Am I saving enough for my retirement? How much money do I need to live on? And when do I stop working? Your expenses, future sources of income and KiwiSaver savings are essential pieces of the puzzle that make up your future plan.
Am I saving enough for my retirement? How much money do I need to live on? And when do I stop working? Your expenses, future sources of income and KiwiSaver savings are essential pieces of the puzzle that make up your future plan.
As we age, maintaining our quality of life matters more. Yet many Kiwis cancel insurance as it becomes unaffordable — often when they need it the most.
To maintain their standard of living in retirement, most Kiwis need to supplement their NZ Super either by their Kiwisaver, or by working past 65*.
Planning now can ensure you have access to urgent Medical Care when you need it, instead of waiting in a queue for Government Funded Healthcare.
Levelling your Cover can future-proof your insurances and bring significant cost saving advantages in the long term.
Do you know what your KiwiSaver balance will be when you turn 65?
This Cover helps you access treatment urgently and when you need it, instead of waiting in a queue for government funded healthcare. It covers healthcare costs, specialist visits and diagnostics, as well as the direct and indirect costs associated with surgical and non-surgical treatment and non-PHARMAC funded drugs.
This provides financial support to your loved ones, in the case of premature death. Life Cover can ensure that those you leave behind are not left in hardship and can clear debt as well as pay for funeral and legal costs. As your Mortgage decreases and your KiwiSaver balance increases, the amount of Life Cover you need, reduces.
A one-off cash injection that’s paid out at the time of diagnosis on a specified number of commonly occurring serious medical conditions like cancer, heart attacks and strokes. This can offset your medical costs and buy you options. 'Accelerating' this Cover against your Life Cover is cost effective as it reduces the amount of Life Cover by the amount of the Trauma Claim.
There’s no financial advantage or cost saving, if you deal directly with an Insurance Company. There are three things to think about when talking to a Financial Adviser.
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Nearly a decade later, I'm finally writing the Google review you deserved all along! You've been an exceptional financial adviser—always reassuring, incredibly knowledgeable, and able to explain even the most complex topics in a clear, educational way. You're responsive, supportive, and always there at the drop of a hat. Thank you for your patience, professionalism, and genuine care. I couldn't recommend you more highly!
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Anita Patel
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Shona has been fantastic to work with. She explained everything clearly, made the whole KiwiSaver process easy to understand, and always takes the time to answer my questions. I also really appreciate that she keeps in touch with regular check-ins to make sure I'm on track and to see if anything has changed. Her honest advice and professional approach have been invaluable, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy KiwiSaver adviser.
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Joy Swift
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Shona was amazing! Made the process of reviewing our life insurances and kiwisaver incredibly easy. Would highly recommend!
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Richa Patel
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Shona made the experience of getting insurance, which is usually a bit uncomfortable or scary or confronting, really amazing. She listened to us rather than just talking AT us, and helped us navigate what would be best for us at this time in our lives. Highly, highly recommend working with Shona for all things insurance and Kiwisaver!
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Dale
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Shona is the reason my partner and I now finally feel safe and insured. We're coming up on 30, and insurance is something we'd always thought about but never pulled the trigger on. Shona made the process so easy, was such a kind and funny presence through the whole thing, but always eminently professional. We never had to worry about stepping wrong or locking in a long-term decision that didn't make sense for us. Our initial premium recommendation from the insurance company was VERY high, but she worked it down to a third of the initial quote just by virtue of being amazing at her job. If you're getting your insurance up to scratch or approaching this for the first time, I couldn't possibly recommend Shona any more.
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Angelo Stoffberg
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Highly recommend Shona as Best financial adviser ever. We were recently faced with extreme challenges in life ever, where Shona came to our aid…..Shona did not just talk….Shona delivered results above and beyond that what we could see in our storm….Shona walked alongside us and advised us every step of the way….Shona reassured us as communication was crucial and an understanding with empathy do put things in place and explain to us how the system operates as to us who are new to these things and these type of challenges in life. Her level of after care is second to none. Prior to underwriting, she highlighting the importance of Life Insurance, dealt with our fears of insurance, committed to all correspondences with the insurer, sorting out our premium challenges and giving us total peace of mind when handling our portfolios.A huge thank you Shona.....Angelo and Vanessa
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A Family
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We really enjoyed working with Shona and highly recommend working with her. She is so friendly, efficient, and great at communicating. You can tell she is really on top of things, which is such a relief because I am definitely not when it comes to insurance. It is great knowing we can trust her to look after us, keep our best interests in mind, and help save money where she can. We feel like we are in very good hands.
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Renee Swindells
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Shona has been great to work with. We have had to go through the claims process a couple of times with her recently and she has explained every step, advocated for us and ensured we have the right information provided to the insurer to reduce delays and as a result we have had great outcomes. I would highly recommend her
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Skyla Reilly
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My experience with Shona was amazing, as my first time getting into the world of insurance Shona made it easy and talked me through everything and showed me all my options. She made the whole journey easy and stress free, highly recommend :)
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Dianne Cobley
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If you’re thinking about Life Insurance — or even if you already have it — I can’t recommend Shona enough. Most of us pick an insurance provider when we’re young and stick with them out of habit. I was the same. But after chatting with Shona, she offered to take a look at my current cover and see what could be improved. I’m so glad I said yes. Not only do I now have a policy that fits my needs better, but my monthly premiums have actually gone down. That was a very welcome surprise. I know how easy it is to put insurance in the “too busy” basket. But if you have a family who relies on you, this is something you shouldn’t ignore. Life doesn’t always go to plan. Shona made the whole process simple. She dealt with my old insurer, sorted the paperwork, and walked me through everything I needed to do. That one hour I spent reviewing my cover was absolutely worth it. If you want someone who genuinely listens and gives thoughtful, tailored advice, talk to Shona. She really does make a difference.
The transition into retirement remains one of life’s most profound milestones. For many New Zealanders, the question is no longer simply what they are retiring from—but what they are retiring to. Most New Zealanders hope to enjoy a standard of living in retirement that exceeds what NZ Superannuation alone can provide.
Have you checked your KiwiSaver balance recently? It’s always a good idea to review your KiwiSaver and check if you need to make a change. Increasing your contribution even slightly can make a BIG difference when you turn 65. On 1 April 2026, the default KiwiSaver contribution rate increased to 3.5% and it’ll increase to 4% on 1 April 2028. Use the sorted calculator to check your KiwiSaver balance at 65.
Clients of mine who have simple estate planning needs, can put a cost-effective, legally binding Will in place using Simple Wills, to ensure that their assets are distributed according to their wishes should the unmentionable happen.
