FAQs

There is no one-size answer. The right structure depends on your income, how much you owe, how long you plan to keep the loan, and how comfortable you are with rate changes. We look at how your loan is split between fixed and floating rates, whether an offset account would help, and how your repayments fit your goals. Most people should review their structure before their fixed rate ends, and we can do that with you.

You don’t have to switch. We’re independent, so we can review your current mortgage and tell you whether it still suits you. If a change would help, we’ll compare options across our lenders and explain the costs of switching, including any break fees, before you decide.

A cashback is a payment from a lender, usually made after your loan settles, as an incentive to borrow with them. Whether you qualify depends on the lender, the loan amount and type, and any conditions, such as staying with the lender for a set period. Cashbacks can come with clawback terms, so we’ll check the details with you before you choose one.

The earlier the better! Even if you think you are 2 to 3 years away from buying a home, come and talk to us because we may be able to get you there sooner than you think. Whether it’s getting your savings working smarter, or consolidating debts you may have, we’ll give you a greater array of options than you may have considered.

We are accredited with all the main banks as well as several other companies that provide mortgage lending. We are seeing more and more clients get really good outcomes with non-bank lenders – think of them as a smaller ‘bank’ that can offer a more individualised solution for you. They are more forgiving in regards to your chosen profession, employment history, loan purpose and will consider your situation even if you do not have impeccable account conduct or credit history for example.

When determining how much you can borrow lenders will look at a number of factors including, your income, credit history and employment circumstances. Each lender has its own criteria when assessing how much you can borrow – we understand that and are experienced at working with multiple lenders to get the best option for you.

Interest rates are set by the lender based on the size of your loan relative to the house price and your deposit. We’ll also help you focus on the best rate at which to pay your home loan to maximise your investment, not just the interest rate yourself.

Once we have your completed information and necessary documentation, we’ll send your application off to a lender within 24 hours. Typically, pre-approval from a lender will take 5-10 working days.

This will depend on the method of purchase – auction, tender, private sale. It is generally payable once all the terms in a Sale & Purchase agreement have been met and an ‘unconditional’ offer is accepted by the seller (unless you are required to pay the deposit upon signing the contract).

If you haven’t quite reached a 20% deposit, then your family can guarantee the difference, or the entire 20%! This is capped at 20% of the house price so that they don’t risk losing everything if things don’t work out!

Generally, you’ll need to allow for all or some of; solicitor’s fees, LIM + building reports, registered valuations, house insurance etc. It could be between $2,000-$5,000, but we’ll help you work out a budget to allow for these as part of the overall cost of purchase.

Probably yes. ACC covers many injuries from accidents, but it doesn’t cover illness such as cancer or heart disease, and it only pays a portion of your normal income if you’re injured. Trauma cover and income protection can fill those gaps. Your needs depend on your situation, so it’s worth checking what ACC does and doesn’t cover for you.

Trauma cover pays a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified serious condition, such as cancer or a heart attack. Income protection pays a regular monthly benefit if you can’t work because of illness or injury, typically replacing a share of your income until you return to work or the policy ends. Many people use trauma cover for debt and treatment costs, and income protection for day-to-day living costs.

At least once a year, and any time your life changes: a new job, a new child, buying a property, or a change in income or debts. Premiums and policy terms can change over time, so a regular check makes sure your cover still matches your needs.

That’s exactly where professional advice makes the difference. The financial modelling we conduct provides clear insight into what types of insurance are appropriate, how much cover you actually need, and how long you may need it for.

Understanding this helps structure your policy intelligently — ensuring you’re protected where it matters most, without paying for unnecessary cover. Balancing cost is always important, and our modelling software shows what’s reasonable to spend based on your wider financial goals and obligations.

It depends on what you want insurance to do. Some policies focus on small, everyday claims — a GP visit here or a pair of glasses there. But when it really matters, those benefits won’t come close to covering life-saving treatment or specialist care that isn’t funded publicly.

We focus on the kind of insurance that actually protects your life and future income — the cover that gives you access to advanced treatments, offshore options, and financial stability when you need it most.

Because not all insurance is created equal — and many policies leave you exposed when you can least afford it. Low-benefit and well known policies, like Southern Cross, contribute little toward serious illness or non-Pharmac-funded medications, meaning you may end up relying on crowdfunding or public health care.

Our job is to ensure you never face that scenario. We’ll help you structure the right level of cover from the start, with transparency about what really matters and what doesn’t. The goal isn’t small reimbursements — it’s protecting your ability to survive, recover, and keep your financial future intact.

‘ACC Cover Plus Extra’ is an alternative – arguably much better, ACC plan available for anyone self-employed. As this is an insurance product, we always recommend seeking advice from the Auro team regarding the benefits to restructuring your ACC. Generally, we will sit with you and show you how to get better, smarter cover with private insurance and make significant savings on your ACC levies.

The right fund depends on how long you have until you need the money, how much investment risk you can handle, and the fees you pay. Growth funds usually suit people with a long time horizon, and conservative funds suit people closer to needing the money. Check your fund’s risk profile and fees against your goals, and we can review this with you as part of your plan.

Yes. You can move your KiwiSaver to a different provider. Check any fees and processing times with the new provider before you switch, and make sure your fund choice still suits you. We can help you compare providers and funds first.

If you are buying your first home and you wish to put your KiwiSaver towards the deposit, then your solicitor must apply to withdraw those funds on your behalf. You will need to allow time for this to happen, typically 12-15 working days, and may wish to include this in the terms of the Sale & Purchase agreement to ensure the funds are in place on time. Don’t worry we’ll guide you through the process when the time comes!

It’s neither practical nor necessary to hold an agency with every KiwiSaver provider — and we choose not to. Instead, we partner with a select group of expert KiwiSaver investment providers who have proven track records, experienced teams, and consistent long-term performance.

Some providers’ investment philosophies are highly niche or overly concentrated in certain sectors or themes. We prefer to avoid approaches driven by hype, short-term trends, or personal ideologies.

Our focus is simple — to recommend KiwiSaver providers with disciplined investment processes, strong governance, and alignment with your long-term financial goals.

Research consistently shows that New Zealanders who receive professional financial advice have significantly higher KiwiSaver balances than those who don’t. The reason is simple — advised clients are more likely to:

• Be in the right fund type for their goals and risk profile.
• Contribute strategically, using voluntary or employer top-ups to maximise returns.
• Review and adjust their strategy regularly as income, markets, and life stages change.

We use financial planning software to show how even small changes in fund selection, contribution rate, or investment time horizon can dramatically increase long-term outcomes. Good advice doesn’t just set and forget — it keeps your KiwiSaver working as hard as you do.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for a KiwiSaver balance equal to at least your annual income by age 30, three times your income by 40, and six times by 50.

But everyone’s goals are different — the “right” number depends on when you want to retire, how much you’ll need to live comfortably, are you expecting an inheritance or business sale, and what other investments you hold.

We model your full financial picture to show exactly what your KiwiSaver balance should look like to keep you on track for long-term wealth and financial freedom with the above in mind.