When it comes to improving your financial future, one of the smartest decisions you can make is seeking professional financial advice.

Whether you’re reviewing your KiwiSaver account, planning for retirement or looking to grow your wealth, getting advice can help you make more informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Many people assume financial advice is only for wealthy investors. In reality, advice can benefit everyday New Zealanders by helping them choose the right KiwiSaver fund, understand their investment options, set clear financial goals and stay on track during periods of market uncertainty.

Research has consistently shown that advised investors often achieve better financial outcomes than those who go it alone – not because advisers can predict markets, but because they help people make better long-term decisions.

Why financial advice could be one of your best financial decisions

When it comes to building long-term financial security, professional financial advice can be one of the most valuable investments you make.

A common misconception is that only wealthy people should talk to a professional adviser, but think of it the same way you think of a personal trainer – you don’t need to be fit to have one of those! They’re there to guide you and help you improve your financial situation, no matter where you’re starting from.

You don’t need to be wealthy or a finance expert to benefit – advice is for everyone. In fact, studies from New Zealand and around the world show that people who get financial advice end up more confident, more prepared, and often significantly better off financially over the long-term.

Here are five great reasons why.

1. Advised investors often build higher KiwiSaver balances

Let’s start with the numbers.

Research shows that people who receive financial advice often build much higher balances in their retirement funds:

• 52% more in KiwiSaver accounts – according to New Zealand’s Financial Services Council, Kiwis who’ve had financial advice have over 50% more in their KiwiSaver account than those who haven’t (1)

• In Australia, members of Aware Super who received advice had around 22% more in their superannuation accounts – equal to about $150,000 AUD (~$180,000 NZD) more by retirement (2).

Generate sees this phenomenon occur consistently. Ninety percent of Generate KiwiSaver Scheme members joined with the help of an expert adviser – and on average Generate members have higher account balances than the national average (3).

Age	Generate member average balance ($)	NZ average balance
17 and under	3,216	3,512
18-25	14,838	10,567
26-30	27,814	21,308
31-35	34,306	26,231
36-40	42,804	33,070
41-45	52,587	43,187
46-50	62,746	55,010
51-55	73,408	65,873
56-60	78,361	72,861
61-65	82,711	77,927
Average all ages	46,152	41,286

 

This trend is apparent across different age bands, but most notably in the 36-40 group, where Generate members have an average balance of $42,804 – a chunky $9,734 more than the average Kiwi’s balance in this age range, which sits at $33,070 (3). These figures are as at 31 December 2025.

Across all the age groups in total, the average KiwiSaver balance is $ 41,286, whereas for Generate members it’s still higher at $46,152.

This isn’t just luck. It’s the result of better fund choices, smarter planning, and avoiding common mistakes – like panicking during a market dip or sitting in the wrong fund for years.

2. Financial advice helps you make the most of your KiwiSaver benefits

Advised investors are educated and empowered, which helps them make smart KiwiSaver decisions. This covers everything from making sure they always qualify for the Government contribution each year, or upping their contribution rate to meet their goals and making sure they’re in the fund most suited to their goals.

As another example, more than 80% of Generate’s KiwiSaver Scheme members are in growth funds (Generate KiwiSaver Growth or Focused Growth funds), which provide a higher potential for long-term returns than default or conservative funds. This is well above the national average, where only around half are invested in a growth fund (5).

3. Advice builds confidence and clarity around your retirement plan

Money can be confusing. There’s a lot of jargon, decisions to make, and it can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re just starting out.

With the cost of living increasing, it’s no surprise that a Financial Service Council 2025 report found that only 44% of New Zealanders feel financially prepared for retirement. That’s down from 50% in 2024 (6). You may likely be feeling the same way.

That’s where advice makes a huge difference.

• A 2022 New Zealand study found that 74% of advised New Zealanders believe advice provided them with a clear understanding of how to achieve their financial goals (7).
• 94% of advised people said they feel confident making big financial decisions – like buying a home, switching funds, or planning for retirement, compared with 83% of unadvised people (8).

In Australia, people who worked with an adviser were twice as confident about having enough for retirement compared to those who didn’t get advice (9).⁠
⁠
⁠⁠Financial advice can give you the peace of mind to make informed financial decisions and stay on track (9).

4. Some advised investors retire earlier 

Planning for retirement might feel a long way off, but the choices you make now can shape what your future looks like.

Research from the UK shows that:

• People who got financial advice early ended up with £47,000 ($108,000 NZD) more wealth over ten years, including £31,000 ($70,000 NZD) more in their pension funds (10).
• They expected to retire at age 66, while unadvised people expected to retire at 69 – a three-year head start (11).
• 96% of advised retirees said they were enjoying retirement, compared to 72% of those who didn’t get advice (12).

That’s not just about money – it’s about confidence, preparation, and knowing how to make your money work for you.

5. The value of financial advice adds up – globally

This trend isn’t just limited to one country. Around the world, the numbers tell the same story:

• In Canada, people who received financial advice from age 25 ended up with 55% more in retirement savings and could spend 23% more in retirement (13).
• Global studies from Morningstar and Vanguard show that good advice can boost investment returns by 2.5% to 3% per year – often by helping investors stay disciplined and avoid emotional decisions (14).
• For retirees, better financial planning can lead to 29% more income in retirement (15).

So, is it time you got KiwiSaver advice?

You don’t need to have thousands of dollars or deep knowledge about investing to get value from advice.

Advisers can help you:

• Choose the right type of KiwiSaver fund for your goals
• Understand how much you might need for retirement – and how much you’re on track to have
• Stay on track through the ups and downs of investing
• Explain how adjusting your KiwiSaver contributions can impact your KiwiSaver account balance.

Ready to take the next step?

A quick conversation with a Generate adviser could be the best investment you make for your future. There’s no cost, no jargon – just helpful guidance. Talk to a Generate adviser today. Because getting advice now could mean a lot more later.

FOOTNOTE REFERENCES

(1) Financial Services Council NZ (2020) – Money & You – Breaking Through the Advice
Barrier Download PDF
(2) Aware Super (2022) https://aware.com.au/member/about-us/newsroom/november-2022/study-indicates-advised-super-fund-members-150000-ahead
(3) MJW KiwiSaver Demographic Report March (2026). Data at 31 December 2025. Generate KiwiSaver Scheme data is for the same period.
(4) www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwisaver-are-you-missing-out-on-your-last-chance-for-521-of-free-money/IDJKCBMH4VEQNDPLAOYNLFK5YQ⁠
www.westpac.co.nz/about-us/media/last-chance-for-kiwisaver-members-to-get-full-bonus-through-government-contribution/
⁠www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2506/S00507/is-cost-of-living-deterring-kiwisavers-from-final-big-government-contribution.htm
(5) FMA KiwiSaver Annual Report 2025 (covering the year ended 31 March 2025) https://www.fma.govt.nz/assets/Reports/KiwiSaver-Annual-Report-2025.pdf
(6) Financial Services Council – Financial Resilience Index (2025) https://www.fsc.org.nz/report/financial-resilience-index-2025
(7) Financial Advice NZ – Better Behaviours Research (2022) https://www.strictlybiz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Research-Report-Better-Behaviours.pdf
(8) Financial Advice NZ – Better Behaviours Research (2022) https://www.strictlybiz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Research-Report-Better-Behaviours.pdf
(9) Virtue & Partners / MYMAVINS Research (2022) https://www.virtueandpartners.com.au/latest-news/2022/12/positive-results-from-research-into-the-value-of-financial-advice
(10) Royal London & International Longevity Centre UK (2019) https://www.royallondon.com/about-us/media/media-centre/press-releases/archive/financial-advice-provides-47000-wealth-uplift
(11) Standard Life UK (2023) https://corporate-adviser.com/financial-advice-leads-to-better-retirement-outcomes-standard-life-research/
(12) Standard Life UK (2023) https://corporate-adviser.com/financial-advice-leads-to-better-retirement-outcomes-standard-life-research
(13) Conference Board of Canada / Investment Funds Institute of Canada (2020) https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/research-and-markets/study-shows-value-of-financial-advice
(14) Rutherford Rede Summary – The Adviser Gap: How Financial Guidance Leads to Better Outcomes (2024) https://rutherfordrede.co.nz/the-adviser-gap-how-financial-guidance-leads-to-better-outcomes
(15) Rutherford Rede Summary – The Adviser Gap: How Financial Guidance Leads to Better Outcomes (2024) https://rutherfordrede.co.nz/the-adviser-gap-how-financial-guidance-leads-to-better-outcomes

No part of this article is intended as financial advice; it is intended as general information only. To see our Financial Advice Provider Disclosure Statement, please see Generate FAP Disclosure Statement. For more information see the Generate KiwiSaver Scheme Product Disclosure Statement or the Generate Unit Trust Scheme (Managed Funds) Product Disclosure Statement or the fund updates for KiwiSaver and for Managed Funds. The issuer of both schemes is Generate Investment Management Limited. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.