Cooking The Books

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to invest smartly, while accusations of greenwashing run rampant. Hosted by Frances Cook. Something I get asked about a lot is ethical investing, and whether it’s possible to make money without making the world a worse place. My answer is a resounding yes. I truly believe that many of the best investments, with good profits, are ethical ones. It’s tricky though, because many companies would like to be seen to be doing good without putting in the work. A recent one that surprised me was Vanguard, a giant in the investing industry, getting into hot water with the Australian authorities. Australian regulators said Vanguard’s Ethically Conscious Global Aggregate Bond Index Fund was actually greenwashing, because of investments associated with the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, local fund manager Pathfinder recently ditched all of its investments in BlackRock, after the global asset manager app

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the best ways to start the money conversation, and avoid a fight. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management. Money is the great unspoken force in many of our lives, making certain things possible, and keeping other things out of reach. But there’s huge power in starting to talk about it, especially with those we’re close to. If you’re coupled up, it’s really important to be on the same page as your partner, to make sure that you’re not accidentally sabotaging each other. There’s more than one way to successfully share your finances, but the key is, you do need to know what your strategy is. There’s also the matter of talking to your kids about money, or even your own parents. These money conversations can be crucial, but also so hard to have. We all bring our own baggage to the conversation, which can make it more likely for emotions to flare up.  For the

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a windfall can mess with your money mindset, and how to fix that. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s a daydream that many of us have had. What would you do if you won the lottery?Millions fall out of the sky and into your lap, and suddenly, the world is your oyster.It might be more on your mind lately after Lotto powerball jackpotted to $37 million.And yet, if it happens, it can actually ruin lives.There are plenty of people who have a lottery win and end up poorer than they started, in only a few short years.Think I’m ruining the daydream? You could actually end up in this situation one day.A lotto win can be similar to what happens if you get a big inheritance, or the moment you finally get to crack open your KiwiSaver or retirement fund nest egg.Suddenly having access to a big whack of cash can throw all of our sense out of the window, and actually ruin our finances.So how should you handle it

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to launch your business idea the right way. Hosted by Frances Cook. When you’re setting up a business, it’s important to start off on the right foot. So in a special quick hit episode of Cooking the Books, today is all about getting those foundations in place, so you can start with confidence. For the latest podcast, I talked to Olivia Donaldson, commercial partner at BNZ. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ and NZME are not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the trends fund managers are watching, and banking on. Hosted by Frances Cook. They say that change is the only constant, which is particularly true in the investing world. One moment there’s a hot stock rocketing in price, the next minute, the company is down again, and it’s on to the next. To invest well amongst all the noise means the ability to step back, take the long view, and decide what’s actually a trend that’s likely to last, and keep that business making money. That’s exactly what fund managers do, and there are some spicy choices that have caught their attention recently, including weight loss drugs like Ozempic, and the change towards renewable electricity. So what are they watching, and should you be doing the same? For the latest podcast, I talked to Nathan Field, global equities portfolio manager for Generate.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like a

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the investments than can do even better in a downturn. Hosted by Frances Cook. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of investing through a recession, as it can be a way to snap up bargains, and build wealth for the future. But what if you’re looking for something a little more immediate? Good investments that keep doing well, even when the economy is down? The current recession is the perfect test of this, because some industries are actually going better than ever. For the latest podcast I talked to Milford Asset Management portfolio manager Sam Trethewey. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one woman went from deeply in debt, to being rich enough to buy into a castle in Italy. Hosted by Frances Cook. Sometimes you need a shock in order to make a change, and today’s guest certainly had one of those in the past. She’d known she wasn’t doing well with money, but when she decided to face it head on, and add up how much she owed, she realised with horror that it was $187,000. Not only did she manage to pay that off, but she’s since gone on to create her own business, and become pretty wealthy. For the latest podcast I talked to Australian business mentor and author Simone Milasas. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A highlight clip from the January 2019 episode "How to cut waste and your food bill at the same time" with Jenny Marshall from Love Food Hate Waste. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how alternative investments like art, wine, and handbags, actually work. Hosted by Frances Cook. I’m a big believer that the world of investing is open to everyone these days, and you can start growing your wealth if you have just $5 spare. But it is also true that the investing world has some interesting pockets where you get a glimpse into how the other half lives. So it is with certain luxury investments, where people invest in art, watches, wine, or even handbags.  Can you actually make money on these? The answer is yes… sometimes  The Financial Times even crunched the numbers once to find a 38% return on some Birkin bags.  That’s certainly a lot higher than the 10% you can expect from shares.  But when you get into this area it’s a little bit art, a little bit science, and a little bit hobby, because you have to know your stuff. It’s not every Birkin that will make you a lot of money.  You

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the strategies and organisations to help you pay off debt faster. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by BNZ. Debt is one of those things that’s easy to get into, and harder to get out of. But the good news is there are at least some tactics to make it a little bit easier, once you decide you want to get out of debt. There are strategies in how you can pay it off, and there are also organisations ready to give you a helping hand. For the latest episode I talked to Frances Ronowicz, head of social impact at BNZ. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here. This podcast contains general information only, not professional advice. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from this podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how a social media challenge turned into a profitable six figure business. Hosted by Frances Cook. There are so many good reasons to want to start a business – to do something you feel proud of, to have control over your schedule, or simply to earn more money. All great reasons, but it’s easier said than done. Most businesses fail. One way to find customers and get that all important money coming through the door is by using social media. It’s a savvy way to reach out to people and show them what you’re capable of. Again though, easier said than done. What do you post in order to drum up business, how do you avoid pitfalls like burn out, or even just the criticism that comes with putting yourself out there to the internet? Here’s how one New Zealander made it work, in order to build her own six figure graphic design business. For the latest podcast I talked to Kristy Campbell, founder of Pink Po

A highlight clip from the December 2017 episode "Where to start when you're drowning in debt" with the Commission for Financial Capability's personal finance editor Tom Hartmann. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s why scammers are on the rise, and how to stay ahead of them. Hosted by Frances Cook. If you pride yourself on being great with money, and able to spot tricksters coming a mile off, I have bad news for you: you’re one of the people most at risk. Scams, fraudsters, and rip-off artists are everywhere right now, and it’s horrifying the number of people who are losing their hard-earned money to them. One of the biggest dangers to being sucked in, though, is thinking that you know all the tricks. People with some money knowledge are actually more likely to get taken in. That’s exactly what Nigel Latta learned when he started researching for his new TV show about scammers. And he had some first hand knowledge of the damage that scammers can do, after his mother-in-law lost thousands to them. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to m

A highlight clip from the June 2022 episode "busting the investing myths that hold you back" with Clarissa Hirst from the Financial Services Council. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how your KiwiSaver and investments will change under new climate rules. Hosted by Frances Cook. Environmental issues can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line, and yet until now, it’s often been seen as a nice-to-have consideration for investors. That’s about to change. The government has put in new standards that require New Zealand companies to collect information on emissions and other climate related impacts, and give that information to investors along with their annual results. Even if you’re not in New Zealand, this is significant for you, too. Other countries are considering similar changes. It’s supposed to make it much harder for things like greenwashing to continue. The impacts could be seen in share prices, as the information is likely to change investor decisions, as well as filtering out to customers who might change their behaviour based on the new info. So basically, thi

A highlight clip from the August 2022 episode "Your KiwiSaver questions answered" with Dr Claire Matthews, associate professor from Massey Business School. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week, BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackle a different money problem. Today, it’s how one NZ company landed a contract with an international giant of the beauty world. Hosted by Frances Cook. Every now and then you’ll hear about a New Zealand business that made it big.From being an idea dreamed up in someone’s garage, to landing on the world stage, suddenly working alongside titans of the business world.For those of us who don’t want to become international business moguls, even if you have a side hustle, there are often interesting lessons to be learned from those who took their business to the next level.So, enter Powered by Flossie.You might remember it as flossie.com, which at one point let customers book off-peak visits to beauty salons.That was shut down a few years ago, but not because they failed.It’s because the founders realized there was a bigger opportunity in the tech behind their site. That became Powered By Flossie.Now they’ve signed up to a global distribution

A highlight clip from the March 2019 episode "How to talk to your partner about money" with AUT's Dr Ayesha Scott.  If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s the reality behind the digital nomad dream. Hosted by Frances Cook. There have been many promises made about the future of work, how increased digital connections would make it easier to design our own schedule, and work from anywhere in the world.In reality, it’s often a little trickier than we might think.Sometimes it can be hard to see how our current career or business could be changed to suit remote work.If you want to go full digital nomad, you’ll also need to have a plan for how to balance your time, keep those business relationships warm, and even sort out annoying details like visas.For the latest podcast I talked to Nathan James Thomas, author of Untethered. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s what you need to know to get the most out of your KiwiSaver. Hosted by Frances Cook. This episode is brought to you by Milford Asset Management. Your KiwiSaver is the biggest financial asset for many New Zealanders, but I’m sorry to say, many of us are doing it wrong. You need different types of KiwiSaver accounts depending on where you are in your life. Your age is a major factor, but so is whether or not you plan to use it for a house soon, and also, your money mindset. So how do you figure it out? Happily, just a few rules of thumb can change your KiwiSaver and potentially leave you with hundreds of thousands of dollars more in your account. For the latest podcast I talked to Milford Asset Management KiwiSaver financial adviser Liam Robertson. If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here, Insta