Making Cents

Frances Cook

The podcast for people who want financial freedom, without giving up their coffee. That means it's time to make the money world make cents. Join Frances Cook, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!

  1. NZ Mortgage Myths That Cost You Years On Your Mortgage: With Aaron Cattell (The Mortgage Man)

    1日前

    NZ Mortgage Myths That Cost You Years On Your Mortgage: With Aaron Cattell (The Mortgage Man)

    There is a lot of mortgage advice out there that is confidently wrong. And the cost of following it isn’t just money, it’s time. Sometimes years of your life spent under pressure you didn’t actually need. In this episode of Making Cents, we’re cutting through the biggest mortgage myths that trip people up both before they buy a home and long after they’ve signed the papers. From “cleaning up” bank statements and chasing the lowest interest rate, to misunderstood rules around deposits, credit scores, extra repayments, and offsets, this is the stuff that sounds smart on paper, but can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. Mortgage Man Aaron Cattell is a mortgage adviser on the front lines, working with real borrowers, real numbers, and real lending rules, and he’s ready to let you peek behind the curtain. We break down: What banks actually care about when approving a mortgage (and what they don’t) Common mortgage-ready myths that no longer apply in New Zealand Why loan structure matters more than chasing the cheapest interest rate The simplest ways to cut years off your mortgage, without needing a windfall When extra repayments, lump sums, offsets, or revolving credit actually make sense The tactics that sound clever, but Aaron would ban tomorrow If you’re buying your first home, refixing soon, or just want more control over the biggest debt most people will ever take on, this episode will help you avoid mistakes that quietly steal time from your future. 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 Aaron’s references mentioned in the episode: - https://www.themortgageman.co.nz/links #MakingCents #FrancesCook Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:37 Meet Aaron Kital: the mortgage man on the front lines 00:04:00 Busting the deposit myth: you don't need 20 percent 00:05:30 The clean bank statements myth and what banks actually care about 00:09:25 Auctions, valuations, and the first-time buyer obstacle course 00:12:40 Is buying your own home actually a good investment? 00:15:00 Myths from overseas: credit scores and payment frequency 00:19:03 Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest elsewhere? 00:23:48 Three ways to smash your mortgage faster 00:26:06 Offset accounts and revolving credits: when they work and when they don't 00:34:42 Fixed versus floating: why structure beats interest rates every time 00:41:24 When mortgages keep you awake at night: hardship options 00:43:43 The easy win: one simple change that saves years 00:44:14 Outro

    46 分鐘
  2. 7 mental traps to avoid when you’re investing

    5日前

    7 mental traps to avoid when you’re investing

    This episode was originally part of the Market Memo newsletter, where you learn about sharemarket investing every week. You can subscribe to that, here https://marketmemoweekly.substack.com/ It’s never been easier to start investing. And that’s both brilliant, and part of the problem. Between constant headlines, market swings, hot takes on social media, and apps that let you trade with a swipe, investing has turned into a psychological minefield. Now, for most people, the biggest risk to their money isn’t the market. It’s their own brain. In this episode of Making Cents, it’s the seven common mental traps that trip investors up. We’ll cover: Why losses hurt so much more than gains (and what that makes people do) How herd behaviour and FOMO sneak into otherwise sensible decisions Why sticking to what feels familiar can cost you real growth The mental shortcuts that make short-term noise feel more important than long-term plans And the simple systems that help emotions stop driving the car This episode isn’t about suppressing your feelings or becoming some emotionless investing robot. It’s about understanding how your brain works, and putting smart guardrails in place so it doesn’t sabotage your future. 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 #InvestingPsychology #BehaviouralFinance #MoneyPsychology #InvestorMindset #MentalTraps #Investing Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:18 Loss aversion: the pain hits harder than the pleasure 00:03:31 Overconfidence bias: the 'I can time the market' illusion 00:05:21 Herd behavior and FOMO: when everyone's buying, beware 00:07:13 Home bias: comfort can cost you 00:08:31 Confirmation bias: the echo chamber effect 00:09:39 Recency bias: thinking yesterday predicts tomorrow 00:10:48 Present bias: the 'now' trap 00:12:19 Wrapping up: stop emotions from driving the car 00:13:00 Outro

    14 分鐘
  3. How to build wealth like the 1% (on a normal income)

    2月1日

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

    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

    45 分鐘
  4. "Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode

    1月28日

    "Is renovating my home an investment, or am I fooling myself?" Mailbag episode

    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

    19 分鐘

關於

The podcast for people who want financial freedom, without giving up their coffee. That means it's time to make the money world make cents. Join Frances Cook, best-selling author and award-winning journalist, to talk about the proven ways to invest your way to financial independence, buy your first home, or just get your spending under control. Every Monday we have the week's feature interview, with someone who's done something interesting with their money. From paying off a mountain of debt, or investing for financial independence, or starting a new business, these are the ordinary people making the extraordinary possible. On Thursday we have Ask the Experts, where industry insiders answer your questions on the money world. From earning more in your career, to investing, or sticking to a budget, they'll help make money simple. Every now and then you'll get a bonus episode too, but the fun of those is that you never know when they're coming!

你可能也會喜歡