The Curve

New data shows 53% of engaged or married Americans under 45 now have a prenup, up from 34% just a few years ago - and women are the driving force behind the shift. Sophie and Vic unpack what's behind the surge, what the "default" marriage contract looks like if you never write your own, and the question lawyers say you need to answer before you book one: what's your actual worst-case scenario. Plus: New Zealand, Australia and the UK just made three different interest rate calls off the same oil shock, and Amazon's $25B bond raise came in softer than expected, a possible early signal of AI fatigue.

PSA! We've been nominated for a British Podcast Award! It takes 10 seconds to vote and would mean the world to us. Vote here: britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Want to get in touch with our recommended prenup experts? Email us at hello@thecurveplatform.com (mailto:hello@thecurveplatform.com)

Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM and if you want to check out any of the questions we've already answered you can find them here! (https://pathfinder.kiwi/pathfinder-x-the-curve/)

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

Prenup – The default contract you never signed, now with edits.

De Facto – Married in the eyes of the law, minus the wedding.

Bond – A very official "I'll pay you back, promise."

Equity – Selling a slice of your company instead of your soul to debt.

Interest Rates – The price tag on borrowed money.

Fixed vs. Floating Mortgage – Locked-in rate vs. rollercoaster rate.

Term Deposit – Your money, napping in the bank for interest.

Stagflation – Prices up, economy down. No one wins.

Diversification / Divest – Spread it around, or get it out.

Credits:

Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright

Editor: Kate Callaghan

Producer: 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 British Podcast Awards!
00:00:18 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:19 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:01:48 Welcome from the new office
00:06:30 The prenup boom
00:19:16 Vic’s exciting interest rates
00:25:53 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:26:36 Cracks in the AI bubble?
00:38:26 Thank you for listening!
00:40:14 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.

Sometimes budgeting can only get you so far. You can track every dollar, split your accounts perfectly, and still find there's nothing left over to invest in your future. That's when you need to shift your focus from saving what you have to earning more. Hannah Koumakis is back on the mic, and this time she's breaking down the side hustles that actually work, the ones that don't, and how to find the balance between hustling hard and burning out.
From extras work on Netflix shows to mystery shopping, pet sitting, and even being someone's human alarm clock (yes, really), Hannah shares the unconventional ways she earned money while studying full time. She's also honest about the side hustles that made her zero dollars, the importance of not stretching yourself too thin, and why every experience, even the weird ones, shapes who you become. If you've ever felt stuck because your income just isn't enough, this episode is for you.
Dimes Vintage: https://www.instagram.com/carpe_dimes/
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:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Hannah Koumakis
Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro
⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/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)
Chapters

00:00:00 Welcome to IOU (Some Money Education)!
00:00:16 Coming up in this episode…
00:01:03 BNZ x The Curve
00:01:30 Welcoming Hannah back for part 2
00:04:06 What happens when you dont have much left after you've budgeted
00:06:24 In the red or in the green?
00:12:22 Deciding what gets cut
00:16:11 The art of visualisation
00:20:03 Enter: side hustles
00:22:47 Disclaimer: you actually have to do it
00:27:21 Side hustle idea #1 Extras work
00:32:12 Side hustle idea #2 Mystery shopper
00:33:07 Side hustle idea #3 Events work
00:34:30 Side hustle idea #4 Supermarket sampling
00:35:03 Side hustle idea #5 Pet sitting
00:40:36 Side hustle idea #6 Babysitting
00:41:16 Side hustles that just aren’t worth it
00:43:16 Cash & burn
00:46:01 The importance of not overdoing it
00:49:15 Extra Credit
00:50:28 Thank you for joining us for IOU (Some Money Education)
00:51:01 Thank you BNZ!
00:51:26 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.

First up, a Wimbledon winner takes home £3 million, but a player ranked 150th can't even afford their own lunch? Vic breaks down the brutal economics of tennis, how Centre Court tickets became high-return investments, and what happens when live sports suddenly become a massive lifestyle trend. Then, a historic $124 trillion is about to change hands, and 70% of it is going straight to women. We unpack why the traditional finance industry is completely unprepared for this shift, why the majority of widows fire their male advisors within a year, and the awkward conversations we need to start having with our parents.
Thanks so much to Generate for making The Curve Weekly possible. Generate has a really impressive 10-year track record, to find out more about their performance click here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/performance. But remember, a great track record doesn’t guarantee future returns! If you’d like to speak to an advisor, to see if Generate is right for you, you can book time with someone here: https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/curve
Credits:
Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie Hallwright
Editor: Kate Callaghan
Producer: Emily Rigby
Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro
⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/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…
00:01:03 Generate x The Curve
00:01:25 New episode schedule
00:05:32 Why Wimbledon tickets can be an investment
00:25:44 Generate x The Curve
00:26:21 The great wealth transfer
00:40:37 Thank you for listening!
00:42:36 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.
Generate’s Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider License can be found here: GenerateKiwiSaver.co.nz/disclosures.
*Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey March Quarter End 2026. The Generate Focused Growth Fund returns have ranked in the top three of NZ Multi Sector Aggressive Category Funds for 10 year returns every quarter since becoming eligible in June 2023. Most recently the fund ranked 2nd out of 10 funds for 10 year returns to 31 March 2026.

Why haven't flight prices dropped even though oil prices have? Vic breaks down airline hedging and why we're stuck paying more for a while yet. Then, Nike just posted a $1 billion profit, sounds amazing, right? We dig into why the share price tells a very different story, and what it teaches us about reading past flashy headlines. Finally, a record-breaking $1 trillion has poured into ETFs in the first six months of the year alone. We unpack why the funds outperforming right now might not be the ones you'd expect, and why "diversified" doesn't always mean what you think it does.

Submit your money and morals question to The Ethical Hotline: https://form.typeform.com/to/BZHujjGM and if you want to check out any of the questions we've already answered you can find them here! (https://pathfinder.kiwi/pathfinder-x-the-curve/)

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

Hedging – Locking in a price now so you're not stung later.

Commodity – A raw material everyone needs, like oil or coffee.

Tariff – A tax on stuff coming into a country.

Market Cap – A company's total value based on its share price.

Large Cap vs Small Cap – Big, established companies vs smaller, riskier ones.

Dow Jones – Another stock market index, just older.

Emerging Markets – Countries with growing economies, like Brazil or India.

Share Price – What one share of a company costs.

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…
00:01:13 The Curve x Pathfinder
00:01:43 Quick catch up: dogs, Devon & moped man
00:06:26 Why flights aren't getting cheaper
00:17:26 Nike's billion dollar illusion
00:26:28 The Curve x Pathfinder
00:27:10 Are ETFs losing their charm?
00:41:01 See you on Wednesday!
00:42:15 Thank you for listening!
00:42:54 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 one is for anyone who has looked at the state of the world lately and thought: maybe I'll just wait until things settle down...

Vic and Soph recently spoke at The London Business School and someone in the crowd asked this question… “Given the state of the world - wars, oil, tariffs etc... do you really think it’s a good time to be investing?” And honestly? We know a lot of you are feeling the same way. In this episode we went through the five biggest market crashes of the last 30 years. What actually happened? How long it took to recover? And why when the world is chaotic (like right now), you should be ignoring your instincts when it comes to investing! Soph is joined by Fran (a returning fan-favourite guest). She is a chartered accountant and finance director - the two look at the biggest market crashes the stock market has ever seen, and how to stay the course when every instinct is telling you to not invest right now. Whether you're brand new to investing or deep in the markets and quietly panicking, this one's a reminder that boring, consistent, and long-term strategy always wins.

Watch the first episode with Fran here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlyVoMAasjI&t=407s)

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)

Thanks so much to Generate for making this episode possible. Generate has a really impressive 10-year track record, to find out more about their performance click here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/performance. But remember, a great track record doesn’t guarantee future returns!

If you’d like to speak to an advisor, to see if Generate is right for you, you can book time with someone here: generatekiwisaver.co.nz/curve

Generate’s Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider License can be found here: GenerateKiwiSaver.co.nz/disclosures. 

Credits:

Host: Sophie Hallwright

Guest: Martha Stewish

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Social & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro

⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠ (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/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 Welcome back, Fran!
00:02:59 The question from London Business School that started it all
00:04:04 Getting your investing mindset right (and why your time horizon is everything)
00:12:06 30 years of the stock market, by the numbers
00:16:31 What does a "crash" actually mean?
00:17:38 The dot-com bubble
00:20:32 The Global Financial Crisis
00:27:58 The COVID crash
00:29:41 The Ukraine war & inflation
00:35:33 Liberation Day & the tariffs
00:36:34 The best thing you can do? Absolutely nothing.
00:41:52 Fran's pension: £48k in, £115k out
00:46:09 On FOMO and why it's your biggest investing enemy
00:53:47 Final thoughts
00:55:45 Thank you for listening!
00:56:12 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.

*Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey March Quarter End 2026. The Generate Focused Growth Fund returns have ranked in the top three of NZ Multi Sector Aggressive Category Funds for 10 year returns every quarter since becoming eligible in June 2023. Most recently the fund ranked 2nd out of 10 funds for 10 year returns to 31 March 2026.