Independent KiwiSaver advice from Christchurch, helping New Zealanders nationwide make the most of their retirement savings.
Andrew Wilkinson · Financial Adviser · Avon Wealth · Christchurch, NZ
Most New Zealanders are in the wrong fund or contributing at the wrong rate, often without realising it. Our advice is independent, free and simple, and the right fund choice can mean tens of thousands more at retirement.
KiwiSaver can form a major part of your first home deposit. Strategy matters enormously, especially the closer you get to buying.
Learn more →Make sure your KiwiSaver is set up to give you the retirement you actually want, not just the one you default into.
Learn more →In the wrong fund? Most people are. We'll match your fund choice to your timeline, risk tolerance, and life situation.
Take the quiz →Based in Christchurch, we work with clients all over New Zealand via phone and video. No need to be local to get great advice.
Get in touch →Avon Wealth draws its name and spirit from the Avon River (Ōtākaro), which winds through the heart of Christchurch. Just as the river finds its path, we help you find a clear course toward your financial goals.
Formerly known as Adelphi Insurance Brokers, we've evolved to focus solely on what we do best: expert, independent KiwiSaver advice for New Zealanders, wherever they are.
Andrew Wilkinson is our Financial Adviser and your dedicated point of contact. Our advice is independent (we work for you, not a single provider), free (providers pay us commission, at no extra cost to you), and simple (we cut through the jargon and make KiwiSaver easy to understand and act on).
We work with four of New Zealand's leading KiwiSaver providers: Booster, Milford, Generate, and ANZ. That breadth means we can match you with the right fund and provider for your situation.
Andrew is Avon Wealth's sole Financial Adviser and client-facing representative. With a background spanning years in financial services, he brings clear, no-nonsense KiwiSaver guidance to clients from all walks of life, nationwide.
Use our free tools to get a clearer picture of your situation. Then get in touch with Andrew if you'd like to talk through your options.
Answer 5 questions about your age, risk tolerance, timeline, and goals to get a general indication of the fund type that may suit you.
Start the quiz →Project your balance at retirement. Adjust contribution rates, salary, returns, and more with a live visual chart.
Try the calculator →We work with a select group of New Zealand's leading KiwiSaver and retirement fund managers. Our independence means we can match you with whichever provider genuinely suits your situation. We are not employed by, or exclusively tied to, any of them.
AMP and Lifetime Asset Management are included in our legacy scheme servicing. See our Legacy Schemes page for more detail.
A free, no-obligation conversation with Andrew. Christchurch based and available to clients nationwide.
From Adelphi Insurance Brokers to Avon Wealth: a Christchurch story of evolution, focus, and fresh ideas.
Avon Wealth's roots go back to Adelphi Insurance Brokers, a Christchurch-based financial services firm founded by Chris Boon. For years, Adelphi served Canterbury clients with a wide range of insurance and financial advice, building a reputation for honest, client-focused service.
Chris built Adelphi into a trusted name across the region. It was a business grounded in doing the right thing by clients, understanding their needs, and giving advice that genuinely helped. If you searched for Adelphi Insurance Brokers and arrived here, you're in the right place: this is the continuation of that business under a new name and focus.
Adelphi Insurance Brokers and Avon Wealth share the same values, FSP registration, and commitment to client care. We've simply evolved, shedding the insurance side to focus entirely on what we do best.
After years of providing both insurance and financial advice, a decision was made to specialise. The insurance business has been set aside, and the KiwiSaver advisory work, always a core part of what we offered, became the entire focus.
The new name, Avon Wealth, draws inspiration from the Avon River (Ōtākaro) that flows through the heart of Christchurch. It reflects our roots in the city, our focus on helping clients chart a clear financial course, and a fresh approach to KiwiSaver advice. The tagline, Fresh Ideas. Clear Advice., is our promise: independent thinking, no jargon, and recommendations that genuinely suit you.
Andrew is Avon Wealth's Financial Adviser and the face of the business. He works directly with clients across New Zealand by phone, video, or in person in Christchurch, providing clear KiwiSaver advice tailored to each client's situation.
Andrew is building Avon Wealth's identity and approach from the ground up, driven by a belief that KiwiSaver advice should be accessible, honest, and genuinely useful for everyday New Zealanders.
Chris founded Adelphi Insurance Brokers and remains a director of the business behind Avon Wealth. Having built a trusted firm over many years, Chris has stepped back from day-to-day operations and is now largely behind the scenes, working on other ventures as he moves toward retirement.
His legacy, a commitment to ethical, client-first financial advice, continues as the foundation of Avon Wealth's values.
Avon Wealth Limited (FSP482746) is the trading entity you interact with. It is authorised to provide financial advice under a licence held by Avon Financial Services Limited (FSP770433), our Financial Advice Provider.
All advice provided by Avon Wealth is covered by Avon Financial Services Limited's FMA licence, and is delivered in accordance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 and the Code of Professional Conduct for Financial Advice Services.
Everything you need to know about New Zealand's workplace savings scheme, and how to make it work harder for you.
KiwiSaver is a voluntary workplace savings scheme designed to help New Zealanders save for retirement. Contributions come from your salary, your employer, and the government, and are invested in a fund managed by your chosen KiwiSaver provider.
Since launching in 2007, KiwiSaver has grown to hold over $100 billion for more than 3.2 million members. Despite its scale, many members are in the wrong fund or contributing at the minimum rate, potentially missing out on significant long-term growth.
Budget 2025 changed several key KiwiSaver settings. Minimum contribution rates rose to 3.5% (previously 3%) on 1 April 2026, and will rise again to 4% in April 2028. The government contribution was also reduced. It's worth checking your settings are up to date.
From 1 April 2026, the minimum employee and employer contribution rate is 3.5% of your gross salary. You can choose to contribute more: 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10%. A further increase to 4% is scheduled for 1 April 2028.
Almost entirely in cash and fixed interest. Lowest volatility, lowest expected long-term returns. Suited to those who need their money very soon, such as imminent retirement or a home withdrawal within the next year or two.
Mostly fixed interest with some growth assets. Limited volatility. Suited to shorter time horizons (3–5 years) or those with a low risk tolerance.
Roughly split between income and growth assets. Moderate volatility. Suits most 5–10 year horizons and medium risk tolerance.
Predominantly in growth assets. Higher short-term volatility but historically stronger long-term performance. Suited to 10+ year horizons and moderate-to-high risk comfort.
Almost entirely in growth assets. Highest volatility and highest expected long-run returns. Best for 15+ year horizons and those comfortable with significant short-term fluctuations.
Your KiwiSaver could be the cornerstone of your deposit. The strategy matters though, especially the closer you get to buying.
If you're planning to buy in the next 1–5 years, your KiwiSaver fund type matters enormously. A market downturn just before your withdrawal could significantly reduce your deposit if you're in the wrong fund.
After at least 3 years of KiwiSaver membership, you may be eligible to withdraw most of your balance to put toward your first home purchase. This can form a meaningful part of your deposit, particularly after years of employer contributions and investment returns.
This is where many first home buyers get caught out. If you're in a Growth or Aggressive fund and markets fall just before your withdrawal date, your deposit could be significantly lower than expected. The solution is a phased de-risking strategy.
With plenty of time, growth assets can still work in your favour. Prioritise building the balance.
Getting closer means protecting what you've built matters more. Moving to Conservative reduces the impact of a short-term market dip.
Capital preservation is the priority now. You want certainty about what your deposit will be on settlement day.
Switching funds is easy. Switching at the wrong time is costly. Andrew can review your situation and advise on timing.
Your KiwiSaver is likely to be your largest financial asset at retirement. Getting the strategy right, especially in your 50s and 60s, is crucial.
KiwiSaver can be accessed from age 65. At that point, you can withdraw your entire balance as a lump sum, set up regular withdrawals, or leave the money invested and continue to grow it. There's no obligation to stop contributing at 65 either. Many people find it beneficial to keep investing.
NZ Super (from April 2026) pays $1,110.30 per fortnight after tax for a single person living alone, or $1,708.16 combined for a couple where both qualify. For many people, this doesn't cover the retirement lifestyle they want. That's exactly what your KiwiSaver is for.
With New Zealanders living longer than ever, a 65-year-old today could reasonably expect 20–30 more years of life. This changes the maths around how conservatively your KiwiSaver should be invested.
The right balance depends on your personal situation, including other income sources, how soon you need to draw down, your health, and how you feel about short-term volatility. That's exactly what Andrew can help you work through.
NZ Super provides a base level of retirement income, but for most New Zealanders it's not enough to sustain the lifestyle they're accustomed to. The gap between what NZ Super provides and what you actually want to spend is what your KiwiSaver is there to bridge.
Calculate the difference between NZ Super ($1,110.30/fortnight for a single person living alone from April 2026) and what you want to spend. This defines how hard your KiwiSaver needs to work.
Lump sum, regular withdrawals, or a combination? The right approach depends on your spending patterns, tax position, and how long you expect to live.
This is the most important single decision at this life stage. Not too conservative, not too aggressive. The right balance for a 20 to 30 year retirement horizon.
If you're still working in your early 60s, even a few extra years of higher contributions can meaningfully improve your final balance.
Answer 5 questions to get a general indication of the fund type that may suit your situation. Takes about 2 minutes.
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Project your estimated balance at retirement. Adjust your contribution rate, salary, returns, and more.
Default is 3.5% from April 2026, rising to 4% from April 2028. 3% available as a temporary reduction.
Fixed contributions are on top of any employer contributions below. Good for voluntary top-ups or self-employed savers.
Hover over bars for detail · Returns not guaranteed · General guide only
| Age | Year | Your contribs | Employer | Balance |
|---|
Want to talk through your numbers with Andrew and get advice based on your full situation?
Free, no-obligation KiwiSaver consultation with Andrew Wilkinson. Christchurch based and advising New Zealanders nationwide.
Your information is kept private and used only to respond to your enquiry. See our Privacy Policy.
Principal KiwiSaver Adviser
Avon Wealth Limited (FSP482746)
LocationChristchurch, Canterbury, NZ
Serving clients nationwide via phone & video
Emailandrew@avonwealth.nz
Phone021 944 692
Office hours
Mon–Fri: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Mornings, evenings & weekends by arrangement
Specialist servicing for clients with older, closed retirement investments, making sure your legacy savings are still working for you.
While Avon Wealth's primary focus is modern KiwiSaver advisory, we also continue to manage and provide ongoing support for a select range of legacy and niche retirement schemes on behalf of our long-standing clients.
These specialised schemes often carry unique structures, historical benefits, and individual considerations that require dedicated expertise and ongoing oversight. As part of our commitment to existing clients, we continue to offer advice, administration support, and regular reviews, to help ensure these older investments remain aligned with your retirement objectives.
Please note: These retirement schemes are no longer open to new members. Our involvement is strictly limited to servicing and supporting existing clients who are already invested in these schemes.
Previously known as the AMP Superannuation Master Trust, this scheme was transferred to a new fund manager, Lifetime Asset Management Ltd, in 2023.
If you've found us here, you've likely arrived via a referral from Lifetime directly, or through our regular correspondence with the approximately 500 clients who still hold investments within this legacy scheme. You may not have encountered Avon Wealth before. We are simply the most recent of around five different providers and advisers that your SMT will have passed through since you first established it, perhaps many years ago.
You may have originally set up this investment through Spicers, AXA, AMP, First Capital, or another source entirely. Regardless of where it started, your fund now sits under the management of Lifetime, with Avon Wealth acting as the linked independent adviser to provide ongoing advice and assist with:
If you've never reviewed this scheme, or if you have any questions about your Lifetime SMT investment, please get in touch as soon as possible. Andrew can bring you fully up to date on your investment and outline your options going forward.
We also look after a small book of clients with AMP New Zealand Retirement Trust (NZRT) accounts. Most of these clients originally joined this scheme through workplace superannuation with NZME.
AMP are, and will remain, the manager of these funds. Avon Wealth is the linked adviser for a number of legacy NZRT accounts, providing ongoing review and guidance.
The NZRT is a retirement scheme that is separate from KiwiSaver, and is not typically available to new employees or customers. However, if you established this investment years ago, it may still be sitting there, potentially unreviewed and no longer structured to best suit where you are in life today.
Just like KiwiSaver, your NZRT can be structured around your tolerance for risk and your growth objectives. Getting regular advice on this scheme is important, and that's exactly where we can help. Please contact us to discuss your NZRT investment.
If you've received correspondence from Lifetime Asset Management, AMP, or from Avon Wealth directly about an older retirement investment, or if you simply have an investment you haven't looked at in years, please get in touch. Andrew can help identify what you have, where it currently sits, and what your best options are going forward.