Soft Landing

Migration & Money: How Immigrants Can Buy a Home in NZ Ep.32

Many immigrants believe buying a home in New Zealand is impossible… but that's not actually true. In this episode of the Migration & Money series, Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the biggest milestones for immigrants in New Zealand: buying your first home. For many newcomers, owning a home is the moment when New Zealand truly starts to feel like home. But between rising house prices, deposits, and confusing mortgage terms, the process can feel overwhelming. In this episode, we break down: • The first steps immigrants should take when planning to buy a home • How long it realistically takes to save for a deposit • Whether you really need a 20% deposit • The difference between fixed, floating and split mortgages • The most common mistakes immigrants make when planning for a mortgage Ivandee also shares why starting the conversation early can make a huge difference to reaching your goal of home ownership. Buying a home in New Zealand might feel out of reach at first — but with the right planning, it may be far more achievable than you think. Also, If you're exploring a move to New Zealand and want practical help figuring it all out, you're welcome to join the Soft Landing Inner Circle community. Inside you'll find resources, conversations and guidance to help you work out whether New Zealand is the right move — and how to make it work if you decide to go for it. You can join the free community here: https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz [https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz]

Migration & Money: KiwiSaver Explained for Immigrants Ep. 31

Most immigrants arriving in New Zealand hear about KiwiSaver… but very few actually understand how it works. In this episode of the Migration & Money series, Brett Corlett sits down with Ivandee Fitchet from Migrant Financial Services to unpack one of the most important financial tools available to immigrants in New Zealand: KiwiSaver. If you've ever wondered: • What KiwiSaver actually is • Who qualifies for it • How employer contributions work • Whether it helps you buy your first home in New Zealand • And the biggest mistakes immigrants make with KiwiSaver …this episode is for you. KiwiSaver can play a powerful role in helping immigrants build retirement savings and potentially buy their first home, but only if you understand how to use it properly. Ivandee breaks down how it works, what to look out for in your employment contract, and why getting the right advice early can make a huge difference. If you're planning your future in New Zealand, this is a conversation worth listening to. Also, If you're exploring a move to New Zealand and want practical help figuring it all out, you're welcome to join the Soft Landing Inner Circle community. Inside you'll find resources, conversations and guidance to help you work out whether New Zealand is the right move — and how to make it work if you decide to go for it. If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz [https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz]

Migration & Money: Investing After Immigrating to New Zealand Ep.30

You've immigrated. You're rebuilding. But when do you actually start investing? In this episode of the Migration & Money Series, Brett speaks with Ivandee Fitchet (Migrant Financial Services) and David Morgan (Forsyth Barr) about what financial planning looks like for immigrants in New Zealand. We cover: * Emergency funds * House deposit planning * Retirement after immigrating later in life * Investing small vs waiting * Investor visa pathways * Why savings accounts alone may not be enough If you're 2–3 years into your move and starting to think long-term, this conversation will give you clarity and confidence. If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz [https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz]

The Journey Continues: But all you want is a break Ep.29

The Journey Continues – Life After Moving to New Zealand Almost a year after moving to New Zealand, I thought we were finally finding our feet. Instead, everything seemed to hit at once. In this episode, I continue our immigration story and share what was really happening behind the scenes during our first year in New Zealand, the part that doesn't often get talked about. From serious family illness back home, to the guilt of being far away when people you love need you most, to work pressure, financial stress, and the emotional toll of having to keep going when you're already exhausted. This isn't a polished success story. It's an honest conversation about: * what happens when the excitement wears off * the emotional weight immigrants carry quietly * feeling responsible for your family when you're struggling yourself * and what it's like when the journey has to continue… even when all you want to do is stop If you're in your first year or two after immigrating, or you're considering making the move — this episode is for you. You're not weak for finding this hard. You're not broken for feeling overwhelmed. And you're not alone in carrying more than you expected. Sometimes the journey doesn't fall apart, it just asks more of you than you thought you had. Stay Connected If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz [https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz]

The Journey Continues: When Everything Piled Up After We Migrated | Ep. 28

Almost a year after moving to New Zealand, we thought we were finally finding our feet. Instead, reality hit — hard. In this episode, I continue our immigration journey from Episode 6 and share what was really happening behind the scenes during our first year as migrants in New Zealand. From serious family illness back home, to the guilt and helplessness of being far away, job uncertainty, financial pressure, and the stress of having to move again — everything seemed to pile up at once. This isn't a polished success story. It's an honest conversation about: * the emotional toll of immigrating to a new country * the guilt of leaving family behind when they need you most * work stress and job uncertainty after migrating * trying to stay strong for your partner and kids while you're struggling yourself If you're in your first year or two after immigrating, or you're thinking about moving to New Zealand, this episode is for you. You're not weak for finding this hard — and you're not alone. Sometimes the journey doesn't fall apart. It just asks more of you than you expected. Stay Connected If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand or already on the journey, come join the free Soft Landing Inner Circle community. It's a place to get clarity, ask questions, and learn from others going through the same process. 👉 https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz [https://linktr.ee/softlandingnz]