The Retire Well Podcast (NZ)

Jim Smith and Martin Fox

Welcome to the Retire Well Podcast, your guide to planning, investing, and living a purposeful and healthy life from mid-life and beyond. Hosted by Jim Smith and Martin Fox, financial advisers and founders of The Retirement Guys. Jim and Martin explore how to grow your wealth, improve your wellbeing, and design the retirement that you really want.

Episodes

  1. Episode 5: KiwiSaver Behaviour and the "Future You" with Tom Hartmann

    Apr 2

    Episode 5: KiwiSaver Behaviour and the "Future You" with Tom Hartmann

    In this episode of Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox are joined by Tom Hartmann from the Retirement Commission. Tom is a personal finance lead and the driving force behind tools many Kiwis already use, including Sorted, the KiwiSaver Fund Finder, and the Retirement Navigator. Together, they unpack how relatively simple decisions, made consistently over time, can lead to very different retirement outcomes.    Coming up in this conversation, Tom Hartmann shares: How KiwiSaver fits into New Zealand's retirement income system Why being in the right fund matters more than chasing returns The four key KiwiSaver fund criteria: risk, fees, services, and performance  Behavioural traps, and the idea of a "future us", and thinking long-term How tools like Sorted can help people get started and have better conversations  This episode looks beyond saving to spending KiwiSaver in retirement, including new thinking around drawdowns, managing income over time, and planning for different stages of retirement. Jim and Martin bring the discussion back to what matter most: staying in the right fund, sticking with a plan, and not overreacting – often the hardest part of investing.  Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources:  Website: The Retirement Guys  LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well

    25 min
  2. Episode 3: How to Flourish Beyond Work with Jane Davis

    Feb 1

    Episode 3: How to Flourish Beyond Work with Jane Davis

    In this episode of Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox take a wide-angle look at both the financial and human sides of retirement planning. For the main conversation, we're then joined in-studio by Jane Davis, Director of The Flourishing Institute in Christchurch and a specialist in positive psychology. Jane explores how retirement is not just a financial transition, but a psychological and emotional one, and introduces the PERMA + 4 framework for planning a retirement that feels meaningful, connected, and energising. Jim and Martin start by looking back at 2025, covering: Global market performance  Interest rate cuts in New Zealand and the United States Currency movements and the NZ dollar The impact of geopolitics, AI investment, and market volatility They then share investment outlooks for 2026, including: Expected returns for global shares, bonds, and term deposits Whether markets can continue rising despite high valuations Why returns may broaden beyond big tech and AI stocks Key risks to watch, such as inflation, geopolitics, and central bank policy Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well

    25 min
  3. Episode 2: Making Your Money Work For You with Martin Hawes

    Feb 1

    Episode 2: Making Your Money Work For You with Martin Hawes

    During this episode on Retire Well, Jim Smith and Martin Fox take a practical and thoughtful look at what's happening in the economy, investment markets, and interest rates. They are then joined by Martin Hawes, for an insightful interview on financial planning and living well in retirement. Martin is the author of more than 20 books on money and retirement, a long-time financial adviser and a weekly columnist read by Kiwis across the country. Whether you're approaching retirement, already retired, or planning well ahead, this episode is packed with practical insights and lived experience to help you retire well. In this wide-ranging and insightful conversation, Martin Hawes shares: His personal experience of transitioning into semi-retirement Why retirement is best seen as a process, not a single event Common misconceptions about retirement spending and lifestyle  Why the early years of retirement are often the most active — and expensive Lessons he's learned about investing, risk, and delegation  Why many New Zealand family trusts no longer serve the purpose people expect Reflections on health, purpose, and giving yourself permission to enjoy life earlier Based in Christchurch, Jim and Martin offer independent advice on healthy living, financial wellbeing, and retirement planning. For more information, visit The Retirement Guys website linked below, or check out their latest posts on LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also request the first chapter of the Retire Well book for free using the links below.  Links and resources: Website: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn page: The Retirement Guys LinkedIn YouTube: The Retire Well Podcast Facebook: The Retirement Guys Facebook Retire Well Book: Request First Chapter of Retire Well

    49 min

About

Welcome to the Retire Well Podcast, your guide to planning, investing, and living a purposeful and healthy life from mid-life and beyond. Hosted by Jim Smith and Martin Fox, financial advisers and founders of The Retirement Guys. Jim and Martin explore how to grow your wealth, improve your wellbeing, and design the retirement that you really want.

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