Our Team

Our Story

MacDonald Wealth was born out of the idea that everyone deserves the ability to receive financial advice.

We specialise in helping our clients to plan for the future, protect themselves and their family against the unknown and manage their wealth with a disciplined, tried and true investment approach enable them to achieve their goals.

Our clients are at the heart of everything we do, we want to see them living their vision of true wealth, whatever that maybe and have a huge amount of pride and joy in knowing we helped them along that journey.

Our Team

Brad MacDonald

Director and Financial Adviser

A born and bred Hawkes Bay boy Brad and his wife Yvette live locally in Hastings having met more than 20 years ago while Brad was in the Royal New Zealand Navy living in Auckland. After leaving the RNZN, Brad and Yvette made a move from the big smoke for their young family and decided to come home to ‘The Bay’. After a number of years working in local and national account management roles Brad wanted to help people and a move into holistic financial planning and advice came about.

Brad had been providing retirement and financial planning advice for several years at another well known financial planning practice in HB before joining forces with Gary Hemmings in 2018 to develop Common Sense Financial Planning. In 2021, Gary retired from the industry handing over the reigns and with a renewed focus on holistic planning Brad renamed the business MacDonald Wealth.

Brad is a self-described sports tragic and still tries to play cricket along with a little bit of golf. When he isn’t helping people Brad enjoys getting into the great outdoors.

Brad gets the most enjoyment of working with people of all ages to give them the confidence that they will be okay, have enough and be able to do what they want to in life.

Claire Ratahi

Client Service Manager – Insurance

Hailing from the North of England, Claire emigrated to New Zealand in 2002 after extensive overseas travels.  With some 20 years’ experience in the New Zealand Life Insurance and Wealth services, Claire brings a dedication to looking after the client and working for the best possible insurance outcomes – from the very start of the policy application process, to the claim scenario, and whatever assistance the client requires in between…

Now based in the Tasman region with husband, Karl, when not in her office, Claire enjoys looking after her animals and lifestyle block, walks on the beach and hosting visiting friends.  She can most often be found foraging in her veggie garden or creating delicious baking aromas from her kitchen

Aimee North

Business Support Administrator

Aimee joined the MacDonald wealth family in April 2024. Aimee has an extensive background in customer service having worked in the travel industry for many years in the Uk before coming back to NZ for family several years ago.

Aimee manages the day to day administration of MacDonald Wealth, when you call the office chances are you’ll speak with Aimee who is always ready to help, whether that is assisting with claims, organising meetings or simply keeping Brad on track (easier said than done).

Aimee and her son Louis live in Taradale and spend a lot of time enjoying the HB. Aimee is actively involved in the school PTA and taking Louis to one of the many after-school activities he enjoys.

Dane Cleaver

Part-time associate adviser – Full-time professional cricketer

Born and bred in the Manawatu, Dane spends most summers living his dream as a professional cricketer both for the Central District Stags and sometimes the Blackcaps. When he is not plying his trade as a formidable wicket keeper/batsman, he is growing his knowledge of financial advice working alongside Brad to help deliver great service to our clients and helping them achieve their goals.

Dane has a passion for helping athletes from all sports get ahead financially, bringing a great understanding of the pressures that come from being an athlete and also the often short-lived nature of the career to help set things up financially for life after their chosen sport.

In his time off, Dane and his lovely wife Kelsey spend their days chasing around their two kids George (the G-man) and Tobi, socialising with friends and family and enjoying everything Hawkes Bay has to offer, oh and a spot of golf when he can.

Our Services

What we do

Our passion is to help people from all walks of life find their own vision of true wealth. That means helping define what true wealth looks like for you, putting a plan in place to pursue your vision, then partnering with you to grow, protect and maintain that wealth.

Financial Planning

We will design a plan to evaluate your current financial situation and direct you toward true financial freedom.

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Retirement Planning

We are here to help you avoid your own personal retirement crisis, by putting in a financial plan using our MacDonald Wealth process.

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Risk Management

We will help you understand the risks to achieve your true wealth vision and develop a plan to protect those you care about most.

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Investment Management

Our disciplined, evidence based strategies provide your portfolio with the proactive service you need to pursue your goals.

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Legacy Planning

We will help create a comprehensive estate plan that leaves little to chance, along with teaching you how your assets will be distributed to the next generation.

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Our Services

What we do

Our passion is to help people from all walks of life find their own vision of true wealth. That means helping define what true wealth looks like for you, putting a plan in place to pursue your vision, then partnering with you to grow, protect and maintain that wealth.

Insights

Schedule a Consultation

In 15 minutes we can get to know you – your situation, goals and needs – then connect you with an advisor committed to helping you pursue true wealth.

Office Phone
06 843 1915

Office Hours
Mon – Fri 9:00am – 4:00pm

Doug and Renae

“We have been working with Brad over the last 12 months, he has tailored our insurance plan to suit our lifestyles, it is always easy when we meet with Brad and he ensures that we have a full understanding of our policies.”

Graeme and Julie

“We had huge concerns about retirement… There were lots of questions and we didn’t know who to talk to regarding our finances. Then Brad came across our path and he was able to answer the questions, give us direction and explain options we had not thought of, with regard to setting realistic reachable goals. Thanks Brad !!”