Money Made Simple

It's officially Sorted's Money Month - and we have a special guest in to celebrate! In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Kate Hannah from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission - the team behind Sorted.org.nz, to unpack what financial resilience really means, and why it's about much more than just having enough money.
With cost-of-living pressures still biting, Kate explains why an emergency fund is the foundation for getting your finances sorted. She shares the research on how Kiwis are feeling, why young people are being hit hardest, and how small, achievable steps are the real key to building a buffer. They also talk through Sorted's brand new Buffer builder app, launching for August's Money Month - linked below!

This episode covers:
What financial resilience actually means, and how it's more than just having enough cash
Why an emergency fund is the foundation everything else is built on
The research on how Kiwis are really feeling about their finances right now
Why young people are among the hardest hit, and how to start when money is already tight
Whether the "$1,000 rule" is a good, genuine goal to start with
The power of small, achievable steps and building a "saver" identity
How Sorted's new Buffer builder app uses open banking to make saving almost automatic

Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Sorted Buffer builder app – free emergency savings app to make saving automatic, available on Android and Apple
- Sorted – free, independent tools, guides and calculators from the Retirement Commission: https://sorted.org.nz
- Sorted Retirement Navigator – helps you plan how to draw down your savings in retirement: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/retirement-navigator/
- Sorted Mortgage Calculator – includes a first-home-buyer mode for planning your first mortgage: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/mortgage-calculator/
- Sorted Smart Investor – compare KiwiSaver and Managed Funds on fees, returns and more: https://smartinvestor.sorted.org.nz
- Money Matters 2025: The Power of Emergency Savings (Retirement Commission research paper)

You will come away from this episode armed with the small steps you can take to start building your financial safety net. Whether you are just starting out or topping up an existing buffer, there are free, independent tools to help you meet money where you are at.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub unpacks why insurance has become one of the fastest-rising costs in NZ, and what that means for the assets we most need to protect.
Insuring everything you own would now swallow close to 15% of the average income, and with disasters growing more frequent, Shamubeel argues the days of leaning on a government bailout may be numbered. He explains how to keep meaningful cover as premiums climb.
This episode covers:
Why insuring everything could now cost close to 15% of your income
How and why home insurance has risen  over the last 20 years
The disasters that made reinsurers decide NZ is riskier than they thought
The rise in natural disaster costs as a percentage of total GDP
Why the government backstop we've been seeing come into play after floods and cyclones may not last
Which types of cover people tend to drop first when money is tight
Three practical ways to keep insurance affordable without losing protection
How auto-renewing your policy could be quietly costing you
By the end of this episode, you'll understand why insurance costs keep climbing, and three practical moves to keep the cover you actually need: knowing your sum insured, adjusting your excess, and shopping around every year.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn

Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

There’s no shortage of money info out there. Everyone seems to have something to say about budgeting, investing, mortgages, KiwiSaver and more.

But how do you know what’s helpful, what’s marketing, what’s just someone’s opinion, and when you might actually need personalised financial advice?

In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie unpack the surprisingly important question of who to trust when it comes to money. They look at the difference between general financial information, education, marketing, opinions and personalised advice - and why understanding the difference can help you make better financial decisions.

This episode covers:
The difference between general education, marketing, opinions and personalised financial advice
Why social media can be a great place to learn about money, but not always the best place to rely on for making big financial decisions
The rise of “finfluencers” - and what to watch out for when it comes to social money content
When it may be worth paying for financial advice rather than relying on general financial information
How to find a financial adviser, including where to start and why it’s worth checking their credentials
Why fee-based, independent advice can be very different from the “free” advice that dominates the NZ finance industry
The red flags to watch for when it comes to financial information and advice (warning - it's getting easier and easier to get taken for a ride!)
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Sorted – independent money guide with comparison tools and calculators: https://sorted.org.nz/
- Financial Advice New Zealand (FANZ) – adviser directory: https://financialadvice.nz/FANZ/FANZ/Consumers/Find-an-Adviser.aspx
- Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) – check if an advisor is licensed: https://fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/
- MoneyHub – list of independent, fee-based financial advisers: https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/advisers-list.html
- The Barefoot Investor (Scott Pape): https://www.barefootinvestor.com/
This episode is a reminder that good money decisions don’t usually come from one hot tip, one viral video, or one confident opinion. They come from taking your time, asking questions, understanding who or what is influencing you, and knowing when a decision matters enough to get proper advice.

Simplicity does not hold a financial advice provider licence, so this podcast provides educational information only.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub takes a moment to unpack NZ's mid-2026 economic outlook, from the fallout of the war in Iran to signs of a tentative peace.
With inflation pressures building, interest rates trending up again, and an election year adding noise, Shamubeel separates the cyclical shocks from the structural challenges Aotearoa NZ still needs to face.
This episode covers:
Why the tentative truce in Iran doesn't mean cost pressures disappear overnight
How the war disrupted a recovery that was JUST starting to gain momentum
The two-speed export story: a booming rural economy versus struggling old-school manufacturing
How dairy returns are increasingly about farm management, not just rising export prices
What rising immigration and steady job ads reveal about business confidence
The cost of living squeeze and why it's hitting lower-income households hardest
Why the Reserve Bank raising interest rates now could slow this fragile recovery - the warning signs
Why this election year matters more for long-term choices than short-term cycles
By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer picture of where NZ's economy sits in mid-2026: genuine signs of recovery emerging, but real risks still ahead from rising interest rates, inflation, and global uncertainty.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

Buying your first home can feel exciting, overwhelming, and full of unfamiliar jargon, forms and deadlines. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie break down the first-home buying process into three key stages: getting your finances ready, making an offer and doing your due diligence, and understanding what happens from going unconditional through to settlement.

This is a practical, plain-English guide to help you understand what’s coming, feel more prepared, and avoid being caught off guard when buying your first home.

This episode covers:
Checking whether you can use your KiwiSaver for your first home and how much you can withdraw
Getting mortgage pre-approval and understanding your borrowing limit
Working with lenders, mortgage brokers, lawyers and building inspectors as your home-buying 'team'
How different house sale types work in NZ
What "due diligence" means, and what it can cost
What “going unconditional” actually means (and when it happens)
Why insurance needs to be sorted before settlement on your new home
Applying for your KiwiSaver withdrawal at the right time
What happens on settlement day
Common watchouts to understand while buying your first home
Helpful links:
- Sorted first home buyer resources
- Simplicity Home Loans
- Simplicity KiwiSaver first home withdrawal information
Please remember, this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal financial situation. Simplicity is not providing financial advice or home loan advice in this episode.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn

Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.