Become Wealth's Blog

Real financial guidance for New Zealanders, from professionals advising on over $1 billion in client funds. Independently ranked a top 50 worldwide finance and investing blog.

Is Your Money Safe in a New Zealand Bank?

Is Your Money Safe in a New Zealand Bank?

Learn why NZ banks are safe, how the Depositor Compensation Scheme works, and how to protect savings beyond the $100,000 limit.
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Should You Cancel Insurance to Save Money? Proceed With Caution

Should You Cancel Insurance to Save Money? Proceed With Caution

Cancelling insurance is almost always irreversible. Understand the hidden costs and smarter alternatives.
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Non-Bank Lenders in NZ: What They Are, What They Cost, and When They Make Sense

Non-Bank Lenders in NZ: What They Are, What They Cost, and When They Make Sense

Non-bank lenders offer flexibility banks can't. Here's what they cost, how they're regulated, and when they make sense.
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Why You Need a Will in New Zealand

Why You Need a Will in New Zealand

What happens without a will in NZ, what a will can and can't do, costs, probate, and when to update it.
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Stealth Wealth: How New Zealand’s Quiet Millionaires Actually Live

Stealth Wealth: How New Zealand’s Quiet Millionaires Actually Live

Why New Zealand’s wealthiest people avoid the spotlight, and what the rest of us can learn from stealth wealth.
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Do not give your children an allowance

Do not give your children an allowance

Handing kids a weekly allowance may do more harm than good. Here's what the research says and what builds lasting money habits.
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The True Cost of Raising Kids in NZ

The True Cost of Raising Kids in NZ

What does it cost to raise kids in NZ? The numbers by age, the impact on wealth, and the support available to parents.
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What to Consider When Buying an Investment Property

What to Consider When Buying an Investment Property

A comprehensive NZ guide to buying your first or next investment property, from deposits and borrowing power to tax, property types and location.
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Negative Real Rate of Return on Term Deposits

Negative Real Rate of Return on Term Deposits

After inflation and tax, most NZ term deposits deliver a negative real return. Current data, worked examples, and what to consider instead.
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What Changes Have Been Made to KiwiSaver?

What Changes Have Been Made to KiwiSaver?

The key changes, what they mean, and what to do about them. New withdrawal rules for farmers and service tenancy workers are also in the pipeline.
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Financial Assets Explained: What Counts and Why

Financial Assets Explained: What Counts and Why

What counts as a financial asset, the main types, and why understanding assets is the first step to building wealth.
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Why Small Businesses Fail in New Zealand

Why Small Businesses Fail in New Zealand

About half of NZ businesses don’t survive five years. Here’s what the data says, and what owners can do to beat the odds.
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How to Work Out if You Have Usable Equity in Your Home

How to Work Out if You Have Usable Equity in Your Home

Learn how to work out if you have usable equity in your NZ home, what lenders look at, and how equity can support goals like renovation or investment.
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Is Funeral Insurance Worth It?

Is Funeral Insurance Worth It?

Most funeral insurance policyholders pay more in premiums than their family will ever receive. We explain better alternatives for covering funeral costs in NZ.
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Index Funds Explained: What Kiwi Investors Actually Need to Know

Index Funds Explained: What Kiwi Investors Actually Need to Know

Simple and cheap? Mostly. But index investing from New Zealand has a few wrinkles worth knowing about.
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Financial Wellbeing in Retirement

Financial Wellbeing in Retirement

What financial wellbeing in retirement really means, and how to build income confidence, resilience, and freedom.
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How Our Brains Cause Us to Lose Money

How Our Brains Cause Us to Lose Money

Cognitive biases cost investors thousands every year. Here are eight mental traps quietly eroding your wealth, with practical ways to avoid each one.
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Greenwashing: What NZ Investors Should Know

Greenwashing: What NZ Investors Should Know

Greenwashing costs investors money and trust. Learn how to spot misleading claims in NZ investment products and how to protect your portfolio.
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Financial Liabilities Explained: What They Are and Why They Matter

Financial Liabilities Explained: What They Are and Why They Matter

What counts as a financial liability, how liabilities affect net worth, and the hidden ones most people overlook.
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Why You Shouldn’t Diversify Your Investments

Why You Shouldn’t Diversify Your Investments

Over-diversification dilutes returns. When concentration works, when it doesn’t, and what NZ investors should consider before spreading too thin.
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The Proven Way to Become Wealthy in NZ (2026)

The Proven Way to Become Wealthy in NZ (2026)

No lotto, no inheritance, no get rich quick scheme. Invest in a diversified way, control your behaviour, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.
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What to Do With a Large Sum of Money

What to Do With a Large Sum of Money

Practical guidance for anyone in New Zealand with a financial windfall. Covers universal principles, common mistakes, and how to put a lump sum to work.
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How Often Should I Check My Portfolio?

How Often Should I Check My Portfolio?

Why checking your portfolio too often hurts returns, and how to find the right review frequency.
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What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging and How It Works

What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging and How It Works

How DCA works in practice for NZ investors, including KiwiSaver, managed funds, and lump sums. Honest pros, cons, and when to use it.
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What Is Affluenza? The Dark Side of Wealth

What Is Affluenza? The Dark Side of Wealth

Affluenza is the relentless pursuit of more, leading to debt, anxiety and waste. What it looks like in New Zealand and how to protect yourself.
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What Is a Managed Fund? A Guide for New Zealand Investors

What Is a Managed Fund? A Guide for New Zealand Investors

How managed funds work in New Zealand, including fees, tax benefits, active vs passive, and how to choose.
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Best NZ Side Hustle Ideas for 2026

Best NZ Side Hustle Ideas for 2026

Realistic side hustle ideas for Kiwis, from online work to service businesses, and how extra income can support your wider financial goals.
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Don't Let Supporting Adult Children Derail Your Retirement

Don't Let Supporting Adult Children Derail Your Retirement

How to support adult children without jeopardising your retirement savings, with practical steps for setting boundaries.
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The Daily Habits Wealthy People Actually Follow

The Daily Habits Wealthy People Actually Follow

Research shows wealthy people share specific daily habits around goal-setting, learning, health, and relationships. Eight we see in our own clients.
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Why Am I Not Wealthy Yet? Fix These Money Blocks

Why Am I Not Wealthy Yet? Fix These Money Blocks

Ask “Why am I not wealthy?” and explore common obstacles, mindset issues and practical steps to change your trajectory.
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What Is a Recession? And How It Hits Your Wallet

What Is a Recession? And How It Hits Your Wallet

What a recession is, how they have shaped New Zealand's economy, and practical steps to protect your finances during an economic downturn.
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How to Make Six Figures in New Zealand

How to Make Six Figures in New Zealand

What a six-figure income means in New Zealand, what it looks like after tax, and three realistic paths to get there: your career, a side income, and long-term investing.
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Why Living to 100 is Your Greatest Financial Risk

Why Living to 100 is Your Greatest Financial Risk

Can you afford to live to 100? Explore longevity risk, retirement income planning and how to make savings last.
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Should You Borrow to Invest? Risks and Rewards

Should You Borrow to Invest? Risks and Rewards

Should you borrow to invest? We cover the maths, the tax benefits, debt recycling, and the risks every NZ investor needs to weigh up.
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Family Trusts in New Zealand: The Reckoning

Family Trusts in New Zealand: The Reckoning

New trust tax rate, tougher rules, and a landmark court decision. What's changed and what to do about your family trust in 2026.
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Investment Stress Testing: How It Works and What NZ Investors Should Test For

Investment Stress Testing: How It Works and What NZ Investors Should Test For

Stress testing shows how your portfolio holds up under severe conditions. Here is how it works, what to test for, and what to do with the results.
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How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?

How Much Should You Have in an Emergency Fund?

Four scenarios showing how much to set aside, and why your emergency fund and insurance need to work together.
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Worst Ways People Waste Money Every Day

Worst Ways People Waste Money Every Day

30 common money traps costing New Zealanders thousands each year. From new cars to forgotten subscriptions, here is how to stop wasting money.
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Benefits of Using a Mortgage Adviser (“Mortgage Broker”)

Benefits of Using a Mortgage Adviser (“Mortgage Broker”)

Six ways a mortgage adviser saves you time, stress and money in NZ, from comparing lenders and structuring your loan to negotiating better terms.
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