The Rise of the Millionaire DIY Investor

Article written by Jason Choy, InvestNow Senior Portfolio Manager – September 2026

Many New Zealanders who accumulate wealth have traditionally followed a set path: build up some assets, find a wealth manager or investment broker, and have them oversee a portfolio that grows and sets you up for life.

But in 2026, that model is changing.

Looking at our InvestNow customer and portfolio demographics, we’re increasingly seeing investors with large portfolios choosing to take control of their investments themselves.

And it’s not just digital native investors […]

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and index investing explained

Article written by Thom Bentley, Head of Business Development at Smart

Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs, have changed the way everyday investors can access investment markets.

With one investment, an ETF can give you access to hundreds of companies around the world, a particular market such as New Zealand or the US, bonds, gold, or even assets such as Bitcoin. Many ETFs do this by tracking an index. Others work […]

What actually is active investing?

Article written by Jason Choy, InvestNow Senior Portfolio Manager – August 2026

As an investor, one of the big decisions you’ll make is whether your money is managed actively or passively.

Maybe that decision is one you’re making yourself. Maybe it’s being made on your behalf through a fund you’ve invested in without giving much thought to the underlying approach.

Either way, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.

Over the past decade, passive investing has exploded in popularity. Low costs, simplicity and strong performance have […]

Home bias: Are Kiwi investors overexposed to the New Zealand economy?

Article written by Jason Choy, InvestNow Senior Portfolio Manager – July 2026

For many Kiwis, buying a home is the biggest financial decision you’ll ever make. It’s also likely to be one of the largest financial exposures you’ll have to the New Zealand economy.

Think about it.

Your income is tied to the New Zealand economy. Your house is tied to the New Zealand property market. Your KiwiSaver contributions come from a New Zealand employer.

None of that is inherently a bad […]

SpaceX and Mega IPOs: Navigating the Active Decisions behind Passive Investing

Article written by Jason Choy, InvestNow Senior Portfolio Manager – June 2026

2026 is shaping up to be the year of the mega IPO.

SpaceX has now entered public markets, with its first day of trading valuing the company at over $2 trillion USD. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have also confidentially filed paperwork for their own listings this year, which based off their latest private capital raises, would see each flirt with $1 trillion USD valuations.

Taken together, it represents one […]

KiwiSaver Tax Explained: Why timing matters more than you think

Article written by Jason Choy, InvestNow Senior Portfolio Manager – May 2026

Most New Zealanders know KiwiSaver is taxed.

Tax is a standard part of investing, but how it’s applied within KiwiSaver – and how it can shape long-term outcomes – isn’t always widely understood

Two features of New Zealand’s retirement system are particularly important in this regard. The first is the overall Taxed–Taxed–Exempt (TTE) structure that applies to KiwiSaver. The second is how investment earnings are taxed each year, particularly for […]

What You Might Not Realise About KiwiSaver Tax

KiwiSaver tax is often out of sight, which can make it easy to misunderstand or overlook. While it might feel complex, it follows a consistent framework that shapes how your savings grow over time. To help bring this to life, we asked Generate and Smart a series of questions about how KiwiSaver is taxed, the most common misconceptions, and what could make the biggest difference to long-term outcomes.

Greg Smith,
Investment […]