Money Made Simple

Hosted by Simplicity

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Episodes

106

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Money Made Simple, a family of NZ-based financial literacy podcasts from Simplicity which keep it simple and get straight to the point. We want ALL Kiwis to have dignity, and a dignified life is one with choices. What can help with more choices? More money. So we're here to make Kiwis richer and smarter with money. MONEY MADE SIMPLE WITH JENNIE AND LIV: Join co-hosts Liv Lewis-Long and Jennie O'Donovan on a fortnightly basis to help you understand the basics around money, finances, investing, KiwiSaver, and planning for a better future. We aim to provide information in a bite-sized, easy-to-listen way that simplifies the jargon. 'Cos who's got time for that! We want you to feel empowered and confident when thinking about money and investing - whether that be via KiwiSaver, investment funds, the share market, property, or your general finances. THE ECONOMY MADE SIMPLE WITH SHAMUBEEL EAQUB: Join Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity's Chief Economist, on a monthly basis to help you understand what's happening in the economy, job market, politics and financial markets. Tune in to get economic updates, interviews with NZ's key movers and shakers, and deep dives into topics you might want to understand better. You can join the Simplicity community via the following channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplicity_kiwi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplicitykiwi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplicity-kiwi/ Or check out our website: https://simplicity.kiwi Cheers for tuning in - we appreciate each and every one of you %)

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 26, 2026Episode 8319 min

MMS #83 | The KiwiSaver Election: What each party is promising

In this episode of Money Made Simple , Jennie and Liv address what many are calling the 2026 KiwiSaver election. With almost 3.5 million Kiwis in KiwiSaver and close to $140 billion saved, every major party has a plan for your retirement savings. Going party by party, they break down five big levers that governments can pull around KiwiSaver policy: compulsion, contribution rates, government contributions, tax and access age. They also highlight the costs of each change, and who really ends up paying. No telling you how to vote, just a clear look at what’s been announced as at 14 October 2026. This episode covers: A very quick history of KiwiSaver and the many changes that have been made since 2007 Which parties want KiwiSaver to be compulsory, and how compulsion would affect us What a jump from 3.5% to 6% in contributions could look like in your weekly pay The baby boosts, parental top-ups and government contribution changes that are on the table How tax changes help some KiwiSaver balances far more than others What’s proposed for the NZ Super age, and how it links to your KiwiSaver The groups most likely to miss out under most of the current proposals Three important things to take to the ballot box Via this episode, you’ll head into the election knowing what each party is proposing for KiwiSaver, who’s likely to pay for it, and the (bonus) levers you can pull yourself, whoever ends up in government. Resources mentioned in this episode: - MMS episode #47 | From PIEs to PIRs: All your questions about tax and KiwiSaver answered: https://moneymadesimple.buzzsprout.com/2225341/episodes/17139761-mms-47-from-pies-to-pirs-all-your-questions-about-tax-and-kiwisaver-answered - Vote Compass 2026 - The 1News tool that compares your views with each party’s policies: https://votecompass.tvnz.co.nz/ - KPMG 2026 Election Policy Tracker - side-by-side table of each party’s tax and savings policies: https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmgsites/nz/pdf/2026/09/2026-election-policy-tracker-v4.pdf - Vote.nz - how, where and when to vote, including advance voting from 26 October and election day on 7 November: https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/about/key-dates --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

October 11, 2026Episode 8214 min

MMS #82 | Can you build a business and raise a family at the same time?

In this episode of Money Made Simple , Liv sits down with Patrice Green, absolute girl boss and Managing Director of Wellington Beds and Natural Rest, to talk about running a fast growing business while raising young kids. Patrice trained as a chartered accountant and took over the family business in 2022 with three children aged four and under. Since then she's steered it through cost-of-living pressure, severe fuel price impacts and the economic recovery that keeps getting pushed out. This episode covers: Why Patrice swore she'd never join the family business, and how she ended up running it The mental load of business ownership and parenting, and the low-tech daily habit that helps What she's had to let go of to stay present at work and at home How the numbers feel different when it's your own staff and suppliers relying on them Making financial calls when the usual patterns and trends stop making sense Why knowing your numbers means more than a once-a-year catch-up with your accountant Her advice for anyone starting a career, side hustle or business: stop waiting until you're ready How one quote changed the way she thinks about ambition and mum guilt Patrice provides an honest look at the juggle behind a growing business, and a timely reminder that often the best way to learn is by doing, whether that's backing yourself at work or getting started with investing. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

October 5, 2026Episode 2113 min

Economy Made Simple #21 | What is government actually for?

In this episode of Economy Made Simple , Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity's Chief Economist, takes a step back from the election noise to ask a bigger question: what is government actually for? With campaigns full of talk about tax, spending, debt (and of course now KiwiSaver), Shamubeel argues we have lost sight of the why and offers a simple set of tests to cut through the promises - before you vote. This episode covers: The five core jobs of government, and why tax and spending are only the tools How government fixes market failures, from weak competition to pollution Why Canterbury's recovery is a strong case for sharing risk as a nation The hardest job of all: deciding what is fair, today and across generations Why the share of votes going to National and Labour has fallen from around 80% to under 60% What flip-flop policy costs NZ in infrastructure, health, education and climate Gates and ladders, and why the softer side of government matters as much as the hard levers Which generation pays and which benefits, from KiwiSaver to NZ Super to climate policy Why "am I a good ancestor?" might be the most useful question this election By the end of this episode you'll have a clearer way to judge any election promise: does it serve the real purpose of government, will it last beyond one term, and will it leave NZ better for our future generations? --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

September 27, 2026Episode 8119 min

MMS #81 | Shares, managed funds, ETFs - what do they all mean?

In this episode of Money Made Simple , Jennie and Liv go back to basics on two of the most common ways to invest: buying shares in individual companies, or putting your money into a managed fund. They unpack what you actually own in each case, the pros and trade-offs of both, and the different types of funds you've probably heard about (but maybe thought WTF?), from share funds and diversified funds to ETFs, index funds and active vs passive managed funds. This episode covers: What you actually own when you buy a share, compared with buying into a fund Why a share can be risky, but a managed fund isn't automatically diversified The costs to check beyond the headline fee for different investments Liv's honest look back at her own share picking days Why "managed fund" is an umbrella term, not one type of investment What really separates different types of funds when it comes to risk ETFs explained, with a little help from a poem Why it doesn't have to be one or the other, when it comes to single shares vs. managed funds This episode will give you a clear sense of the difference between choosing a company and buying into a portfolio, and why what's inside an investment matters more than what it's called. ---------------------------------------------- QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF As promised in the episode, here are a few questions worth thinking about before you choose how to invest: *How much time and interest do I have to research and keep an eye on individual companies? *How would I feel if one company I own dropped 40% in a bad year? How long am I investing for, and could I ride out the ups and downs? *What's actually inside this fund? *Is it broadly diversified or focused on one area? What will it cost me in total, including brokerage, currency, platform and fund fees? *Do I want my values reflected in how my money is invested? *How does this fit with what I already have, like my KiwiSaver? Just an editorial note on ETFs from our Chief Compliance & Risk Officer: Managed funds have what we call a NAV (Net Asset Value) which is how units of the fund are valued; while ETFs will have a NAV for the underlying fund that is being transacted, ETF units trade on-market at prices set by buyers and sellers throughout the day. That market price will generally be close to the NAV, but can trade at a small premium or discount to it. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

September 13, 2026Episode 8016 min

MMS #80 | Retirement around the world: Is NZ getting it right?

In this episode of Money Made Simple , Jennie and Liv take a trip around the world to see how different countries tackle the very large question of retirement. New Zealand has NZ Super and KiwiSaver, but elsewhere the mix of government support, compulsory saving and personal choice can look quite different. From Australia's compulsory super contributions to Singapore's all-purpose CPF, the Netherlands' three-pillar model and America's 401(k), Jennie and Liv compare who pays, who carries the risk and who might miss out. This episode covers: The important differences between a government pension and a funded retirement savings scheme Where New Zealand's mix of NZ Super and KiwiSaver sits within the global picture Why Australia's Age Pension is means tested, and how it compares to NZ Super What Australia's 12% (in 2026) employer contributions buy, and what they cost you today The Singapore fund that pays for housing, healthcare and retirement How one country has tackled the problem of outliving your savings Why the Netherlands keeps topping the global retirement rankings What America's 401(k) system gets right, and who it leaves behind The retirement ages around the world that might surprise you (and make you want to move abroad!) The important balancing act behind every system: security, flexibility, fairness and cost Resources referred to in this episode: - Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index - annual global ranking of retirement systems: https://www.mercer.com/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/mercer-cfa-global-pension-index/ You won't come away from this episode with a verdict on which country has retirement 'sorted', but a clearer way to think about the questions NZ keeps needing to ask, and eventually answer. Every system is really a set of choices about who contributes, who carries the risk and who might get left behind. * Please note, this episode discusses retirement rules, contribution rates and eligibility settings which can change at any time, and are accurate as at the date of publishing. It does not account for your own circumstances which may differ from what is discussed.* --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

August 30, 2026Episode 7916 min

MMS #79 | Reddit's best NZ money tips and tricks from r/PersonalFinanceNZ

In this episode of Money Made Simple , Jennie and Liv take the show to Reddit, asking the often wise, very debate-happy r/PersonalFinanceNZ community for their very best money tips and tricks. More than 40 people came to the party, and the ones that made the cut are the ones the community upvoted most, so this is a genuinely crowd-sourced list from everyday Kiwis who think hard about their money. Jennie and Liv work through the top ten, from the deceptively simple to the slightly technical. *Please note, these tips and tricks do not constitute financial advice, and are personal opinions collected from Reddit and shared by the Simplicity team.* This episode covers: The one-week pause that stops a want turning into a regrettable purchase, and the savings trick that turns leftovers into investments Why "buy assets, not crap" might be the most useful money slogan we've heard The payday order of operations that makes budgeting boring but effective How compounding works against you on debt, and what to do about it Giving money or investments instead of stuff, and why the kids will come round (eventually) The risk question most people have never honestly understood, or put into practice* Why and how playing it TOO safe carries a risk of its own Dollar cost averaging on the way in, and the part most people miss on the way out How sinking funds work, why they're handy, and why Jennie wants to rename them Offset and revolving credit mortgages, explained in a nutshell The perspective check that showed one Redditor they were $300 a week better off than they thought Liv and Jennie's own additions: the fee question nobody asks, and why you do not need to be an expert to start * Editor's note: there is a subtle difference between risk aversion and loss aversion, although the two are often closely related - often people in higher risk investments are comfortable with risk, until it plays out via a market crash. And this is where loss aversion can kick in, where people switch to more conservative funds upon seeing a drop in their balance. Resources mentioned in this episode: - r/PersonalFinanceNZ - the Reddit community that supplied the tips: https://www.reddit.com/r/PersonalFinanceNZ/ - A longer explainer on everything mortgages, discussed in MMS episode #9: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YZXRdwRNeQcUjYuHZv0Y8 - Simplicity First Home Loans: https://simplicity.kiwi/first-home-loans - Sorted's Money Month: https://sorted.org.nz/money-month-2026-sorted/ This episode will deliver you ten tips that real people actually use and agree on, plus a nudge to check a couple of super important things most of us either avoid or don't know to consider. And a huge shout out to r/PersonalFinanceNZ, for the collective help! If you hear your own tip in there, please feel free to get in touch (via whatever channel suits you), and we'll be happy to send out some goodies for the privilege. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

August 25, 2026Episode 2018 min

Economy Made Simple #20 | Why do New Zealanders work so hard for so little?

In this episode of Economy Made Simple , Shamubeel invites Liv over to the green side, to unpack one of the most used and least understood words in New Zealand economics: productivity. Not how hard we work, but what we get back for the effort. New Zealanders work roughly two weeks more a year than Australians, yet our wages and business profits are about a third lower. Shamubeel explains why, and where the real levers sit. This episode covers: What productivity actually measures, and why "we're poor because we're poor" explains nothing Why Kiwis work longer hours than Australians but earn around a third less The three building blocks of any economy, and the bit of magic that separates strong businesses from average ones How geography, institutions, culture and politics shape productivity far more than effort ever will Why NZ's cultural dislike of management is quietly holding businesses back What it costs a country when 40% of the workforce started their job in the past year Where individuals, businesses and govt each sit on the scale of real influence The education, health and immigration settings Shamubeel would change - first How policy chop and change cost a town like Tokoroa more than it ever saved Wellington By the end of this episode you should have a much clearer sense of why productivity is not a measure of effort, and why there is no single fix for it. You'll also understand which levers actually move the productivity scale - at home, at work, and at the ballot box with an election coming. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

August 16, 2026Episode 7820 min

MMS #78 | Dark patterns: the tricks websites use to make you spend more

Ever felt pressured to hit Buy now by a countdown clock, struggled to cancel a subscription, or been told there is “only one left” while shopping online? You may have encountered a dark pattern. In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie is joined by Chandni Gupta from the Consumer Policy Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia and Jon Duffy from Consumer NZ to unpack the design tricks businesses use to steer our choices online - often encouraging us to spend more, stay subscribed longer or hand over more personal information than we intended. They look at where the line sits between legitimate marketing and manipulation, why these techniques are so effective even when we know they exist, and whether consumer protection laws in New Zealand and Australia are keeping up. From fake urgency and hard-to-find cancellation buttons to "drip pricing", data collection and personalised prices, Chandni and Jon explain why dark patterns can be so difficult to resist - and what consumers can do to protect themselves. This episode covers: What dark patterns are and how they influence our decisions online Where the line sits between persuasion, marketing and coercion Scarcity cues, countdown clocks and other tricks designed to create urgency Why cancelling subscriptions can be deliberately difficult How drip pricing can make something look cheaper than it really is Why businesses want so much of our personal data, and how it can be used The rise of personalised pricing and why two customers may not always see the same price Why dark patterns work even when we know what to look for What Australia is doing to strengthen consumer protection, and where New Zealand sits Practical ways to avoid unwanted subscription renewals and other online traps Why making it easy for customers to leave can actually help businesses build trust Resources mentioned in this episode: Consumer NZ – consumer advice, research and a report on dark patterns: Invisible influence: Dark patterns and digital deception in Aotearoa New Zealand Consumer Policy Research Centre – Australian consumer research, including Duped by Design and Let Me Out Office of the Privacy Commissioner – for concerns about how your personal information has been collected or used Commerce Commission – for complaints about potentially misleading or deceptive conduct You’ll come away from this episode much more aware of the subtle ways websites and apps can influence your behaviour, and with some simple strategies for slowing down, questioning the urgency and keeping more control over your money and your data. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

August 2, 2026Episode 7713 min

MMS #77 | How much should be in your emergency fund?

It's officially Sorted's Money Month - and we have a special guest in to celebrate! In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Kate Hannah from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission - the team behind Sorted.org.nz, to unpack what financial resilience really means, and why it's about much more than just having enough money. With cost-of-living pressures still biting, Kate explains why an emergency fund is the foundation for getting your finances sorted. She shares the research on how Kiwis are feeling, why young people are being hit hardest, and how small, achievable steps are the real key to building a buffer. They also talk through Sorted's brand new Buffer builder app, launching for August's Money Month - linked below! This episode covers: What financial resilience actually means, and how it's more than just having enough cash Why an emergency fund is the foundation everything else is built on The research on how Kiwis are really feeling about their finances right now Why young people are among the hardest hit, and how to start when money is already tight Whether the "$1,000 rule" is a good, genuine goal to start with The power of small, achievable steps and building a "saver" identity How Sorted's new Buffer builder app uses open banking to make saving almost automatic Resources mentioned in this episode: - Sorted Buffer builder app – free emergency savings app to make saving automatic, available on Android and Apple - Sorted – free, independent tools, guides and calculators from the Retirement Commission: https://sorted.org.nz - Sorted Retirement Navigator – helps you plan how to draw down your savings in retirement: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/retirement-navigator/ - Sorted Mortgage Calculator – includes a first-home-buyer mode for planning your first mortgage: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/mortgage-calculator/ - Sorted Smart Investor – compare KiwiSaver and Managed Funds on fees, returns and more: https://smartinvestor.sorted.org.nz - Money Matters 2025: The Power of Emergency Savings ( Retirement Commission research paper ) You will come away from this episode armed with the small steps you can take to start building your financial safety net. Whether you are just starting out or topping up an existing buffer, there are free, independent tools to help you meet money where you are at. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

July 28, 2026Episode 198 min

Economy Made Simple #19 | Can you still afford to insure your home?

In this episode of Economy Made Simple , Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub unpacks why insurance has become one of the fastest-rising costs in NZ, and what that means for the assets we most need to protect. Insuring everything you own would now swallow close to 15% of the average income, and with disasters growing more frequent, Shamubeel argues the days of leaning on a government bailout may be numbered. He explains how to keep meaningful cover as premiums climb. This episode covers: Why insuring everything could now cost close to 15% of your income How and why home insurance has risen over the last 20 years The disasters that made reinsurers decide NZ is riskier than they thought The rise in natural disaster costs as a percentage of total GDP Why the government backstop we've been seeing come into play after floods and cyclones may not last Which types of cover people tend to drop first when money is tight Three practical ways to keep insurance affordable without losing protection How auto-renewing your policy could be quietly costing you By the end of this episode, you'll understand why insurance costs keep climbing, and three practical moves to keep the cover you actually need: knowing your sum insured, adjusting your excess, and shopping around every year. --- Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful! Find us: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

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