3 Lessons from Investing’s “Moneyball” Moment

Michael Jensen, then an economist at the University of Rochester, used the data to analyze individual fund performance between 1945 and 1964. He found that individual mutual funds were unable, on average, to outperform a strategy that simply bought and held a marketwide portfolio. In fact, there was scant evidence that any individual fund delivered better returns than you’d expect by random chance.

After 100 years of data, the story has stayed the same. Only more so. Stock returns compounded at about 10% per year over the full century.

What does this mean for average investors? 

A look back at when the world feared the worst

When the Market Siren Sounds, Will You Know What to Do?

As a kid growing up in Kansas, we regularly did tornado drills in school. When the siren sounded, we’d rush downstairs into the auditorium and huddle in its southwest corner, because tornadoes in Kansas tend to move northeast. After a few minutes of hunkering down, we’d head back to class. Nobody particularly loved those tornado drills, but everyone understood why they mattered.

How sunlight helps you stay healthy

he sun’s rays have received something of a bad rap in recent years, especially here in New Zealand. Yet the truth is that without it, we simply couldn’t survive. And, let’s face it, we wouldn’t even be here in the first place.

Yes, from helping plants to grow to keeping us warm, sunlight is an absolute essential for life. Not to mention a welcome feeling on the skin, and a positive health boon too. But before we delve into just how sunlight is beneficial to our overall health and wellness, let’s tackle the big elephant in the room – our modern-day aversion to it.

The top 3 ways money probably didn’t make you happy in 2025… and the 3 ways it might in 2026

You’ve probably heard the saying, “money can’t buy happiness.” But for most of us it achieves something almost as valuable: it buys peace of mind.

Research consistently shows that financial stress is a common part of everyday life. With ongoing pressure from living costs and economic uncertainty, many households regularly worry about money, with around 70% of New Zealanders saying they’re concerned about money daily, weekly or monthly

MacDonald Wealth Summer Update

Following a volatile but generally profitable first three quarters of the year, the majority of markets delivered further gains over the final three months of 2025.

International share markets provided the strongest gains, with the New Zealand and Australian share markets taking a back seat over the quarter. Similarly, with global interest rates having receded from their post-Covid peaks, returns from fixed income assets delivered in line with expectations – moderately positive.

How managed funds can help achieve your financial goals

When it comes to investing for your future, managed funds can be a very smart strategy. The managed fund you’ll be most familiar with is KiwiSaver. Using a managed fund can help you achieve your long-term goals like saving for a house deposit, or towards your retirement. We outline the advantages of managed funds, along with a few finer details that are worth thinking through before you commit.

In times of uncertainty, investors with a plan should stick with the plan

Over the past few days as global politics create uncertainty and global share markets have responded, I thought it would be good to reflect on markets and provide some perspective on what is happening and as investors, what can or should we do about it, especially when it comes to our investments & KiwiSaver funds.

The longer I’ve been in this industry, the more my perspective on market downturns—corrections, recessions, and the like—has evolved.

Why (and how) to keep your insurance policies during tough times

11 Christmas Budgeting Tips to Free You of Financial Stress

Should I have health insurance for my kids?

Here in Aotearoa, parents and caregivers of young children are fortunate to have access to a public health system that provides free GP care to children aged 13 and under. Anyone who’s experienced a child with a high fever, ear or throat infection, or one of the dozens of viruses that afflict young kids will know exactly how reassuring it is to be able to book a GP appointment without giving affordability a second thought.

While this ability to rely on free primary care is invaluable, it can also mean that parents and caregivers consider health insurance for Kiwi kids to be an unnecessary expense. And, for some children, it’s true that health insurance will never be needed – but for others, it’s worth its weight in gold. That’s because having health insurance for your kids means you can access specialist medical care from private healthcare providers around the country without having to wait.

Are Insurance Payouts Taxable in New Zealand?

Have you just received an insurance payout? You may be wondering if you need to pay tax on this. We're here to help. The tax implication of insurance can get a little complex in New Zealand, so we wrote this blog to help demystify the topic for you. We've covered which payouts are not taxable, which are, and some that are situation-dependent. Check it out!

You can’t put a number on happiness

“What is your number?” That is the catch phrase of a popular advertisement that runs and re-runs amongst financial advising companies.

These types of campaigns are popular as many people will have a jolt of panic at some point just past mid-life, where they think, “Will I have enough for my retirement? I’d better get prepared.” Having a target ‘number’ can help you to understand just how big the mountain you must climb, really is.