Show Notes
Most people check their KiwiSaver every now and then… but very few people realise how much the decisions they make today can impact their retirement later on. Hosted by Ben Stewart and proudly brought to you by Venture: www.venture.co.nz This week on Beat the Bank, Ben sits down with Greg Smith — Investment Specialist at Generate — to break down the KiwiSaver mistakes that quietly cost people over time, from contribution rates and fund selection to panic-selling when markets get volatile. They unpack why “set and forget” can sometimes become “set and regret”, how small changes can make a massive difference over the long term, and why understanding your KiwiSaver matters more than most people think.
More from Beat the Bank
Most people invest because they want to get rich. Anthony Edmonds thinks that’s the wrong way to look at it. At its core, Anthony sees investing as a way to protect and continue wealth, rather than the primary way to create it. Building wealth often requires taking bigger risks through business or entrepreneurship. A diversified portfolio has a very different job. Hosted by Ben Stewart and proudly brought to you by Venture Wealth: www.venture.co.nz In this episode, Ben sits down with Anthony Edmonds — Founder of Aurellan and previously behind InvestNow, Hunter and FundRock — to unpack how his approach to investing has evolved after decades in the industry and building and selling multiple investment businesses. They discuss why investors can get into trouble chasing returns, why Anthony believes complexity should be avoided, the active vs passive debate, how to identify strong investment managers, and why private markets are opening up opportunities in areas like specialist lending, royalties and leasing. At its core, the conversation is about separating building wealth from managing wealth — and understanding what your investment portfolio is actually there to achieve. Let us know what you thought of the conversation in the comments!
Tax policy sounds complicated and boring, but underneath all the detail, most of the debate comes down to one question: "Where should the tax burden sit?" Hosted by Ben Stewart and proudly brought to you by Venture Wealth: https://www.venture.co.nz In this solo episode, Ben breaks down the major tax approaches being proposed ahead of the 2026 New Zealand election; including income tax, capital gains tax, wealth tax, land tax, and the argument for introducing no new taxes at all. Rather than telling you which policy is best, Ben explains the underlying trade-offs: whether more tax should come from income, property gains, accumulated wealth or land, or whether government should instead work within the tax it already collects. At its core, the episode is about making election tax policy easier to understand so you can decide for yourself where you think the tax burden should sit.
Most people think insurance is money you pay every month and never see again. But with some mutual insurers, there’s a different model. Because there are no external shareholders, surplus generated by the business can ultimately be returned to members in different ways, including payments back to policyholders. Welcome to Beat the Bank, hosted by Ben Stewart, and proudly brought to you by Venture: https://www.venture.co.nz In this episode, Ben sits down with Quintin Augustine, Chief Product Officer at PPS Mutual. They unpack how mutual insurance works, why some insurers can return money to their members, and the difference between an insurer owned by shareholders and one owned for the benefit of its policyholders. They also discuss how insurers price risk, why choosing the cheapest policy can cost you later, why premiums can rise over time, and how insurance could become more personalised through AI and technology. Podcast produced & filmed by Fanaticals.
Most people assume ethical investing means making a trade-off — you can invest according to your values, or you can focus on returns. But that assumption is starting to change. Welcome to Beat the Bank, hosted by Ben Stewart, and proudly brought to you by Venture: https://www.venture.co.nz In this episode, Ben sits down with John Berry — Co-Founder and CEO of Pathfinder — to unpack what ethical investing actually means, whether investors really have to sacrifice returns, and how to know if your money aligns with your values. John also breaks down the difference between ethical and impact investing, how managers navigate grey areas around major companies, why some “sustainable” funds may still hold businesses you wouldn’t expect, and how KiwiSaver investors can check what they actually own. At its core, the conversation is about whether you really have to choose between making money and investing in a way that reflects what matters to you. Podcast produced & filmed by Fanaticals.
Most people think property investing is about buying the right building at the right time. But with commercial property, a lot of the value is created after you buy it. Welcome to Beat the Bank, hosted by Ben Stewart, and proudly brought to you by Venture: https://www.venture.co.nz In this episode, Ben sits down with Sarah Wrait, Founder and Director of Azure Property. They unpack why commercial property is a long-term game, how professional management can protect and create value, and why DIY landlords can leave money on the table over time. They also discuss the differences between commercial and residential property, how families can approach intergenerational wealth, and why the hardest part for many investors is simply getting started. Podcast produced & filmed by Fanaticals.