The Smart Advice Collective

The Smart Advice Collective Join us at the Smart Advice Collective - the one stop for all things finance: Mortgage Advice, Insurance Advice, Investment Advice and General Insurance.

Sarah and Rachael have more than 40 years experience in the finance sector in NZ. Welcome to The Smart Advice Collective - Sarah and Rachael have more than 45 years of financial experience between them and would love to help you.​Our mission is clear: to simplify your life. Whether it's securing your dream home, making wise investments, or protecting your family and assets, we are dedicated to assisting you.

Prestige cars need more than standard insuranceIf you own a Bentley, Mustang, Porsche, or any prestige vehicle, you alre...
17/06/2026

Prestige cars need more than standard insurance

If you own a Bentley, Mustang, Porsche, or any prestige vehicle, you already know this: you can’t treat it like a regular car.

And the same goes for insurance.

You can’t put a generic windscreen into a Bentley. You can’t send a McLaren to a standard repairer. You can’t rely on a policy that doesn’t understand OEM parts, specialist labour, or calibration requirements.

That’s where a broker makes the difference.

A good broker knows:

- Your car needs manufacturer‑approved parts
- Repairs must be done by specialists
- Sensors, tech, and glass aren’t “one size fits all”

Your policy must reflect the true cost of your vehicle
Prestige cars deserve prestige cover - not generic wording and not cut‑corner repairs.

The right broker makes sure your vehicle is insured properly, not just insured cheaply. Let's have a chat. [email protected]

We are so excited at The Smart Advice Collective - we’ve partnered with the EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association...
16/06/2026

We are so excited at The Smart Advice Collective - we’ve partnered with the EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association) to bring their Members two exclusive insurance offers that we’re really proud of.

Our new EMA Member‑only benefits:

- 20-25% off Commercial Vehicle Insurance, industry dependant discount

- Plus optional Tools of Trade to $50,000, NZ-wide

- 20% off Cyber Risk Insurance

These have been built specifically for the realities Kiwi businesses are dealing with right now - rising costs, tighter margins, and increasing cyber risks. Our goal is simple: make it easier (and more affordable) for EMA Members to protect the things that keep their businesses running.

At The Smart Advice Collective, we’re all about clear, practical, no‑nonsense advice. So teaming up with the EMA feels like a perfect fit - two organisations focused on supporting Kiwi businesses with solutions that actually make a difference.

If you’re an EMA Member and want to see whether these offers could help your business, our team is ready to walk you through it in a way that’s simple, transparent, and stress‑free. Just click on the link below or email [email protected]

The Smart Advice Collective is proud to partner with the EMA:

𝐸𝑀𝐴
𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝐴𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑀𝐴 𝑤𝑒’𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑛𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤, 𝑤𝑒’𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡, 𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠. https://ema.co.nz/

Still renting and wondering if buying your first home is actually possible? If this sounds like you, keep reading...You’...
15/06/2026

Still renting and wondering if buying your first home is actually possible?
If this sounds like you, keep reading...

You’ve got:
✅ Some savings or KiwiSaver
✅ A steady income
✅ Maybe a small amount of short-term debt (under $10k)
✅ Fairly typical living costs

But you’ve never had anyone show you how to turn that into a real plan.
Now your rental might be going up for sale in the next couple of months… and things suddenly feel urgent.

Here’s the truth:
A lot of people in this exact position can buy - they just don’t know how to check.
It’s not about guessing. It’s about running the numbers properly.

✔️ What you could potentially borrow
✔️ How your deposit stacks up (including KiwiSaver)
✔️ How your income and expenses look to a lender
✔️ Whether your small debt is actually holding you back
✔️ What repayments could look like compared to your rent

Most people think they’re either “ready” or “not ready”.
In reality? They just haven’t had clarity yet.

If you’re thinking:
“I should at least find out…” You’re probably right.

No pressure, no obligation - just a clear picture of where you stand, so you can make a confident decision (whether that’s buying now or getting a plan in place).

Message me if you want to explore your options - before your next move is made for you.

Rachael – The Smarter Mortgage Lady: [email protected]

Insurance was invented by people who trusted each other. And I think it's important to remember that. Insurers should be...
12/06/2026

Insurance was invented by people who trusted each other. And I think it's important to remember that. Insurers should be working for you the client first, like I am - and not the company shareholders first.

The original mutual insurers were built by communities who recognised a simple truth:

Shared risk is better risk.

I deal with all the major insurers in NZ and in August 2025 they all got a shake up.

PPS Mutual entered NZ after 80 years in South Africa, and 16 years in Australia.
They have been protecting professionals through tailored insurance solutions, specialist underwriting expertise, and personal service since the 1940's.

But the really different bit? They are a mutual. A term not heard of much in NZ since the 1980s.

As a mutual, their success is shared with their members through their unique Profit Share Benefit. Every client gets a retirement savings plan opened for them, and their % portion of the company profit is deposited there for the members retirement.

Mutuality is the best policy as it drives behaviour by the insurer that is best for the client member - not best for the shareholder.

Let's see if you qualify for this special cover. [email protected]

Debt or no debt, now is the time to start investingIf you have a mortgage or other large debts, it’s natural to focus on...
10/06/2026

Debt or no debt, now is the time to start investing
If you have a mortgage or other large debts, it’s natural to focus on paying them off before thinking about investing beyond KiwiSaver. But this approach can actually hold you back from making the most of your money.

Not all debt is created equal.
High‑interest consumer debt - like credit cards or personal loans - should absolutely be paid down first. The interest costs are too high to ignore.

But lower‑interest debt, such as a home loan or student loan, is different. If your mortgage rate is relatively low, investing some of your surplus cash (instead of putting every extra dollar into repayments) may help you grow your wealth faster over time.

The power of compounding
The biggest advantage of investing early is compound interest - where your returns stay invested and begin earning returns of their own. Over time, this creates a snowball effect.

Even small, consistent contributions can grow significantly. Waiting 10 years to start investing can dramatically reduce your final outcome because you lose valuable compounding time. That’s why time in the market is often more important than trying to perfectly time the market.

For example, investing $200 per month from age 30 to 65 means contributing $84,000. With a 3.5% real return (after inflation), that could grow to around $164,000 - with nearly half of the final balance coming from investment growth alone.

Personalised advice matters
There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all answer. The right balance between debt repayment and investing depends on your interest rates, financial position, goals, and risk tolerance.

If you’d like help understanding your best strategy, I’m here to guide you.
Contact me at [email protected] for a free investment review.

What is the #1 cyber threat hitting small to medium businesses in NZ right now?Business emails being compromisedBusines...
09/06/2026

What is the #1 cyber threat hitting small to medium businesses in NZ right now?

Business emails being compromised

Business email compromise (BEC) is still the most common cyber incident affecting NZ small and medium businesses - and it’s growing fast.

It often looks like:

- A staff member’s email account is accessed
- Attackers quietly change bank details on outgoing invoices
- Customers pay the attacker instead of the business

The SME is left with a double loss: missing revenue and pressure to reimburse the custome, as well as a hefty dent to their reputation.

The worst part? This can happen without any technical failure. Just one compromised email account is enough.

Do you have cyber insurance for your business? It can be much more cost effective than you think. Let's have a chat: [email protected]

I love helping my clients to frame their mortgage structure as a tool to support lifestyle goals, not a large debt that ...
08/06/2026

I love helping my clients to frame their mortgage structure as a tool to support lifestyle goals, not a large debt that prevents them from living life.

My aim when I help each client with a home loan refinance is to provide them with certainty, stability and smarter mortgage management.

I recently helped a couple who really wanted to go on a long overseas trip and didn’t want repayments to shift, not now nor when they were travelling.

We placed the bulk of their balance on a fixed rate for predictable costs, while keeping a small flexible portion for future adjustments.

They can now travel knowing their core payments are steady without giving up all flexibility, and have portion of the mortgage that can take advantage of future interest rate changes.

I would love to help you too. [email protected]

Why Starting Early Beats Saving Hard Later - EVERY TIMEMost people think the secret to a good retirement is saving more....
05/06/2026

Why Starting Early Beats Saving Hard Later - EVERY TIME
Most people think the secret to a good retirement is saving more.
But the real secret? Starting early.

Here’s the difference:

Start early, stop early:
If you begin saving in your 20s or early 30s - even small amounts - your money has decades to grow.
You could save for just 10 years, stop, and let compounding interest do the heavy lifting.

By 65, those early dollars have multiplied over and over again.

Start later, Save for 20 years:
If you wait until 45 to start, you might save twice as long and contribute far more…
but you still usually end up with less.

Why?
Because compounding is exponential - the biggest growth happens in the later years.
And the early saver gets all of them.

The lesson
Time in the market beats timing the market - and it beats saving late, even if you save more.

This is why KiwiSaver education matters so much.
It’s why young people benefit massively from even tiny contributions.
And it’s why women - who often take career breaks - need strong early investment years.

If you want to check whether your KiwiSaver is on track, my system is simply a 10‑question, 90‑second litmus test.
It shows how your fund stacks up against the rest of the market.

Reach out if you’d like the link: [email protected]

One thing many clients don’t realise: Brokers don’t get paid for handling claims. But we still do it - every single time...
03/06/2026

One thing many clients don’t realise: Brokers don’t get paid for handling claims. But we still do it - every single time - because it’s part of the service.

When something goes wrong, clients shouldn’t have to fight with insurers, chase updates, or try to interpret policy wording. That’s our job.

We step in because:

* Claims are where the real value of advice shows up
* Clients deserve someone in their corner when stress is high
* Insurance is more than a policy - it’s a promise
* A smooth claim can save a business time, money, and a lot of frustration

We don’t do it for a fee. We do it because supporting clients through claims is the most important part of being a broker.

Service doesn’t stop once the policy is sold. Don't get stuck with an 0800 number at claim time on an insurance policy you purchased from a website! Let me help you right from the start. [email protected]

My clients are restructuring their home loans for certainty, stability & smarter management of their mortgage. Here is ...
02/06/2026

My clients are restructuring their home loans for certainty, stability & smarter management of their mortgage. Here is another example

“Building Certainty for a Growing Family”

“‘With another baby coming, we just wanted stability…’”

A Wellington couple wanted to reduce financial uncertainty before going on parental leave.

I helped structure their mortgage so a significant portion was fixed longer-term, with the remainder on a shorter fixed term, to allow future flexibility.

They’ve now set a structure with predictable repayments during a life transition, while still leaving room to adapt later.

Life changes = your lending should too. I am happy to help. [email protected]

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308 Parnell Road
Parnell
1050

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Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
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