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.

Should You Borrow Against Your Home to Invest?

Should You Borrow Against Your Home to Invest?

Debt recycling turns your non-deductible mortgage into a tax-deductible investment loan. How it works, the risks and when it makes sense for Kiwis.
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Open Banking in NZ: What It Means for Your Money

Open Banking in NZ: What It Means for Your Money

New Zealand is adopting open banking. An overview of how secure data-sharing works, the benefits for consumers and the risks to be aware of.
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Rentvesting: Rent Where You Live, Invest Elsewhere

Rentvesting: Rent Where You Live, Invest Elsewhere

Rent where you want to live and invest in property where the numbers work. How rentvesting lets New Zealanders enter the housing market sooner.
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Swedish Death Cleaning for the Digital Age

Swedish Death Cleaning for the Digital Age

Apply Swedish death cleaning to your digital world by decluttering files, accounts, passwords and data so you leave less mess behind.
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Total Money Makeover: Reset Your Financial Life

Total Money Makeover: Reset Your Financial Life

Seven steps to financial freedom, according to financial guru Dave Ramsey.
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Stock Market Crashes Can Change Your Life for the Better

Stock Market Crashes Can Change Your Life for the Better

Market crashes feel awful but create opportunity. How staying calm and investing through volatility can accelerate long-term wealth building.
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Nik Velkovski

Nik Velkovski

Meet Nik Velkovski, Private Wealth and Lending Manager at Become Wealth, named one of New Zealand's top 50 mortgage advisers in 2024.
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The Property Market Awakens: What It Means for You

The Property Market Awakens: What It Means for You

After a price slump spanning several years, the New Zealand property market is showing signs of recovery. What it could mean for buyers and investors.
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Smart Ways to Use Your Credit Card

Smart Ways to Use Your Credit Card

Credit cards offer rewards, purchase protection and cashback if used wisely. How to capture the benefits without paying unnecessary interest or fees.
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Trade or Invest? Choosing the Right Path for You

Trade or Invest? Choosing the Right Path for You

The key differences between trading and investing, including risk profiles, time horizons and which approach may suit your financial goals.
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Why You Need More Debt in Your Life

Why You Need More Debt in Your Life

A fresh look at “good” versus “bad” debt, and why in some cases taking on more of the right kind of debt can help build wealth.
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The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Accommodation

The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Accommodation

Hostels, guesthouses and homestays compared. Practical tips for finding affordable accommodation overseas without compromising safety or comfort.
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Should You Trust Finfluencers?

Should You Trust Finfluencers?

Financial influencers are everywhere on social media. How to tell good advice from dangerous hype, and what NZ regulators are doing about it.
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The Best Spare Items to Sell from Home

The Best Spare Items to Sell from Home

Turn household clutter into cash. The best spare items to sell from home in New Zealand, plus tips for listing, pricing and staying safe online.
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What Is Assetocracy? Building an Asset‑First Life

What Is Assetocracy? Building an Asset‑First Life

How the NZ housing boom created a new class of millionaires, and what rising asset values mean for wealth inequality and financial planning.
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Why You Should Never Cancel Health Insurance

Why You Should Never Cancel Health Insurance

Cash is tight for many Kiwi families, but health insurance is one expense you should think twice before cutting. Six reasons to keep your cover.
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What To Do If You Can’t Afford A House

What To Do If You Can’t Afford A House

Can't afford a house in NZ? Practical options from adjusting your expectations and timelines to alternative approaches and government support schemes.
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Why Predicting the Stock Market is Foolish and What to Do Instead

Why Predicting the Stock Market is Foolish and What to Do Instead

Nobody can reliably predict short-term market movements. Why patience, diversification and tax efficiency matter more than forecasts.
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Tips for a Long, Healthy & Awesome Life

Tips for a Long, Healthy & Awesome Life

The head of Harvard's nutrition department shares evidence-based tips on eating, exercise and lifestyle for a longer, healthier life.
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The Best Investments in a Recession

The Best Investments in a Recession

Nine investment options for tougher economic times in New Zealand. From shares and property to managed funds, cash reserves and investing in yourself.
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Treat yourself without big cost

Treat yourself without big cost

Twenty-one affordable ways to boost your mood and reward yourself without overspending or undermining your financial goals.
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Practical Ways to Increase Your Net Worth

Practical Ways to Increase Your Net Worth

Six practical steps to increase your net worth in New Zealand covering income growth, asset accumulation, tax efficiency and common pitfalls to avoid.
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What Is Market Timing? Why It Rarely Works

What Is Market Timing? Why It Rarely Works

What is market timing, and does it work? Understand why trying to pick highs and lows often fails and what long‑term investors can do instead.
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When You Should Not Buy a Home in New Zealand

When You Should Not Buy a Home in New Zealand

Homeownership is not always the right move. Twelve situations where buying in NZ could set you back financially, and what to do instead.
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What Is Catfishing? And How to Protect Yourself

What Is Catfishing? And How to Protect Yourself

A young Kiwi professional lost over $100,000 through a dating app scam. How catfishing works, the red flags to spot, and how to protect your finances.
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Why People Lose Money in the Share Market

Why People Lose Money in the Share Market

Six reasons investors lose money on shares, from emotional selling to chasing quick gains, and the practical steps to avoid each one.
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What Is Buy Now, Pay Later? The Real Cost

What Is Buy Now, Pay Later? The Real Cost

How buy now, pay later services work in New Zealand, the fees and traps to watch for, and when a credit card or saving up may be the better option.
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What Is Generational Wealth and How to Build It?

What Is Generational Wealth and How to Build It?

Understand what generational wealth is, how families build and preserve it, and steps you can take to start a multi‑generation plan.
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NZ House Price Growth vs the World

NZ House Price Growth vs the World

A comparison of New Zealand house price growth with major global markets including the US, UK, Australia, Canada and China.
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The 10 Most Broken New Year’s Resolutions in 2026

The 10 Most Broken New Year’s Resolutions in 2026

The most commonly broken New Year's resolutions and practical tips to help you actually stick to your goals.
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Signs You Will Be Financially Successful

Signs You Will Be Financially Successful

Wealth starts with behaviour, not income. Ten signs your habits and mindset are setting you up for long-term financial success.
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When to Become a Property Investor

When to Become a Property Investor

If you tick these eight boxes, now could be the time to become a property investor.
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What Is an Index Fund? Easy Investing for Kiwis

What Is an Index Fund? Easy Investing for Kiwis

Is this passive approach to investing right for you? Learn how index funds track markets and why low-cost investing appeals to many people.
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Reverse Mortgages Explained for NZ Homeowners

Reverse Mortgages Explained for NZ Homeowners

Five things to know before signing a reverse mortgage in New Zealand, including interest rates, compounding debt and long-term trade-offs.
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What Happens When You Overspend on a House

What Happens When You Overspend on a House

Five situations where stretching your home budget could be a smart long-term move, from properties with rental income potential to prime locations.
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Thinking of Joining the 5am Club? Read This First

Thinking of Joining the 5am Club? Read This First

Why many successful people wake before 6am, the mental and physical benefits of an early start, and practical ways to build a morning routine.
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Why You Shouldn’t Diversify Your Investments

Why You Shouldn’t Diversify Your Investments

A provocative look at when diversification can be overdone, and why concentrated investing may appeal to some investors, along with the risks.
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The Worst Financial Rip-Offs in 2026

The Worst Financial Rip-Offs in 2026

Nine common ways New Zealanders lose money without realising, from buy now pay later traps to overpriced managed funds, and how to protect yourself.
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The Best Self-Improvement Books

The Best Self-Improvement Books

Ten self-improvement books recommended by the Become Wealth team covering money, habits, mindset and leadership, plus tips to apply what you read.
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What Is Dollar‑Cost Averaging and How It Works

What Is Dollar‑Cost Averaging and How It Works

What is dollar cost averaging? Learn how regular investing works, its pros and cons, and how Kiwi investors can use it to smooth market ups and downs.
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