Everything Kiwis usually ask before their first chat. If yours isn't here, call 022 153 9047 or email thehub@octant.co.nz and we'll answer it directly.
There are no upfront fees. There is no charge to meet with us, to receive a recommendation, to put cover in place, to have your cover reviewed, or for our help at claim time. If you take up a product we recommend, the provider pays us a commission from their own revenue. We disclose the maximum commission we may receive before you decide anything, and our duty under the Financial Markets Conduct Act is to put your interests first. The one exception is an early cancellation fee, explained just below.
There is one. If an insurance policy we arranged is cancelled, or the cover is materially reduced, within 24 months of it starting, the insurer takes back the commission it paid us, even though the work was already done. It applies to insurance only and never to KiwiSaver. In that case we may charge $250 per hour including GST for the time actually spent, capped at $2,500 and never more than the amount clawed back. We set it out in writing before we start work on your recommendation, you confirm it in writing when you accept our advice, and we waive it in cases such as hardship, redundancy, serious illness, a paid claim, or where we recommended the change ourselves. The full details are on our Disclosures page.
For personal insurance we compare AIA, Chubb Life, nib and Asteron Life. For KiwiSaver we work with Generate and Booster. Working with a defined panel means we know each provider's policy wording and claims record in depth.
No. We are not owned by, or tied to, any insurer or KiwiSaver provider. We compare the panel and recommend the provider whose cover genuinely fits your situation, and we put the reasons in writing so you can see exactly why.
You call us, and we take it from there. We prepare the claim with you, deal with the insurer, and advocate for you until the outcome. It is the moment advice matters most, and it is why we exist.
Absolutely. We review what you hold, what it costs, and what it actually covers. Sometimes the answer is "keep it, it's good". If we do recommend replacing cover, we compare both policies side by side and tell you what you would gain and what you would lose before you decide.
For most first-home buyers, yes. After three years of membership you may be able to withdraw most of your balance towards a deposit. We help you check your eligibility, pick the right fund while you save, and get the paperwork right so settlement isn't held up.
A first chat is around 30 to 45 minutes, in person, by phone or on video. Quotes usually come back within a couple of days, and most cover is in place within one to three weeks depending on the insurer's requirements. A KiwiSaver switch usually takes around two weeks end to end.
Yes. We comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. Your information is used to provide advice and arrange products, and it is only shared with the providers and services needed to do that. Our full Privacy Policy is on this site.
Financial advice in New Zealand is regulated by the Financial Markets Authority. Ryan Li is a registered Financial Adviser (FSP778211) and you can find us on the Financial Service Providers Register at fsp-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz.
Tell us first, and we will do our best to put it right. We have a formal internal complaints process, and if you are still unsatisfied you can escalate to our independent dispute resolution scheme free of charge. The details are on our Complaints page.