ASB Investment Podcast

Investor confidence is back, but where Kiwi expect the best returns is changing. ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown unpacks the latest Investor Confidence Survey, including the shift towards KiwiSaver and managed investments, changing attitudes to property, and why retirement policy is on investors’ minds.

The information contained in the ASB Investment Podcast is for informational purposes and is designed for use by New Zealand residents only. No person guarantees the financial services or products offered or any of the investments or returns made in respect of the financial services or products. The financial services and products offered are subject to investment risk including loss of income and principal invested.​ They are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of income and principal invested.

With the election approaching, KiwiSaver is firmly in the spotlight.

ASB economists Wesley Tanuvasa and Mark Smith unpack the major KiwiSaver proposals and what they could mean for New Zealanders. They also explore the bigger picture for retirement savings, government debt, inflation and interest rates, and why building a bigger nest egg could matter for both households and the wider New Zealand economy.

The information contained in the ASB Investment Podcast is for informational purposes and is designed for use by New Zealand residents only. No person guarantees the financial services or products offered or any of the investments or returns made in respect of the financial services or products. The financial services and products offered are subject to investment risk including loss of income and principal invested.​ They are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of income and principal invested.Election special 2026: What’s at stake for KiwiSaver?

Nigel Grant is joined by Liam Dann, Business Editor-at-Large at the New Zealand Herald, to discuss whether New Zealand's economic recovery is finally taking hold. Liam explores the uneven nature of the recovery, why some businesses remain cautious, and the reforms he believes could boost long-term growth, including compulsory KiwiSaver and higher contribution rates. He also shares his views on AI, productivity, migration, and why he remains optimistic about New Zealand's future.

Nigel Grant is joined by Chantal Giles, BlackRock’s APAC Head of Strategic Clients and Business Development, and Jason Collins, Head of Australasia at BlackRock, to unpack the Great Wealth Transfer and what it could mean for investors and families. They explore why longer lifespans could make this less about simply passing wealth between generations and more about moving it across life stages and asset classes, the growing role of women as wealth creators and financial decision-makers, and why families may need to become more comfortable talking about money. Chantal and Jason also share why setting clear goals, starting small, seeking advice and staying diversified could help more people participate in the opportunities created by investing.

Interests in the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme and ASB Investment Funds (Schemes) are issued by ASB Group Investments Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASB Bank Limited (ASB). ASB provides administration and distribution services for the Schemes. No person guarantees interests in the Schemes. Interests in the Schemes are not deposits or other liabilities of ASB. They are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of income and principal invested. For more information see the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme Product Disclosure Statement or the ASB Investment Funds Product Disclosure Statement available from this website and the register of offers of financial products at www.disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz (search for ASB).The Morningstar disclaimer: Morningstar Awards 2026 © Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ASB is awarded Fund Manager of the Year, KiwiSaver category, New Zealand.​

(00:00) - Introduction: The Great Wealth Transfer & 5 Years with BlackRock

(02:00) - Meet Chantal Giles and Jason Collins

(03:15) - Five years of the ASB and BlackRock partnership

(06:31) - What is the Great Wealth Transfer?

(08:43) - Why it may be more than a transfer between generations

(11:19) - Retirement, business owners, and changing wealth decisions

(15:09) - Women, wealth, and investing with purpose

(16:50) - Why financial plans should involve the whole family

(18:21) - Are we improving financial literacy fast enough?

(20:36) - How families can prepare for future wealth decisions

(22:02) - Why investing isn't about greed and shouldn't be intimidating

(24:28) - Talking to an adviser: where should you start?

(27:01) - The power of starting small and investing regularly

(27:48) - One thing investors shouldn't lose sight of: diversification

(28:57) - What advisers need to know about modern families

(29:41) - Recommendations: books, films and music

(32:03) - Key takeaways and final thoughts

Nigel Grant is joined by Kirk Hope, Chief Executive of the Financial Services Council (FSC), to unpack the FSC’s Prosperity Agenda and its vision for strengthening New Zealand’s financial future. Kirk breaks down why the FSC wants KiwiSaver contributions to gradually rise to 12%, the case for automatically enrolling New Zealanders at birth, and how a larger pool of national savings could give individuals, businesses and the country more choices over time. They also explore the role of insurance in building financial resilience, how New Zealand savings could support investment and economic growth, and why the FSC believes greater regulatory stability and a more coordinated approach to financial services could help turn long-term ambition into action.