The Prosperity Project

Epizódok

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  If you lose capacity, who actually makes your decisions? 13.09.2026 31p

  If you suddenly became unable to make your own decisions, would your spouse or family automatically be able to step in? Not necessarily. An enduring power of attorney allows someone you trust to manage your finances or make decisions about your personal care and welfare if you can’t. Without one, your family could face an expensive and stressful court process at an already difficult time. In this episode of The Prosperity Project, we look at how enduring powers of attorney work, who you should appoint, the risks of getting it wrong, and why it’s worth putting one in place long before you think you’ll need it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Who really pays for election promises? 06.09.2026 35p

  No new taxes. Free GP visits. Cheaper public transport. Solar subsidies. KiwiSaver changes. The election promises are coming thick and fast — but what will they actually mean for your finances? On The Prosperity Project, Katie Bradford joins Nadine Higgins to unpack how the major parties’ policies could affect your wallet, from tax and rates to KiwiSaver, student loans, solar panels, small businesses and the cost of funding New Zealand’s infrastructure. Because however appealing the promises sound, there’s one unavoidable question: who ultimately pays for them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The home-buying red flags you can’t afford to ignore 30.08.2026 32p

  Buying a home used to mean checking the LIM, getting a builder’s report and sorting the mortgage. But natural hazards, insurance restrictions and increasingly complex property issues mean buyers now have much more to consider. Solicitor and Landley Law director Sue Foley joins Nadine Higgins to explain the red flags buyers should look for, why insurance needs to be considered early, what sellers are required to disclose and why relying on someone else’s building report could leave you exposed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How to know if your KiwiSaver is working for you 23.08.2026 29p

  How often should you review your KiwiSaver — and what should you actually be looking at? In this episode of The Prosperity Project, we talk through what matters when reviewing your KiwiSaver, from your retirement goals and contribution levels to fees, fund types and provider performance. Financial commentator Russell Hutchinson explains why you shouldn’t just chase last year’s top-performing fund, how to think about active versus passive management, and why performance after fees is what really counts. Plus, is checking your KiwiSaver balance every week helpful — or just a distraction?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What to do when you can’t pay your debts 16.08.2026 33p

  What happens when you simply can’t afford to pay your debts? FinCap financial mentor Charlotte Whitakker joins The Prosperity Project to explain the options available when debt becomes overwhelming — from negotiating with lenders and hardship applications to KiwiSaver withdrawals, debt repayment orders and bankruptcy. Plus, why buy now, pay later can fuel a debt spiral, when you should seek help, and why getting support earlier can make all the difference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The mistakes buyers make in front of real estate agents 09.08.2026 33p

  Buying or selling a house is a complicated and often confusing process that real estate agents are smack in the middle of, and stand to benefit from.  So what should we share when dealing with an agent, and what should we keep close to our chest? Barfoot & Thompson real estate agent Ryan Harding joins Nadine Higgins to explain what you need to consider as a vendor or a buyer, the things agents are obligated to disclose, whether commissions are negotiable, how to spot an inflated appraisal and which sales method could get the best result. He also reveals why conditional buyers may need to pay more, what really happens when an auction passes in, and which buyers won't reap the rewards of a 'buyer's market.'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What happens to your money in a retirement village? 02.08.2026 30p

  Moving into a retirement village can offer community, convenience and freedom from maintaining a family home — but the financial arrangement is very different from buying property. Anthony Harper law firm partner Jenny Baldwin explains occupation right agreements, ongoing fees, capital gains, deferred management fees, exit delays and the potential cost of moving into aged care. Plus, what residents and their families should check before signing anything.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  When should you teach children about money? 26.07.2026 29p

  Are you raising a child who thinks money just appears? From pocket money and piggy banks to KiwiSaver, first jobs and the temptation to bail them out, the lessons start much earlier than many parents realise. So, should chores earn cash? When should children start investing? And when is it better to let them make a mistake? Hayden Mulholland from Become Wealth joins Nadine on The Prosperity Project to explain how to raise kids who actually understand money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What banks really check before approving your mortgage 19.07.2026 31p

  Buying your first home can feel impossible, but you may be closer than you think. Mortgage adviser Michelle Isemonger joins Nadine Higgins to explain how to prepare before applying for finance, what banks are looking for and whether you really need a 20% deposit. They also cover pre-approval, KiwiSaver, auctions, insurance, buying with friends, credit card limits and the common mistakes that can derail a mortgage application.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why mortgage rates don’t follow the OCR 12.07.2026 32p

  The OCR has risen, but does that automatically mean your mortgage rate will rise with it? Economist and commentator Bernard Hickey explains what really drives fixed mortgage rates, why New Zealand’s banks remain exceptionally profitable, and whether the Reserve Bank has moved too soon while the economy remains weak. He also decodes the jargon surrounding monetary policy — including hawks, doves, neutral rates, LVRs and DTIs — and considers whether New Zealand can build a functioning economy without relying on house prices to keep climbing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The right way to electrify your home 05.07.2026 29p

  Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa says solar can now pay off faster than many households realise, but the biggest savings come from understanding how your home actually uses energy. From gas hot water to EVs, batteries and green loans, Mike and Nadine break down what to weigh up before going electric.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Bonus Episode: What did investing look like 30 years ago?   01.07.2026 36p

  Think back to 1996. Dial-up internet, bulky desktop computers and no KiwiSaver. Investing looked very different. And most New Zealanders had never even heard of Exchange Traded Funds. In this special episode of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins sits down with PJ Harding to explore 30 years of investing in New Zealand, how access has changed, and how kiwis can get started on their investing journey to build wealth for the future. For 30 years, Smart’s been helping New Zealanders invest and grow their wealth, including launching NZ’s first Exchange Traded Fund back in 1996.  Find out more at smartinvest.co.nz This episode is brought to you by Smart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Think means testing NZ Super is too hard? Shamubeel Eaqub says"bugger off" 28.06.2026 30p

  The government currently spends about a billion dollars a fortnight on superannuation payments, it's a growing problem that we're running out of time to address. So who shouldn’t be counting on getting the pension in future? Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity chief economist and head of policy, joins Nadine Higgins with some hot takes about the future of NZ's pension scheme and his thoughts on proposed changes to KiwiSaver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Prolific investor says property isn't dead 21.06.2026 31p

  Landlords, capital gains tax and the future of property investing. Owner of 43 properties and founder of Opes Partners, Andrew Nicol, joins Nadine Higgins to explain why he thinks mum-and-dad investors have become an easy political targe and why he still has faith in housing despite the market slump.  He also shares his thoughts on what New Zealanders should be doing to prepare for retirement and where he stands on the idea of a capital gains tax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  SpaceX just went public. Opportunity or bubble? 14.06.2026 30p

  SpaceX has gone public in the biggest IPO in history, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to follow. Together, the three companies could be worth more than US$3 trillion. So are they the investment opportunity of a lifetime, or the next great tech bubble? Fisher Funds portfolio manager Sam Dickie joins Nadine Higgins to break down the hype, the risks and what investors need to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The forgotten pension money Kiwis are leaving behind 07.06.2026 28p

  Could an old job be holding money you’ve forgotten about? In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins speaks to NZBritannia founder Alun Rees-Williams about the UK pension money many Kiwis lose track of after working overseas. Some people discover multiple pension schemes from different jobs, and in rare cases, the amounts can be life-changing. They discuss why these funds are so easy to forget, how UK pensions differ from KiwiSaver, what to consider before transferring money back to New Zealand, and why the worst mistake is simply losing track of what exists. Even if you’ve never worked in the UK, it’s a useful reminder to keep tabs on every retirement account attached to your working life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The crypto tax problem nobody warned you about 31.05.2026 25p

  The IRD is ramping up crypto enforcement and some investors are discovering they owe tax on gains that have long since disappeared. Crypto tax specialist Tim Doyle joins Nadine Higgins to explain why even small investors are now in the IRD's sights, the mistakes that create nightmare tax bills and what to do if you've fallen behind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Negotiation tactics that actually work 24.05.2026 32p

  Most of us enter negotiations with a level of awkwardness and trying not to sound greedy. It's not the strongest tactic, but nor is making demands based on your perceived value.  Negotiating expert and founder of Sheer Negotiations, Noa Sheer, joins Nadine to share her advice on how to handle everything from salary reviews to buying a house, The pair discuss the psychology behind successful negotiating and why women often undersell themselves before the conversation even starts. There are simple mistakes that could cost you thousands, and a few tricks that could help you reach your negotiating goals. Noa also explains why 'winning' isn’t always about money, and how understanding what really matters to both parties can completely change the outcome.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What happens when you get behind on tax 17.05.2026 28p

  New Zealanders owe 9.5billion dollars in overdue tax, with small business owners and the self-employed most likely to get behind. Director of Future Focused Accountants, Catriona Knapp, joins Nadine to explain what can go wrong if you don't get on top of your tax obligations and why it's better to face the debt head-on than bury your head in the sand.  With the IRD cracking down on collecting overdue tax, now is the time to school up on what you need to know to avoid a knock on your door from the taxman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The mortgage traps costing Kiwis thousands 10.05.2026 31p

  Interest rates are rising again, fuel prices are climbing and many homeowners are wondering what to do next. But according to Squirrel mortgage adviser Adam Clark, too many Kiwis are focusing on the wrong things. In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Adam joins Nadine Higgins to unpack the psychology of mortgages, why obsessing over tiny rate differences can backfire, and the financial habits that quietly cost borrowers hundreds of thousands over the life of a loan. They also dive into refinancing, cashback offers, fixing strategies, mortgage structures, EV lending and the dangerous temptation of “cheap debt”. Plus: Why banks hike rates before the Reserve Bank moves The truth about cashback “free money” Why fixing for the shortest term isn’t always smartest See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.