The Curve

A Chinese startup called Moonshot AI has released Kimi K3 - the world's largest open source AI model, and it's already rivaling the AI tools we all use every single day. It's cheaper, it's fast, and it's backed by the Chinese government. So why is this making investors panic? In today's episode we break down what Kimi K3 actually is, why "open source" AI could mean the end of paying for ChatGPT and Claude subscriptions and whether this is the moment the AI bubble finally pops

Plus: the UK's political chaos and why the stock market has become impossible to invest in, the oil price spike driving up your grocery bill, and a Curve Hotline question from a listener on maternity leave asking how to keep investing on a reduced income.

Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM and if you want to check out any of the questions we've already answered you can find them here! (https://pathfinder.kiwi/pathfinder-x-the-curve/)

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

Kimi K3 — Free, open-source Chinese AI model now rivalling Claude/ChatGPT.

AI bubble — Fear that AI stock prices are overhyped and could crash.

ETF — A bundle of many stocks in one investment — easy diversification.

FTSE 100 — UK's top 100 listed companies (our S&P 500).

Fiscal headroom — The gap between what govt earns vs. spends.

3 govt levers to close that gap: print money (→ inflation), raise taxes (VAT, National Insurance, GST), or borrow via bonds.

Brent Crude — Global benchmark oil price.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Producer: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)

⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)

Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:16 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:01:46 We’re British Podcast Awards finalists!
00:02:48 Abi and Soph’s weeks
00:04:56 Kimi K3 and What It Means for Your Portfolio
00:16:00 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:16:49 UK political instability knock-on effects
00:30:04 Oil prices jump again
00:33:42 The Curve Hotline
00:38:16 Thank you for listening!
00:39:58 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Pete has spent 10 years in the property game, helping people build their wealth, including Sophie! In this episode, they team up to unpack the crucial things most buyers quietly ignore: why your life partner is actually your most critical financial asset, the dangerous psychology behind property auctions, and why understanding the difference between a home and an investment property can help you make better financial decisions. If you're buying with a partner, considering your next property move, or just want to know how to spot a red flag before it costs you $40,000, this one is worth your full attention.
Pete’s links:
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/peterwestproperty)
Website (https://www.westpropertycoaching.co.nz/)
We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that home ownership isn’t a straight line. Sometimes life throws curveballs, and BNZ is all about supporting you through the hard stuff, not just the highlights. Whether you’re planning ahead or needing a bit more support right now, BNZ’s home loan experts have the tools and people ready to help you find a way.
👉 To learn more, head here: http://bnz.co.nz/home-loan-partners-apple-ep15
BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.
Credits:
Hosts: Sophie Hallwright
Producer: Emily Rigby
Editor: Kate Callaghan
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro
⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)
For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)
⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)
Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

This week on The Curve Weekly, we are joined by writer, broadcaster, journalist and founder of Sex Talks, Emma Louise-Boynton. We dive into Belle Burton's ‘Strangers’, the memoir everyone has been talking about: a story about a husband who ups and leaves after 21 years of marriage with no warning, or explanation.
Soph and Emma unpack why Strangers at the crux of it is a story about financial abuse, and how important it is to not hand over your financial identity. They also get into the rise of long-term relationship ghosting and why now more than ever we need to be protecting ourselves financially - even if we are in love. They talk about why prenups are actually romantic, and create a list of questions every couple should be asking each other to get on the same page financially. 
Oh, and both hosts admit they're currently failing at practicing what they preach in their own relationships. A very honest conversation about why this stuff is so hard to do in practice, even when you know better.
Emma’s Links
Pleasure: https://geni.us/pleasureelboynton
Sex Talks: https://www.sextalks.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouiseboynton
Substack: https://emmalouiseboynton.substack.com/about
WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
Prenup An agreement made before marriage on who gets what if it ends.
De facto Legally recognized as a couple after living together for a set period, even if unmarried, with rights similar to marriage.
Trust fund Assets held and managed on someone's behalf, often paid out at a set time or event.
Pension gap The retirement shortfall women face from career breaks.
Thanks so much to Generate for making The Curve Weekly possible. Generate has a really impressive 10-year track record, to find out more about their performance click here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/performance. But remember, a great track record doesn’t guarantee future returns! If you’d like to speak to an advisor, to see if Generate is right for you, you can book time with someone here: https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/curve
Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Editor: Kate Callaghan
Producer: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro
⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)
For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)
⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)
Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)
Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:27 Generate x The Curve
00:01:48 Introduction to Emma
00:09:49 In the red or the green?
00:14:40 Lessons from Strangers
00:31:50 Avoiding the finance talk with your partner
00:42:39 Generate x The Curve
00:43:18 Step 1: Know yourself and your financial situation
00:48:30 Step 2: Questions to get on the same page with your partner
00:54:13 It’s never too late to start
01:01:52 Thank you for listening!
01:03:02 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.
Generate’s Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider License can be found here: GenerateKiwiSaver.co.nz/disclosures.
*Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey March Quarter End 2026. The Generate Focused Growth Fund returns have ranked in the top three of NZ Multi Sector Aggressive Category Funds for 10 year returns every quarter since becoming eligible in June 2023. Most recently the fund ranked 2nd out of 10 funds for 10 year returns to 31 March 2026.

This week Sophie's joined by chartered accountant, author and finance creator Abi Foster (filling in for Vic) to unpack the UK's brand-new Buy Now, Pay Later regulations - why they've come in, what they actually mean for your credit score, and how one woman ended up $50k in debt using it. Plus: should you be divesting from the US stock market right now, SpaceX's IPO wobble and Elon losing his trillionaire status, the $110bn Warner Bros/Paramount merger 12 US states are trying to block, and a genuinely lovely bonus story about a Costco cashier who built a $1m retirement pot on minimum wage.
Abi’s Links
⁠The Money Manual Book⁠: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/46857...
⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/abigailrosefoster/
⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailrosefoster
⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmvbS2HZTs72pst13nBEmJw/videos
Substack: https://elent.substack.com/
Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM and if you want to check out any of the questions we've already answered you can find them here! (https://pathfinder.kiwi/pathfinder-x-the-curve/)
Lily’s guide to ethical investing template:
https://pathfinder.kiwi/media/documents/Pathfinder_x_The_Curve_Mini_Ethical_Investment_Policy.pdf
WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
FCA The UK's finance regulator, now policing BNPL.
Section 75 Your provider's on the hook if a purchase goes wrong.
Soft check A background check that doesn't dent your credit score.
Credit score The number lenders use to judge how risky you are.
Earnings season Weeks when public companies report results.
S&P 500 The top 500 US companies.
Magnificent Seven The 7 tech giants dominating the US market.
Divesting Selling investments to cut your exposure.
Emerging markets Fast-growing but riskier economies.
IPO A company's first share sale to the public.
Monopoly One player controls the market, no competition.
Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Abi Foster
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro
⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠
For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)
⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)
⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠
⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)
Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)
Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:12 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:01:42 Abi's back on the pod!
00:03:53 Buy now, pay later: the rules just changed
00:17:43 Should we be divesting from the US?
00:29:53 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:31:05 The $110bn media merger nobody saw coming
00:36:34 Soph's bonus story
00:39:25 The Ethical Hotline
00:45:05 Thank you for listening!
00:46:13 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

If you've ever felt behind on money, like everyone else somehow "gets it" and you missed the lesson, this episode is for you. Sophie sits down with finance creator Ciara Anne to break down, step by step, how she went from financially avoidant to having over £200,000 invested, without cutting out the things she enjoys: what compound growth actually means and why it's so hard to grasp at first, what dollar-cost averaging is and how Ciara adapted it into her own "curated" version (holding back a portion each month to invest more when the market dips), what an ETF actually is versus picking individual stocks, why a stocks and shares ISA is tax-free, what "risk appetite" really means, the idea of Coast FIRE and retirement as a financial state rather than an age, and why so many women were never taught any of this in the first place. Ciara is living proof that building wealth doesn't require depriving yourself, just consistency and the right foundations.

Ciara’s links

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ciara___anne/)

TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ciara__anne)

Want to know your Coast FIRE number? Ciara breaks it down here: Coast FIRE explained (https://www.instagram.com/p/DX2WR6-qOXH/)

Episodes mentioned in this podcast…

Economist Bronwyn Taylor explains why 'Girl Math' is a toxic trend. (https://youtu.be/VEKpsJlReb8?si=tbit37Bn767tMDUk)

Mia McGrath’s Frugal Chic Rules for Building Wealth. (https://youtu.be/nV74s4FoyUI?si=zVHVGU_9hvgrseM7)

Credits:

Host: Sophie Hallwright

Guest: Ciara McMahon

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline)

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)

⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)

Chapters

00:00:00 Episode Preview
00:01:04 Who is Ciara?
00:02:16 Why women don’t talk about money
00:11:49 Ciara’s financial journey
00:23:04 A conversation with Ciara’s sister
00:32:53 Ciara’s investing strategy
00:43:13 Ciara’s fav ETFs
00:44:34 Jealousy within friendship groups
00:49:52 Thank you for listening!
00:50:19 Financial disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.