Finding the right future
Cambridge Partners says quality KiwiSaver advice is a game changer. Avenues finds out why.
KiwiSaver is a name every New Zealander recognises, yet for many, its management can remain a mystery. People know they have it, contribute to it, and occasionally check the balance, but few truly understand how their choices today shape their future.
For the team at Cambridge Partners, that knowledge gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Cambridge Partners is a Christchurch-based wealth management and financial advisory firm built on a simple belief: people deserve to understand what their money is doing and how it can work harder for them. Too often, they say, New Zealanders leave their KiwiSaver in default settings, unsure what their contributions will amount to by retirement, or whether it will support the lifestyle they hope to enjoy.
“The most common thing we hear from clients is, ‘I wish I’d met you 10 or 20 years ago’. “The levers you can pull in your 30s and 40s are far more powerful than those available in your 50s and 60s. Small decisions made early can have a massive impact over time,” says Dominic Sheehan, Principal, Financial Adviser and Head of Advice.
Despite the abundance of information available, many people struggle to piece it all together. Advertising from large fund providers, market noise, and headline-driven fear can lead to reactive decisions – switching funds during market dips or chasing short-term performance. Cambridge Partners believes that personalised advice cuts through that confusion, helping clients stay focused on long-term goals rather than short-term fluctuations.
Historically, quality wealth advice has been seen as a privilege reserved for those with substantial assets. Cambridge Partners is challenging that perception. Thanks to new advice platforms developed in Christchurch, the firm can now offer tailored, cost-effective KiwiSaver strategies to busy younger professionals, giving them access to a dedicated, long-term adviser without prohibitive fees. Their fee-only, evidence-based approach ensures advice is grounded in research, not sales incentives.
But for Cambridge Partners, the real difference lies in relationships. “Clients want an adviser who understands their life and what they’re working toward. We tailor their KiwiSaver portfolio to their goals, lifestyle, and legacy plans and we make sure they understand how those choices support the future they want. That clarity is what gives people real confidence,” says Elliot Harvey, KiwiSaver Wealth Adviser.
Advisers act as impartial guides, coaching clients through decisions, building understanding, and helping them avoid emotional reactions that can derail long-term plans.
Adding to the firm’s client-driven approach, advisers at Cambridge Partners work as one salaried team, providing seamless, non-commission support for clients. This focus on better outcomes extends to its partnership with the Crusaders, where shared sessions reinforce high performance, teamwork, discipline, and long-term thinking.
In practice, their process is both structured and personal. Clients begin with a deep-dive conversation about their goals, values, and circumstances. From there, Cambridge Partners builds a tailored plan, walking clients through each step before implementation. Over time, advisers become trusted anchors, often the first call during major life events – from welcoming grandchildren to navigating health challenges.
Cambridge Partners’ purpose, “building better futures,” is less about transactions and more about long-term trust, education, and empowerment. By demystifying KiwiSaver and offering genuine guidance, they aim to ensure New Zealanders don’t just save for tomorrow, but for the lives they want.