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Money Made Simple
Welcome to Money Made Simple, a family of NZ-based financial literacy podcasts from Simplicity which keep it simple and get straight to the point. We want ALL Kiwis to have dignity, and a dignified life is one with choices. What can help with more choices? More money. So we're here to make Kiwis richer and smarter with money.
MONEY MADE SIMPLE WITH JENNIE AND LIV:
Join co-hosts Liv Lewis-Long and Jennie O'Donovan on a fortnightly basis to help you understand the basics around money, finances, investing, KiwiSaver, and planning for a better future. We aim to provide information in a bite-sized, easy-to-listen way that simplifies the jargon. 'Cos who's got time for that! We want you to feel empowered and confident when thinking about money and investing - whether that be via KiwiSaver, investment funds, the share market, property, or your general finances.
THE ECONOMY MADE SIMPLE WITH SHAMUBEEL EAQUB:
Join Shamubeel Eaqub, Simplicity's Chief Economist, on a monthly basis to help you understand what's happening in the economy, job market, politics and financial markets. Tune in to get economic updates, interviews with NZ's key movers and shakers, and deep dives into topics you might want to understand better.
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Money Made Simple
MMS #71 | What's the right KiwiSaver contribution rate in 2026?
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In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv revisit one of the most important - and most overlooked - parts of your KiwiSaver: your contribution rate. With changes coming into effect in 2026, including a lift to the default minimum, now's the perfect time to check in and ask whether you're actually contributing enough.
From what's changed and what it means for your take-home pay, to how to think about contributions based on your income, life stage and goals, this episode breaks down how to make KiwiSaver work for you - not just what the default says.
This episode covers:
- What's changing in 2026, including the rise in minimum contributions from 3% to 3.5% (with another increase planned)
- Updates to government contributions and new eligibility rules
Why 3.5% is a useful baseline, but not necessarily the right number for everyone - How to think about contributions based on your income, life stage and long-term goals
- The trade-off between contributing more to KiwiSaver vs investing outside it for flexibility
- Why small increases like 0.5% can make a big difference over time thanks to compounding
- What to do if cash flow is tight, and when it might make sense to temporarily reduce contributions
- How self-employed Kiwis can approach KiwiSaver, including voluntary contributions and government incentives
- Why fund choice and fees can matter just as much as your contribution rate
Jennie and Liv explain in plain English why there's no one "perfect" contribution rate - only the one that works for you. The key is not leaving it on autopilot. A quick check-in now could make a meaningful difference to your future.
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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.