In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv is joined by Simplicity's (quietly) kick-ass Head of Private Capital, Matt Houtman, to delve into the intriguing but sometimes confusing world of Private Equity and Venture Capital. Get ready to understand why a KiwiSaver and Investment Fund manager would invest in private companies (rather than just the share market), and how it specifically benefits investors. This week's episode covers:

• Matt's journey from investment banking, to raising $500 million in funds, to joining the Simplicity team
• The key differences between private and public investments
• What jargon such as private capital, private equity, and venture capital ACTUALLY mean
• Simplicity's strategies and criteria around this type of investing
• A look at the relative size of our private capital - and the outsized returns-to-date
• The long-term benefits of private capital investments for investors
• Insights into how Simplicity balances fundamentally passive investment strategies with more active private capital investments

Resources we mention in this episode
- Simplicity's Responsible Investment Policy
- Venture capital via Icehouse Ventures
- Private equity businesses Simplicity invests in

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear understanding of how private capital investments work, and why they are an exciting and beneficial addition to an otherwise predominantly passive portfolio. You'll discover how these investments drive exciting potential returns for members while supporting NZ's economic growth. Win-win!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie welcomes Liv back after a bit of a hiatus (all is explained!) to chat about what is a highly searched, but often misunderstood topic: Opting out of KiwiSaver, as well as making early withdrawals. We explain how and why someone might choose to opt out once they're automatically enrolled, and the (several) reasons you can take some or all your KiwiSaver funds out before you retire.

This week's episode covers:

• The voluntary nature of KiwiSaver, and how people can join (either by choice or automatic enrollment)
• The reasons (good and bad!) people would choose to opt out of KiwiSaver, once already enrolled
• What exactly happens in the process of opting out - the steps you take
• The substantial impacts that opting out of KiwiSaver could have (hint: you'll lose out on some free money!)
• Why and how you can withdraw some of all of your KiwiSaver funds early, including for your first home or for financial hardship
• The financial consequences of of making early withdrawals
• KiwiSaver savings suspensions - the what, why and how it could be a better option than opting out or withdrawing your savings

Resources we mention in this episode:
IRD website Opting out of KiwiSaver
IRD website Getting my KiwiSaver savings early
MMS episode 6 KiwiSaver contribution types

By the end of this episode, you should have a clear idea of the reasons but also the impacts of not having your money invested in KiwiSaver. This way you can hopefully make more informed decisions on the best plan of action for you, should your investing journey need to change course!

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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

50% of New Zealand adults don't have a will(!) In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie invites Glenys Talivai, CEO of Public Trust, to tell us all about wills - why so many don't have them, why they're so very important, and how you go about making yours. Many people think everything will automatically go to their partner or next of kin when they die, but this is not always the case. This week's episode covers:

• What a will actually is, and a whole lot of stuff you could include beyond who gets the house - from your funeral wishes to who will look after your babies and fur babies
• Why having a will is so key for your nearest and dearest, at a time that can already be very stressful
• When in life you should start thinking about making your first will
• How you actually go about making a will, what are the options, who can help and importantly, how much does it cost?
• Some less obvious things to think about as you make, and update, your will

Resources we mention in this episode:
- Public Trust's guide to making a will


By the end of this episode, we hope that you (and Jennie!) can be confident that making a will doesn't have to be a hugely time consuming or expensive task, and you'll know how valuable it is to get done now (not later), for your own peace of mind and your family's.

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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn

Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.