Marble Life
A New Zealand business owner and employee reviewing KiwiSaver retirement savings on a laptop in a bright modern office
KiwiSaver NZ · Business & Workplace Advice

KiwiSaver, structured around your business and your future

Independent KiwiSaver advice for New Zealand business owners, employers and employees. We review your current fund, model the impact of the 2026 and 2028 contribution changes, and help your team get more out of the scheme they're already in.

Book a KiwiSaver risk assessment
  • Generate – insurance partner of Marble Life
  • Booster – insurance partner of Marble Life
  • Milford – insurance partner of Marble Life

Marble Life advisers are licensed to advise on the Generate, Booster and Milford KiwiSaver schemes.

What it is

KiwiSaver is a wealth plan you're already running – it just needs a driver.

KiwiSaver is New Zealand's workplace savings scheme. You contribute from your pay, your employer adds a matching contribution, the Government tops up eligible members each year, and the balance is invested until you buy your first home or reach retirement.

Most Kiwis picked a fund years ago and never looked again. Marble Life is where that decision gets a proper second look – with an independent adviser, a curated provider panel and a written recommendation you can act on.

A KiwiSaver review typically covers…
  • Current scheme, fund type and fees
  • Contribution rate and 2026/2028 step-ups
  • Employer match and Government contribution
  • Time horizon – first home or retirement
  • Risk tolerance and fund suitability
  • First-home withdrawal eligibility
  • Retirement drawdown and NZ Super interaction
  • How KiwiSaver sits alongside your protection cover
Who it's for

Who benefits most from KiwiSaver advice.

KiwiSaver is universal – but the leverage in getting it right isn't. These are the situations where a structured review usually pays for itself many times over.

Business owners & directors

Self-employed and shareholder-employees often default-select a fund years ago and never revisit. A structured review can reshape retirement outcomes without changing your day-to-day.

Employers with a team

Workplace KiwiSaver support is one of the cheapest, highest-perceived staff benefits in NZ. We help you set expectations, choose a scheme, and support staff at onboarding.

First-home buyers

KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal and the First Home Grant sit inside a set of rules that change often. We flag traps early so settlement isn't the day you find out.

Mid-career savers

Between 35 and 55, fund type can be the biggest lever for many people — often more than contribution rate alone. Growth, balanced and conservative funds can produce very different long-term outcomes, but the right mix depends on your timeframe and how you react to market swings.

Nearing retirement

5–10 years out, the conversation shifts to drawdown, tax and how KiwiSaver interacts with NZ Super. We help you plan the wind-down, not just the build-up.

High-earners & contractors

Complex income structures often mean the Government contribution and employer match are being left on the table. Simple fixes; meaningful long-term gains.

Why now

KiwiSaver in 2026 – what's changed, and why it matters.

Contribution defaults are rising, the Government contribution has been re-shaped, and under-18s are now inside the scheme. If you last reviewed your KiwiSaver before 2025, the settings you're on were designed for a different set of rules.

Read the 2026 guideTalk to an adviser
  1. 01
    Contributions are rising

    From 1 April 2026 the default employee rate steps up to 3.5%, matched by employers, then to 4% from 1 April 2028. Payroll and cashflow need to plan for both stages.

  2. 02
    Government contribution has changed

    The annual Government contribution has been halved and is now income-tested. It still stacks up over a working life, but the eligibility rules matter more than they used to.

  3. 03
    16- and 17-year-olds are in

    Under-18s now qualify for employer and Government contributions. That's decades of extra compounding for teenagers already earning through part-time work.

  4. 04
    Fund choice shapes your long-term balance

    Over a long horizon, your fund type may have a bigger impact than provider choice. Growth funds may return more than conservative funds over time, but they also come with more volatility, and the actual outcome depends on returns, fees, contribution rate and how you behave in market downturns. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

  5. 05
    It's not a substitute for cover

    KiwiSaver builds wealth for retirement or a first home. It doesn't replace income when you can't work. A joined-up plan uses KiwiSaver and life/income cover together.

Fund choice

Fund type usually matters more than provider.

Every KiwiSaver provider offers a similar risk band ladder. Getting the band right for your time horizon does more heavy lifting over a career than switching between providers in the same band.

Defensive & Conservative

Mostly cash and bonds. Lower volatility, lower long-run return. Suits people 1–3 years from drawing down – a first home, retirement income, or a switch to lower-risk in later life.

Balanced

A blended mix of growth and income assets. A common default in NZ, but often not the right long-term choice for someone with 15+ years until they need the money.

Growth & Aggressive

Higher weighting to shares, both NZ and offshore. More short-term volatility, materially higher long-run expected return. Best fit for savers with a long horizon and the temperament to sit through market falls.

Ethical, socially responsible & thematic

Same risk bands as above, but with exclusion screens (weapons, tobacco, fossil fuels) or positive tilts (clean energy, social outcomes). Available across our provider panel.

Key decisions

What actually moves your KiwiSaver outcome.

Six levers do most of the work. A review lines them up and tells you which ones are worth touching, and which are already right.

Time horizon

How many years until you'll withdraw – first home or retirement. Longer horizons can carry more growth risk and expect more upside.

Risk tolerance

How you actually behave when markets fall 20%. The 'right' fund is the one you'll stay in through a bad year, not the one that looks best in a spreadsheet.

Contribution rate

3% / 4% / 6% / 8% / 10%. Rising defaults in 2026 and 2028 make this decision more consequential than it used to be.

Employer & Government contribution

Employer match plus the annual Government contribution can add tens of thousands over a career. Missing the eligibility rules is a real cost.

Fees & fund costs

Total fund charges compound just like returns – in reverse. Cheaper isn't always better, but fees deserve to be understood, not ignored.

Provider strength & service

Reporting, digital tools, advice access, ethical options and long-run performance across market cycles all differ meaningfully by provider.

For employers

Workplace KiwiSaver support, without adding to HR.

Marble Life becomes the KiwiSaver point-of-contact for your team – onboarding new employees, running 1:1 fund reviews on request, and taking first-home withdrawal paperwork off the desk of whoever runs your payroll.

There's no cost to the business or the employee. Advisers are paid by the KiwiSaver provider on a servicing basis, exactly as with any other adviser-placed scheme.

Set up workplace KiwiSaver
Employer scheme includes…
  • One adviser point-of-contact for the whole team
  • Onboarding pack for new employees
  • Structured fund-type reviews at 1:1 request
  • Support for contribution changes and holidays
  • First-home withdrawal help without HR being the bottleneck
  • Retirement drawdown coaching for long-tenured staff
KiwiSaver providers on our panel

A curated provider panel, not the whole market.

Marble Life advisers are licensed to advise on Generate, Booster and Milford. It's a deliberately shortlist – long-run performers with strong reporting, ethical options and genuine advice access for members. If a switch is warranted we'll say so in writing; if your current scheme is a good fit, we'll tell you that too.

A disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge.

  • Generate – insurance partner of Marble Life
  • Booster – insurance partner of Marble Life
  • Milford – insurance partner of Marble Life
How Marble Life helps

Adviser-led, no-cost, no pressure.

Our KiwiSaver advisers are paid by the scheme provider on a servicing basis, so there's no cost to you for the review, the recommendation, or ongoing support.

  1. 01

    Free KiwiSaver risk assessment

    A no-cost, no-obligation review of your current scheme, fund type, contribution rate and employer setup.

  2. 02

    Goal & horizon check

    First home, retirement, income drawdown – we anchor advice to what you're actually saving for and when.

  3. 03

    Match to a provider on our panel

    Where a switch is warranted, we recommend from Generate, Booster and Milford – with reasons in writing.

  4. 04

    Ongoing support

    Annual review, help with contribution changes, first-home withdrawal paperwork and retirement drawdown planning.

Related cover

KiwiSaver works best inside a joined-up plan.

KiwiSaver builds long-term wealth. It doesn't replace income when someone can't work, or clear debt if an owner is out of the business. These covers do that work – and pair naturally with a well-structured KiwiSaver plan.

Employee & Group Schemes

Life, health and income cover offered to your team as a staff benefit alongside KiwiSaver.

Learn more

Key Person Insurance

Protecting business revenue if a critical person can't work – complements a workplace savings plan.

Learn more

Life Insurance

A tax-free lump sum that clears the mortgage and replaces income if you pass away.

Learn more

Income Protection

A monthly benefit that replaces part of your income while you can't earn.

Learn more
FAQ

KiwiSaver NZ, common questions.

Quick answers to the questions Kiwi business owners and employees ask us most often. Something not covered? Just call or drop us a note.

Ask an adviser

  • What's changing with KiwiSaver in 2026?

    From 1 April 2026 the default employee contribution rate rises from 3% to 3.5%, with employers matching. A second step to 4% follows on 1 April 2028. The annual Government contribution has also been halved and is now income-tested, and 16- and 17-year-olds are now eligible for employer and Government contributions. A Marble Life adviser can walk through what applies to you.

  • Is Marble Life a KiwiSaver provider?

    No – we're independent financial advisers. We hold agencies with a curated panel of NZ KiwiSaver providers (Generate, Booster and Milford), review your current setup, and recommend whether staying, switching or splitting between funds gives you the best outcome for your goals.

  • Which KiwiSaver scheme is best?

    There isn't one 'best' scheme – the right answer depends on your time horizon, risk tolerance, contribution rate and how you'll actually behave in a market downturn. Our panel includes Generate, Booster and Milford, and we match you to the fund type first, then the provider. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

  • How much should I be contributing to KiwiSaver?

    Employees can choose 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. From 2026 the default rises to 3.5% (matched by employers), and to 4% in 2028. Higher rates unlock more employer match and Government contribution, but the right rate depends on cashflow, mortgage, other savings and your overall financial plan. An adviser can model this for you.

  • Can I use KiwiSaver to buy my first home?

    Yes – if you've been in KiwiSaver for at least 3 years, you can withdraw most of your balance (leaving a small minimum) toward a first home, and you may also qualify for the First Home Grant. Rules on income caps, house-price caps and eligibility change from time to time, so it's worth a conversation before you put in an offer.

  • Does KiwiSaver replace life or income protection?

    No. KiwiSaver builds wealth for retirement or a first home. Life, trauma, TPD and income protection cover exist to replace income and clear debt when you can't work. A joined-up plan uses KiwiSaver and personal cover together, not one instead of the other.

  • Can I offer KiwiSaver support to my team as an employer?

    Yes – it's one of the highest-perceived staff benefits at very low cost to run. Marble Life provides a single adviser contact for your team, onboarding for new staff, 1:1 fund reviews on request and support around contribution changes, first-home withdrawals and retirement planning.

  • How is Marble Life paid for KiwiSaver advice?

    Marble Life advisers are paid by the KiwiSaver provider (via a servicing fee) when a policy is placed and while it remains active. There's no separate cost to you for the advice, the review, or ongoing support. Our full disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge.

Next step

Book a free KiwiSaver risk assessment – individual or workplace.

A no-cost, no-obligation 20-minute risk assessment with a Marble Life adviser. We'll look at your current setup, model the 2026 and 2028 changes, and tell you honestly whether anything's worth adjusting.

Book a KiwiSaver risk assessment