Shows / Cheques and Balances
Cheques and Balances
Whether you're buying your first home, tackling debt, or building long-term wealth, we’ll show you how to make smarter money moves. With over 20 years of combined experience as qualified financial advisers, James Blair and Michael Vincent share straight-talking advice, practical strategies, and real conversations about money - all to help you take control of your financial future with confidence. Check out our website below: lighthousefinancial.co.nz
Episodes
Cheques and BalancesThe Real Reason Mortgage Rates Are Rising ft. The Takeover | Episode 435
Mortgage rates aren’t rising because of one headline number - there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. In this episode, we break down the real drivers…
- Cheques and Balances
Build Wealth And Protect It: The Insurance Mistakes You’re Making | Inside a Financial Plan Ep 7
Insurance isn’t about ticking boxes - it’s about protecting the life you’re actually building. In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Lighthouse Insurance…
- Cheques and Balances
Can You Get a Mortgage After 50? | Episode 433
Can you actually get a mortgage after 50 or does age quietly change the rules? In this episode, we break down how banks assess lending as you get older…
- Cheques and Balances
Why is NZ’s Healthcare System under pressure? Ft. Nick Astwick, CEO of Southern Cross Health Society | Episode 432
New Zealand’s healthcare system isn’t broken - but it is under serious strain. In this episode, we’re joined by Nick Astwick, CEO of Southern Cross Health…
- Cheques and Balances
Why Property Is the Biggest Threat to Your Retirement | Episode 431
Property can make you look rich... while quietly leaving you cash-poor in retirement. In this episode, Mike and James break down why relying solely on property…
- Cheques and Balances
Why You’re Still Broke | The Easiest Way to Stick to a Budget in 2026 Ft. Jason Leong | Episode 430
Most people think they know where their money goes... they don’t. In this episode, Jason Leong, CEO of PocketSmith, breaks down how budgeting software, open…
- Cheques and Balances
2026 Property Predictions: Growth, Rates, Elections & What to Buy | Episode 430
The property market is waking up but it won’t be a straight line. In this episode, Matt Harris, Michael Vincent and Adam Farrell unpack their 2026 property…
- Cheques and Balances
How to Protect Your Income in 2026: ACC vs Income Protection | Live Webinar | Episode 429
If you couldn’t work tomorrow, how long would your income really last? In this episode, we break down how ACC actually works, the key differences between…
- Cheques and Balances
The Best Tax Insights of 2025: Structures, Deductions & Smart Planning | Episode 428
Think tax is just something you pay and forget? This episode proves otherwise.We break down the best tax insights of 2025, covering provisional tax, cashflow…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: Flip vs. Hold? Property And Tax Strategies For Smarter Investing Ft. Property-CEO | Episode 427
In a changing property market, investors face a critical decision: flip for short-term gains or hold for long-term wealth. In this episode, Jim Dodd…
- Cheques and Balances
The Best Property Insights of 2025: Where the NZ Market Is Headed ft. Ilse Wolfe & Alex Martelli | Episode 426
Property strategy matters more than ever in 2026. In this episode, we revisit the biggest property conversations of the past year - from first-home and…
- Cheques and Balances
Sharemarket 101: How To Start Investing In 2026 | Episode 425
Investing doesn’t need to be complicated. In this episode, we break down how the fundamentals of how the sharemarket actually works - what a share is, when you…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: Building a Financial Plan for Summer | Episode 424
Summer spending is easy - staying on top of your money is harder. In this episode, we walk through how to set clear financial goals, build a sustainable…
- Cheques and Balances
The Best Guest Insights of 2025: Money, Markets & Growth ft. Luke Kemeys, Nicola Willis and more | Episode 422
Four standout guests. Four conversations that shaped how we think about money, markets, and growth.In this special episode, we’ve pulled together our favourite…
- Cheques and Balances
Buying Property in 2026? Bridging Loans Explained | Episode 422
Buying before you sell sounds simple - until it isn’t. In this episode, we break down bridging finance, when it makes sense to use it, the difference between…
- Cheques and Balances
2026 Predictions: Is This The Year The NZ Economy Turns? | Episode 421
2026 is shaping up to be a year of recovery but not without risk. In this episode, we break down our 2026 predictions across the New Zealand economy, covering…
- Cheques and Balances
Property Market 2026: What Buyers Need to Do Now ft. Matt Harris & Adam Farrell | Episode 420
The property market doesn’t wait and the best deals rarely come with notice. In this episode, the Lighthouse Property team breaks down what’s really happening…
- Cheques and Balances
From One Property to Ten: Building a Property Empire Before 30 | Episode 419
From his first house at 18 to managing over ten projects a year - this is how Kyle turned building skills into a property empire.In this episode, we dive into…
- Cheques and Balances
How to Budget Like a Financial Adviser | Inside a Financial Plan Ep 6
A real-world look at how tracking your money actually works - without spreadsheets or guesswork.In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Jess walks through…
- Cheques and Balances
Will Passive Investment Crash The Stock Market? | Episode 417
Passive investing has taken over - but what happens when nobody’s actually picking the stocks?In this episode, we unpack the explosive rise of passive…
- Cheques and Balances
3 Things to Know Before Buying an Investment Property ft. Matt Harris | Episode 416
Buying your first investment property? Here are the three game-changing rules every investor needs to know before they make their move. In this episode, we…
- Cheques and Balances
Is NZ’s Property Market Unproductive? The Real Economic Impact | Episode 415
Is NZ’s property market really unproductive — or is everyone getting it wrong? In this episode, we break down the real economic impact of New Zealand’s…
- Cheques and Balances
North vs South Island: Why One Half of NZ Is Getting Richer | Episode 413
The North and South Islands are living two completely different financial realities - and the wealth gap is bigger than you think. In this episode, we break…
- Cheques and Balances
5 Reasons Buying Your First Home Just Got Easier | Episode 412
Buying your first home just got a whole lot easier and the numbers prove it. In this episode, we break down the five biggest shifts helping first-home buyers…
- Cheques and Balances
Cashflow vs. Capital Gains: 2025’s Most Profitable Property Strategy Ft. Ilse Wolfe | Episode 411
Cashflow or capital gains? Why choose when the smartest investors are structuring their deals to get both? In this episode, we sit down with Ilse Wolfe…
- Cheques and Balances
Falling Mortgage Rates: How to Add $100K to Your Net Worth | Episode 410
Mortgage rates are dropping and the right move now could add over $100K to your net worth. In this episode, we break down how holding your repayments at the…
- Cheques and Balances
Is NZ’s Property Market Broken? The Fall of the Investment Property | Episode 409
Is NZ’s property market actually broken or are the headlines missing the real story? In this episode, we break down 30 years of market history, supply and…
- Cheques and Balances
NZ Insurance Crisis: Why Have Premiums Jumped 400%? | Episode 408
Insurance premiums have exploded and Kiwis are feeling the squeeze like never before. In this episode, we break down the shocking 15-year surge in insurance…
- Cheques and Balances
OCR Predictions: Will Mortgage Rates Fall Further? | Episode 407
Will the RBNZ pull the trigger on 25 or 50? Here's what really sits behind Wednesday’s OCR call. In this episode, we break down the latest inflation data…
- Cheques and Balances
The KiwiSaver Overhaul: Here's what Changing | Episode 406
KiwiSaver is getting a shake-up and some of these changes could completely reshape your retirement. In this episode, we break down the proposed KiwiSaver…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: How To Invest Smarter In New Zealand's Property Market ft. Scott O'Neill
In this live webinar Scott O’Neill, Dylan Menzies and Michael Vincent break down where the real value is heading into 2026 - from commercial vs residential…
- Cheques and Balances
Wealth Tax vs. Capital Gains Tax: What’s best for the NZ economy? | Episode 404
A heated debate that every Kiwi needs to hear - Wealth Tax vs Capital Gains Tax.Matt, James and Mike down how each tax actually works, the real-world impact on…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: First Home Buyers Top 5 Negotiation Tips for the 2025 Market | Episode 403
Buying your first home? Don’t walk into a negotiation blind. In this episode, Mike and Adam break down the exact strategies every first-home buyer needs - from…
- Cheques and Balances
Cost of Living Crisis: $200K Can’t Support a Single Income Household | Episode 402
New Zealand’s one-income household is officially dead - and the numbers prove it. In this episode, James and Michael break down why rising living costs…
- Cheques and Balances
NZ’s Economy Isn’t Growing: Is Infrastructure the Answer? Ft. Jarrod Kerr | Episode 401
Can infrastructure spending really supercharge New Zealand’s economy? In this episode, Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr joins the team to unpack how smart…
- Cheques and Balances
AI Boom or Bust? Sharemarket Crash Fears: Quarterly Market Update | Episode 400
Markets are booming - but are we on the edge of an AI bubble? In this quarterly update, James and Chris from Mapua Wealth break down what’s driving global…
- Cheques and Balances
Paying Down Debt vs Investing in Property: Smart Mortgage Strategies | Inside a Financial Plan Ep 5
Paying down your mortgage or investing in more property - which gets you closer to financial freedom? In this episode, Mike breaks down Dion and Rachel’s…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: Stop Overpaying Tax - What Most NZ Property Investors Miss | Episode 399
Five smart ways to keep more money in your pocket this tax season.In this live webinar, Matt Harris and Andrew Higgs uncover the most overlooked tax hacks for…
- Cheques and Balances
Should NZ Have 30 Year Fixed Mortgages? | Episode 398
Would 30-year fixed mortgages work in New Zealand? In this episode, James and Michael unpack how long-term fixed loans in the US provide stability for…
- Cheques and Balances
OCR Cuts & Capital Gains Tax: NZ’s Recession or Rebound? ft. Jarrod Kerr | Episode 397
Rates are down, but inflation’s still biting. In this quarterly update, Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr unpacks the OCR cut to 2.5%, Labour’s proposed…
- Cheques and Balances
Will You Get Superannuation? The Debate on Means Testing | Episode 396
Should New Zealand’s wealthiest retirees still receive NZ Super? In this episode, James and Mike unpack the growing debate around means testing - exploring the…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: How to Plan for Retirement - KiwiSaver, Property or Shares?
Retirement isn’t about luck - it’s about planning, action, and time. In this live webinar, James and Justin break down what Kiwis really need to retire…
- Cheques and Balances
28% Capital Gains Tax? What Labour’s Plan Means for You | Episode 394
Labour’s back with a bold play - a 28% capital gains tax on property. In this episode, we break down the proposed 2027 capital gains tax - exploring its…
- Cheques and Balances
Investing in Shares vs Property: Inside a Financial Plan Ep4
What would you do if your financial plan said you’ll have $6 million at 100?In this episode, we reconnect with Rachel and Deon to unpack their latest financial…
- Cheques and Balances
Top 5 Mistakes Most People Make When Investing In Shares | Episode 392
Most investors lose money not because of the market - but because of their own mistakes. In this episode, we break down the five biggest mistakes people make…
- Cheques and Balances
KiwiSaver Untaxed: A Game Changer for Retirement | Episode 391
What if your KiwiSaver balance could double - just by removing tax? In this episode, we explore the radical idea of untaxed KiwiSaver returns, comparing…
- Cheques and Balances
Mortgage Free in 4 Years and Retired at 52: Inside a Financial Plan Ep3
What does a real financial plan actually look like? In this episode, James walks Rachel and Dion through their personalised financial roadmap - covering…
Cheques and BalancesStruggling With Debt? 3 Key Steps to Fix Your Finances | Episode 389
Struggling with debt? In this episode, we share 3 key steps to fix your finances - from recognising the problem and shifting your mindset, to building a…
- Cheques and Balances
Live Webinar: A Guide to Cutting Debt and Growing Wealth
Stop giving the banks your hard-earned money - learn how to cut debt and grow wealth faster. In this live webinar, we cover smart debt-reduction strategies…
- Cheques and Balances
OCR Breakdown: Will Interest Rates Drop Below 4%? | Episode 387
The OCR has been cut - but is this just the beginning for falling interest rates? In this episode, we break down the 50-basis-point cut, its impact on…
- Cheques and Balances
Are Kiwi Business Owners Over-Taxed? Provisional Tax Explained Ft. Matt Harris| Episode 386
Provisional tax catches out thousands of Kiwi business owners every year. In this episode, Matthew Harris breaks down what provisional tax really is, why it’s…
Cheques and BalancesWhy It’s Expensive to Be Poor | Episode 385
Sometimes the habits that feel frugal are actually draining your wallet. In this episode, Jess and Makayla unpack why “it’s expensive to be poor” - exploring…
- Cheques and Balances
Inside a Financial Plan Ep2: KiwiSaver, Crypto & Property - The Strategy Session
Episode 2 of our mini-series dives into strategy - James works with Rachel and Dion to break down how their money is invested across KiwiSaver, crypto…
- Cheques and Balances
KiwiSaver Crisis: Why You’ll Go Broke in Retirement | Episode 383
KiwiSaver won’t save your retirement - and it’s time Kiwis faced that reality. In this episode, Mike and James reveal the harsh truth behind New Zealand’s…
- Cheques and Balances
OCR Predictions: How Low Will Mortgage Rates Go?! Ft. Matt Harris | Episode 383
How low could mortgage rates really go? 👀 In this episode, we break down the Reserve Bank’s latest moves, discuss predictions for OCR cuts, explore what…
- Cheques and Balances
Is NZ Education Failing? The Rise of Crimson Education Ft. Jamie Beaton | Episode 382
From Auckland to the Ivy League and beyond - Jamie Beaton’s journey shows what it takes to turn a Kiwi startup into a billion-dollar business. In this episode…
- Cheques and Balances
Inside a Financial Plan Ep1: Dion & Rachel’s Journey
A real Kiwi couple puts their finances on the table in our brand-new mini series. In this first episode, we dive into Dion and Rachel’s money story - covering…
- Cheques and Balances
The Crushing Cost of a Growing Family in NZ | Episode 380
In this episode, we unpack the true financial impact of going from two to three kids - covering housing upgrades, new cars, childcare, food, schooling, and…
- Cheques and Balances
The Midlife Financial Crisis: Why Your 40s Feel So Expensive | Episode 379
Midlife money stress is real - and it’s hitting Kiwis harder than ever. In this episode, we break down the “midlife financial crisis,” exploring how childcare…
- Cheques and Balances
This Is Why You Feel Poor: The Brutal Truth Of Inflation | Episode 378
Inflation is down, but Kiwis are still feeling broke. In this episode, we unpack why everyday essentials like rent, groceries, and mortgage repayments remain…