Most New Zealanders ticked a box when they started a job and have not looked at their KiwiSaver since. That one untouched setting quietly decides how much you retire on. Journey Mortgages reviews your KiwiSaver the same way we review a home loan: the fund type you are actually in, what it is costing you in fees, whether your contribution rate still fits your income, and whether your provider is the right one for where you are in life. It is a fifteen minute conversation that can be worth more than every pay rise you get between now and retirement.

The gap is not small. Take a 30 year old earning $80,000, contributing 3.5% with a matching 3.5% employer contribution. At a conservative return of around 3% a year after fees and tax, they reach 65 with roughly $354,000. In a growth fund returning around 5.5% a year after fees and tax, the same contributions reach roughly $588,000 - a difference of about $233,000 from a single setting. Start at 25 instead of 30 and the gap widens to over $350,000. Fees compound too: paying 0.7% a year more than you need to costs that same person close to $80,000 by retirement.

None of that is a prediction, and past performance is no guarantee of future returns. But the direction is consistent, and the cost of leaving your KiwiSaver on autopilot compounds every year you wait. A free 15 minute call is the cheapest way to find out whether yours is actually set up for the retirement you want.