Insights
Notes worth reading.
Plain-English answers to the questions we get asked most, on mortgages, insurance and KiwiSaver.
Mortgages
How much deposit do you actually need to buy a first home in NZ?
The 20% number gets quoted like it's law. It isn't. Here's what deposit you actually need, and what banks weigh alongside it.
6 min read
KiwiSaver
Can I use my KiwiSaver to buy my first home?
Yes — with conditions. The three-year rule, the $1,000 you have to leave behind, and the timing traps that catch buyers out.
5 min read
Mortgages
When should you refix your mortgage in NZ?
Refix, refinance, or roll it over? Why the letter your bank sends you is a starting point, not the answer.
6 min read
Insurance
ACC vs income protection: what's actually covered?
ACC is well understood, and often misunderstood. Here's the gap between what people assume it covers and what it actually does.
5 min read
Insurance
How much life insurance do you actually need?
Ignore the round numbers. Sizing life insurance is about what your family would need to keep going, minus what's already there.
6 min read
KiwiSaver
Which KiwiSaver fund should you be in?
Most people are still in a default fund. Whether that's the right one depends on your timeframe, not the vibe of the label.
6 min read
Mortgages
Mortgage adviser or straight to the bank: which is better?
The bank you already use isn't automatically the best fit for the loan you want. Here's how the two paths actually differ.
5 min read
Mortgages
Buying a first home when you're self-employed in NZ
Being self-employed doesn't stop you buying a first home. But it changes what banks want to see, and how you present the story.
6 min read
Insurance
Do you need mortgage protection insurance in NZ?
Losing your income is manageable. Losing your income and having the mortgage payments still hit is what breaks households.
5 min read
KiwiSaver
Is your KiwiSaver on track for retirement?
'On track' is meaningless without a destination. Here's how to work backwards from the retirement you actually want.
6 min read
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