand’s financial services sector. Since the Conduct and Culture review in 2018, the FMA has taken 12 cases to court, leading to over $215 million in customer repayments and $16 million in penalties. Join Sinéad Lloyd, Manager Investigations, and Racha...

Join Jess, a 28-year-old newbie in the world of investing, as she navigates the ups and downs of becoming an investor. Just like you, she's learning the ropes. Each month, Jess teams up with a different expert who shares practical insights and tips to help demystify investing. At the FMA, we believe in empowering New Zealanders with the knowledge to make informed financial decisions. The Jess...

In this episode of 5 Minutes with the FMA, host Chris Daniels is joined by Regulatory Services Advisor Elizabeth Asmerom Esfahan to unpack the latest trends in investment scams targeting New Zealanders. Elizabeth sheds light on the evolving tactics scammers are using from fake comparison websites to impersonation via text and messaging apps. They discuss AI, where deepfake videos and automated sca...

We’ve released our 2025 Financial Conduct Report. This report outlines the key risks and opportunities the FMA will focus on over the next 12 months. It reflects our outcomes-focused approach and provides clarity for industry on our regulatory priorities. We encourage Boards, Executives and Leaders within financial services to consider how these insights can support better outcomes for consumers a...

Are you ready to take your first step into property investing? In this episode Jess talks to Vanessa Williams from Realestate.co.nz, diving deep into the do's and don'ts of real estate and property investing. Vanessa talks about navigating New Zealand’s housing market, spotting investment opportunities and maximising your returns.  Property investing is the process of purchasing real est...

New research published by the FMA's economics team this week shows that while many New Zealanders feel confident in their financial decisions, there are significant gaps between their financial goals and actual holdings of investment products.     Good Cents: Kiwis on Savings and Debt looks into New Zealanders' attitudes and behaviours towards savings, debt reduction, and financial guida...

Market volatility is about how much and how quickly prices in the market change. When prices move a lot, there's a chance to make money, but there's also more risk. Remember, market volatility is normal. In this episode, you'll learn what market volatility is, how it can affect your investments, and what it means for your KiwiSaver. This episode features Brad Olsen, the Chief Execut...