The Dollars & Sense Podcast
The Dollars & Sense Podcast: Smart Finance for Kiwis in Their Prime Tired of generic money advice that doesn't fit your life? Hosted by qualified NZ financial advisers Tim Ellis and Brodie Haggerty, this podcast cuts through the noise to deliver real-talk financial literacy for New Zealanders in their mid-30s to late-40s. Whether you're growing your wealth, protecting assets amid rising costs, or planning for family milestones like buying a home or prepping for retirement, we've got actionable strategies tailored to Kiwi realities—think IRD tax hacks, KiwiSaver tweaks, and recession-proof investing. With 50+ episodes packed with expert insights, listener Q&As, and no-BS breakdowns (from "Bulletproofing Your Super in Uncertain Times" to "Side Hustles That Actually Build Equity"), we're back from a quick hiatus with fresh weekly drops starting now. No jargon, just dollars and sense to help you thrive. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your fave app—join thousands of Kiwis leveling up their finances. Got a question? Email us podcast@foxplan.nz (or drop it in the show notes). Let's make your money work harder for you. #FinancialLiteracyNZ #WealthBuilding #AssetProtection #KiwiFinance
Episodes
2026 election year and we are months away from a potential change in Government!
With proposed new policies being announced already and many likely to change, what do Kiwi's need to have their head around today to make more informed decisions around building wealth in New Zealand for tomorrow?
Joining Tim on the show this week is ACT MP, Laura McClure. Laura has successfully built a business in New Zea...
In this episode of The Dollars and Sense Podcast, Tim and Brodie explore a question that sits at the heart of financial planning:
What do financially successful people actually have in common?
After years of meeting with clients year after year, certain patterns begin to emerge. Some clients describe themselves as financially secure, comfortable, and at peace with their finances, while others are still working towards...
SpaceX is finally going public, and the numbers are staggering. With an expected valuation of $1.75 trillion and just 5% of shares available to investors, this could become the largest IPO in history.
In this episode, Tim and Brodie break down what an IPO actually is, why SpaceX is attracting so much attention, how it compares to Tesla's famous IPO, and whether investors should be excited, cautious, or both. Mo...
Most Kiwi investors know about tax on their salary or earnt income, but far fewer understand how investment tax actually works.
In this episode, Tim and Brodie break down three of the most important tax concepts for investors: PIE tax, Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) tax, and the differences between the FDR and CV calculation methods. They explain why many investors receive tax reports this time of year, how overseas i...
July 2027 marks 20 years since KiwiSaver was introduced to New Zealand. In that time, it has grown from a brand-new savings scheme into a $120+ billion investment powerhouse that will likely become the largest asset many Kiwis ever own.
In this episode, Tim and Brodie look back at how KiwiSaver has evolved since 2007, from the dominance of bank providers to the rise of specialist fund managers, changing investm...
Without clear direction, every financial plan is both right and wrong at the same time.
In this episode, Tim steps away from the spreadsheets and market analysis to explain one of the most important exercises used in real financial planning conversations: defining what a wealthy life actually looks and feels like for you.
The “Now and Then” exercise helps uncover the goals, emotions, frustrations, and life...
Most financial advisers defend adviser fees. In this episode, Tim and Brodie do something different...... they challenge them.
From ongoing fees on “set and forget” portfolios, to percentage-based charges that grow far faster than the actual work involved, this episode explores when adviser fees genuinely deliver value… and when they may not.
Tim and Brodie unpack:
- Why unclear fees are alwa...
A recent RNZ headline claimed all active fund managers underperformed over the last year — a bold statement that sparked plenty of debate across the investment world. But how accurate is that headline, and what does the underlying data actually show?
In this episode, Tim Ellis and Brodie Haggerty unpack the latest SPIVA report, break down the difference between active and passive investing, and explore wh...
"Just buy a low cost S&P500 index tracking fund....."
Most investors think buying a low-cost S&P 500 ETF is the smartest move they can make—but the 0.03% fee doesn’t tell the full story.
In this episode, I break down the hidden costs, missed opportunities, and structural limitations of passive investing.
If you’re relying on “cheap” as your strategy, this one might chan...
In this episode, I’m joined by Taylor Schulte, founder of Define Financial and host of the Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast. We unpack why retirement, especially early retirement, is far more of a psychological challenge than a financial one. From identity loss to spending anxiety, this conversation highlights the real risks people overlook when planning their exit from work.
As mentioned in this weeks episode, ...
In this episode, Tim breaks down what actually happened across global markets, why investor sentiment has shifted, and how similar this year looks to past market cycles. More importantly, he explains why short-term volatility might not mean what you think it does for your long-term plan.
If you have a question, suggestions, or a topic you would like us to cover, please send an email to: podcast@foxplan.nz
This year, tens of thousands of Kiwis will reach retirement age — but how much does timing really matter?
In this episode, I break down three real retirement scenarios using the same $2M portfolio across very different market conditions. The results might surprise you — and challenge how you think about risk, timing, and what actually makes a plan successful.
Index funds “don’t work” in bear markets… or do they? In this episode, I break down three powerful ways index funds can still create future gains when markets are falling From dividend reinvestment to rebalancing and dollar-cost averaging.
If recent market movements have you questioning your strategy, this is a must-listen reality check.
Most people excel in one part of their financial plan. Wither they are very proficient in budgeting, investing, or have sought out expert advice regarding their insurances. However, almost no one talks about how they actually work together. In this episode, I break down the hidden link between all three, and why being weak in one can quietly sabotage the others. The alignment of all three is a fundamental to a smart...
Everywhere you look right now the headlines are bleak!
Wars, oil shocks, economic uncertainty, and predictions of market crashes.
But do those headlines actually predict what markets will do next?
In this episode, Tim breaks down the research behind media sentiment, why negative financial news dominates the headlines, and the real cost investors pay when they react emotionally and miss the market’s be...
This week Sheldon and I tackle a topic that comes up constantly with clients. Dividend paying shares. Are they essential for building wealth or just one part of the puzzle?
We unpack how dividends and buybacks actually work, why so many investors are drawn to income strategies, and why focusing only on yield can quietly derail long term returns.
If you have a question, suggestions, or a topic you would like us to cove...
Often people who are doing “pretty well” still avoid financial planning, or they start and quietly drop off. In this episode, Tim Ellis and Sheldon Wu talk about why that happens, what it really costs over time, and why good planning is about a lot more than just returns. A practical, honest conversation based on what we actually see with clients.
Gold and silver are back in the headlines—but do they actually belong in a long-term investment portfolio? In this episode, Tim and Sheldon unpack the data, the psychology, and the common arguments for holding precious metals, and explain why most professional portfolios don’t rely on them. A practical, no-hype discussion about volatility, diversification, speculation, and what really drives long-term ou...
The reserve fund is the one strategy every financial adviser agrees on — and the one most people ignore. In the first episode of 2026, Tim Ellis and Sheldon Wu break down what a reserve fund really is (and isn’t), why credit cards and revolving credit don’t count, and how having real cash set aside changes the way you invest, work, and live.
2025 gave us AI becoming mainstream, another turbulent year under Trump, surprising global market returns, and the end of Warren Buffett’s era as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In this episode, we unpack what actually happened — from AI hype and capital flows to interest rates and market surprises — and then finish with the bigger question: why none of it really matters for long-term wealth. A grounded...
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