The Curve

Hannah Koumakis (aka the internet’s favourite budgeting girl) is joining us for the next three episodes of IOU (Some Money Education), taking over from Lucy Blakiston, and she’s about to change the way you think about money. We start with Hannah’s story, from learning how to manage money at just seven years old to nannying for billionaire families in London - an experience that completely shifted her perspective on wealth, spending, and what actually matters. Then we get into the good stuff: her step-by-step method for splitting your money across multiple bank accounts so budgeting finally feels clear, organised, and actually doable. You’ll learn how to set up your own categories, understand where your money is really going, and give every dollar a job, without feeling restricted. If you’ve ever avoided your banking app or felt like budgeting just isn’t your thing, this episode might be the one that finally makes it click.

Hannah’s Links

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hannahkoumakis/)

TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahkoumakis)

deartheseries.com

dearcommunity.co.nz

Seven Content & Dear Brides (http://sevencontentstudio.com)

Check out IOU (The Practical Lessons) here: https://thecurveplatform.com/

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ. There’s an art to starting something new, and like any art form, you need the right tools to make it work. Whether you’re flatting, saving to travel, or making a career move, BNZ has the tools to help you master your money from the get-go.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer: Emily Rigby

Editor: Isabella Reeve

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00:00 Welcome to IOU (Some Money Education)!
00:00:28 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:13 BNZ x The Curve
00:01:39 Welcoming Hannah
00:06:20 Hannah’s Money Story
00:14:10 When Hannah’s relationship with money changed
00:19:03 How to Unpack Your Relationship with Money
00:20:19 In the Red or the Green?
00:22:02 Why Budgeting Actually Matters
00:23:09 Hannah’s 16 Accounts Explained
00:26:00 How to Put This into Practice
00:30:08 What to Do with Extra Money
00:31:44 What to Do When You’ve Hit Your Limit
00:32:54 Managing Money Without a Card for Every Account
00:33:52 Cash and Burn
00:36:57 Extra Credit
00:39:45 Wrapping Up
00:40:26 Thank you for joining us for IOU (Some Money Education)
00:40:59 Thank you BNZ!
00:41:23 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Spotify's stock jumped 18% in one day and we're breaking down exactly why, plus what it means for artists, your playlist, and the music industry at large. We also get into why birth rates are falling globally and the one reason researchers are pointing to that nobody was expecting, Victoria's Secret's unlikely comeback (up 200% in a year and yes, there's a female CEO involved), and quick updates on the SpaceX IPO that could be the biggest in history, the Lululemon founder drama, and what's going on at BP. Oh, and we answer a listener question on capital gains tax that's probably simpler than you think!

Wondering whether an investment actually lines up with your values?
👉 Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

IPO — when a private company sells shares to the public for the first time

ETF — a basket of shares you buy as one thing instead of picking individual companies

Index — a list of top companies grouped together, like the NASDAQ 100

Ticker symbol — a short code that identifies a company on the stock market

Activist investor — someone who buys shares specifically to push for changes in a company

Capital gains tax — tax on the profit you make when you sell an investment

The glass cliff — when women or minorities are given leadership roles mainly during a crisis, when failure is most likely

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/)

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/thecurveplatform/)⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠ (https://youtube.com/@thecurveplatform?si=nlCWqqqySWOzYlj3)

⁠TikTok⁠⁠ (https://www.tiktok.com/@thecurveplatform)⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ (https://thecurve.co.nz/pages/sign-up-to-the-curve-weekly)

Substack (https://thecurveplatform.substack.com/)

Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:12 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:01:38 Quick catch up
00:05:42 A quick update on Space X IPO, Lululemon and BP
00:19:58 Spotify jumps 18% in one day
00:24:18 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:25:07 The new culprit of declining birthrates
00:36:10 VSXY
00:42:34 Community Question
00:45:08 Wrap Up

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Most money advice tells you to spend less and save more. But what if the real answer is just spending better? This week Sophie sits down with Fran (aka Martha Stewish), chartered accountant and personal finance creator you're going to want to follow, to talk through one of the most practical frameworks we've covered on the show. We dig into how to figure out your authentic spending code: the personal values that should be driving every financial decision you make, and why ignoring them is probably why you feel stuck.

We also get into why deprivation always backfires, how she saves 35% of her salary without feeling restricted, and the simple habit shifts that actually move the needle, whatever you're earning. This one will make you look at your bank statement completely differently.

Fran’s links:

Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@martha30s)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/martha.stewish/)

Substack (https://marthastewish.substack.com/)

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@martha.stewish)

Credits:

Host: Sophie Hallwright

Guest: Martha Stewish

Producer: Emily Rigby

Editor: Isabella Reeve

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00:00 Intro & Who is Fran (aka Martha)?
00:00:52 The Gap in Personal Finance Content
00:03:47 How Fran Thinks About Building Wealth
00:05:12 Growing Up With Frugal Fraser
00:06:24 What Is Your Authentic Spending Code?
00:08:49 Fran's Four Spending Pillars
00:12:44 Emotional Spending & Money Guilt
00:17:58 How Fran Balances Saving & Living
00:20:27 Blocking Out the Noise & The Rich Girl Wish List
00:27:34 Where Do You Start?
00:32:02 Quick Fire Questions
00:38:00 Thank You For Listening
00:38:24 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

This week Vic's flying solo (miss you Soph!!), and she's brought the big stories. SpaceX has officially filed to go public, and it could be the largest IPO in history at a $2 trillion valuation. But is the hype justified? Vic breaks down what SpaceX actually is, what you'd be buying, and how everyday investors can get involved. Plus, Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI gets thrown out of court in under two hours, and the reason why is more embarrassing than the loss itself. Shakira just won a €55 million tax battle with the Spanish government, and there are some surprisingly practical takeaways for anyone who spends time across different countries. And finally, the latest US jobs data tells a more complicated story than the headlines suggest, and what it really means for your career in the age of AI. 

Back to regular programming next week!

We're hiring a junior podcast editor based in London, if that's you (or someone you know), check out the full job description here. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thecur...)

Wondering whether an investment actually lines up with your values?

👉 Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: (https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM)

WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:

NASDAQ – A US stock exchange. Basically where all the big tech companies live.

Retail Investors – Everyday investors. You and me.

Valuation – What people think a company is worth.

Revenue – Money coming in. Not the same as profit.

Statute of Limitations – Waited too long to sue? Case dismissed.

Tax Resident – The country that gets to tax you.

Dividends – Getting paid just for owning shares.

The 4% Rule – Withdraw 4% a year in retirement and your money should last 30 years.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode...
00:01:05 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:01:35 The Space X IPO
00:12:06 Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI: case closed
00:15:29 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:16:28 How Shakira beat a €55 million tax bill
00:20:19 Is AI actually killing jobs? The truth is complicated
00:25:39 Community question: Can you really retire on dividends alone?
00:28:27 Thank you for listening!
00:29:06 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

This episode is, quite frankly, unhinged. Sophie sits down with Holly to hear one of the wildest relationship-and-money stories we’ve ever had on the podcast, involving property, trust, legal drama, a cancelled wedding, and the kind of plot twists that make you want to scream into a cushion. Without giving too much away, it’s a story about what can happen when love, money and home ownership get tangled together… and why protecting yourself financially isn’t unromantic, it’s essential. Juicy? Extremely. Educational? Absolutely. Please keep snacks nearby.

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that home ownership isn’t a straight line. Sometimes life throws curveballs, and BNZ is all about supporting you through the hard stuff, not just the highlights. Whether you’re planning ahead or needing a bit more support right now, BNZ’s home loan experts have the tools and people ready to help you find a way.

👉 To learn more, head here. (bnz.co.nz/home-loan-partners-spotify-ep13)

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

Credits:

Host: Sophie Hallwright

Guest: Holly Egerton

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠

For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00:00 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:30 BNZ x The Curve
00:02:31 Meet Holly
00:05:28 How Holly bought her first property
00:10:35 Another big milestone
00:11:51 How the finances were split
00:13:35 The night everything changed
00:16:33 Things escalate...
00:20:06 Trying to get her back
00:21:50 The legalities
00:24:52 Getting lawyers involved
00:26:38 The court battle
00:36:42 Lessons learned
00:42:29 How the experience changed Holly
00:43:48 Tips for listeners
00:47:33 Final words of wisdom
00:52:27 BNZ x The Curve
00:54:01 Financial Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.