Money Made Simple

In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub chats with journalist, author and personal finance expert Susan Edmunds about KiwiSaver, the questions New Zealanders are asking, and why getting the basics right still matters.
Susan has just written a book about KiwiSaver, based on the questions people regularly ask her - from choosing the right fund and contribution rate, to hardship withdrawals, first-home access, fees, self-employment, and what happens once people reach retirement.
Together, Shamubeel and Susan discuss how KiwiSaver has changed over the past almost 20 years, why it’s no longer just a retirement savings scheme, and where the system could be improved to better support women, lower-income earners, the self-employed, and people over 65.
This episode covers
The most common KiwiSaver questions Susan gets from New Zealanders
Why it’s important to check your fund type, contribution rate and provider settings
How KiwiSaver is being used for retirement, first homes and hardship withdrawals
The impact of total remuneration and why employer contributions matter
Why women, carers and lower-income earners can fall behind in KiwiSaver
The challenges KiwiSaver creates for self-employed people
What retirees need to think about when turning savings into income
Fees, fund performance and how to compare providers
How KiwiSaver could be improved in the future
Tune in for a practical and thoughtful conversation about how KiwiSaver has shaped New Zealanders’ savings habits, what people still need help understanding, and how the scheme could evolve to deliver better outcomes for more Kiwis.

Please note: This episode was recorded before National announced their new KiwiSaver policy plans.
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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.

Retirement can feel like something to worry about “later” - especially when you’re in your 20s or 30s. But every decade comes with opportunities to improve your financial future.
In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv talk about what retirement planning looks like at different ages and stages of life. From making the most of KiwiSaver early on, to checking whether you’re on track in your 40s and 50s, to thinking about how you’ll actually use your savings in retirement, this episode is all about practical steps you can take now - whatever age you are.
In this episode, we cover:
Why retirement planning matters at every age
How money can create choices, independence and dignity later in life
The important role KiwiSaver can play in helping New Zealanders save for their retirement
The power of compounding returns, especially in your 20s and 30s
How to make sure you’re getting the most from KiwiSaver, including contributing regularly, maximising the benefits and choosing the right fund for you (at the right time)
What to review in your 40s and 50s, especially as your life priorities change
How to think about the lifestyle you want in retirement - and what it might cost
What to consider in your 60s as you move from saving to spending
Retirement isn’t just about accumulating money - it’s about independence, security and having choices later in life. And no matter your age, there is almost always something you can do to improve your future. The key takeaways are - start early if you can (but don’t panic if you haven’t), check your KiwiSaver settings regularly, take time to think about the retirement you actually want and make small adjustments as your life changes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Simplicity KiwiSaver Fund Selector
Simplicity KiwiSaver calculators
Simplicity Future Projection Tool — available to members only in the Simplicity member app 
Sorted retirement calculator and guides
Massey University New Zealand Retirement Expenditure Guidelines 2025
MMS podcast on Compounding Returns - The Money Makes Money episode 
Resource we should have mentioned but didn't (opps): 
Simplicity Retirement Decumulation Tool (it helps you plan how to withdraw funds to ensure your nest egg lasts for your retirement years) available to members in the Simplicity member app.
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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 week's episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie tackle a topic that deserves some airtime: the finances of self-employment. Nearly 1 in 5 Kiwis work for themselves - and the financial scaffolding that employees take for granted simply doesn't come with the territory. They break down what that means in practice, what to set up early, and how to make sure your future self doesn't miss out.
This episode covers:
The scale of self-employment in New Zealand - and why it's a growing slice of the workforce
The three types of self-employed Kiwis, and why the financial picture looks different for each
Tax, GST, and ACC - the basics you need to know
The KiwiSaver gap between the employed and the self-employed, and what that means for your future
What happened to the government contribution - and why it still makes sense to chase it
The "hidden" perks of employment you quietly lose when you go out on your own
Five practical watch-outs to set up early, including cash buffers, KiwiSaver contributions, and income protection
Why you shouldn't assume selling your business will fund your nest egg - and what to think about when it comes to retirement planning as a self-employed
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Sorted - tools and guides for building good financial habits: https://sorted.org.nz
- Business NZ x IRD's guide to becoming self-employed: https://www.business.govt.nz/business-stage-or-type/sole-traders/becoming-a-sole-trader
- Retirement Commission x Hnry report on the KiwiSaver savings gap for self-employed: https://retirement.govt.nz/news/latest-news/new-report-highlights-growing-retirement-savings-gap-between-self-employed-and-employees
- Hnry - tax and invoicing platform for sole traders and freelancers: https://hnry.co.nz
- MMS Episode 64 - how compounding returns work: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GEHBzjZWUhTxnyXBNj6ku?si=7bcc6849f80b4a12 
By the end of this episode, you'll understand exactly how the financial future of a self-employed person is largely theirs to engineer - and a clearer picture of the key things to set up, think about, and get advice on before the tax bill arrives out of nowhere.
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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 sits down with journalist and publisher Bernard Hickey to talk about how economic stories are told, why trust in media matters, and what’s changed in journalism over the past few decades. Bernard reflects on the major economic shifts in NZ, how his own views on markets and capitalism have evolved, and why good reporting still matters in a world shaped by social media, misinformation, and AI. 
This episode covers
 Bernard Hickey’s journey through journalism and economic reporting 
 How to make economics more human and relatable 
 Why trust, transparency, and incentives matter in media 
 Social media, misinformation, and the role of institutions in public information 
 Whether AI helps or harms journalism and credibility 
 What good journalism looks like in a fast-moving, noisy world
This episode offers a thoughtful conversation about economics, media, trust, and the value of clear storytelling in uncertain times. 
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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 Money Made Simple, Jennie sits down with Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful Money, to unpack what ethical investing really means and how Kiwis can put their KiwiSaver and other investments behind the values they care about. Barry brings decades of experience from the UK and NZ ethical investment communities, and more recently founded Mindful Money as a charity to give New Zealanders free, comparable information on what's actually inside their funds.
This episode covers:
What ethical investing really means, and the jargon you can safely ignore
How to find out what's actually inside your KiwiSaver
The three big things a fund manager can do with your money
What Kiwis consistently say they don't want their savings funding
Whether choosing ethical means giving up returns
How to spot greenwashing in funds that claim to do good
How your investment choices can matter as much as your shopping ones
Where to start, if you want your money to better match your values
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Mindful Money Fund Finder - free tool to find a KiwiSaver or managed fund that fits your ethical values: https://mindfulmoney.nz
- Sorted Smart Investor - compare KiwiSaver and managed funds on fees, returns and more: https://smartinvestor.sorted.org.nz
- Simplicity "Where in the world is my money?' Tool: see exactly where your KiwiSaver is invested around the globe: https://simplicity.kiwi/calculators/kiwisaver/where-in-the-world-is-my-money
By the end of this episode you'll come away with a clearer sense of what ethical investing actually is, what your KiwiSaver might be funding without you realising, and why putting your money behind your values doesn't have to come at the cost of your returns.
*For information on Simplicity’s approach to ethical investing, go to simplicity.kiwi/about-us/ethical-investments where you’ll find a link to our Responsible Investment Policy.
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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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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.