This month, our key feature focus is on 'Money Matters: Financial insights and advice on how to handle your money in today's fiscal climate'. Channel Mag's Liz Cannon speaks to four local experts based here on the North Shore. They share their views and advice on how to strengthen your financial position, build monetary confidence and be money-savvy as we move into the new fiscal year ahead.
Katie Wesney, Enable Me
Katie Wesney is the national coaching lead at enable.me – where New Zealanders go to get serious about their financial future – with 25-plus years spanning Big Four accounting, London investment banking, and her own business, chartered accountant, financial adviser, active property investor and regular Stuff columnist.
enable.me
David Green, adviceHQ
Based on Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, David Green (BBus, CA) is an independent mortgage adviser helping North Shore residents secure their futures. Formerly a chartered accountant, David combines expertise with a passion for our local community. His sompany, adviceHQ, provides independent advice on mortgages, insurance, KiwiSaver, business and commercial lending. Whether you’re buying in Milford or scaling a business in Albany, David’s "finance first" approach ensures you understand your numbers to unlock your best options.
advicehq.co.nz
Jess Barlow, The Mortgage Supply Co
As a mortgage adviser for 14 years and part of the finance industry for more than 25 years, lending is truly Jess's passion. Based in Browns Bay, she's a multi-award-winning adviser supported by a highly experienced team. Together, they focus on delivering thoughtful, strategic advice and achieving exceptional outcomes for their clients. Their approach goes beyond simply arranging lending – it's about helping people structure their loans well, stay aligned with long-term financial goals, and feel confident in the decisions made along the way.
jessbarlow.mortgagesupply.co.nz
Liam Bratton, Naked Finance
Naked Finance is an Auckland-based, full-service financial advisory firm focused on delivering clear, practical, and client-first advice across every stage of the financial journey. The team assists clients with home loans, business finance, insurance solutions (life, health, income protection), KiwiSaver and investment planning, debt consolidation, and cash flow structuring, along with UK pension transfers/advice. Their approach is transparent, jargon-free, and tailored, helping clients make confident decisions and build long-term wealth. By combining lending, insurance, and investment expertise under one roof, Naked Finance provides a seamless, holistic service that cuts through complexity and genuinely puts clients first every single day.
nakedfinance.nz
Channel Mag: What are the most common financial concerns you’re hearing from clients, and how are you addressing them?
Katie Wesney: The big three right now are mortgage pressure, the rising cost of simply living a normal life, and a creeping anxiety that retirement is closer than they feel ready for. What I find is that behind each of those concerns is often the same thing: people know what they should be doing (mostly), but life keeps getting in the way of doing it. Our job is helping them close that gap between knowing and doing – with a plan that’s realistic, not just aspirational.
David Green: The most common theme is navigating the ups and downs of the property market. Our mantra is always 'finance first'. Before you look at buying or selling, you must understand your numbers to see what options are actually on the table. We address this with a quick, 10-minute phone call to assess each client's unique circumstances.
Jess Barlow: Most clients are currently concerned with interest rates and getting the best deal. Clients are expressing fatigue with having to count pennies, and want a loan structure that still builds equity while allowing room for living. A large part of our business currently is restructuring lending to realign loan structures. Splitting lending into different rate terms is hugely popular right now due to uncertainty and volatility overseas.
Liam Bratton: The biggest concerns we’re hearing are cost-of-living pressure, mortgage rates, and general market uncertainty. Our role is helping clients focus on what they can control: cashflow, debt structure, and long-term investment strategy. When people have a clear plan rather than reacting to headlines, their financial confidence improves quickly.
With ongoing fluctuations in interest rates and living costs, what are the biggest financial planning opportunities people might be overlooking right now?
Katie Wesney: The Reserve Bank has signalled that interest rates could lift again from here, which means now is exactly the wrong time to sleepwalk into simply re-fixing at whatever your bank offers. Use this moment to make sure your mortgage structure is working for you: the right split between fixed and floating, the right term, and critically, a plan to pay it off, not just service it. KiwiSaver is another opportunity worth revisiting: with contribution rates rising to 3.5% from April, it’s worth checking your fund type still matches your timeline. The people who’ll look back on 2026 as a turning point are the ones who used the uncertainty as a prompt to get their financial house in order.
David Green: The biggest opportunity is harnessing the 'eighth wonder of the world': compounding interest. When interest rates drop, one of the most effective tricks is to keep your repayments at the previous, higher level; this increases your principal repayments and can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
Jess Barlow: Don't merely refix with your bank just because it's the easy option. The point when your loan comes up for refixing is when you should be proactively reassessing budgets and progress. It also allows you to adjust loan terms if desired, and split the lending into different rate terms.
Liam Bratton: Periods of uncertainty often create the best planning opportunities. We’re seeing chances to restructure mortgages, review KiwiSaver and investment strategies, and improve cashflow efficiency. The people who benefit most are those who act proactively rather than waiting for everything to feel 'certain' again.
For North Shore households feeling financial pressure, what are the first practical steps you recommend to regain control and confidence in their money?
Katie Wesney: Start with a clear-eyed look at where your money is going – not where you think it’s going. Most households are carrying at least one or two expenses on autopilot that no longer serve them. From there, prioritise ruthlessly: high-interest debt first, then building even a small buffer, then making sure your KiwiSaver is working as hard as you are. Small, consistent moves compound faster than people expect – and feeling in control of your money is itself a kind of wealth.
David Green: Seek advice early. The sooner you ask for help, the more options you have. Our team is happy to help, while local services like the Citizens Advice Bureau or North Shore Budget Service are excellent resources. Be wary of short-term fixes like mortgage holidays, which can impact your credit rating; always ask how a temporary solution affects your long-term goals.
Jess Barlow: Review your accounts. Look back on three months of bank statements and see what subscriptions and expenses are coming out. Too often, clients are surprised at outgoings, having thought they’d deleted certain insurances or subscriptions. It's also way too easy to spend via PayWave nowadays, so separating suffixes for spending, bills, and loan payments is always a great way to budget.
Liam Bratton: Start with clarity – understand exactly where your money is going each month. From there, review your mortgage structure and focus on rebuilding a financial buffer where possible. Even small changes to spending or debt structure can significantly reduce financial stress.
How should local families and business owners be thinking about investment strategy in the current market: more defensive, more diversified, or something else?
Katie Wesney: Neither purely defensive nor recklessly growth-focused; what the current climate calls for is intentional diversification with a clear time horizon in mind. If you won’t need the money for ten-plus years, volatility is noise, not a crisis. For business owners, especially, I’d be looking at whether the business itself is properly protected and whether there’s a personal investment strategy running alongside it – because relying on the business as your retirement plan is a concentrated risk most people underestimate.
David Green: We encourage 'time in the market, not timing the market'. For business owners specifically, it is vital to diversify your banking relationships; having more than one option ensures that if one bank gets 'tough' during lean times, your business remains resilient.
Liam Bratton: Rather than becoming overly defensive, the focus should be on diversification and long-term discipline. Many New Zealand investors are heavily exposed to property, so broadening investments across different asset classes can improve resilience. The key is building a portfolio designed to perform across different market cycles.
What trends are you seeing in property, mortgage behaviour, or debt management this year, and how should people respond?
Katie Wesney: More people are coming to the table earlier in their mortgage journey, wanting to understand strategy, not just rate, which is genuinely encouraging. And for those wondering whether now is the right time to buy, a flat market can be an opportunity if you go in with your eyes open. When prices aren’t racing away from you, there’s more room to buy well, negotiate, and let leverage work in your favour as part of a broader financial plan – rather than simply riding a rising tide and hoping for the best. The keyword is part: property works hardest when it sits alongside other investments, not instead of them.
David Green: Now is a fantastic time for Shore residents to review their position. With interest rates below long-term averages and favourable bank servicing tests, a strategic restructure or refinance now can set you up well for the next interest rate cycle.
Jess Barlow: For first home buyers, we’re seeing a lot more parental support with deposits, with clients really putting in time to understand different options. Guarantors are no longer quite so desirable, and options like Deed of Debt, Gifting or Loans are much more common.
Liam Bratton: We’re seeing more borrowers choosing shorter mortgage terms to maintain flexibility while rates remain uncertain. There’s also a noticeable shift toward strengthening balance sheets and reducing debt rather than aggressively leveraging. Property is still important in New Zealand, but increasingly it needs to sit within a broader financial strategy.
What financial habits best set people up for long‑term resilience in a period of economic uncertainty?
Katie Wesney: Spend less than you earn, invest the difference, and review it all regularly; it’s unglamorous advice, but it’s the foundation everything else is built on. Beyond that, I’d add: protect what matters (the right insurance is worth every dollar), talk about money openly in your household, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. The people I see build real financial resilience aren’t the ones with the most sophisticated strategies – they’re the ones who show up consistently.
David Green: Consistency is key, whether it's optimising your mortgage structure or increasing your KiwiSaver contribution from 3% to 6%. Beware of 'lifestyle creep'. As your income or business profits grow, resist the urge to simply spend more and instead direct that surplus toward your future.
Jess Barlow: Using different suffixes for budgeting; staying away from short-term debts (buy now/pay later, credit cards, personal loans, etc); having savings set as an automatic payment; increasing repayments over and above the minimum repayment amounts.
Liam Bratton: Consistency is one of the most powerful financial habits: regularly investing (dollar cost averaging), maintaining a cash buffer, and reviewing your financial plan. Avoiding lifestyle inflation as income grows also makes a significant difference over time. Resilience tends to come from steady habits rather than one big financial decision.
For those approaching major life milestones, what key advice would you give in 2026?
Katie Wesney: Get advice before you make the big decision, not after. Whether you’re buying your first home, investing, planning for retirement, or stepping into business ownership, the cost of good financial counsel at the decision point is almost always far less than the cost of correcting a poorly structured move later. And whichever milestone you’re approaching, make sure your security is in place first – have a buffer and protection; income, health, and life insurance are the scaffolding that holds everything else up when life doesn’t go to plan.
David Green: Know your numbers. We recently helped a client who felt stuck with limited options from their own bank by finding two alternative solutions that opened up their entire future. Also, remember that a 'financial/property coach' is not the same as a qualified financial planner.
Jess Barlow: Speak to a professional before the event. Often, finances need preparation, so speaking to an adviser early means you have time to make any necessary adjustments or changes to finances ahead of the event.
Liam Bratton: Major financial milestones shouldn’t be approached in isolation. Whether buying a first home, preparing for retirement, or starting a business, the key is making sure the decision fits into a broader long-term financial plan. Getting advice early can significantly improve both the financial outcome and peace of mind.
What’s one piece of financial advice you wish every New Zealander understood earlier, and why?
Katie Wesney: Don’t wait for the perfect time, because it doesn’t exist. The sooner you start, the easier it gets – time does the heavy lifting that willpower alone never can. But here’s the equally important flip side: it’s never too late. Where you’ve been is not a predictor of where you can get to with a good strategy behind you. Have a plan, execute it, tweak it as life changes, and get on with living your best life. Money is a means, not the destination.
David Green: Independent financial advice is the key to personal success. If you only deal with one provider, you will only ever have one option; independence gives you the power of choice.
Jess Barlow: The number of times I hear clients say they got a credit card or car loan to 'build a credit file' breaks my heart! It’s the new age-old wives' tale! Credit reporting is so sophisticated now that everyone already has a credit file by the time they apply for a mortgage. Getting debt doesn’t build a credit file; it tells lenders that you couldn’t save for what it was you were buying. And too often, financial literacy in younger New Zealanders means that a credit card isn’t managed well and can lead to damaging an individual's credit file. The best advice? If you want it, save for it and then buy it.
Liam Bratton: Time is far more powerful than timing. The earlier people start investing and planning, the more they benefit from compounding over decades. Building wealth is usually a slow and deliberate process, not something that happens overnight.
