New Zealand's Financial Market's Authority Podcasts

Jess Learns to Invest season 1 offers a comprehensive introduction to investing, emphasising the importance of starting small, being consistent, and learning progressively. The series covers fundamental concepts such as compounding interest, market volatility, and different investment types, while also addressing practical tips and ethical considerations.

Some of the key takeaways from this season include:

• Start investing with small steps: Jess highlights that perfection is not required to begin investing; consistency and gradual learning are key. Starting with manageable amounts builds confidence over time. 
• Investing grows wealth beyond saving: Simran Kaur explains that investing helps money grow through compounding, unlike saving which merely keeps money safe. Regular contributions, even if small, can accumulate significantly. 
• Automate investments for ease: Frances Cook advises setting up automatic transfers to savings and investments to build good financial habits effortlessly and avoid procrastination. 
• Understand managed funds: Managed funds pool money from multiple investors and are managed by professionals who invest in income-generating or growth assets, making them a good starting point for new investors. 
• Be patient during market volatility: Brad Olsen explains that market volatility involves rapid price changes; investors should maintain perspective and avoid panic during downturns. 
• Creative approaches to property investing: Vanessa Williams discusses that property investing can involve strategies beyond buying a home to hold, such as renting rooms or partnering with others, tailored to individual goals. 
• Invest in familiar companies through shares: Natalie Ferguson notes that buying shares means owning a part of a company, and starting with companies one knows can be a practical approach.
• Ethical investing aligns with values: Victoria Harris emphasises that investing in companies supports their growth and success, essentially voting with one’s wallet for the future one wants. 
• Stay vigilant against scams: Samantha McGuire warns about increasingly sophisticated scams targeting everyday investors, urging caution, verification of credentials, and scepticism of offers that seem too good to be true. 
• Crypto is a digital means of payment. If you’re curious about Crypto, Peter explains that you should start small, stick to reputable platforms, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Season 2 is in the works so stay tuned!

Join FMA Head of Audit, Financial Reporting and Climate Related Disclosures, Jacco Moison, as we unpack the latest Audit Quality Monitoring Report.
 
 ✔ Why audit quality matters
 ✔ Key findings from this year’s review
 ✔ What auditors and directors should focus on

Watch now and stay informed about how we’re building trust in New Zealand’s financial markets. Read the full report here: Audit Quality Monitoring Report 2024/25

Join Jess from the FMA External Communications team for a deep dive into the world of cryptocurrencies! In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, tech journalist Peter Griffin shares his insights on what crypto is, how it works, and how to invest safely. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned investor, you’ll learn about the evolution of crypto, market risks, scams, and practical tips for getting started. Discover why trust and research matter, and how crypto might shape the future of money.

Key topics:

What is cryptocurrency?

How does blockchain work?

Investing safely in crypto

Market volatility and risk

Avoiding scams

The future of digital money

As part of their CoFI licence obligations, financial institutions have a legal obligation to comply with a set of standard conditions. Two of these – Standard Condition 4 and Standard Condition 5 – are critical to operational resilience. 

Standard Condition 4 relates to outsourcing.  

If a financial institution outsources any system or process essential to providing services, it must ensure the provider can deliver to a standard that allows the financial institution to meet all its market services licensee obligations, including fair treatment of customers.  

Standard Condition 5 is focused on business continuity and technology systems.  

This means maintaining a business continuity plan tailored to the financial institution’s scale and scope. For any critical technology systems, where disruption would materially affect service provision or other obligations, the financial institution must ensure operational resilience by preserving confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and systems.  

A financial institution’s business continuity plan and technology systems must be established, implemented and maintained in a way that supports compliance with their fair conduct programme.  

Any event that materially impacts the operational resilience of its technology systems must be notified to the FMA as soon as possible, and in any case, no later than 72 hours after discovering the event.  

All licensed Financial Advice Providers must submit an annual regulatory return as part of licensing conditions. With seven more calendar days to go have your submitted your return?  The submission period closes on 30 September 2025.

Regulatory returns should be submitted through the FMA Online Services portal: https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/online-services

You can find frequently asked questions and an information sheet on regulatory returns on our Financial Advice Providers regulatory returns page.

In this episode of 5 Minutes with the FMA, host Heidi Norman is joined by Executive Director Licensing and Conduct Supervision, Clare Bolingford to discuss why complaints are a focus for the FMA the We want financial service providers to ensure their complaints processes are accessible, fair, and effective, not only by making it easy to complain, but also by understanding and addressing the reasons some consumers don’t. We see complaints as moments of truth, revealing not just what went wrong, but how well firms respond when it matters most.

In this powerful episode, Jess from the FMA’s external communications team sits down with Samantha McGuire, Manager of Regulatory Services, to unpack the growing threat of investment scams in Aotearoa.

From slick fake crypto platforms to deepfake endorsements featuring celebrities and politicians, scammers are getting smarter and everyday New Zealanders are being targeted.

In this episode:

What defines an investment scam (and how it differs from other scams)
Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and fake platforms
The rise of AI-driven scams and deepfakes
Crypto scams and recovery scams what to watch out for
Red flags and psychological triggers scammers use
Why anyone can be a victim — and how to protect yourself
What to do if you or someone you love has been scammed
How to report scams and support others through recovery

Whether you're new to investing or just want to stay safe online, this episode is packed with practical advice and eye-opening insights.

Learn more and access scam warnings at https://www.fma.govt.nz

In this episode, Jess sits down with Victoria Harris from The Curve to explore the world of ethical investing. What does it mean to invest ethically? Can you still get good returns? And how do you know if your KiwiSaver or investment fund aligns with your values?

From fast fashion and fossil fuels to greenwashing and generational shifts, Victoria breaks down the key concepts behind ethical investing and shares practical advice for anyone wanting to balance financial goals with personal values.

Whether you’re just starting out or reassessing your current investments, this episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you invest with confidence and conscience.

Key takeaways:

• How to identify your non-negotiables
• Spotting greenwashing in funds and companies
• Ethical investing doesn’t mean sacrificing returns
• Why your KiwiSaver matters more than you think
• Tips for navigating investing platforms and buzzwords

Tune in and learn how to make your money work for both your future and your values.

Join Jess, a 28-year-old newbie in the world of investing, as she navigates the ups and downs of becoming an investor. Just like you, she's learning the ropes. Each month, Jess teams up with a different expert who shares practical insights and tips to help demystify investing.

In this episode, Jess sits down with Natalie Ferguson from Powrsuit to explore the world of shares. What are they? How do you buy them? And what does it really mean to own a slice of a company?

From Labubu analogies to handbag comparisons, Natalie breaks down the jargon and shares real-life examples that make investing feel human, not intimidating.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to build confidence, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you take your first steps — and understand what you’re actually investing in.

Listen now.

In the first episode of our new podcast series Inside the FMA, we discuss the Financial Markets Authority’s efforts to ensure fair dealing in New Zealand’s financial services sector. Since the Conduct and Culture review in 2018, the FMA has taken 12 cases to court, leading to over $215 million in customer repayments and $16 million in penalties.

Join Sinéad Lloyd, Manager Investigations, and Rachael Manttan, Head of Evidence and Investigations, as they discuss:

• what constitutes a fair dealing breach under the Financial Markets Conduct Act
• how poor systems and controls can lead to long-term consumer harm
• the importance of self-reporting and proactive product reviews, and
• expectations under the Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime.

Stay informed and learn how the FMA is working to protect everyday New Zealanders.

Visit our website for more insights: https://www.fma.govt.nz