Insurance, KiwiSaver, and money. In plain English.
Short, useful articles from the Smiths advisers — the same notes we share with clients when something changes in the NZ market or a common question comes up.
Going Self-Employed in NZ: What Changes for Your KiwiSaver and Cover
Leaving a salaried job means you lose the employer KiwiSaver match, sick leave and group cover, and ACC starts working differently. Here is what changes when you go self-employed, and how to replace each piece, with a 90-day checklist.
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GP and Everyday Health Cover vs Major-Medical in NZ (2026): Which Is Worth Paying For?
Everyday GP, dental and optical modules cap out at a few hundred dollars a category. Major-medical absorbs surgery bills running tens of thousands. Here is a 2026 value breakdown of which is worth paying for.
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Group Health and Life Insurance for Small NZ Businesses: Is It Worth It? (2026)
Group cover is not just for big firms. Here is how group health and life insurance works for small NZ businesses in 2026 — the underwriting and cost advantages, the FBT tax treatment, and where the gaps are.
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Building a Guaranteed Income Floor in Retirement (NZ, 2026): NZ Super, Term Deposits and Beyond
How to build a retirement income floor in NZ: use NZ Super, a term-deposit ladder and managed income to cover your essentials, and keep KiwiSaver for growth. A plain adviser guide.
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What Does a Health Insurance Excess Actually Save You in NZ (2026)?
A higher excess lowers your premium, but only saves you money if you stay relatively claim-free. Here is how a $250, $500, $1,000 or $2,000 health insurance excess changes your NZ premium and out-of-pocket costs in 2026, with a breakeven table.
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Health Insurance for Over-65s and Retirees in NZ (2026): Keeping Cover When Premiums Climb
Premiums rise steeply once you pass 65, just as your income drops to NZ Super. Here is why they climb, whether private cover is worth keeping, and the levers that keep it affordable in retirement.
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How Health Insurance Underwriting Works in NZ (2026): What Insurers Ask and Why
When you apply for health insurance in NZ, the insurer underwrites your application — asking about your health, lifestyle and family history. Here is what they ask, why it matters, and how to disclose correctly so your cover holds up at claim time.
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Health Insurance vs Trauma vs Income Protection: Which First in NZ (2026)
Can only afford one type of cover? Here is how health insurance, trauma cover and income protection compare in NZ in 2026, and the priority order most Kiwis should buy in.
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How Advisers Compare Insurers in NZ (2026): The 6 Things a Price-Comparison Site Can't Check
A price-comparison site sorts on premium. An adviser reads the wordings, exclusions, future insurability, financial strength and claims record. Here is what changes when you compare cover that way — and how it ties back to your KiwiSaver.
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How to Structure Life Insurance NZ (2026): What an Adviser Does That DIY Misses
Two people with the same $500,000 sum insured can have completely different policies. Here is how a NZ adviser structures life cover — ownership, beneficiaries, level vs stepped, and splitting by purpose — and where DIY goes wrong.
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How Long Will Your KiwiSaver Last in Retirement? Making a Balance Stretch to 90 in NZ
Worried about outliving your savings? How long a KiwiSaver balance lasts at different withdrawal rates, how NZ Super carries most of the load, and how to plan to age 90 and beyond.
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How Much ACC CoverPlus Extra Cover Should You Choose? NZ 2026 Guide
Your CPX agreed value sets your payout. Here are the 2026 cover bands, why the minimum often falls short, and how to match cover to your real self-employed income.
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How Much Do You Need to Retire in NZ? (2026)
There is no single retirement number. Massey's 2025 data shows the lump sum you need above NZ Super ranges from $46,000 to $1.03 million. Here is how to find yours.
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How Much Does a Financial Adviser Cost in NZ? Fees, Commissions and What You Actually Pay
Hourly fees, fixed plan fees, a percentage of your assets, or insurance commission, here is what financial advice really costs in New Zealand, who ultimately pays in each case, and how to tell if it is worth it.
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How Much Key-Person Insurance Does a Business Need in NZ?
Sizing key-person cover is a method, not a guess. Here are the three ways to work out a sum insured — lost gross profit, replacement cost, and debt exposure — with an NZ worked example and the IRD tax rules that affect the number.
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How Much KiwiSaver for a House Deposit in NZ (2026)
Your real KiwiSaver deposit is your withdrawable balance minus the $1,000 you must leave behind and any excluded Australian-super funds. Here is how to work out your true number by settlement.
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How Much Life Insurance Do You Actually Need in NZ? (2026 Sum-Insured Calculation)
A real NZ method to size your life insurance sum insured — debts to clear, income to replace, children's costs and final expenses, minus existing cover, KiwiSaver and ACC. This is what an adviser's needs analysis actually does, and why 'ten times your salary' falls short.
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How Much Should Your KiwiSaver Fee Be? A 2026 Benchmark by Fund Type (NZ)
The industry-average KiwiSaver fee in 2026 runs from about 0.90% for conservative funds to 1.23% for growth. The cheapest funds charge under 0.30%. Here is the benchmark, what counts as high, and how to check where yours sits.
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How Much Do You Need to Retire in NZ in 2026, and Is Your KiwiSaver on Track?
NZ Super pays a single person about $28,868 a year, well short of a comfortable retirement. Here is what you need, the balance-by-age benchmarks, and how to tell if your KiwiSaver is on track.
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How Much Trauma Cover Do You Need in NZ? (2026 Sum-Insured Method)
A real NZ method to size your trauma cover — treatment and non-Pharmac drugs, income while you recover, mortgage breathing room and extra costs added into one sum insured.
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How Is NZ Super Taxed? Tax Codes, M vs S, and Avoiding an End-of-Year Bill (NZ)
NZ Super is taxable income and tax comes out before it reaches you. Here is how it is taxed, which tax code applies (M vs S, SH, ST), how a second income changes things, and how to avoid an end-of-year bill.
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How PIE Tax Works on Your KiwiSaver NZ (2026): Why It's Capped at 28%
KiwiSaver is a PIE, so your returns are taxed at your PIR — capped at 28%, below the top 39% income tax rate. Here is how PIE tax works and who it saves money.
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How to Choose a Financial Adviser in NZ (2026): 9 Questions That Reveal a Good One
Nine questions that separate a good NZ financial adviser from a salesperson, plus the three checks that must pass before you sign anything: FSPR registration, FAP licence, and a named dispute resolution scheme.
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How to Choose a KiwiSaver Fund in NZ (2026): A 6-Step Method
Choosing a KiwiSaver fund comes down to six questions. A simple method to match your timeframe, risk and fees to the right fund - with a free checklist.
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