Smart Money

Shane Solly: Spots of recovery in the economy

We've started to see spots of what looks to be recovery in our economy over recent months. It's not consistent, but it's frequent enough to give us some hope for the year to come. Westpac is picking a whole lot of OCR hikes from the end of this year, and other forecasts seem to set a similar scene - a better economy is coming, and rates will have to reflect that when the time comes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janet Xuccoa: Where do trusts fit in to aged care funding?

Growing older is expensive - much more expensive than most people realise. When you or a loved one either decides to move into aged care or is forced to do so, the Ministry of Social Development will quickly swoop in to flip through all their finances. Any assets, gifted funds, trusts, even living rent free - it's all looked at and impacts their chances of government-subsidised care. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharon Chandra: You could be essentially married without even realising it

Relationships cost money. It's not just about date nights at expensive restaurants, fancy shoes, or a new watch for Valentine's Day. It's moving in together, splitting the power bill, signing on to the rent. At what point in the relationship should you join your finances, and how should you go about it? Then there's the other side of the relationship - the part no one tends to plan for. The end of it. Are prenups just for the ultra-wealthy, or should we all have gotten one? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin Hawes: When does life insurance stop being worth it?

As you get older, your health becomes more and more of a worry, so life insurance seems like a no-brainer. But is it? Do you really need it after the mortgage is paid and the kids are on their own? And what policies are must-haves, against ones that are just nice to have? Financial Author Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge to give his insurance advice and explain the pros and cons of different policies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Charteris: "Let's not let perfect get in the way of better"

Confidence in New Zealand's rural sector has really started recovering over the past year or so. Stabilising interest rates, great dairy results, and promising meat exports have formed a foundation for what will hopefully be a successful 2026. Confidence dropped slightly in the last quarter of last year, but it's still much higher than it has been over previous years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.