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If you’re self-employed, KiwiSaver can feel like one more thing you’re meant to do perfectly while your income does anything but. We sit down with Dave to get practical about retirement savings for business owners, contractors, sole traders, and anyone paying themselves through drawings, dividends, or payroll. We start with what’s been in the news: the possibility that KiwiSaver contributions could become compulsory for self-employed New Zealanders, and what that might mean in the real world when cashflow is unpredictable.

We also dig into the part that catches people out: business structure. If you’re both the employer and the employee, the contribution maths can feel like it “shoots you in the foot”, especially when you’re trying to keep money in the business. We talk through why some people take a KiwiSaver holiday, how to think about a realistic contribution rate, and why paying yourself first is more than a motivational line. It’s a system that protects your future when the next slow month arrives.

From there we zoom out to retirement planning. Relying on your business alone is risky because industries change, payment models shift, and five good years can be followed by five tough ones. We cover the value of putting even small amounts aside, including contributing enough to unlock a government top-up, and we look at alternatives like managed funds that can offer similar long-term investing with potential tax advantages depending on your PIR. We also touch on a surprising upside: consistent saving can make your business look more sustainable and valuable if you ever decide to sell.

If you’re building a business and still want a comfortable retirement, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode with a self-employed mate, and leave a review with the one KiwiSaver question you want answered next.
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4 November
First Home Buyers Free Webinar: Your Last Chance to Get Home-Ready in 2026 https://events.humanitix.com/firsthomebuyer2026
17 November
Investing in Your Future: How to Buy an Investment Property https://events.humanitix.com/investmentproperty2026

KiwiSaver is one of the biggest financial decisions many of us make on autopilot, and that’s exactly why it deserves a proper reset. With wild weather outside, we lean into “comfort food” finance and go back to basics with Dave from Booster (and to be crystal clear, this chat isn’t sponsored). The goal is simple: make KiwiSaver feel understandable, actionable, and worth paying attention to.

We unpack 10 practical KiwiSaver facts, starting with a mindset flip: if you have KiwiSaver, you are an investor. From there, we break down what a “fund” actually is, why picking the right fund matters, and how your timeframe (first home vs retirement) should shape the level of risk you take. We also share a good starting move if you feel lost: jump into myIR to find your provider, check what you’re contributing, and update your contact details so you’re not missing key info. We talk PIR (prescribed investor rate) too, because getting it wrong can quietly cost you.

Then we get into control and confidence: KiwiSaver isn’t a government fund, you can switch providers, and you can choose options that match your values, including ethical investing. We cover why your money should still be protected even if a provider hits trouble, why opting out can mean leaving your employer’s contribution behind, and how the government contribution works for those who are eligible. Finally, we explain units and dollar cost averaging, plus why market drops can be “discount season” if you’re contributing regularly, and when it’s smarter to reduce risk as a house purchase gets close.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with a mate who’s unsure about their KiwiSaver, and leave us a quick review so more New Zealanders can find it. What’s the one KiwiSaver setting you want to check after listening?
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Looking to buy your first home or an investment property?
If either of these is on your mind, check out the details and register for free below.
4 November
First Home Buyers Free Webinar: Your Last Chance to Get Home-Ready in 2026 https://events.humanitix.com/firsthomebuyer2026
17 November
Investing in Your Future: How to Buy an Investment Property https://events.humanitix.com/investmentproperty2026

KiwiSaver is meant to sit quietly in the background until you buy your first home or retire but what happens when the present gets rough and the bills do not wait? We get practical about KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals in New Zealand: what counts as genuine financial hardship, what you need to prove, and why the rules are tight even though it is your money.

We talk through the real mechanics of the hardship application process, including the paperwork, the trustee decision, and why providing complete evidence upfront can speed things up when time matters. We also share the kinds of costs that can be considered, from keeping a roof over your head to urgent dental or medical needs, and even replacing a car when it is essential for work and caring responsibilities. Along the way we address the uncomfortable part: the system must filter out people trying to play it, so you may need to show you have tried other options like bank lending.

Then we tackle the myths people swap online: whether KiwiSaver is protected in bankruptcy, what happens if someone tries to dump a lump sum into KiwiSaver to dodge creditors, and how superannuation including KiwiSaver can come into play during a separation when lawyers and courts get involved. We finish with the human side, too: money shame is common, but asking for help is not something to be embarrassed about.

If you or someone you know is under pressure, this is a clear starting point. Subscribe for more straight-talking money chats, share this with a mate who needs it, and leave a review so more Kiwis can find it. What question do you want answered next?
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Looking to buy your first home or an investment property?
If either of these is on your mind, check out the details and register for free below.
4 November
First Home Buyers Free Webinar: Your Last Chance to Get Home-Ready in 2026 https://events.humanitix.com/firsthomebuyer2026
17 November
Investing in Your Future: How to Buy an Investment Property https://events.humanitix.com/investmentproperty2026

A vendor says there’s no subfloor access, then a manhole turns up inside a wardrobe and the entire deal changes. We bring Evan back for a rapid round of building inspection questions, and he shares the kind of real-world find that can save buyers from inheriting widespread rot, moisture damage, and repair costs that spiral into the hundreds of thousands.

We get practical about trust and due diligence: when a vendor supplied report might be fine, what actually differs between pre-sale and pre-purchase building reports, and why the scope, independence, and access you’re given matters as much as the words on the page. Evan also explains which build eras make him cautious, including the early to mid-1990s period, and why details like timber treatment, junction design, and water control can quietly drive long-term risk in New Zealand homes.

Then we sort the “looks scary” problems from the genuinely expensive ones. We cover common buyer panic points like minor brick cladding cracks and small areas of weatherboard decay, and contrast them with hidden gutter systems where you often can’t see the damage until it’s advanced. We also unpack moisture readings around showers, what it means when water is visible versus unexplained, and when further investigation is the smartest money you’ll spend.

If you want a clearer head when you’re reading a building report, negotiating repairs, or deciding what risk you can actually carry, this one is for you. Subscribe for more, share it with someone house-hunting, and leave a review telling us the one part of a home you never want to buy blind.
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Support the show
Looking to buy your first home or an investment property?
If either of these is on your mind, check out the details and register for free below.
4 November
First Home Buyers Free Webinar: Your Last Chance to Get Home-Ready in 2026 https://events.humanitix.com/firsthomebuyer2026
17 November
Investing in Your Future: How to Buy an Investment Property https://events.humanitix.com/investmentproperty2026

Meth contamination. Mould. Asbestos. Say those three words in a property conversation and you can feel the whole deal tighten up. We sit down with building inspector Evan to unpack what’s real, what’s misunderstood, and what a smart buyer or investor actually needs to look for when a report raises one of these flags.

We start with meth in New Zealand homes, including why people react differently, what the NZ guideline numbers are trying to tell you, and how results can look “fine” on an average while still hiding serious contamination in one part of the house. Evan walks us through what proper screening looks like, why lab results matter more than instant kits, and how sampling locations and materials can change what you detect.

Then we move into the issue that’s far more common than most people expect: mould. We talk about why mould is turning up even in consented new builds, especially townhouses with roof spaces that lack airflow, and why warm, well-insulated homes can still trap moisture and grow mould quietly overhead. Finally, we tackle asbestos and the crucial wording that can panic buyers, including why you cannot call it “confirmed” without laboratory testing and how to treat “may contain asbestos” warnings before renovations.

If you’re buying, selling, or just trying to protect your household, this is a practical listen. Subscribe, share it with a mate who’s house hunting, and leave a review to help more Kiwis make safer property calls.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Looking to buy your first home or an investment property?
If either of these is on your mind, check out the details and register for free below.
4 November
First Home Buyers Free Webinar: Your Last Chance to Get Home-Ready in 2026 https://events.humanitix.com/firsthomebuyer2026
17 November
Investing in Your Future: How to Buy an Investment Property https://events.humanitix.com/investmentproperty2026