The Retire Well Podcast (NZ)

In this episode of Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox are joined by Dean Anderson, CEO and founder of Kernel Wealth, to unpack what really matters when it comes to investing. Dean shares a refreshingly simple and practical perspective on building long-term wealth, cutting through the noise, and avoiding the common mistakes that trip investors up. In this episode, we cover: Why most investors overcomplicate things (and how to simplify) The real impact of fees on long-term returns Active vs passive investing — and why it's not a binary choice How to build a simple, effective investment portfolio Why behaviour matters more than picking the "perfect" fund The evolution of KiwiSaver and what may change in the future Why property may no longer be the default path to wealth in NZ Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below. Website: https://retirementguys.co.nz LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-retirement-guys/posts/?feedView=all Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581221101027&sk=about Retire Well Book: https://retirementguys.co.nz/retire-well-book/ 

In this episode of Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox are joined by Tom Hartmann from the Retirement Commission. Tom is a personal finance lead and the driving force behind tools many Kiwis already use, including Sorted, the KiwiSaver Fund Finder, and the Retirement Navigator. Together, they unpack how relatively simple decisions, made consistently over time, can lead to very different retirement outcomes.    Coming up in this conversation, Tom Hartmann shares: How KiwiSaver fits into New Zealand's retirement income system Why being in the right fund matters more than chasing returns The four key KiwiSaver fund criteria: risk, fees, services, and performance  Behavioural traps, and the idea of a "future us", and thinking long-term How tools like Sorted can help people get started and have better conversations  This episode looks beyond saving to spending KiwiSaver in retirement, including new thinking around drawdowns, managing income over time, and planning for different stages of retirement. Jim and Martin bring the discussion back to what matter most: staying in the right fund, sticking with a plan, and not overreacting – often the hardest part of investing.  Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources:  Website: The Retirement Guys  LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well  

Welcome to episode 4 of Retire Well, today Jim Smith and Martin Fox dive into the truth behind retirement spending, exploring what research shows about how costs change over time for New Zealanders planning their future. They'll also be joined by Ian Perera, from the Retirement Income Interest Group, who brings valuable insight and research. Coming up in this episode, they discuss:  Ian's work with the Retirement Income Interest Group What the research tells us about spending patterns in retirement How spending patterns change over time Common misconceptions people have before they retire Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and Resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well  

In this episode of Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox take a wide-angle look at both the financial and human sides of retirement planning. For the main conversation, we're then joined in-studio by Jane Davis, Director of The Flourishing Institute in Christchurch and a specialist in positive psychology. Jane explores how retirement is not just a financial transition, but a psychological and emotional one, and introduces the PERMA + 4 framework for planning a retirement that feels meaningful, connected, and energising. Jim and Martin start by looking back at 2025, covering: Global market performance  Interest rate cuts in New Zealand and the United States Currency movements and the NZ dollar The impact of geopolitics, AI investment, and market volatility They then share investment outlooks for 2026, including: Expected returns for global shares, bonds, and term deposits Whether markets can continue rising despite high valuations Why returns may broaden beyond big tech and AI stocks Key risks to watch, such as inflation, geopolitics, and central bank policy Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well  

During this episode on Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox take a practical and thoughtful look at what's happening in the economy, investment markets, and interest rates. They are then joined by Martin Hawes, for an insightful interview on financial planning and living well in retirement. Martin is the author of more than 20 books on money and retirement, a long-time financial adviser and a weekly columnist read by Kiwis across the country. Whether you're approaching retirement, already retired, or planning well ahead, this episode is packed with practical insights and lived experience to help you retire well. In this wide-ranging and insightful conversation, Martin Hawes shares: His personal experience of transitioning into semi-retirement Why retirement is best seen as a process, not a single event Common misconceptions about retirement spending and lifestyle  Why the early years of retirement are often the most active — and expensive Lessons he's learned about investing, risk, and delegation  Why many New Zealand family trusts no longer serve the purpose people expect Reflections on health, purpose, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life earlier Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well  

Welcome to the very first episode of The Retire Well Podcast. In this episode, Jim Smith and Martin Fox set the foundation for smarter, more confident retirement planning. They open with an engaging discussion on how to make informed financial decisions, invest wisely, and build a purposeful, healthy life in mid-life and beyond. Coming up in this episode, Jim and Martin take you through an accessible, straight-talking update on: The global economy Financial markets Interest rates Property trends What it all means for your retirement planning Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and Resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well