Where are you going? – have you made a plan yet?
A Lesson in Volatility Training
Despite the fact politicians and central bankers are stubbornly spell-bound by outdated ideas of Keynesian economics, the reality is, markets (like the weather), can't be controlled. All we can do is take the gains (and nice days) when they show up, and hang on tight when they don't. Last week was a reminder how, as everyday investors chasing 'above average' don't receive consistent results. Volatility is not always a sign
Comfort: the most addictive substance known to mankind
No, not staring at your phone, takeaways, or eating ham while pregnant – the most dangerous substance to get hooked on is the belief that playing it safe, reduces the chance of bad things happening. Comfort-seeking chases safe bets, predictable returns, and validation‑rich investment narratives. It dulls our risk-awareness, and sets us up for a higher chance of loss when the pressure hits. The reality we don't want to acknowledge?
The Trap of “Passive Retirement Income”
Passive retirement income sounds like the holy grail, right? Imagine the money quietly rolling in while your capital sits there untouched - perfect! Yet when you dig into how this is usually sold to retirees and pre‑retirees, it often turns into something very different: concentrated bets, misunderstood risk, and portfolio structures that look “safe” on the surface but are fragile underneath. One FMA review even had to warn multiple wholesale
So Let It Be Done: Investing in an Age of Absolute Power
In the 1956 classic, The 10 Commandments, Pharaoh Rameses used the phrase "So let it be written; so let it be done" to assert his absolute power, meaning his decree is law and must be executed. It's tough being a parent who cares about what media his kids consume. Over the past 5 years in particular, it's been challenging as they grow up to find movies (even kids movies) without
The Future of Banking is Ready – Are You?
Not a week goes buy where I don’t hear of the difficulties associated with buying digital assets like Bitcoin, from regulated institutions – all in the name of safety, they gate keep, ticket clip, dilute, surveil, ration, throttle, censor, inflate, tax, sequester, audit, and potentially even confiscate wealth that belongs to the people. The last few years have made one thing painfully clear: the financial system, from banks and insurance
Rick Rule: Why Gold Is Just Getting Started
The US government’s officially reported debt stands at about $37 trillion, but legendary investor Rick Rule boldly asserts the real figure, including all off-balance sheet liabilities, is closer to $150 trillion. This captures not just the national debt, but also the net present value of unfunded obligations like Social Security, Medicare, and various pensions. Yes, this is a US story, but don't make the mistake of thinking NZ isn't capable
How I Became Radicalised
In my 22 years as a financial adviser, I’ve noticed something about the rhythm of life, business, and even investing: we all move through cycles. Roughly seven years at a time. Rudolf Steiner was an Austrian philosopher and social reformer who developed the idea of seven-year cycles as fundamental stages of human development, each marked by distinct physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. This concept resonates in my journey, because it
Why The OCR Will Hit 1.0-1.5% By This Time Next Year
The Official Cash Rate (OCR), which influences the floating mortgage rate, and short term fixed-rates, dropped last week. Everyone has a view around what SHOULD happen, but no one's talking about what WILL happen. Most economists predict the Reserve Bank will deliver perhaps one more 0.25% cut, with Kiwibank being the outlier forecasting a 2.0% terminal rate. While these predictions are very sound, and based on mainstream economics, I think
Gold Surges to Historic Highs: What Investors Need to Know
Last week, a seemingly routine visit to my local dentist, Dr Hau, after chipping a tooth, turned out to be unexpectedly insightful. He recognised me from my podcast, and our conversation shifted from dental repairs to the idea of using a gold filling for my tooth. As the gloved fingers of the dental assistant gently prodded the back of my mouth with the suction pipe, I was reminded that often
What Are the Best Short-Term Investments in New Zealand? (2025 Edition)
Spoiler alert: The best, short-term investments are actually savings strategies: a simple savings accounts for money needed soon, term deposits for medium-range goals, and offset or revolving credit mortgages for homeowners. Each option protects your money, while optimising the returns for the timeframes you have to work within. Does Timeframe Really Matter? Every dollar held in cash gets chewed up by inflation. For example, $1 at the start of 2020
DIY Retirement: Can YOU Handle The Jandal?
It’s a question that every DIY investor must confront at some stage. Fresh research from the Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission shows more than half of New Zealanders feel uncomfortable heading into retirement. Most regret not having planned sooner. Many discover, and this is true with people I talk with also, that managing an investment strategy, cash flow, and risk, is more complex than they originally thought. If only
The Age-Appropriate Investor
[Originally published in the Herald - August 2025] Is Your Investment Strategy 'Age Appropriate'? The younger we start, the faster a little bit of money can grow. To take a little and make it greater, we need to understand the double-edged sword of ‘risk’. ‘Riskier’ investments or strategies can give you the edge, to avoid the average, but we have to consider the life stage we’re in, and the types
Have The Investing Rules Changed, And We Haven’t Noticed?
When The Bell Rings, A Meal's Not Far Off. Call it good timing, luck, or good fortune, but I was able to understand and exploit how property must increase in price, relatively early on. When I could, I took advantage of what could be called a bug, or a feature, of a broken system. For at least a decade now, the central banking playbook became obvious to the masses. The
Are YOUR Investments Trapped In a Meme?!
Wealth-Building in an Age of Feedback Loops. Among all the insanity of the world, we’re also on the edge of an exponential age of wealth fueled by the explosive growth in how fast information moves. Fortunes can rise or fall on the back of a monkey-jpg, a narrative, or a viral shift in perception. As tempting as it is to chase the latest high-return bet, it’s never been more important
A Conversation with G. Edward Griffin
When the Beast Controls Your Wallet I had a chance recently to catch up with the legendary author G. Edward Griffin. At age 93 he may not see it come to pass, but he's been warning we're in the final stages of the current monetary system. It sounds scary, but if you're prepared, and you understand where much of the world's problems come from, you don't need to be. The
Is Bitcoin Creating a Political Revolution?
Is Bitcoin Creating a Political Revolution? The question of whether Bitcoin is fueling a political revolution is something I've been chewing on for a while. According to a 2024 study by Fidelity, 47% of institutional investors now consider digital assets like Bitcoin an important part of their portfolios. Yes, large fund managers, family offices, and nation states are taking interest too, but I'm not talking about 'Number Go Up'. This
Buying It Up, When It’s Going Down
It's Time Adjusted for inflation, New Zealand’s property prices have cratered over the last 3–4 years. For Kiwis with a lump of lead in the belly, take heart. This downturn isn’t just an omen of doom, it’s the sound of opportunity. For first home buyers and upgraders, the ladder has never been more visible, especially for those who once felt locked out. The Contrarian's Advantage Mortgages today are cheaper to
Hard Truths: If You Want More, DO MORE. But What?
Why Focus and Effort Trump Easy Paths In a world mesmorised with the mirage of effortless wealth or returns without risk, it’s worth pausing to ask: can genuine, transformational wealth still come from work hard and focus? With record amounts of cash sitting idle in bank accounts and property markets showing signs of strain, many aspiring investors and business owners face an uncomfortable truth. Is now the time to quit,
Will This Be NZ’s First Bitcoin-Property Transaction?
Could This Be A Turning Point? Sometimes the future doesn’t tap politely. It knocks, and while the instinct is to keep the door bolted, at some stage we need to do better. That’s what’s happening right now in New Zealand, as John Alcock aims to facilitate the country's first property sale powered entirely by Bitcoin. Why This Transaction Matters Kiwis have grown used to property deals burdened by legacy systems.
Toy Guns & RBNZ Policy Error
When Process Trumps People. There’s a special kind of regret that comes only after you’ve made a parenting call that would make your own mother shake her head. Picture this: a holiday, a bit of nostalgia, and a couple of shiny metal cap guns for the kids (because, of course, the best souvenirs are the ones that last). I thought I was passing on a piece of my childhood, a