Habits of High Performers Podcast with James Laughlin

The Money System Most Kiwis Don’t Question and Why They Should with Sam Stubbs

Jan 25, 2026

Sam Stubbs, founder of Simplicity and advocate for low‑fee, long‑term investing. He explains why money can be simple, why fees and compounding matter, and how KiwiSaver could fund New Zealand infrastructure and housing. Short takes on purpose-driven finance, starting early, and practical habits for long-term wealth.

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INSIGHT

Purpose Built To Restore Dignity

Sam Stubbs founded Simplicity to redistribute finance industry margins and increase dignity by giving people more choices.
He believes small increases in money deliver large dignity gains for lower-income New Zealanders.

INSIGHT

Hedonic Treadmill Of Wealth

Sam describes the hedonistic treadmill: more money quickly loses happiness value and can create complexity and stress.
He found giving produced far more lasting satisfaction than accumulating more possessions.

ADVICE

Learn The Two‑Hour Money Basics

Learn the money fundamentals; you can grasp core personal finance in about two hours using resources like Sorted or MoneyHub.
Sam recommends reading his short booklet Money Made Simple to build basic confidence and control.

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In this episode of Lead On Purpose, I sit down with Sam Stubbs, founder of Simplicity, to unpack why simplicity is the ultimate performance advantage. In life. In leadership. And especially with money. We talk about dignity, choices, long game thinking, and how KiwiSaver could help build a fairer future for everyday Kiwis.

What we cover:

Why Sam founded Simplicity and the idea of being a “dignity company” that gives people more choices
The hedonistic treadmill, why more money stops adding happiness, and why giving feels better than getting
Why money is simpler than the finance world makes it look, and the two hour fundamentals anyone can learn
The hidden power of fees, compounding, and why long term investing beats chasing short term performance
How KiwiSaver could fund New Zealand’s future, from infrastructure to housing, and what it means for the next 30 years

If you want a clearer way to think about money, purpose, and the long game, this conversation will make you feel calmer. And more in control.

Grab a copy of Money Made Simple here - https://simplicity.kiwi/money-made-simple-book
You can view Sorted website here - https://sorted.org.nz
You can view MoneyHub website here - https://www.moneyhub.co.nz
Check out Simplicity here - https://simplicity.kiwi
If you’re interested in having me deliver a keynote or workshop for your team contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com

Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6GETJbxpgulYcYc6QAKLHA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLaughlinOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlinofficial/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/life-on-purpose-with-james-laughlin/id1547874035 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3WBElxcvhCHtJWBac3nOlF?si=hotcGzHVRACeAx4GvybVOQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslaughlincoaching/

James Laughlin is a High Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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Join me at the 2026 Goal-setting Workshop here - jjlaughlin.com/2026goals

- If you're interested in booking me for a keynote or workshop, contact Caroline at caroline@jjlaughlin.com

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