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We often think of trusts as a way to protect your assets, especially if you work in certain fields - but a surprising number of regular families use them for a range of reasons.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hot topic on everyone's minds right now is the price of petrol and diesel.  It seems to be impacting the price of just about everything else, and we're staring down the barrel of a major risk of high inflation.  The OCR remains steady for now, but it's only a matter of time before interest rates are on the up once again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices are going up.  Food prices are up, and will keep going up alongside fuel. Practically any goods that travel by land air or ocean to get to you will become increasingly unaffordable for the foreseeable future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high for everyone right now, and I know most people will either be nervously checking their KiwiSaver balance on the daily, or completely ignoring it until things calm down a bit.  The most repeated advice advisors will be giving right now is to simply ignore your balance for the time being - that by the time the first bomb dropped, it was too late to change anything. But is that really true?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From April 1st, the KiwiSaver minimum default contribution rate will move up to 3.5%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all found ourselves day dreaming about where we'd spend a big Lotto win at one point or another.  Realistically, many of us will come into a major windfall - but it's likely to come in the form of a bonus at work, or an inheritance.  Is it okay to buy a new car and go on holiday? Or should we invest it all?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ethical investing seems to be a hot topic when it comes to choosing an investment fund or KiwiSaver provider.  I've often heard providers boast that their fund is ethical - they avoid weapons manufacturers, focus on renewable and sustainable energy - you won't feel a possible sense of guilt around where your money is going.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often trust have been seen to be province of the uber wealthy. But are they? And often people don't think about this issue until it is too late So when should we think about these issues - our family. inheritances and what's gonna happen to our money when we aren't around to look after it? Managing Director for New Zealand Family Trust Services Limited Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to give her advice on trust accounts, and how they should be used. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 2.25%, but their tone was a bit more hawkish than usual.  Some analysts are thinking it's a signal that rates have gone as low as the RBNZ is willing to drop them - and the new Governor may be wanting to turn a new leaf in 2026.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got another OCR cut this week - now down to 2.25% - the lowest it's been since June of 2022.  That was the last one for the year, so a lot of us mortgage holders are trying to figure out whether things are slowing down, and if it's time to fix for a longer term this time around.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.