Smart Money

Generate Kiwisaver's Nathan Stanners joins Tim Beveridge to chat National's compulsory Kiwisaver policy - and whether it's a good policy for the our retirement savings pool.  They also talk how your risk profile should change the closer your get to retirement.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's budget announcement had a focus on sorting out the books, and no straight sugar hits for individuals.Infrastructure, healthcare and education seemed to be the clear priority of our fiscal plan, but three  relief for the cost-of-living pressure many face.  Along with that, council rates have gone up for Auckland and the South Island's West Coast, and the Reserve Bank's signalled that there will be an increase to the OCR shortly - so the period we've seen of low interest rates on a mortgage is coming to an end.  So how can we prepare ourselves for a toughening economy? Was it good that we didn't have any government handouts?  Managing Director for the Private Office - Nick Crawford - joins Tim Beveridge for Smart Money...  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The age of retirement is back in the forefront of news this week after a report from the OECD recommended means testing the age of eligibility for NZ Super or risk an unsustainable rise in public debt.  The agency says New Zealand's ageing population will continue to become a prevalent issue as the government tries to pull the economy out of the red.  But some finance experts say we shouldn't be relying on the government to fund our retirements, and super should be treated as a bonus rather than a survivable income.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Divorce is still one of those taboo topics we tend to avoid, but up to 40% of marriages end that way here in New Zealand, so it's probably about time we become a bit more comfortable with it.  It's not always a hostile end, some couples are even able to "DIY" their split in a sense - but is that really a good idea?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hot topic on everyone's minds right now is the price of petrol and diesel.  It seems to be impacting the price of just about everything else, and we're staring down the barrel of a major risk of high inflation.  The OCR remains steady for now, but it's only a matter of time before interest rates are on the up once again.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high for everyone right now, and I know most people will either be nervously checking their KiwiSaver balance on the daily, or completely ignoring it until things calm down a bit.  The most repeated advice advisors will be giving right now is to simply ignore your balance for the time being - that by the time the first bomb dropped, it was too late to change anything. But is that really true?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all found ourselves day dreaming about where we'd spend a big Lotto win at one point or another.  Realistically, many of us will come into a major windfall - but it's likely to come in the form of a bonus at work, or an inheritance.  Is it okay to buy a new car and go on holiday? Or should we invest it all?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've started to see spots of what looks to be recovery in our economy over recent months.  It's not consistent, but it's frequent enough to give us some hope for the year to come.  Westpac is picking a whole lot of OCR hikes from the end of this year, and other forecasts seem to set a similar scene - a better economy is coming, and rates will have to reflect that when the time comes.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships cost money.  It's not just about date nights at expensive restaurants, fancy shoes, or a new watch for Valentine's Day.  It's moving in together, splitting the power bill, signing on to the rent. At what point in the relationship should you join your finances, and how should you go about it?  Then there's the other side of the relationship - the part no one tends to plan for. The end of it.  Are prenups just for the ultra-wealthy, or should we all have gotten one?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence in New Zealand's rural sector has really started recovering over the past year or so.  Stabilising interest rates, great dairy results, and promising meat exports have formed a foundation for what will hopefully be a successful 2026.  Confidence dropped slightly in the last quarter of last year, but it's still much higher than it has been over previous years.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 2.25%, but their tone was a bit more hawkish than usual.  Some analysts are thinking it's a signal that rates have gone as low as the RBNZ is willing to drop them - and the new Governor may be wanting to turn a new leaf in 2026.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queues at budgeting services are getting longer, and financial advisors are finding households with increasing incomes are seeking help.  Kiwis with a household income of over $200,000 a year and likely with a mortgage are struggling to make ends meet.  It feels like it was only a few years ago that being on a six figure salary meant you were fairly well off, but it seems it's barely enough to get out of living paycheck to paycheck these days.  So what actually is a liveable wage these days? Do we truly need to be making half a million a year just to pay our bills and still have a bit left over for savings and fun?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.