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.

Poor Habits Keeping You Broke (And How to Fix Them)

Poor Habits Keeping You Broke (And How to Fix Them)

Ten common money habits quietly draining NZ wealth, and practical fixes grounded in what we see across our client base.
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New Zealand Income Tax Codes and Rates Explained

New Zealand Income Tax Codes and Rates Explained

A plain-language guide to NZ income tax codes, brackets, and take-home pay. Covers primary, secondary, and student loan codes for the 2026/27 year.
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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 productive borrowing can grow your net worth faster than avoiding debt altogether.
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Financial Red Flags to Watch Out For in Your Partner

Financial Red Flags to Watch Out For in Your Partner

Eight financial warning signs in a partner. Covers hidden debt, money control, NZ relationship property rules, KiwiSaver exposure, and what to do.
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PIE Funds in NZ: How They Work and Who They Suit

PIE Funds in NZ: How They Work and Who They Suit

PIE funds are popular, but the tax saving over a well-managed direct portfolio is smaller than most people think. What PIE funds actually offer and where they fall short.
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Downsizing Your Home in New Zealand: A Practical and Financial Guide

Downsizing Your Home in New Zealand: A Practical and Financial Guide

How to downsize your home in NZ, from a 12-week decluttering plan to making freed equity work for retirement.
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Pay Off Your Student Loan ASAP

Pay Off Your Student Loan ASAP

Four reasons to consider repaying your student loan early, when to take your time instead and how your loan affects borrowing power in New Zealand.
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The Reserve Bank of New Zealand: What It Does, Why It Matters, and Its Track Record

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand: What It Does, Why It Matters, and Its Track Record

What the RBNZ does, how its decisions affect your mortgage, savings and KiwiSaver, and its 90-year track record including bailouts, money printing, and governance crises.
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Prenuptial Agreements in New Zealand: What Your Finances Are Really at Stake

Prenuptial Agreements in New Zealand: What Your Finances Are Really at Stake

A financial adviser's guide to prenups, the PRA, and what's at stake in NZ.
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ESG Investing in New Zealand: What You Actually Need to Know

ESG Investing in New Zealand: What You Actually Need to Know

ESG labels, KiwiSaver Scheme claims, and FMA scrutiny: what NZ investors need to know about fund performance and the gap between marketing and reality.
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Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Your 40s, 50s, and 60s

Financial Mistakes to Avoid in Your 40s, 50s, and 60s

The most consequential financial mistakes people make in their 40s, 50s, and 60s in New Zealand, and how to avoid each one.
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Why Financial Literacy Is Declining in New Zealand

Why Financial Literacy Is Declining in New Zealand

What financial literacy really means, why it's declining, and five common mistakes to fix. Practical steps to protect your wealth by literacy.
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Millennials Are the Wealthy Generation

Millennials Are the Wealthy Generation

Despite the stereotypes, data shows millennials are wealthier than previous generations at the same age. What it means in New Zealand.
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Are You Putting Too Much Into KiwiSaver?

Are You Putting Too Much Into KiwiSaver?

KiwiSaver is valuable, up to a point. If you contribute above the minimum, here's what to consider.
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Why New Zealanders Are Tuning Out and Why Your Portfolio Should Too

Why New Zealanders Are Tuning Out and Why Your Portfolio Should Too

NZ media trust has fallen from 53% to 32% in five years. Here's how the media's incentive model works against long-term investors and what to do.
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Should You Get a Government Job?

Should You Get a Government Job?

Government jobs in New Zealand offer decent pay, good conditions, and meaningful work. But they are not as safe as the headlines suggest.
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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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Is It Smart to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

Is It Smart to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

Five ways to pay off your mortgage early, how much interest you can save, and when early repayment might not be the smartest move.
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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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Never Pay Full Price Again: Smart Buying Hacks

Never Pay Full Price Again: Smart Buying Hacks

A guide to New Zealand's best coupon and discount websites, from GrabOne to First Table, plus tips on timing sales and avoiding impulse buys.
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Tax Bracket Creep: The Hidden Tax on Your Pay Rise

Tax Bracket Creep: The Hidden Tax on Your Pay Rise

NZ tax brackets were adjusted in 2024, but only a quarter of the inflation gap since 2010 was closed. Bracket creep still erodes your take-home pay.
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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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Should You Move to Australia for a Better Life?

Should You Move to Australia for a Better Life?

Higher wages and warmer weather. A financial and lifestyle comparison for Kiwis weighing up a move to Australia.
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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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How to Pass On Wealth and Protect Your Legacy

How to Pass On Wealth and Protect Your Legacy

How NZ families can transfer wealth across generations without the pitfalls most people never see coming.
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When to Sell a Share: Know the Right Time to Exit

When to Sell a Share: Know the Right Time to Exit

A disciplined framework for knowing when to hold, when to exit, and how to avoid the traps most investors fall into.
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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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Will AI Take Your Job? The Roles at Risk, the Ones Worth Betting On, and What to Do About It

Will AI Take Your Job? The Roles at Risk, the Ones Worth Betting On, and What to Do About It

The 2026 guide to which jobs are safe, which are not, and how to stay ahead of the curve.
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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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How to Start Investing in Shares

How to Start Investing in Shares

Seven steps to start investing in shares in NZ, from financial readiness and risk profiles to tax, diversification, and common mistakes.
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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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What Is Market Timing? Why It Rarely Works for Investors

What Is Market Timing? Why It Rarely Works for Investors

Decades of research confirm market timing costs the average investor dearly. Here’s what the evidence says and what works instead.
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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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Why People Lose Money in the Share Market

Why People Lose Money in the Share Market

Most retail investors trail the market. The structural reasons go beyond behaviour, from hidden costs to information asymmetry.
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Kiwi Families Are Changing: What It Means for Your Money

Kiwi Families Are Changing: What It Means for Your Money

Sole parents, blended families, and multigenerational households create financial risks most New Zealanders discover too late.
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