The Dollars & Sense Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dollars and Sense Podcast , Tim and Brodie explore a question that sits at the heart of financial planning: What do financially successful people actually have in common? After years of meeting with clients year after year, certain patterns begin to emerge. Some clients describe themselves as financially secure, comfortable, and at peace with their finances,...

Send us Fan Mail SpaceX is finally going public, and the numbers are staggering. With an expected valuation of $1.75 trillion and just 5% of shares available to investors, this could become the largest IPO in history.  In this episode, Tim and Brodie break down what an IPO actually is, why SpaceX is attracting so much attention, how it compares to Tesla's famous IPO, and whether investors sho...

Send us Fan Mail Most Kiwi investors know about tax on their salary or earnt income, but far fewer understand how investment tax actually works. In this episode, Tim and Brodie break down three of the most important tax concepts for investors: PIE tax, Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) tax, and the differences between the FDR and CV calculation methods. They explain why many investors receive tax repo...

Send us Fan Mail July 2027 marks 20 years since KiwiSaver was introduced to New Zealand. In that time, it has grown from a brand-new savings scheme into a $120+ billion investment powerhouse that will likely become the largest asset many Kiwis ever own.  In this episode, Tim and Brodie look back at how KiwiSaver has evolved since 2007, from the dominance of bank providers to the rise of specialist...

Send us Fan Mail Without clear direction, every financial plan is both right and wrong at the same time. In this episode, Tim steps away from the spreadsheets and market analysis to explain one of the most important exercises used in real financial planning conversations: defining what a wealthy life actually looks and feels like for you. The “Now and Then” exercise helps uncover the goals, emotio...

Send us Fan Mail Most financial advisers defend adviser fees. In this episode, Tim and Brodie do something different...... they challenge them. From ongoing fees on “set and forget” portfolios, to percentage-based charges that grow far faster than the actual work involved, this episode explores when adviser fees genuinely deliver value… and when they may not. Tim and Brodie unpack:  Why unclear fe...

Send us Fan Mail A recent RNZ headline claimed all active fund managers underperformed over the last year — a bold statement that sparked plenty of debate across the investment world. But how accurate is that headline, and what does the underlying data actually show?  In this episode, Tim Ellis and Brodie Haggerty unpack the latest SPIVA report, break down the difference between active and passive...

Send us Fan Mail "Just buy a low cost S&P500 index tracking fund....." Most investors think buying a low-cost S&P 500 ETF is the smartest move they can make—but the 0.03% fee doesn’t tell the full story.  In this episode, I break down the hidden costs, missed opportunities, and structural limitations of passive investing.  If you’re relying on “cheap” as your strategy, this one m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Taylor Schulte, founder of Define Financial and host of the Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast. We unpack why retirement, especially early retirement, is far more of a psychological challenge than a financial one. From identity loss to spending anxiety, this conversation highlights the real risks people overlook when planning their exit from work. As me...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tim breaks down what actually happened across global markets, why investor sentiment has shifted, and how similar this year looks to past market cycles. More importantly, he explains why short-term volatility might not mean what you think it does for your long-term plan.  If you have a question, suggestions, or a topic you would like us to cover, please send an em...

Send us Fan Mail This year, tens of thousands of Kiwis will reach retirement age — but how much does timing really matter?  In this episode, I break down three real retirement scenarios using the same $2M portfolio across very different market conditions. The results might surprise you — and challenge how you think about risk, timing, and what actually makes a plan successful.  If you have a quest...

Send us Fan Mail Index funds “don’t work” in bear markets… or do they? In this episode, I break down three powerful ways index funds can still create future gains when markets are falling From dividend reinvestment to rebalancing and dollar-cost averaging.  If recent market movements have you questioning your strategy, this is a must-listen reality check.  If you have a question, suggestions, or a...

Send us Fan Mail Most people excel in one part of their financial plan. Wither they are very proficient in budgeting, investing, or have sought out expert advice regarding their insurances. However, almost no one talks about how they actually work together. In this episode, I break down the hidden link between all three, and why being weak in one can quietly sabotage the others. The alignment of a...

Send us Fan Mail Everywhere you look right now the headlines are bleak! Wars, oil shocks, economic uncertainty, and predictions of market crashes.  But do those headlines actually predict what markets will do next?  In this episode, Tim breaks down the research behind media sentiment, why negative financial news dominates the headlines, and the real cost investors pay when they react emotionally a...

Send us Fan Mail This week Sheldon and I tackle a topic that comes up constantly with clients. Dividend paying shares. Are they essential for building wealth or just one part of the puzzle? We unpack how dividends and buybacks actually work, why so many investors are drawn to income strategies, and why focusing only on yield can quietly derail long term returns. If you have a question, suggestions...

Send us Fan Mail Often people who are doing “pretty well” still avoid financial planning, or they start and quietly drop off. In this episode, Tim Ellis and Sheldon Wu talk about why that happens, what it really costs over time, and why good planning is about a lot more than just returns. A practical, honest conversation based on what we actually see with clients.  If you have a question, suggesti...

Send us Fan Mail Gold and silver are back in the headlines—but do they actually belong in a long-term investment portfolio? In this episode, Tim and Sheldon unpack the data, the psychology, and the common arguments for holding precious metals, and explain why most professional portfolios don’t rely on them. A practical, no-hype discussion about volatility, diversification, speculation, and what re...

Send us Fan Mail The reserve fund is the one strategy every financial adviser agrees on — and the one most people ignore. In the first episode of 2026, Tim Ellis and Sheldon Wu break down what a reserve fund really is (and isn’t), why credit cards and revolving credit don’t count, and how having real cash set aside changes the way you invest, work, and live.  If you have a question, suggestions, o...

Send us Fan Mail 2025 gave us AI becoming mainstream, another turbulent year under Trump, surprising global market returns, and the end of Warren Buffett’s era as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In this episode, we unpack what actually happened — from AI hype and capital flows to interest rates and market surprises — and then finish with the bigger question: why none of it really matters for long-term...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Tim breaks down one of the most common KiwiSaver misunderstandings: how two funds can show identical long-term returns on paper, yet deliver completely different balances for real investors. He explains why shifting asset allocations, volatility, and regular contributions can make a “better-looking” fund actually perform worse for you. If you’ve ever compared performanc...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a follow-up to my earlier deep dive into New Zealand’s medical insurance shake-up — and a lot has changed since then. In this update, I break down how each major insurer has responded differently to rising claims costs, including Southern Cross, AIA and nib, and what these changes mean for your premiums, benefits and future options. I also outline practical solutio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we break down the tactics used by self-proclaimed investment “gurus” who sell overpriced courses, mentorships, and get-rich-quick schemes. From seductive narratives to manufactured credibility and psychological manipulation, we unpack how these operators hook people in — and how to protect yourself.  If you’ve ever wondered why these scams seem to surge during vol...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Dollars and Sense Podcast , Tim sits down with Taraia Robin from Stewart Group and Finzo for an honest, practical discussion about evidence-based investing. Taraia breaks down why discipline beats prediction, how small-cap and value factors fit into a modern portfolio, and what investors often misunderstand when markets get noisy. A grounded, insightful conv...

Send us Fan Mail Investors are nervous — AI stocks are soaring, valuations look stretched, and Trump’s back in the White House. In this episode, Tim breaks down whether we’re really on the edge of a market correction, what’s driving the fear, and why a solid, diversified plan still beats trying to time the market.  If you have a question, suggestions, or a topic you would like us to cover, please...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of our conversation with Hannah Carter from Carter Chung , we dive deeper into the legal side of second marriages, trusts, and contracting out agreements. Building on last week’s discussion, this episode explores what really happens when documents aren’t reviewed, how blended families can protect their assets, and why proactive planning matters more than ever.  If you ha...