In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about the growing "resist and unsubscribe" movement, how everyday New Zealanders can use their wallets to make a statement, and why your KiwiSaver might be one of the biggest votes you'll ever cast.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

What if you genuinely can’t earn more? Are you stuck financially?

In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode of Making Cents, we tackle a question that so many teachers, nurses, and public sector workers quietly wrestle with: what do you do when your income is capped?

Today’s letter writer is a teacher. She’s hearing the usual advice, to “earn more”, “start a side hustle”, “increase your income”, but her reality is strict salary bands, long hours, and family commitments.

So if climbing the income ladder isn’t straightforward, what’s the next best move?

In the hot seat is Kristin Sutherland, financial advisor at EnableMe, and we break this down properly:

– Are you really “stuck” in a capped-income career, or is there more wiggle room than it feels like?
– If a pay rise isn’t coming anytime soon, what should you focus on instead? Investing, spending strategy, debt reduction, or something else?
– Does investing still make sense when your income is flat?
– How to think strategically about promotions, specialisation, or changing employers
– Whether side hustles are worth it (and how to avoid burnout)
– Navigating relationship dynamics when one partner is aggressively pursuing higher income and the other offers stability

Listen now to learn how to move forward — even when your income doesn’t.

If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and you might feature on our next episode!

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook

If you want the truth about retiring early as a regular person, it doesn’t come from highlight reels or motivational posts. It comes from the numbers.

When you strip away the vibes, hacks, and hot takes, the numbers show what actually works, what doesn’t, and how real people build passive income that gives them real choice over their time.

That’s where Bronwyn Candish comes in.

Bronwyn is a chartered accountant who specialises in working with everyday people who want to retire early. It’s not the theory of it, but the messy, real-life version. By digging into people’s finances, she sees the patterns others miss: the spending leaks, the mindset traps, and the systems that move the needle over time.

In this episode, Bronwyn shares what she’s seen behind the scenes, including the common mistakes that hold people back, the simple tactics that actually stick, and why automation beats motivation every time.

She’s not just advising from the sidelines either. Bronwyn is building her own retire-early plan, using the same investing strategies, income levers, and intentional spending choices she recommends to her clients.

This is a grounded, honest look at how normal people really make progress, from passive income through shares, to optimising KiwiSaver, to getting your partner on the same page, and using community as a secret weapon.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #FinancialIndependence #FIREmovement #PassiveInvesting #PassiveIncome #FIRE #RetireEarly #Retirement

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:32 Meet Bronwyn: the accountant for people pursuing financial independence
• 00:05:14 Bronwyn's financial independence journey: divorce, debt, and discovery
• 00:07:23 COVID, parenthood, and purchasing a practice
• 00:09:10 Who Bronwyn works with: from lazy balance sheets to FIRE enthusiasts
• 00:13:00 Is financial independence accessible for normal people?
• 00:14:43 Best tactics for regular people: business as a bank account and expense awareness
• 00:15:45 The power of increasing income and self-employment
• 00:18:48 Black Friday: building community and brainwashing partners
• 00:27:23 Bronwyn's personal tactics: index funds, automation, and intentional spending
• 00:30:00 Mindset shifts: from deprivation to appreciation
• 00:33:45 The debt-free journey and the power of teamwork
• 00:35:50 Advice for skeptics and where to find Bronwyn

Money fights aren’t really about money. They’re about expectations, and how differently we respond to them.

In this episode of Making Cents, I’m breaking down the four money personalities that shape how you save, spend, budget, and argue about money. Get ready to finally understand why financial advice works brilliantly for some people and completely falls apart for others.

Based on Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework, these personalities explain why:

• You can know what to do with your money… and still not do it

• Your partner’s approach makes perfect sense to them, but drives you mad

Discipline isn’t the issue, but mismatched systems are.

You’ll learn how the Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel money personalities actually behave with money, where each one thrives, where it goes wrong, and what strategies genuinely work for each type.

We also dig into how different money personalities clash (and connect) in relationships. Why money is such a common source of tension, and how to design shared systems that don’t leave one person feeling controlled, rushed, unsupported, or sabotaged.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #moneypersonality #moneymindset #financialpsychology #financialfreedom #FourTendencies #Upholder #Questioner #Obliger #Rebel

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:03:11 The upholder: the goody two shoes who follow all the rules
• 00:05:58 The questioner: research everything, customize everything
• 00:10:54 The obliger: brilliant for others, terrible at prioritizing themselves
• 00:13:51 The rebel: identity over obligations
• 00:17:33 Why most money advice is written for upholders
• 00:18:27 Money personalities in relationships: why couples fight about expectations
• 00:20:49 Wrapping up: stop fighting yourself and design systems that fit
• 00:21:08 Outro

From the real risks behind AI hype and whether we're heading for a crash, to the surprising weakness hiding inside Big Tech's profits, and why digital advertising might be the canary in the coal mine that nobody's watching… it’s time to make sense of the chaos.

Fast Money with Jim Mora on RNZ’s Sunday Mornings, it’s time for the money update you need.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe, or

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #ShareMarket #MarketVolatility #Bitcoin #Gold #Silver #AI #BigTech #Investing #NZEconomy #PropertyInvesting #MarketCorrection

There is a lot of mortgage advice out there that is confidently wrong.

And the cost of following it isn’t just money, it’s time. Sometimes years of your life spent under pressure you didn’t actually need.

In this episode of Making Cents, we’re cutting through the biggest mortgage myths that trip people up both before they buy a home and long after they’ve signed the papers.

From “cleaning up” bank statements and chasing the lowest interest rate, to misunderstood rules around deposits, credit scores, extra repayments, and offsets, this is the stuff that sounds smart on paper, but can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.

Mortgage Man Aaron Cattell is a mortgage adviser on the front lines, working with real borrowers, real numbers, and real lending rules, and he’s ready to let you peek behind the curtain.

We break down:

• What banks actually care about when approving a mortgage (and what they don’t)

• Common mortgage-ready myths that no longer apply in New Zealand

• Why loan structure matters more than chasing the cheapest interest rate

• The simplest ways to cut years off your mortgage, without needing a windfall

• When extra repayments, lump sums, offsets, or revolving credit actually make sense

• The tactics that sound clever, but Aaron would ban tomorrow

If you’re buying your first home, refixing soon, or just want more control over the biggest debt most people will ever take on, this episode will help you avoid mistakes that quietly steal time from your future.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

Aaron’s references mentioned in the episode: - https://www.themortgageman.co.nz/links

#MakingCents #FrancesCook

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:37 Meet Aaron Kital: the mortgage man on the front lines
• 00:04:00 Busting the deposit myth: you don't need 20 percent
• 00:05:30 The clean bank statements myth and what banks actually care about
• 00:09:25 Auctions, valuations, and the first-time buyer obstacle course
• 00:12:40 Is buying your own home actually a good investment?
• 00:15:00 Myths from overseas: credit scores and payment frequency
• 00:19:03 Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest elsewhere?
• 00:23:48 Three ways to smash your mortgage faster
• 00:26:06 Offset accounts and revolving credits: when they work and when they don't
• 00:34:42 Fixed versus floating: why structure beats interest rates every time
• 00:41:24 When mortgages keep you awake at night: hardship options
• 00:43:43 The easy win: one simple change that saves years
• 00:44:14 Outro

If you're feeling the February slump and wondering how to get back on track without starting from scratch, this one's for you!

A replay of Frances Cook's column for 1 News, read here with permission, on 7 science-backed ways to get your money back under control.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe or level up your investing knowledge with the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook

This episode was originally part of the Market Memo newsletter, where you learn about sharemarket investing every week. You can subscribe to that, here https://marketmemoweekly.substack.com/

It’s never been easier to start investing. And that’s both brilliant, and part of the problem.

Between constant headlines, market swings, hot takes on social media, and apps that let you trade with a swipe, investing has turned into a psychological minefield.

Now, for most people, the biggest risk to their money isn’t the market. It’s their own brain.

In this episode of Making Cents, it’s the seven common mental traps that trip investors up.

We’ll cover:

• Why losses hurt so much more than gains (and what that makes people do)

• How herd behaviour and FOMO sneak into otherwise sensible decisions

• Why sticking to what feels familiar can cost you real growth

• The mental shortcuts that make short-term noise feel more important than long-term plans

• And the simple systems that help emotions stop driving the car

This episode isn’t about suppressing your feelings or becoming some emotionless investing robot.

It’s about understanding how your brain works, and putting smart guardrails in place so it doesn’t sabotage your future.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #InvestingPsychology #BehaviouralFinance #MoneyPsychology #InvestorMindset #MentalTraps #Investing

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:18 Loss aversion: the pain hits harder than the pleasure
• 00:03:31 Overconfidence bias: the 'I can time the market' illusion
• 00:05:21 Herd behavior and FOMO: when everyone's buying, beware
• 00:07:13 Home bias: comfort can cost you
• 00:08:31 Confirmation bias: the echo chamber effect
• 00:09:39 Recency bias: thinking yesterday predicts tomorrow
• 00:10:48 Present bias: the 'now' trap
• 00:12:19 Wrapping up: stop emotions from driving the car
• 00:13:00 Outro

If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually going on behind the scenes of the 1%, beyond the headlines, Instagram posts, and glossy business profiles, this episode pulls back the curtain.

Because beneath the public image of wealth is usually a highly deliberate money strategy. And it doesn’t have to be exclusive to the ultra-rich.

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook speaks with Andrew Clements, a private wealth and succession lawyer who works with some of New Zealand’s wealthiest families. Andrew spends his days helping high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients build wealth, protect it, and stop it being blown up by one bad decision, whether that’s an investment mistake, poor structure, or family conflict.

What he’s learned may surprise you.

We talk about:

• How wealthy families think in decades, not years

• Why protecting money often matters more than chasing returns

• The “guardrails” the wealthy put around their money, and their families

• Why the rich often sell when others are rushing in

• The risks that don’t show up on balance sheets, including family and succession risk

• How downturns are treated as opportunity, not panic

• And which wealth strategies are realistic for everyday NZers to copy

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #GenerationalWealth #WealthBuilding #WealthManagement #FinancialLiteracy #SuccessionPlanning #ImpactInvesting #FinancialAdviser #PrivateWealth #HighNetWorth #NZBusinessOwners

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:13 Meet Andrew Clements: private wealth and succession lawyer
• 00:03:39 Money talks, but wealth whispers
• 00:04:25 Values over dollars: what wealthy families actually prioritize
• 00:08:19 The long game: how the wealthy build and protect assets
• 00:09:44 The Lithuanian entrepreneur who didn't get greedy
• 00:12:38 Investing in yourself: the best investment you can make
• 00:18:43 Philosophy breeds methodology: finding advisors who understand you
• 00:22:12 How the wealthy invest differently: shares over property
• 00:27:24 Impact investing: making money and making a difference
• 00:29:22 Family risk: how inheritance can become poison
• 00:33:16 Beating the three-generation curse
• 00:37:20 The hundred dollar note on the dinner table
• 00:42:13 Can average people become wealthy? Yes, here's how
• 00:44:39 Outro

Everyone says you should start investing in the stock market, but how do you actually do that?

Time for a quick roadmap to get you started. Whether you’re starting from scratch, or you’ve been investing for a while but you’re not sure you’re nailing it, this is the live session to help you feel like the confident investor you should be.

With top industry experts

-Kernel chief executive Dean Anderson

-Stuff money editor Damian Venuto

-Massey University Professor Claire Matthews

As we answer questions live, we’re talking about what actually matters when investing in shares in 2026, how to get started without overthinking it, building a system that lets you keep investing no matter what, and getting under the hood of what’s happening in the sharemarket right now.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook