Episodes

  • How to build wealth like the 1% (on a normal income)

    How to build wealth like the 1% (on a normal income)
    Feb 1 2026
    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 Chapters 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
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • How to invest in the sharemarket in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY

    How to invest in the sharemarket in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY
    Jan 29 2026
    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
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • "Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode

    "Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode
    Jan 28 2026
    Are home renovations actually an investment, or just an expensive way to make your house nicer to live in? In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode, it’s time to answer the question many are scared of: have I overcapitalised my home? Which renovations genuinely add value, and which ones don’t? Is your own home an investment, or a lifestyle choice? And if you’ve already spent the money, should you even consider an investment property? To break it all down, I’m joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz who brings the data on what actually moves house prices in New Zealand: from extra bedrooms and bathrooms, to the renovation traps that don’t stack up financially. We cover: – When renovations can increase resale value, and when they won’t – The real difference between lifestyle upgrades and wealth-building moves – How to tell if you’ve overcapitalised (and what to do if you have) – Whether using home equity to invest in property is still an option – How to think about your home versus a true investment property If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz (mailto:ask@francescook.co.nz) 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 #NewZealandProperty #PropertyMarket #PropertyInvestment #HomeRenovation #RenovationROI #Overcapitalising #HomeEquity #InvestmentProperty #FirstHomeBuyer #DIYRenovation #PropertyValuation Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:14 Listener letter: renovated but worried about overcapitalizing 00:02:18 What renovations actually add value vs lifestyle upgrades 00:03:30 The data: how much value each bedroom adds 00:05:28 Kitchens and decks: investment or lifestyle choice? 00:06:46 How to know if you've overcapitalised 00:08:48 Is your home an investment? The debate 00:12:25 Using home equity to buy an investment property 00:14:57 Next steps: gathering information and exploring options 00:17:28 Outro
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • A quick new year money reset

    A quick new year money reset
    Jan 27 2026
    Quick-fire tips and tricks for feeling more in control of your money in 2026. Frances Cook joins the TVNZ Breakfast team to talk about it, replayed here with permission. 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
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro

    How to invest in silver and gold without getting wrecked, with financial adviser Darcy Ungaro
    Jan 25 2026
    Gold and silver prices are booming, and it’s being driven by something deeper: how people are feeling about their money. When trust starts to break down, investors don’t just talk about it, they move their money. Darcy Ungaro, a financial adviser and host of the NZ Everyday Investor, is seeing more New Zealanders actively asking about gold, silver, Bitcoin, and other alternatives. It’s not out of greed, but out of caution. In this episode we talk about: Why gold and silver prices are rising Whether silver is a good investment, or just dangerously volatile The real risks behind the silver price surge (and why it can “rip your face off” if you get it wrong) Gold vs silver: how they behave differently in uncertain markets How to invest in gold and silver ETFs in NZ, versus holding physical metal How to think about allocation, not hype, when markets feel unstable If you’ve been wondering whether gold or silver belongs in your portfolio - or why so many people are suddenly asking the question - this episode will help you make sense of it. 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 #Silver #Gold #Bitcoin #AlternativeInvestments #PreciousMetals #Investment Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:09 Meet Darcy Ungaro: financial adviser and everyday investor 00:04:04 The rise in precious metals: what's driving it? 00:15:02 Gold and silver during global instability 00:17:05 Silver: the volatile cousin of gold 00:27:14 Darcy's biggest mistake: trading silver with 50X leverage 00:30:15 Gold vs silver: similarities and differences 00:33:49 Bitcoin as digital gold: does the comparison hold up? 00:41:54 How to allocate: the 80/20 portfolio approach 00:48:03 Where to start: getting into gold and silver without losing your face 00:51:10 Outro
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • "I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode

    "I’m a saver, he’s a spender, how do we get on the same page?" Mailbag episode
    Jan 21 2026
    Opposites attract, until it comes to money. This week’s listener says she’s a saver, her partner is a spender, and every attempt to “get serious” about their finances ends the same way: frustration, guilt, splurging out of spite, and a plan that falls apart by March. Instead of moving forward, they’re cancelling each other out, and it’s starting to wear them both down. In this Ask the Experts episode, EnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney breaks down why saver–spender dynamics are so common, and why money fights are usually about values, security, and behaviour, not just dollars. We talk about: Why saver–spender couples clash, even when they want the same life How different money personalities (savers, spenders, upholders, questioners, rebels) approach rules, goals, and plans Why behaviour matters more than the “perfect” financial strategy How starting with a shared vision changes the conversation Practical systems that reduce friction, including automation and separate “no-questions-asked” spending How couples can use their differences as strengths instead of sabotage If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to ask@francescook.co.nz (mailto:ask@francescook.co.nz) 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 #SaverVsSpender #CouplesAndMoney #MoneyInRelationships #MoneyPersonalities #MoneyMindset #BudgetingAsACouple #JointAccounts #FinancialAccountability #MortgageTips #PayOffMortgageFaster #FinancialFreedom Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:09 Listener letter: opposite money styles 00:01:48 "Money fights aren’t about money” (trust, values, security) 00:03:14 How to start the conversation: vision, numbers, timeframes 00:04:24 Money personality types: saver / shopper / plodder 00:05:34 Gretchen Rubin tendencies: upholder, obliger, questioner, rebel 00:11:08 Saver vs shopper 00:13:24 Systems for couples: joint vs separate money + autonomy 00:15:58 Where to from here? 00:16:19 Outro
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Olympic psychology that works for your money

    Olympic psychology that works for your money
    Jan 18 2026
    Why do so many smart, motivated people struggle to stick to money goals? You set the intention to save more, invest properly, or finally get organised, and then, a few weeks or months later, it falls apart. It’s not that you don’t care or don’t know what to do. It’s that your mindset and financial habits get in the way. In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook is joined by Dom Vettise, a clinical and performance psychologist who specialises in helping people move from “pretty good” to world-class performance. Dom has worked in some of the most high-pressure environments imaginable, including with Olympic athletes, New Zealand Rugby, and the All Whites. These people who simply have to perform when the stakes are highest. What’s surprising is how directly that same psychology applies to everyday money decisions. The mental habits that determine whether an athlete performs under pressure are the same ones that shape your financial habits, from sticking to a savings plan, to following an investment strategy, to breaking the cycle of “I’ll start again next month.” In this conversation, we unpack: Why mindset matters more than motivation when it comes to money How stress and pressure sabotage financial decision-making The role of perfectionism in derailing progress Why self-sabotage shows up just as you’re starting to do well Practical ways to take control of your mental habits so your money goals actually stick 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 #Investing #SavingMoney #GoalSetting #Mindset #HighPerformance #SportsPsychology #PerformancePsychology #NewZealand #Olympics Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:12 Meet Dom Vittice: from forensics to Olympic psychology 00:03:20 What it's really like working with elite athletes 00:07:26 Success leaves clues: learning from what goes right 00:11:29 The framework: understand me, be me, stay me 00:13:32 Reframing pressure: distress vs eustress 00:16:44 Breathwork and staying present under pressure 00:22:45 Mental filtering and disqualifying the positive 00:24:09 Staying motivated on long-term goals 00:28:54 The MILK reflection tool: memory, improvement, learning, courage 00:31:22 Courage requires fear: normalizing the hard stuff 00:40:56 Radical self-responsibility without self-blame 00:43:57 Self-compassion vs self-criticism in setbacks 00:45:40 ACT framework: acknowledge, calm, towards 00:47:44 The number one skill: attention 00:50:06 Perfectionism and good enough 00:52:28 Outro
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • What actually matters for your money in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY

    What actually matters for your money in 2026 - WEBINAR REPLAY
    Jan 15 2026
    Time to talk about what will actually move the needle for you in 2026, and help you feel more confident with your money. Whether it’s property, investing, KiwiSaver, or just feeling calmer about the decisions you’re making, we’re covering the things you actually need to know. We’ll be talking about what an election year really means for your money, how to think about the economy as it starts to turn, where people accidentally trip up during this phase, and how to set yourself up so your money feels easier, not harder, in 2026 Frances Cook brings in her favourite experts to tackle the different areas of your money that you should know more about: realestate.co.nz's Vanessa Williams, to answer your burning questions about the property market TVNZ business reporter Jason Walls, for the big picture on the economy and political forces in play this year EnableMe head strategic coach Katie Wesney, for the investing and KiwiSaver insights you need to know 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
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins