MMS #58 | From $6k to success: The story behind startup Bear & Moo
In this inspiring episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie sits down with Hannah Porter - founder of baby and kids' brand Bear & Moo - to talk about building a successful startup from scratch, while juggling family life and financial realities. From starting with just $6,000 to growing into a thriving online and retail store, Hannah shares what it’s really like to take a calculated risk and create something that works for your lifestyle, and helps build financial success.This episode covers:How Hannah went from corporate jobs to launching Bear & Moo with only a small amount of savingsThe balance between family life, risk, and financial stability when starting a businessThe growth journey through COVID, supply chain issues, and economic slowdowns - it hasn't been easy!Why knowing your numbers and cashflow is vital for small business survivalTips on household budgeting, running multiple bank accounts, and teaching kids about moneyResources mentioned in this episode:- Bear & Moo website – https://bearandmoo.co.nz/Tenancy Services (for household budgeting references): https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/By the end of this episode, you’ll feel inspired (and maybe a little more organised!) to take control of your own finances - whether that’s starting a side hustle, improving your family’s budget system, or simply getting more confident about your money decisions. So go forth and conquer!---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: InstagramFacebookLinkedInDisclaimer: 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.
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Economy Made Simple #8 | Spring economic update - will this recession ever end?
Spring might be in the air, but the economy hasn’t quite joined the party yet. In this quarterly economic update, Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity’s Chief Economist, breaks down what’s really going on in New Zealand and across the globe. He explains why the economy still feels sluggish, what's happening re: the cost of living crisis, and what to watch for next.This episode covers:Why the New Zealand economy is experiencing one of its longest and deepest slowdowns in decadesHow global uncertainty - from wars to trade tensions and political instability - is shaping financial markets as well as household confidenceWhat the Reserve Bank is doing with interest rates, how much time it might take to see the impacts of these leversThe unusual signals in jobs, consumer spending, and business confidence that make this cycle differentWhen Shamubeel sees (cautious) optimisim returning, and what that might mean for everyday KiwisShamubeel is here to explain complex economic trends in plain language, helping you understand how global shocks and local policy decisions flow through to your wallet. Hopefully you’ll leave with a clearer picture of where we are in the cycle - and what to watch for as we (hopefully) move toward a strong recovery.---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: InstagramFacebookLinkedInDisclaimer: 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 Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv unpack one of the most simple and powerful (yet often misunderstood) tools for building wealth: index funds. They explain what index funds are, why they’re so popular with investors worldwide, and how they actually stack up against actively managed funds. Using strawberries, gift hampers, and a couple of screw-ups along the way (we never said we were perfect!), they strip back the jargon to make index investing easy to understand - and get started!This episode covers:What an index fund actually is and what "mirroring a market" meansWhy index funds are generally lower cost than actively managed fundsHow diversification works in terms of owning “a little bit of everything” The long-term performance data showing how index funds compare to actively managed funds over timeThe role of ethical screening and how one can align index funds with their personal valuesDownsides and risks of index funds compared to other investmentsResources mentioned in this episode:- Sorted.org guide to investment funds- SPIVA (S&P Indices Versus Active) research reports- Bogleheads investing community and information page Index funds won’t promise a quick win or let you “beat the market,” but they’ve proven to be one of the simplest, lowest-cost, and most effective ways for everyday investors around the world to grow their wealth over the long term. So dive in to the podcast now!---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: InstagramFacebookLinkedInDisclaimer: 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.
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MMS #55 | Five big money myths holding you back financially
In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv take on the top five money myths that keep holding Kiwis back from building financial confidence - and wealth! From saving when money is tight to whether credit cards are always “bad,” they tackle some of the most common misconceptions with real-life examples and practical advice you can actually use. This episode covers:Why “I don’t earn enough to save” is almost never trueThe truth about credit cards: when they can be helpful, and when they become dangerousWhy buying a house isn’t always better than renting, and how to think about what’s right for youBusting the belief that you need to be rich to invest (spoiler: you don’t!)How budgeting doesn’t kill your fun; it can actually make spending more enjoyable!By the end of this episode, you’ll see that a lot of the financial “rules” we grew up hearing don’t stack up. We aim to provide you with a clearer view of how to make your money work better for you, no matter where you’re starting from.---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: InstagramFacebookLinkedInDisclaimer: 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.
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Economy Made Simple #7 | Capital, leadership and NZ's future
In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub sits down with Sam Stubbs, founder of Simplicity, to explore the intersection of personal journeys, global finance, and the future of New Zealand’s economy. From growing up in the depths of West Auckland to investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Sam shares lessons from his career and why he ultimately came back to try and build something for everyday New Zealanders.Together, Shamubeel and Sam unpack what global capital flows mean for a small country like New Zealand, the unique opportunity being created by KiwiSaver, and how leadership, luck, and resilience shape both personal and national success stories. This episode covers:Sam’s journey from West Auckland to Goldman Sachs, and back home againHow the global finance industry views New Zealand... and why we often get overlookedThe role of KiwiSaver in reshaping capital flows and creating opportunities for local investmentWhat New Zealand can learn from Australia’s superannuation model and strong infrastructure growthWhy leadership, culture, resilience and curiosity matter for building great organisations - and great economiesBy the end of this episode, you’ll gain a fresh perspective on how global and local capital interact, why KiwiSaver could be a game-changer for New Zealand’s future, and what it takes to lead with resilience and humility in this tricky, rapidly changing world.---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: InstagramFacebookLinkedInDisclaimer: 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.
Welcome to Money Made Simple, a family of NZ-based financial literacy podcasts from Simplicity which keep it simple and get straight to the point. We want ALL Kiwis to have dignity, and a dignified life is one with choices. What can help with more choices? More money. So we're here to make Kiwis richer and smarter with money.MONEY MADE SIMPLE WITH JENNIE AND LIV:Join co-hosts Liv and Jennie on a fortnightly basis to help you understand the basics around money, finances, investing, KiwiSaver, and planning for a better future. We aim to provide information in a bite-sized, easy-to-listen way that simplifies the jargon. 'Cos who's got time for that! We want you to feel empowered and confident when thinking about money and investing - whether that be via KiwiSaver, investment funds, the share market, property, or whatever suits you.THE ECONOMY MADE SIMPLE WITH SHAMUBEEL EAQUB:Join Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity's Chief Economist, on a monthly basis to help you understand what's happening in the economy, job market, politics and financial markets. Tune in to get economic updates, interviews with NZ's key movers and shakers, and deep dives into topics you might want to understand better.You can join the Simplicity community via the following channels:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplicity_kiwi/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplicitykiwiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplicity-kiwi/Or check out our website: https://simplicity.kiwi/Cheers for listening - we appreciate each and every one of you %)
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