Making Cents

If you're feeling the February slump and wondering how to get back on track without starting from scratch, this one's for you!

A replay of Frances Cook's column for 1 News, read here with permission, on 7 science-backed ways to get your money back under control.

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Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook

This episode was originally part of the Market Memo newsletter, where you learn about sharemarket investing every week. You can subscribe to that, here https://marketmemoweekly.substack.com/

It’s never been easier to start investing. And that’s both brilliant, and part of the problem.

Between constant headlines, market swings, hot takes on social media, and apps that let you trade with a swipe, investing has turned into a psychological minefield.

Now, for most people, the biggest risk to their money isn’t the market. It’s their own brain.

In this episode of Making Cents, it’s the seven common mental traps that trip investors up.

We’ll cover:

Why losses hurt so much more than gains (and what that makes people do)

How herd behaviour and FOMO sneak into otherwise sensible decisions

Why sticking to what feels familiar can cost you real growth

The mental shortcuts that make short-term noise feel more important than long-term plans

And the simple systems that help emotions stop driving the car

This episode isn’t about suppressing your feelings or becoming some emotionless investing robot.

It’s about understanding how your brain works, and putting smart guardrails in place so it doesn’t sabotage your future.

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TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #InvestingPsychology #BehaviouralFinance #MoneyPsychology #InvestorMindset #MentalTraps #Investing

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:18 Loss aversion: the pain hits harder than the pleasure
00:03:31 Overconfidence bias: the 'I can time the market' illusion
00:05:21 Herd behavior and FOMO: when everyone's buying, beware
00:07:13 Home bias: comfort can cost you
00:08:31 Confirmation bias: the echo chamber effect
00:09:39 Recency bias: thinking yesterday predicts tomorrow
00:10:48 Present bias: the 'now' trap
00:12:19 Wrapping up: stop emotions from driving the car
00:13:00 Outro

If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually going on behind the scenes of the 1%, beyond the headlines, Instagram posts, and glossy business profiles, this episode pulls back the curtain.

Because beneath the public image of wealth is usually a highly deliberate money strategy. And it doesn’t have to be exclusive to the ultra-rich.

In this episode of Making Cents, Frances Cook speaks with Andrew Clements, a private wealth and succession lawyer who works with some of New Zealand’s wealthiest families. Andrew spends his days helping high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients build wealth, protect it, and stop it being blown up by one bad decision, whether that’s an investment mistake, poor structure, or family conflict.

What he’s learned may surprise you.

We talk about:

How wealthy families think in decades, not years

Why protecting money often matters more than chasing returns

The “guardrails” the wealthy put around their money, and their families

Why the rich often sell when others are rushing in

The risks that don’t show up on balance sheets, including family and succession risk

How downturns are treated as opportunity, not panic

And which wealth strategies are realistic for everyday NZers to copy

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #GenerationalWealth #WealthBuilding #WealthManagement #FinancialLiteracy #SuccessionPlanning #ImpactInvesting #FinancialAdviser #PrivateWealth #HighNetWorth #NZBusinessOwners

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:13 Meet Andrew Clements: private wealth and succession lawyer
00:03:39 Money talks, but wealth whispers
00:04:25 Values over dollars: what wealthy families actually prioritize
00:08:19 The long game: how the wealthy build and protect assets
00:09:44 The Lithuanian entrepreneur who didn't get greedy
00:12:38 Investing in yourself: the best investment you can make
00:18:43 Philosophy breeds methodology: finding advisors who understand you
00:22:12 How the wealthy invest differently: shares over property
00:27:24 Impact investing: making money and making a difference
00:29:22 Family risk: how inheritance can become poison
00:33:16 Beating the three-generation curse
00:37:20 The hundred dollar note on the dinner table
00:42:13 Can average people become wealthy? Yes, here's how
00:44:39 Outro

Everyone says you should start investing in the stock market, but how do you actually do that?

Time for a quick roadmap to get you started. Whether you’re starting from scratch, or you’ve been investing for a while but you’re not sure you’re nailing it, this is the live session to help you feel like the confident investor you should be.

With top industry experts

-Kernel chief executive Dean Anderson

-Stuff money editor Damian Venuto

-Massey University Professor Claire Matthews

As we answer questions live, we’re talking about what actually matters when investing in shares in 2026, how to get started without overthinking it, building a system that lets you keep investing no matter what, and getting under the hood of what’s happening in the sharemarket right now.

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook

Are home renovations actually an investment, or just an expensive way to make your house nicer to live in?

In this Ask the Experts mailbag episode, it’s time to answer the question many are scared of: have I overcapitalised my home?

Which renovations genuinely add value, and which ones don’t?
Is your own home an investment, or a lifestyle choice?
And if you’ve already spent the money, should you even consider an investment property?

To break it all down, I’m joined by Vanessa Williams from http://realestate.co.nz who brings the data on what actually moves house prices in New Zealand: from extra bedrooms and bathrooms, to the renovation traps that don’t stack up financially.

We cover:
– When renovations can increase resale value, and when they won’t
– The real difference between lifestyle upgrades and wealth-building moves
– How to tell if you’ve overcapitalised (and what to do if you have)
– Whether using home equity to invest in property is still an option
– How to think about your home versus a true investment property

If you have a letter you’d like us to answer, please send it through to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and you might feature on our next episode!

Follow me everywhere!

Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ

Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz

TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz

Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe

This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock

#MakingCents #FrancesCook #NewZealandProperty #PropertyMarket #PropertyInvestment #HomeRenovation #RenovationROI #Overcapitalising #HomeEquity #InvestmentProperty #FirstHomeBuyer #DIYRenovation #PropertyValuation

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:14 Listener letter: renovated but worried about overcapitalizing
00:02:18 What renovations actually add value vs lifestyle upgrades
00:03:30 The data: how much value each bedroom adds
00:05:28 Kitchens and decks: investment or lifestyle choice?
00:06:46 How to know if you've overcapitalised
00:08:48 Is your home an investment? The debate
00:12:25 Using home equity to buy an investment property
00:14:57 Next steps: gathering information and exploring options
00:17:28 Outro