NZ Investment Planning: How to Invest A Lump Sum in Your 50s

Losing a partner is devastating. Then on top of the grief, there’s paperwork, big life changes, and financial decisions that feel urgent and overwhelming.In this episode of Ask the Experts, we’re answering a listener question from a woman in her early 50s who recently lost her husband. They had just finished putting their kids through school and were about to ramp up retirement savings. Instead, she’s now navigating life solo, with a $500,000 lump sum from a payout and the sale of the family home.Will White from Heartland Bank is in the Expert hot seat, ready to talk through:Where to start when you’re grieving and facing big financial decisionsKiwiSaver vs managed funds – the pros, cons, and access rulesHow to think about timeframes when retirement is 10–15 years awayBuilding a safety buffer before you investRisk tolerance, and how grief and life changes can affect how much volatility you can handleIf you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and you might feature on our next episode!Follow me everywhere!Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZInstagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknzTikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknzJoin the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribeThis podcast was filmed & produced by FanaticalsVideo editing & content production by Lana ByrneAudio engineering by Tash Chittock#MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #Investing #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedomChapters00:00:00 Introduction00:00:56 The letter: navigating grief and sudden financial responsibility00:01:50 Don't rush: give yourself time to grieve and think clearly00:02:28 Diversification matters: don't put all your eggs in one basket00:05:30 Short, medium, and long-term priorities: working backwards from retirement00:07:41 Investing in your 50s: you can't afford too many market shocks00:08:36 Get a financial advisor: half a million dollars deserves professional advice00:09:24 Emotional safeguards: when are you ready to make big decisions?00:12:09 Invest in your mental well-being too: grief counseling is just as important00:13:39 Wrapping up: take your time and lean on support