Kiwis are increasingly turning to social media for money advice from finfluencers and online forums to podcasts. Some of this content can be genuinely informative, but other posts can be misleading, heavily promotional, or even linked to scams. In this episode of our Occasional Conversation podcast, Jess is joined by Anna Godfrey from our Financial Advice team and Elizabeth Asmerom Asfaha from our Regulatory Services team to unpack what to look out for when engaging with money content online....

Financial advice can make a real difference to people’s financial wellbeing but not everyone in New Zealand is able to access it. In this episode of 5 mins with the FMA, we talk with Romil Ghelani, Head of Financial Advice at the FMA, about the findings from the FMA’s Access to Financial Advice Review. The review looks at: How many New Zealanders are accessing financial adviceWhy some groups are under‑representedWhat consumers think financial advice is — and what stops them from using itThe r...

In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, Jess sits down with Tom Hartmann, Personal Finance Lead at Sorted, to unpack one of the most important concepts in investing: portfolio diversification. Together, they break down what a portfolio actually is, why diversification matters, and how spreading your investments across different assets, industries and regions can help manage risk over time. They also explore how diversification works inside managed funds and KiwiSaver, the difference betwee...

Jess Learns to Invest is back for Season 2! In Episode 1, Jess is joined by Dr Pushpa Wood, Director at Massey University, to unpack investment psychology and explore how emotions and biases influence the way we make money decisions. This episode covers loss aversion, anchoring, and herd behaviour along with practical, behaviour‑based strategies to keep investing aligned with your goals. In this episode, you’ll learn: How emotional investing can impact money decisions The most com...

Jess Learns to Invest season 1 offers a comprehensive introduction to investing, emphasising the importance of starting small, being consistent, and learning progressively. The series covers fundamental concepts such as compounding interest, market volatility, and different investment types, while also addressing practical tips and ethical considerations. Some of the key takeaways from this season include: • Start investing with small steps: Jess highlights that perfection is not required t...

Join FMA Head of Audit, Financial Reporting and Climate Related Disclosures, Jacco Moison, as we unpack the latest Audit Quality Monitoring Report. ✔ Why audit quality matters ✔ Key findings from this year’s review ✔ What auditors and directors should focus on Watch now and stay informed about how we’re building trust in New Zealand’s financial markets. Read the full report here: Audit Quality Monitoring Report 2024/25

Join Jess from the FMA External Communications team for a deep dive into the world of cryptocurrencies! In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, tech journalist Peter Griffin shares his insights on what crypto is, how it works, and how to invest safely. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned investor, you’ll learn about the evolution of crypto, market risks, scams, and practical tips for getting started. Discover why trust and research matter, and how crypto might shape the future o...

As part of their CoFI licence obligations, financial institutions have a legal obligation to comply with a set of standard conditions. Two of these – Standard Condition 4 and Standard Condition 5 – are critical to operational resilience. Standard Condition 4 relates to outsourcing. If a financial institution outsources any system or process essential to providing services, it must ensure the provider can deliver to a standard that allows the financial institution to meet all its ...

All licensed Financial Advice Providers must submit an annual regulatory return as part of licensing conditions. With seven more calendar days to go have your submitted your return? The submission period closes on 30 September 2025. Regulatory returns should be submitted through the FMA Online Services portal: https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/online-services You can find frequently asked questions and an information sheet on regulatory returns on our Financial Advice Providers regulat...

In this episode of 5 Minutes with the FMA, host Heidi Norman is joined by Executive Director Licensing and Conduct Supervision, Clare Bolingford to discuss why complaints are a focus for the FMA the We want financial service providers to ensure their complaints processes are accessible, fair, and effective, not only by making it easy to complain, but also by understanding and addressing the reasons some consumers don’t. We see complaints as moments of truth, revealing not just what went wrong...