Where's My Money Season 3, Episode 10

Season Three of the multi-award-winning podcast Where’s My Money? is done and dusted, and here we bring you the hot tips shared by host Reagan White and his guests over the season. 

enable.me partners with rova to bring this podcast to life and stimulate the conversation about finances with everyday Kiwis. Where’s My Money? follows the story of Reagan – a man chasing the Kiwi Dream but feeling stuck living month-to-month – and his discussions with the experts about what he may be doing wrong and how to fix it.  

One man. One million dollars of debt. One podcast to find a way out.  

Retirement isn’t an age – it’s a plan 

In Episode 10, host Reagan White takes a closer look at one of the biggest financial questions Kiwis face – when should you start preparing for retirement? Spoiler: it’s much earlier than you think. 

Reagan is first joined by enable.me financial coaches Lisa Butler and Dianne Barlow, who guide the conversation through one crucial mindset shift: retirement is not a finish line – it’s a freedom line. The earlier you plan, the more choices you’ll have later. 

“When is the right time to start thinking about it?” asks Reagan. 

“The sooner you start, the easier it is,” Lisa says.  

The longer you save, even if it’s small amounts…you get the compounding interest effect over 10, 20 years… and that builds a bigger pot for later on. So, it’s really important – the earlier you start, the better off you are.” 

Whether you’re in your 20s or 40s, retirement isn’t just something that magically happens – it’s something you actively shape over your lifetime. 

Can you retire on your terms? 

According to a recent FSC statistic, 70% of New Zealanders believe they’ll need to keep working beyond retirement age. And while there’s nothing wrong with choosing to work longer, Lisa and Dianne make it clear: needing to work and wanting to work are two very different positions to be in. 

“Seventy per cent of Kiwis think they’ll still be working at 70 – I mean, that’s fine if you love your job, but you don’t want to have to [work] to cover groceries,” says Dianne. 

That freedom starts with intentional planning early on, even if it’s just making the most of KiwiSaver as soon as possible. But while KiwiSaver plays an important role in most people’s retirement journey, Lisa and Dianne caution against thinking of it as your entire solution. 

“It’s also important to think about KiwiSaver only being accessible at 65, so if you want to have the flexibility to know you could retire earlier you can’t rely on KiwiSaver for that,” Lisa says. 

Instead, it should be one part of a broader wealth strategy – something that includes assets, investments, and structure. 

“Your super’s not going to kick in either so you do need other assets, or other income streams that you can use to bridge the gap if you’re going to retire at 60… you need the 5 years of income stashed away.” 

Ultimately, retirement readiness isn’t about reaching a number. It’s about creating a future where your lifestyle isn’t dictated by financial pressure. 

Start with what you have, build from there 

Later in the episode we hear from Roger Swift, recently retired enable.me financial coach, who discusses his reasons for choosing early retirement – and reminds Kiwis to make their own definition of wealth and purpose. 

“Defining what ‘rich’ is, or ‘wealth’ because everyone puts that in a box,” Roger says. “Being rich is just one side of the balance sheet, the other part is how you live your life and conduct yourself… and that’s really important, too.” 

Roger’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to wait until everything is perfect before you start planning for retirement. Whether you’re in your early career or already eyeing the next chapter, the best time to start is now.  

“The big thing is figuring out what savings are – and savings are for spending later on,” he says. “Get a good plan, be aligned – if you’ve got a partner – be aligned, talk about what do you want to do.” 

If retirement feels like a distant concept or something you’ve pushed to the back burner, this episode is your call to bring it front and centre – and start designing the future you want. 

Disclaimer: The Where’s My Money? podcast and the information shared by host Reagan White and his guests does not constitute individual financial advice. If you’re interested in receiving financial advice, you can book a consultation with an enable.me coach. Costs apply.