

Cheques and Balances
Cheques and Balances
Whether you're buying your first home, tackling debt, or building long-term wealth, we’ll show you how to make smarter money moves. With over 20 years of combined experience as qualified financial advisers, James Blair and Michael Vincent share straight-talking advice, practical strategies, and real conversations about money - all to help you take control of your financial future with confidence.
Check out our website below:
lighthousefinancial.co.nz
Check out our website below:
lighthousefinancial.co.nz
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 28, 2025 • 42min
Live Webinar: Building a Financial Plan for Summer | Episode 424
Summer spending is easy - staying on top of your money is harder.In this episode, we walk through how to set clear financial goals, build a sustainable budget, make smarter KiwiSaver choices, manage debt properly, and create a practical roadmap toward buying a home and building long-term wealth without blowing up your lifestyle.Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better control of your money? Join Michael Vincent and James Blair for a practical 2026 financial planning webinar.Speak to an adviser: If you want help turning your goals into a clear plan, book a complimentary 30-minute chat with a Lighthouse Financial adviser.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 25, 2025 • 24min
The Best Guest Insights of 2025: Money, Markets & Growth ft. Luke Kemeys, Nicola Willis and more | Episode 422
Four standout guests. Four conversations that shaped how we think about money, markets, and growth.In this special episode, we’ve pulled together our favourite guest moments from 2025 - revisiting the ideas, debates, and insights that sparked the biggest conversations throughout the year. From investing psychology and compounding, to housing reform, economic recovery, and scaling global businesses, this episode captures the thinking that mattered most.Register now: Buying a home, investing, or want better control of your money? Join Michael Vincent and James Blair for a practical 2026 financial planning webinar.Featured Guests & Key Discussions00:00 - Luke Kemeys- Compounding vs income investing and why behaviour matters more than perfect maths- The psychology of money, motivation, and consistency- Debt repayment strategies and getting early wins that keep people on track07:20 - Nicola Willis- Housing affordability and the future of home ownership in New Zealand- Planning reform, land supply, and replacing the Resource Management Act- Red tape, building constraints, and how supply impacts affordability- Creating economic growth beyond rising house prices13:45 - Mahesh Muralidhar- Scaling Canva from a small startup to a global business- Lessons from hyper-growth, leadership, and big ambition- Why New Zealand needs more global role models- Thinking bigger and building companies that can scale internationally21:00 - Jarrod Kerr - Interest rates, economic recovery, and why the turnaround took so long- Business confidence, hiring decisions, and investment signals- Housing market confidence, GDP outlook, and what to watch next- Where momentum is starting to return in the New Zealand economyFor more money tips follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lighthousefinancialnz/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lighthousefinancialnz/The content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 23, 2025 • 11min
Buying Property in 2026? Bridging Loans Explained | Episode 422
Buying before you sell sounds simple - until it isn’t.In this episode, we break down bridging finance, when it makes sense to use it, the difference between open and closed bridging loans, how banks assess risk, the real costs involved, and the common mistakes that can turn a house upgrade into a financial headache.Next steps: If you’re thinking about upgrading, downsizing, or buying before you sell, talk to the Lighthouse Mortgages team early - a 15-minute chat can save you months of stress and costly mistakes.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 21, 2025 • 18min
2026 Predictions: Is This The Year The NZ Economy Turns? | Episode 421
2026 is shaping up to be a year of recovery but not without risk.In this episode, we break down our 2026 predictions across the New Zealand economy, covering GDP growth, interest rates and OCR expectations, share market risks and opportunities, AI’s real economic impact, property market forecasts, election uncertainty, and the global factors that could derail momentum.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 18, 2025 • 19min
Property Market 2026: What Buyers Need to Do Now ft. Matt Harris & Adam Farrell | Episode 420
The property market doesn’t wait and the best deals rarely come with notice.In this episode, the Lighthouse Property team breaks down what’s really happening in the market heading into 2026, why speed and preparation matter, and walks through real case studies covering discounted new builds, regional yield opportunities, developer risk, and how first-home buyers and investors can secure strong deals without trying to time the market.Next Steps: At Lighthouse Property, we help clients get clear and prepared to secure the right property before the market moves. If 2026 is on your radar, now’s the time to start.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 17, 2025 • 30min
From One Property to Ten: Building a Property Empire Before 30 | Episode 419
From his first house at 18 to managing over ten projects a year - this is how Kyle turned building skills into a property empire.In this episode, we dive into Kyle’s journey from buying his first property as a teenager to scaling a portfolio through joint ventures, private finance, and smart subdivision strategies. He shares how he mitigates risk, structures his business, and what it really takes to flip and develop properties successfully in today’s market.Next Steps: Wanting to follow in Kyle’s footsteps? Check out Property-CEO - a coaching and mentoring programme helping Kiwis learn the strategies, funding options, and systems to build wealth through property.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 16, 2025 • 27min
How to Budget Like a Financial Adviser | Inside a Financial Plan Ep 6
A real-world look at how tracking your money actually works - without spreadsheets or guesswork.In this episode of Inside a Financial Plan, Jess walks through a PocketSmith onboarding session with Rachel and Dion, covering how to set up accounts, track cash flow, build realistic budgets, categorise spending, handle transfers correctly, and use clear insights to stay aligned with their financial plan over time.This episode is proudly sponsored by PocketSmith: Big goals mean nothing without action. PocketSmith helps you track, plan, and stay accountable. Start today with 50% off your first two months.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 14, 2025 • 19min
Will Passive Investment Crash The Stock Market? | Episode 417
Passive investing has taken over - but what happens when nobody’s actually picking the stocks?In this episode, we unpack the explosive rise of passive investing, the growing concentration inside major indices like the S&P 500, and whether mechanical money flows into big tech could distort markets, create instability, or even open the door for active management to matter again.Next Steps: If you’ve got money invested or sitting on the sidelines and you’re unsure whether a passive, active, or blended approach makes sense for your goals, book a chat with the Lighthouse Wealth team and build a portfolio that’s actually designed for the long term.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 11, 2025 • 17min
3 Things to Know Before Buying an Investment Property ft. Matt Harris | Episode 416
Buying your first investment property? Here are the three game-changing rules every investor needs to know before they make their move.In this episode, we break down exactly how to use your equity, why structuring your debt correctly matters, and the essential tax steps - from interest deductibility to chattel valuations and tidy accounting - that can make or break your investment success.Next steps: If you're ready to take the next step toward your first (or next) investment property, book a call with the Lighthouse team - we'll help you understand your equity, borrowing power, and the smartest way to structure your lending and tax.Boarder Income RulesFor more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.

Dec 9, 2025 • 12min
Is NZ’s Property Market Unproductive? The Real Economic Impact | Episode 415
Is NZ’s property market really unproductive — or is everyone getting it wrong?In this episode, we break down the real economic impact of New Zealand’s property sector - from its $50B GDP contribution and 235,000 jobs, to how domestic trade, construction, KiwiSaver investment, and smarter intensification strategies shape whether property truly helps or hinders national productivity.This episode is brought to you by Lighthouse Financial - your partner in financial freedom.For more money tips follow us on:FacebookInstagramThe content in this podcast is the opinion of the hosts. It should not be treated as financial advice. It is important to take into consideration your own personal situation and goals before making any financial decisions.


