I see ads like this all the time from other advisers and it tends to annoy me.

It’s a clear play on the meme that went around ages ago about cutting back on coffee of avocado toast to save for a house.

It’s designed to get you annoyed, give you some FOMO and make you think you need to do more, and they can sell you on buying rental property, with the aim that this helps you pay off your loan faster.

An applicant’s medical history makes up an important part of any insurance application. 

As time has progressed the human body has become subject to an ever-increasing number of new medical conditions. To better understand rare or unusual conditions the insurance underwriters have two key places to gain information when assessing an application.

Financial Wellbeing means different things to each of us.

It can be as simple as your ability to manage your money.  And isn’t necessarily dependant on the amount of money you have.

For me it is more than just being able to pay your bills.

Most people save what’s left at the end of the month - if there’s anything left at all.  

But what if you flipped that habit on its head? 

Can Coffee and a Mortgage Coexist?

For many, a daily takeaway coffee is a simple pleasure—a small ritual that jumpstarts the day. But when considering mortgage affordability, a common question arises: Do small lifestyle expenses, like coffee, really stand in the way of homeownership? The short answer is No, but financial awareness is key.

Financial Wellbeing means different things to each of us.

It can be as simple as your ability to manage your money.  And isn’t necessarily dependant on the amount of money you have.

For me it is more than just being able to pay your bills.

For many people, going into the new year meant making clear goals and determinations to change things and do better. I have had many sessions with people already this year wanting to get better with money.

The challenge with resolutions is they are made in a moment of excitement, and that excitement cannot be maintained indefinitely.

As a financial adviser, I often talk about the importance of planning for the future, managing investments, and saving for retirement. But today, I want to discuss something equally crucial: your health. November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, also known as Movember, and it’s the perfect time to get caught with your pants down – metaphorically speaking – and take a good look at your health.

“Without Knowledge, action is useless and knowledge without action is futile.”

― Abu Bakr

 The terms financial literacy and financial capability are closely related, but have distinct meanings. These terms get thrown around all the time, but what do they actually mean? We outline the differences below and explain why you should care.   

The biggest investment that most Kiwi’s will make in their lives is purchasing their first home.

It comes with its own set of risks as we have all seen in the falling house prices and increased interest rates over the last few years.

Most of us are happy to take those risks on, as we all want a place to call our own and something to pass on to future generations

Don’t cancel it – choose an excess. This change can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Many people consider cancelling their medical insurance due to rising costs, unaware of their options. This concerns me because once you cancel your policy, it can be difficult to get it back.

In short yes. But here’s the thing, where or how to invest is less important than why to invest.

Here at DUX we have helped hundreds of people to get into their first home.

We answer a lot of questions and have advised many people on how to tweak their situation to make it a bit easier when its time to buy.

Here are 5 tips for first home buyers to help make it easier to get a mortgage and buy a home.