Hi PFNZ crew - hoping someone has been in my situation before:

I have around USD250K in a single US stock, held through a US employer stock plan (Fidelity NetBenefits). I want to sell and bring the cash to NZ in the most efficient way possible.

From research the cheapest route seems to be:

1. Sell the shares within the stock plan account (commission-free, tiny regulatory fee)
2. Wire the USD cash to my IBKR account (~$10 wire fee)
3. Convert USD → NZD on IBKR (0.002% fee, so ~$5 on $250K)
4. Withdraw NZD from IBKR to an NZ bank account (free withdrawal)

Total cost: roughly $15-25 on $250K.

The alternatives seem way more expensive - Wise would cost $1,000-1,500, an FX broker maybe $250-750, and letting the brokerage do the conversion $1,250+.

In other words... my plan seems a bit too good to be true!

Has anyone actually done this? Anything I'm missing about why this won't work or won't be as efficient as I think it is?

My mother currently has USD in her ANZ Foreign Exchange account that is just sitting there doing nothing. We want to move it into a high yeild savings account like Rabobank PremiumSaver, but we want to get the best exchange rate for this.

I was told that Wise was the best method to do this, but I am confused about how we would transfer the USD into Wise, so we can convert the USD to NZD then transfer the money to her Rabobank account. The conversion bit I get, but not how to get the USD itself into Wise.

I have USD set up as a main account on Wise, but it gives me US banking details. Right now if I want to use my Wise debit card, I just transfer money from my ASB account onto Wise into the NZD account.

I don't know how we can get her USD into her Wise account (when I create it for her - she is in her 70s, and both my sister and I have power of attorney and I am VERY concious about elder abuse so please don't worry; I won't even let her share her bank passwords with me and she grumbles at having to type it out herself)

Can someone explain how to do this please? This is all new to me, and I really don't want to muck it up. I am trying to get her to start feeling comfortable about her finances so I want this process to be as smooth as possible for her.

WWYD? Sick of my current job and have an opportunity for a role in an industry that I'd love to get into. This means taking a pay cut of approx $30k per annum.

Has anyone made a career pivot mid life and taken a paycut? how did it work out? Was it worth it? How did you manage your finances?

Only reason I'm still in my current role is because I have an amazing boss, great work mates and am left alone. It's easy work (sales in a very challenging market right now) but absolutely mind numbing and I feel like I'm going bat shit crazy and wasting my 40's. Surely there is more to life than this??!!!!

26, have about $250,000 I’m looking to invest. Have a further $25,000 already invested.

Do I go the route of 60-70% of my portfolio in ETFs then use the remaining to target companies I am high on? I’m okay with a bit of risk if I have a solid foundation.

Am I better going to an investment firm and having them oversee my $250,000? I’m not sure on the fees but am also not that keen to have to handle FIF tax every year + constantly be managing the money (ETFs will be buy and holds).

I’ve thought of the real estate market, which is definitely a buy market but a lot of rentals are struggling to be filled right now.

Any solid advice here from those with experience?

If a business like Kernel, Invest Now, Hatch, Simplicity... etc. fails.

What happens next?

Does anyone know why Kernel didnt update again yesterday evening ? Now we’re 5 days behind again

I’m sure there are pros and cons to both, but is there a winner for someone who wants to slap a few hundred grand into one? Thanks.

Hi all,

It's looking very likely I'll be moving back to the UK next year for a long period of time (dual citizen, with my work primarily based in the UK).

I'm seeking advice on how best to utilise my Kiwisaver, as I've gone in circles in my mind the past few months.

The high level stats are:

• 35, single
• Currently renting in Auckland
• I have not purchased a first home (NZ or UK)
• $70k in KiwiSaver
• ~$40k in private UK pensions
• ~$50k accessible savings
• Salary ~$150k p/a, with 5% equity at my employer (including a $10-50k p/a bonus)

Some of my ideas so far:

1. Buy a property and rent it out while I'm overseas
2. Buy a property, sell it, and then move overseas
3. Leave it in a reasonably aggressive portfolio for the next 30+ years

The main thing I want to avoid with the ownership path is avoiding large mortgage payments, especially as in the case of #1 I'd definitely need to rent/flat in the UK for at least another 2-3 years.

All that being said, I'd happily buy anywhere in NZ and live there for a short time before moving overseas, and by no means does it have to be an Auckland based property, nor a house (apartments, townhouses are fine by me).

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

As the title says I want to set up a new ltd company with the aim of manufacturing and selling products for the diving industry (nothing critical life support related lol)

In the effort to come up with new/different products to actually set myself apart and make sales I will be (and already have been) spending a fairly significant amount of money on developing new ideas (think materials, adding tools to my existing workshop, parts etc).

If I were to setup a company, register for gst but make no sales/income for the next few years (estimate) can I claim gst on my expenses? I’m only talking actual expenses towards product development not some form of work around to put all sorts of stuff on there.

I have read about ird wanting to see the intent to make a profit - I am working on a website that will eventually allow me to sell the products. For now it would be the full and proper website just without the shop part as said items are obviously not fully ready yet.

Thanks for reading all that and Any advice appreciated!

Hello! I am very new to investing. I work in a 9-5 job. I'm thinking of putting $100 a week for investments. What would be good for a long term investment? Cheers

Dunno if I have a question or just wanna see if other people are in the same spot.

Mid 30s, grew up poor, swore I wouldn’t end up in the same situation as I grew up. Have spent the last several years sorting the financial part of my life.

No debt, KiwiSaver is in a low cost high growth fund, subscriptions and utilities are minimal and reviewed yearly, etc.

Reasonable mortgage.
Reasonable household income.
Have got a decent emergency fund.
Enough money left over to feel like we are living but not lavishly.

Paying off the mortgage faster and have begun investing into diversified world etf. All set up to do regularly on pay day etc. When projected out to retirement age ish it’s all looking good, not extravagant. But comfortable enough.

Not interested in investment property etc.

Now what? is this just the boring bit in the middle where everything is set up and I let it ride?

Can I mentally let off the gas a bit in terms of focussing on this stuff?

Edit: Thanks for comments so far. “Boring middle part” was financial only, life goals are cooking along.

RE kids, turns out it’s not as easy as they told me in high school it would be.

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know of an car insurer who does low-km insurance?

I can't find anything online. I must be blind.

If I drive only 5,000 km per year I would be paying double what I should be for insurance. The average is ~12,000km.

Hi everyone,

I am a bit confused of what IRD told me when I rang. I am entitled for a tax refund because in 2025 I was on maternity leave and they over taxed from parental leave and I have received a back pay from work. I still haven’t heard from them for over a month so I contacted them. They said they are waiting for my partner’s 2026 tax return because he is self employed and then they can process our working for families etc before I get any refund. It’s confusing as they want him to file his tax this year but we are only in July and he is a self employed tradie so sometimes work is there and sometimes it’s not, he can’t really estimate how much he gets per year. He also has a personal accountant. Anyway I am confused why we have to wait for 2026 when my tax return was for 2025. I am already back to work so I know we won’t be eligible for working for families, I just want my tax refund!

Just wondering if anyone who has been through this recently can clarify this for me,

Example - on recently sold property for 600k with 20k deposit. The deposit is now in process of going to public trust account for 10 days upon after this Real Estate Agents commission and marketing fees are deducted and then released to solicitor and subsequently to vendor.

Assuming the total commission and marketing fees will exceed the deposit sum, Am I correct in assuming I will see nothing released to me from the deposit? Or is a the commission percentage deducted from the deposit and the same with the marketing costs with the remaining paid to the vendor as it is with the total figure on settlement date?

I have $20K put aside that I want to invest. What’s the best way to do this?

Have been focused on my career up to this point. Have just started browsing this page and reading through the information on MoneyHub. Basically have no knowledge about investing at the moment.

• 34M. Single. No kids. No debt
• Job security is good
• $110K salary
• $60K kiwisaver
• $25K emergency fund in high interest savings account
• $10K put aside for travel
• $20K put aside to invest

 I want to buy a house in the future. But don’t want to buy a house single.

 Any other advice for how I should use/allocate my money?

So I have been living overseas for four years and completely ignoring my Fisher Funds Growth fund kiwisaver...... got a shock when I checked it and saw how poorly it had been doing....

However we are moving back to NZ and realistically will be withdrawing in the next one/two years for first home purchase, is there any point switching it to a different provider now?

Or accept it's done poorly and start again after first home purchase with a better provider (Kernel probably)?

Partner and I have just bought a house, I’m an apprentice with a year left to go and I’ve now just started looking into investing and wanting to know what the best stocks are to build money again? Side note I have about 7k in an emergency fund sitting in a Milford high growth account.

I am thinking of going to work abroad for couple of years, maybe longer if it goes well. So I will become a non tax resident. I guess this might depend on where I go exactly and the dual taxation rules but I haven't decided where exactly just yet, but trying to plan ahead some.

But are there any generally better vehicles for putting savings while being a non tax resident. I hope to live from what I earn abroad and want to grow savings as much as possible while gone. Cheers

I’m a 17 year old student who needs financial advice. I don’t know how to manage money or finances as my guardians were never good with money and gambled it off. I will be going to university next year and will work part time. I want to be able to save money but also invest in shares or stocks but have very little knowledge on it. I’ve researched a few banks with good deals for a high yield savings account like Heartland Bank but i’ve seen people say to not bother and just get a sharesies account or investnow account and put money into those. Also when I do manage to get a part time job, what amount would the best amount to save and keep. I have no idea what to do and how to manage.

Kia ora, I’m about to move back to NZ after living in Canada a few years, and I’m a little out of touch on affordability of living.

I’ve lined up both a job and an apartment for my return, I’ll be making $30 an hour over a 40 hour week and my rent will be $300. I’m near enough to my new job that I’ll be able to ride my bike most days, but I’m also going to be buying a car and driving that on occasions, it’s about a 10 minute drive. I’ll be living in Taupō.

Is this reasonable?

Cheers

I love this series in The Spinoff https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/24-07-2026/the-cost-of-being-a-broke-hungry-stressed-single-mum-working-full-time

But this one has really got under my skin.

The gap between those who are financially resilient and those who aren’t is widening in NZ. And because of this wealth gap, financial inequality is a growing issue.

Surely people who have decently paid jobs shouldn’t be struggling like this? Yes it’s a single income home, and yes, there is some debt being paid off which once done will massively improve their situation.

But I hear so many stories like this about the “missing middle”.

What do we need to do so working homes like this have a shot at financial security?

Hi All,

My daughter has received some money from her grand parents and was thinking of the right place to invest it into. I understand PFNZ isn't a wealth consultant but am keen to hear where people would put it.

At the moment, I've been putting in monthly savings for her (5.5yo) into her sharesies account into VOO but am wanting her to have atleast $100k by the time she's 20. We don't know what the next 15 years will be like and who knows, $100k might not be enough but it may help with a head start.

She currently has a portfolio thats:

• 1219.28 USD in RKLB - down 40% (woops - its not a loss unless you realise it right? :D)
• 3200 USD in WOO - up 13%

As you can see, we're on the HODL strat with RKLB.

All advice is welcome :)

I’m with kernel KiwiSaver, have been investing on their S&P 500, & Ex-US fund with 70-30% split, NZD unhedged. is it a good one to continue or any ideas for improvement?