Episode Archive
Home Ownership vs the Stock Market: Who Wins?
Is it smarter to buy your first home, or rent and invest the difference in the S&P 500? Rory and Daniel go head-to-head with a full 35-year case study: Jack and Jill, a Dunedin couple in their 30s with $200,000 in KiwiSaver and a $200,000 income, weighing a $1M Auckland home against a high-growth fund. They run three scenarios — rent-and-invest, buy-and-hold, and buy-then-leverage your equity into three rentals — and the retirement net-worth figures finish within a whisker of each other. A clear-eyed look at the maths, the psychology of investing, and why the right answer comes down to discipline and personal preference.
Can You Afford a Baby? NZ's Brutal Truth
What does it actually cost to have a baby in New Zealand — and can the average household afford it? Dan swaps Rory for Managing Director David Chamberlain and Operations Manager Klara Kozak — one expecting, one already raising an 18-month-old — to break down the real numbers: nappies, formula, cots, prams and sleep sacks, then the big one — dropping to a single income on parental leave. They share the "save the gap" strategy they both used, why childcare can run $500–$600 a week, and how recent changes to mortgage lending mean a baby on the way no longer has to put your home-buying plans on hold.
When Do Properties Not Go Up in Value?
Some New Zealanders lost money on property over the past decade — even as the national average climbed 55%. Dan and Rory unpack a real client case study from 2015 to 2024, then map the fundamentals that separate properties that appreciate from those that don't: land, property type, rental demand, and infrastructure. Plus why the regions outperformed Auckland three-to-one, and one South Waikato town worth a closer look.
WAR & YOUR WALLET: The Truth About Investing in Chaos
War is escalating, oil prices are spiking, and market volatility is back. Is your KiwiSaver safe? In this episode of The Blueprint Podcast, we sit down with financial adviser Jono Smith to discuss the shocking truth about investing during global crises.
🎤 Jono Smith
Uber Eats to 2 Properties: How Jack Turned $17k Into a Portfolio
From driving Uber Eats to owning a property portfolio before 25, Jack Hammond shares his unconventional path to wealth. Jack reveals the exact strategy he used to turn a $17,000 KiwiSaver deposit into two properties in under two years.
🎤 Jack Hammond
Don't Start a Business, Buy One: The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History
In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Lipman to discuss why buying a "boring" business is the #1 wealth-building opportunity of the next decade.
🎤 Brandon Lipman
You Don't Need 20%: The Ultimate First Home Deposit Guide (2026)
Daniel and Rory break down every deposit pathway for first home buyers in 2026 — KiwiSaver withdrawal, First Home Grant, gifting, and more.
How Blueprint Finance Started: From Shoebox Office to a 15-Person Team
The origin story of Blueprint Finance — from a tiny shoebox office to a team of 15 serving clients across New Zealand.
Commercial Is Better Than Residential? The Great NZ Property Debate with Logan Roach
Logan Roach makes the case for commercial property investment. Is it really better than residential? The great debate.
🎤 Logan Roach
How to Break Your Limits in NZ Real Estate with Lawrence Kenyon-Slade
Lawrence Kenyon-Slade on pushing past borrowing limits, creative lending structures, and building a property portfolio in New Zealand.
🎤 Lawrence Kenyon-Slade
When Do You Become Wealthy Enough to Not Need Insurance?
At what point can you self-insure? Daniel and Rory explore the maths behind dropping insurance cover and the risks of going without.
The Entrepreneur's Compass: Forging Your Own Path with Brandon Lipman
Brandon Lipman on entrepreneurship, building a business, and the financial decisions that shape your journey.
🎤 Brandon Lipman
Bitcoin at All-Time Highs: Is It Too Late to Invest?
With Bitcoin reaching new highs, Daniel and Rory discuss cryptocurrency as an investment and how it compares to property and traditional assets.
40-Year Mortgage! Genius or a Debt Trap?
Is the 40-year mortgage a smart strategy or a financial trap? Daniel and Rory break down the maths and the psychology.
Stop Comparing, Start Owning: Conquer Doubt & Buy Your First Home
Overcoming analysis paralysis and comparison anxiety to take the leap into homeownership. Practical advice for first home buyers.
Whose Agent Are They Anyway? Alex Martelli Challenges the NZ Property Game
Alex Martelli challenges conventional thinking about real estate agents and buyer advocacy in the New Zealand property market.
🎤 Alexandra Vincent Martelli
Arthur Loo on Wills, Trusts & 30 Years of Kiwi Property Law
Property lawyer Arthur Loo shares 30 years of insights on trusts, wills, and the legal side of property ownership in New Zealand.
🎤 Arthur Loo
David Seymour on Housing, KiwiSaver & Fixing NZ's Future
ACT leader David Seymour joins the podcast to discuss housing affordability, KiwiSaver reform, and his vision for New Zealand's economic future.
🎤 David Seymour
How We Saved a Client $9,000 on Insurance
A real client case study showing how a policy review uncovered $9,000 in annual savings without reducing cover.
The Mortgage Payoff Playbook: Myths, Magic & Smart Money Moves
Debunking mortgage myths and revealing the strategies that actually save you money — from offset accounts to accelerated repayments.
Ben Ryken: Trusting Process – The Journey of a Top Auckland REA
Real estate agent Ben Ryken on building trust, navigating the Auckland property market, and the process behind becoming a top agent.
🎤 Ben Ryken
Paralympian to Protector: Rory's Insurance Journey
Rory McSweeney shares his journey from Paralympic bronze medalist to insurance adviser, and why protecting families drives his work.
Blueprinted
The journey starts. Daniel and Rory launch the Blueprint Finance Podcast and share the story behind the brand.