Interest rates are rising again, fuel prices are climbing and many homeowners are wondering what to do next. But according to Squirrel mortgage adviser Adam Clark, too many Kiwis are focusing on the wrong things.

In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Adam joins Nadine Higgins to unpack the psychology of mortgages, why obsessing over tiny rate differences can backfire, and the financial habits that quietly cost borrowers hundreds of thousands over the life of a loan.

They also dive into refinancing, cashback offers, fixing strategies, mortgage structures, EV lending and the dangerous temptation of “cheap debt”.

Plus:
Why banks hike rates before the Reserve Bank moves
The truth about cashback “free money”
Why fixing for the shortest term isn’t always smartest

Interest rates are rising again, fuel prices are climbing and many homeowners are wondering what to do next. But according to Squirrel mortgage adviser Adam Clark, too many Kiwis are focusing on the wrong things.
In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Adam joins Nadine Higgins to unpack the psychology of mortgages, why obsessing over tiny rate differences can backfire, and the financial habits that quietly cost borrowers hundreds of thousands over the life of a loan.
They also dive into refinancing, cashback offers, fixing strategies, mortgage structures, EV lending and the dangerous temptation of &ldquo;cheap debt&rdquo;.
Plus:
<ul>
<li>Why banks hike rates before the Reserve Bank moves</li>
<li>The truth about cashback &ldquo;free money&rdquo;</li>
<li>Why fixing for the shortest term isn&rsquo;t always smartest</li>
</ul>

The Prosperity Project is a weekly personal finance podcast from the NZ Herald. Join host Nadine Higgins every Monday as she talks to experts from New Zealand and around the world about the biggest money issues to help you become more prosperous.  

Follow The Prosperity Project on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. To get in touch with the podcast, email nadine.higgins@nzme.co.nz 

The Prosperity Project is a weekly personal finance podcast from the NZ Herald. Join host Nadine Higgins every Monday as she talks to experts from New Zealand and around the world about the biggest money issues to help you become more prosperous.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Follow The Prosperity Project on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. To get in touch with the podcast, email <a href="mailto:nadine.higgins@nzme.co.nz">nadine.higgins@nzme.co.nz</a>&nbsp;

The Prosperity Project

The mortgage traps costing Kiwis thousands 

Landlords, capital gains tax and the future of property investing. Owner of 43 properties and founder of Opes Partners, Andrew Nicol, joins Nadine Higgins to explain why he thinks mum-and-dad investors have become an easy political targe and why he still has faith in housing despite the market slump. 

He also shares his thoughts on what New Zealanders should be doing to prepare for retirement and where he stands on the idea of a capital gains tax.

Landlords, capital gains tax and the future of property investing. Owner of 43 properties and founder of Opes Partners, Andrew Nicol, joins Nadine Higgins to explain why he thinks mum-and-dad investors have become an easy political targe and why he still has faith in housing despite the market slump.&nbsp;
He also shares his thoughts on what New Zealanders should be doing to prepare for retirement and where he stands on the idea of a capital gains tax.

Prolific investor says property isn't dead

SpaceX has gone public in the biggest IPO in history, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to follow.

Together, the three companies could be worth more than US$3 trillion. So are they the investment opportunity of a lifetime, or the next great tech bubble?

Fisher Funds portfolio manager Sam Dickie joins Nadine Higgins to break down the hype, the risks and what investors need to know.

SpaceX has gone public in the biggest IPO in history, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to follow.
Together, the three companies could be worth more than US$3 trillion. So are they the investment opportunity of a lifetime, or the next great tech bubble?
Fisher Funds portfolio manager Sam Dickie joins Nadine Higgins to break down the hype, the risks and what investors need to know.

SpaceX just went public. Opportunity or bubble? 

Could an old job be holding money you’ve forgotten about?

In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins speaks to NZBritannia founder Alun Rees-Williams about the UK pension money many Kiwis lose track of after working overseas. Some people discover multiple pension schemes from different jobs, and in rare cases, the amounts can be life-changing.

They discuss why these funds are so easy to forget, how UK pensions differ from KiwiSaver, what to consider before transferring money back to New Zealand, and why the worst mistake is simply losing track of what exists. Even if you’ve never worked in the UK, it’s a useful reminder to keep tabs on every retirement account attached to your working life.

Could an old job be holding money you&rsquo;ve forgotten about?
In this episode of The Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins speaks to NZBritannia founder Alun Rees-Williams about the UK pension money many Kiwis lose track of after working overseas. Some people discover multiple pension schemes from different jobs, and in rare cases, the amounts can be life-changing.
They discuss why these funds are so easy to forget, how UK pensions differ from KiwiSaver, what to consider before transferring money back to New Zealand, and why the worst mistake is simply losing track of what exists. Even if you&rsquo;ve never worked in the UK, it&rsquo;s a useful reminder to keep tabs on every retirement account attached to your working life.

The mortgage traps costing Kiwis thousands

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