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Frequently Asked Questions

We have responded to the most frequently asked questions by our clients and prospective clients. If you are unable to find what you seek, reach out. We are always happy to help.

What qualifications and experience does John Milner have?

John Milner has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Personal Financial Planning), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Life Underwriter (CLU), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and Certificate in Financial Services Level 5. He was named Investment Adviser of the Year in 2016. He has built one of the most respected boutique financial advisory practices in New Zealand. His qualifications put him in a rare category of adviser locally. He combines internationally recognised credentials with deep knowledge of the New Zealand market. He works with a small number of private clients by design. That means every client gets his direct attention, not a junior adviser or a call centre. His career has covered investment firms, retail business and private financial planning, and that breadth of experience shows in the advice he gives.

We work best with New Zealanders who have built meaningful assets and want a coordinated approach to managing and protecting them. Many clients have sold a business, farm or property and want to invest the proceeds wisely. Others are approaching retirement and want to make sure their income will last. Some are business owners who need both personal and business financial planning. High-net-worth individuals and executive professionals who feel underserved by their current adviser are also a strong fit. What our clients share is a desire for a genuine relationship with a senior adviser who truly understands their situation. They are not looking for a product sale or a generic plan. They want someone who takes the time to get it right. If you are unsure whether we are the right fit, the best starting point is a short, no-obligation conversation.

The first step is a conversation. There is no cost, no obligation and no pressure. We use this meeting to understand your current situation, what you are trying to achieve and whether we can genuinely help. We will ask about your income, your assets, your goals and your family. You are welcome to ask us anything about our approach, our experience and how we work. If both sides feel it is a good fit, we will explain exactly what working together would involve, what it would cost and what you can expect to receive. We keep this process straightforward and honest. We will tell you clearly if we think we can add value, and equally clearly if we think we are not the right fit. To get started, call us on 0800 225 665 or use the contact form on our website.

Yes. We are based in Auckland at 5 Grut Green, Silverdale, but we work with clients all over New Zealand. We use Zoom, phone and email to stay in regular contact with clients wherever they are based. Many of our clients live outside Auckland and distance has never been an issue. We also keep in touch with clients when they travel overseas. If you are in the Auckland region and prefer to meet in person, we are happy to arrange that. For clients further away, video calls work just as well for the kind of in-depth conversations our relationships require. The quality of our advice depends on how well we understand your situation. It does not depend on geography. If you want to find out more, get in touch and we will go from there.

We are open about our fees and always explain them before any work begins. The structure depends on the services you need and the complexity of your situation. For investment management and ongoing wealth advice, fees are typically based on a percentage of funds under management. For financial planning and insurance advice, we may charge a fixed fee or include costs as part of an ongoing arrangement. We also receive commissions on some insurance products, which we always disclose clearly. We believe you should always know what you are paying and what you are getting in return. There are no hidden charges and no surprises. If you have any questions about how we charge, we are happy to walk you through it before you commit to anything. Transparency is something we take seriously across every part of how we work.

The difference is significant. Banks and large institutions work for their shareholders. They are motivated to sell their own products. We work exclusively for you. We have no product shelf to push and no incentive to recommend anything beyond what is genuinely right for your situation. We are an independent boutique practice. We work with a small number of private clients by choice. That means you get direct, ongoing access to John rather than being passed around a team or managed by someone junior. Our investment research is conducted independently through Consilium. That gives our clients institutional-quality analysis without the conflicts of interest that come with big institutions. We also coordinate across your full financial life, not just one product or service area. We measure success by whether your financial outcomes improve over time. That is the only measure that matters to us.

Most clients have at least two formal reviews a year. We meet more often when circumstances or markets warrant it. Between reviews, we monitor your portfolio continuously and reach out proactively when something needs attention. That might be a rebalancing decision, a change in legislation or an opportunity worth discussing. You also have direct access to John by phone and email whenever you need it. We do not restrict contact to scheduled meetings. Our client relationships are long-term and genuine. Many clients have been with us for years. We take the time to understand your situation properly, and that pays off in every conversation we have. The better we know you, the better our advice becomes. That kind of relationship takes time to build, and it is something we invest in from the very first meeting.

Our approach is disciplined, evidence-based and globally diversified. We build individual portfolios for each client based on their goals, timeline, risk tolerance and tax position. We do not use off-the-shelf model portfolios. Investment decisions are supported by independent research from Consilium and academic oversight from Professor Ben Marshall at Massey University, who ranks in the top 1% of finance researchers globally. Our clients are invested across more than 45 countries. That level of diversification is hard for most individuals to replicate on their own. We take a long-term view, avoid short-term speculation and focus on returns that are genuinely meaningful after fees and tax. We rebalance portfolios when circumstances require it and monitor holdings on an ongoing basis. We do not wait for annual reviews to act when the situation calls for something sooner.

Absolutely. Many of our clients come to us having managed their own finances for years and done it well. They reach a point where the complexity of their situation makes professional advice worthwhile. Whether you have never worked with an adviser before or are moving away from an institution that was not meeting your needs, we treat every new client the same way. We start with a thorough discovery process. We make no assumptions about what you know. We explain everything clearly and never make you feel like you should already understand something. Our job is to bring clarity to your financial life. We will not add to the complexity. If you are thinking about whether advice is right for you at this stage, we are happy to talk it through openly and give you an honest answer.

In New Zealand these terms are often used interchangeably, but there are real differences. A financial adviser is the broad legal term for anyone providing financial advice under the Financial Markets Conduct Act. A financial planner typically focuses on goal-setting and strategy across your financial life. A wealth manager goes further by combining financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, estate planning and often private advisory services into one integrated relationship. Collaborative Consulting operates as a wealth manager in the fullest sense. We cover all dimensions of your financial life rather than focusing on one product or service. John holds a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, which is the most widely recognised qualification in the profession. He structures the practice around the complete breadth of each client’s financial needs, not just the parts that generate fees.

Retirement planning is a long-term process that starts well before retirement and continues all the way through it. In the years before retirement, we focus on building the right asset base, optimising KiwiSaver, structuring income efficiently and reducing risk as your timeline shortens. As you approach and enter retirement, we build a drawdown strategy that covers all your income sources. That includes KiwiSaver, your investment portfolio, property and New Zealand Superannuation, structured for tax efficiency and designed to last. We also plan for the legacy dimension. That means making sure your estate is properly set up and your assets will pass to the right people in the right way. Retirement planning with us is not a one-time exercise. It evolves as your life does, with regular reviews and honest conversations along the way.

KiwiSaver is New Zealand’s voluntary workplace savings scheme, designed to help people save for retirement. Contributions come from you, your employer and the government. The money is invested in a fund you choose, ranging from conservative to aggressive. The problem is that most New Zealanders join KiwiSaver, pick a fund without much thought and never look at it again. Being in the wrong fund for your age and goals can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a working lifetime. We help you check whether you are with the right provider, in the right fund and contributing at the right level. We also make sure your KiwiSaver fits properly into your broader retirement plan. A lot of people treat it as separate. It should be central. Getting this right is one of the most cost-effective improvements most clients can make.

Legacy planning is about making sure your wealth ends up where you intend after you are gone. It goes well beyond a will. It involves looking at your estate structure, any trust arrangements, your powers of attorney, how your investment accounts are owned and how all of that fits with your family situation and wishes. People are living longer now. That makes this more complex. You may need to fund 20 or more years of retirement while still preserving something meaningful for the people you love. We help you balance both. We build a strategy that lets you enjoy a great retirement today while protecting what matters for tomorrow. We work alongside your solicitor and accountant to make sure everything is legally sound, financially efficient and actually reflects what you want to happen.

Risk management starts before we invest a single dollar. We take the time to understand your genuine tolerance for risk. Not just a questionnaire answer, but how you actually respond when markets fall and what level of uncertainty you can handle without making poor decisions under pressure. We then build a diversified portfolio across different asset classes and geographies that suits that risk profile and your timeline. Through our partnership with Consilium, we access institutional-quality research and risk analysis. We monitor portfolios continuously and rebalance when concentrations develop or when market movements push a portfolio outside its intended parameters. During periods of volatility, we communicate proactively rather than waiting for clients to call. Our goal is returns that are meaningful to you after fees and tax, at a risk level you can genuinely stay with over the long term.

Yes. Client confidentiality is fundamental to how we operate. Everything you share with us is treated with complete discretion and used only for the purpose of providing you with financial advice. We comply fully with the Privacy Act 2020 and all relevant financial services legislation. We do not share your information with third parties without your consent, except where the law requires it or where it is necessary to carry out your instructions. For example, when placing an investment or setting up an insurance policy with a provider. We maintain secure records of all client interactions and advice, as required by our regulatory obligations. If you want to understand more about how we handle your personal information, we are happy to explain in detail. You can ask at your initial consultation or at any point during our relationship.