Smart Money

Most of us have spent the past few days daydreaming about what we would spend $55 million on.  Pay off the mortgage, book a holiday, send some off to charity, throw the rest in a term deposit. Three lucky punters each one a share of the jackpot last night - $18.3 million each.  Not many of us will have the chance to come across tens of millions in our lives, but most of us will at some p...

The Reserve Bank shocked a lot of us last month when it cut the OCR by 50 basis points down to 2.5%. Analysts have said that the RBNZ was reading the room and giving kiwis a much needed breather after years of high rates.  Early signs are showing it's starting to have an effect - with the GDP estimate for the September quarter pointing to 0.6% growth and many banks forecasting an optimistic r...

Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down as the coach of the Silver Ferns in September due to 'significant issues' in the team. After many public statements and interviews, she was reinstated at the end of last month.  Netball NZ, her employer, remained just vague enough that the public could allow their imaginations to run wild about what had happened.  Andrew Bayly, MP for Port Waikato, resi...

Trusts are hardly mentioned outside of when wealth tax is in the news, or when someone mentions their accountant told them to get one. One side of the political aisle seems to have a good list of reasons as to why someone would need a trust, while the other side seems to be convinced that essentially the only reason anyone would have one would be to hide assets.  So what is the real purpose o...

An interesting report came out this week about budgets: the average household spending has only gone up two dollars a week since 2023. 50-percent of respondents said they're actively seeking out discounts and promotions - and 30-percent downgrade brands. It's one thing to be spending less on non-essentials, eating less, or wearing cheaper clothes, but sometimes that can chip away at our mental hea...

A new governor has been appointed for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - all the way from Sweden.  Dr Anna Breman has already received criticism from economists who find themselves concerned that someone with such little knowledge of the New Zealand economy will hold such a high stakes position.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy had a worse than expected drop in the June quarter, shrinking 0.9%.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis has blamed it on global turmoil, but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand says there's a need to provide more stimulus to the economy by cutting the OCR.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced plans to campaign for compulsory KiwiSaver at the next election, and increase the minimum contribution from 4% to 12%.  He said there would be tax cuts alongside these changes to help fund the increase in contributions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two different types of employees - one who stays low profile, gets what they need to get done, done, and goes home.  Then there's the other, who complains about anything they feel inconveniences them. Is it true that the squeaky wheel get the grease? Or is this a great way to get yourself ruled out when it comes to opportunities and promotions?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

It's no secret that the cost of living has gone a bit crazy these past few years, but insurance seems to be one of the hardest hit. Insurance prices have increased 900% since 2000 - almost triple the increase of tobacco products.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OCR got another cut this week, now down to 3%.  While there have been questions for a while around whether banks are passing the cuts down to consumers, the real question is whether the cuts will actually solve anything at all.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wills are some of the most painstaking things you need to do as an adult. They remind you of your mortality, and of all the familial issues you may have had throughout the years.  But they must be done - so how can you write an airtight will? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most New Zealanders consider themselves only “average” with money.  In fact, a new study from Partners Life finds less than a quarter of New Zealanders rate their financial knowledge as "excellent". Nearly 60 percent find it tough to pay monthly expenses, and just over half reported stress or losing sleep due to money concerns.  At the same time, many are reportedly using credit and afte...

The number of mortgage holders refinancing their loans is the highest ever recorded.  More than 3,500 borrowers refinanced in June, and experts are expecting to see the trend continue through to the end of the year.  Finance specialist Amanda Morrall joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Consumer Price Index over the June quarter was lower than expected at 2.7%, and it could mean a rate cut by the Reserve Bank next month.  So is the New Zealand investment winter over?  Shane Solly is a director at Harbour Asset Management and he joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all want our kids to do better than we did, and a major part of that is teaching them how to set themselves up financially.  Founder and managing director at Koura Wealth, Rupert Carlyon, joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of living is crunching down again, as more than 30-thousand Kiwis reportedly moved abroad last year.  Are there any more changes can people make to save money? What things can they afford to cut? Additionally, at what point do we look in the mirror and say the problem is our lack of personal discipline? "Financial Force of Nature", and Founder of financial strategy site joins Ti...

This week, the Government's KiwiSaver contribution was halved under budget changes. Employers will also have to fork out a mandatory 4% contribution to adjust for the deficit left by the Government's contibution. That bump's expected to stifle potential salary increases, and in turn, our retirement funds - leading many to question what changes we really need, and what we can do for ourselves, to s...

New employment data reveals work-life balance is the top reason people leave their job. Additionally, more people are working past the retirement age. Are these new attitudes, or has it been growing? What's the workforce like today?  Tim Beveridge speaks to Employment Relations Expert Max Whitehead... LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global conflict also affects trade and consumer spending. What uncertainties will appear, and how will markets respond to the US bombing Iran? Harbour Asset Management's Income and Currency Strategist Hamish Pepper talks to Tim Beveridge... LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some kids have a nack for saving, a piggy bank full of coins - while some never get it.  So what is it that makes someone good with money? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Beveridge is joined by Koura Wealth founder, Rupert Carlyon, to discuss the inner workings of a KiwiSaver fund and how to best use KiwiSaver. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Career progression is a significant thing to consider for most people - whether they could develop as much as they'd like at their current job, or if they would need to look elsewhere. So how can employers spot and support an employee who wants to progress? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is increasing the default KiwiSaver contributions for employees and employers, while halving their own contributions.  Employee and employer contributions will raise from 3% to 3.5%, while the Government's contributions will drop from $521.43 to $260.72. But should the Government be halving their input? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of people think trusts are only for the very wealthy, and absolutely useless for the every day person - but today's guest explains that's not the case.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.