All in InvestNow

Ten Years Later: What KiwiSaver Taught Me

Ten Years Later: What KiwiSaver Taught Me

Ruth
ETFs, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Money Education, Smart

Ten years ago, on the 6th of June 2016, I published my very first blog post. It was about KiwiSaver. In that first month, I also wrote about Gold, Credit Cards and Kids and Money. And it's fair to say my thoughts have changed somewhat. I’ve sold our gold, cancelled our credit card, and spent the last ten years ensuring our ‘kid’, who is now a young adult, knows all about how money works. And what of KiwiSaver? Well, paying attention to that has really paid off. Ten years ago, I had absolutely no idea where that first blog post would lead. And I had no clue that a decade later I would be as fascinated by our personal finances and investing as I am today. So today, I wanted to go back to where it all started and talk about the evolution of our KiwiSaver investment.

Our Coast FI Plan: Keep the House, Invest Less

Our Coast FI Plan: Keep the House, Invest Less

Ruth
ETFs, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Net Worth, Retirement, Smart, Investment, Emergency Fund

After years of prioritising investing, we’ve made a decision that feels both strange and surprisingly freeing: we’re keeping the house, cutting right back on how much we invest, and letting time in the market do more of the work. For a while, downsizing looked like the logical next step. Sell the house, invest the difference, and fast-track our way to full financial independence. But the more we sat with it, the more something felt off. Coast FI has helped us find a middle ground between selling up, working longer, and creating a life that feels right for us now.

Which providers offer a Total World Fund in NZ?

Which providers offer a Total World Fund in NZ?

Ruth
ETFs, Financial Advisors, Index Funds, InvestNow, Kernel, Sharesies, Smart, Smart Invest, SmartShares

I am writing this blog post because I am constantly asked where you can purchase a Total World ETF from in New Zealand: “Could I use Smart or InvestNow?” “Sharesies, or a sharebroker?” Once you understand that low fees and broad diversification matter, i.e. buying the whole global share market instead of picking stocks or countries, you land in a new kind of confusion… where to buy. This post is not about finding the perfect platform. There isn’t one. But there are some perfectly good options. The goal is to understand them enough to choose one and get on with investing.

Buckle up - here we go again!

Buckle up - here we go again!

Ruth
Emergency Fund, ETFs, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Smart

This week, I wanted to go back in time, six years back to March 15, 2020, when the world was in turmoil. Again. At that time, I wanted to address your concerns about the global crises, particularly around COVID. I took the time to write a blog post about it, and today, I’ve summarised the key points and added an update. Because, surprise, surprise, here we go again, folks!

JL Collins Goes Global - And Why That Feels Familiar

JL Collins Goes Global - And Why That Feels Familiar

Ruth
ETF, Index Funds, ETFs, Investment, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Shares, Sharesight, Smart

The financial clouds parted the day I picked up the 2016 edition of The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins. Instead of picking and choosing individual companies, just buy them all in one tidy package: an ETF or index fund - the simple path to wealth. For years, JL Collins has been known for one beautifully simple idea: Buy VTSAX and chill. VTSAX is an American index fund holding 100% U.S. companies. But readers began asking, “JL, what about the rest of the world?” He has long explained that U.S. companies are so large and globally dominant that U.S. investors could “get away with” owning only VTSAX. So when JL announced that he had added international stocks to his portfolio, people noticed. It felt like a big deal.

Explain It To Me FAST!

Explain It To Me FAST!

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Money Education, Personal Finance, Smart

If you’ve ever listened to a money podcast, read a finance blog or chatted with that one friend who’s suddenly “really into investing”, you’ve probably heard a whole bunch of money words thrown around. People nod. No one wants to look dumb. And quietly, many think: I should probably understand what that means… So this post is for you. Here are plain-English explanations of the money words that come up again and again, using New Zealand examples and my common sense logic.

$1.71 Million Net Worth: Our 2025 Money Update

$1.71 Million Net Worth: Our 2025 Money Update

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, Investment, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Net Worth, PocketSmith, Smart, Smart Invest

At the start of every year, I open one spreadsheet that tells the story of a decade of choices. Updating our net worth spreadsheet helps me see where we’ve been, and where we might be heading. These annual check-ins matter, and I genuinely enjoy this process. 2025 was a good financial year for us, driven primarily by consistent investing in the share market through our ETF and, to a lesser extent, our KiwiSaver. Once again, we prioritised investing, never missing a month, and it paid off. 

How We (and Our Daughter) Plan to Pay for University Without a Student Loan

How We (and Our Daughter) Plan to Pay for University Without a Student Loan

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, InvestNow, Kids and Money, PocketSmith, Sharesies, Smart

Well, the moment has arrived. The tiny five-year-old who started Primary School back in 2012 has just turned 18 and completed her final day of Year 13 at High School. Just. Like. That! I was warned that time would pass quickly, and it has. She has a few exams to get through, then she is done with school for good and can enjoy a few well-deserved weeks of R&R. Once the weather heats up, she will launch into full-time summer work for a local cherry packhouse. Going to university is expensive. Most of the cost is in the accommodation. We have always explained to her that we will financially assist her through university, provided she also contributes. She has done that. It’s going to be a family effort to get her through her degree debt-free.

A First-Timer’s Guide: How to Invest Using Smart

A First-Timer’s Guide: How to Invest Using Smart

Ruth
ETF, InvestNow, Sharesies, Sharesight, Smart, Smart Invest

Trying something for the first time can be confusing, especially for those managing their investments on their own. I encourage you to take the plunge and buy and manage your own investments. I understand that, although I know you have the skills to buy, hold, and eventually sell your own investments, the initial experience can be overwhelming. However, there's no need to worry; it's not as difficult as it may seem. It just requires learning a new process and becoming familiar with it. I often receive emails asking how to invest using Smart, which is the provider I use to purchase my Exchange-Traded Fund. I’d like to clarify the process for anyone interested.

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