The Curve

This week Sophie's joined by chartered accountant, author and finance creator Abi Foster (filling in for Vic) to unpack the UK's brand-new Buy Now, Pay Later regulations - why they've come in, what they actually mean for your credit score, and how one woman ended up $50k in debt using it. Plus: should you be divesting from the US stock market right now, SpaceX's IPO wobble and Elon losing his trillionaire status, the $110bn Warner Bros/Paramount merger 12 US states are trying to block, and a genuinely lovely bonus story about a Costco cashier who built a $1m retirement pot on minimum wage.
Abi’s Links
⁠The Money Manual Book⁠: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/46857...
⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/abigailrosefoster/
⁠TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailrosefoster
⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmvbS2HZTs72pst13nBEmJw/videos
Substack: https://elent.substack.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/)
Lily’s guide to ethical investing template:
https://pathfinder.kiwi/media/documents/Pathfinder_x_The_Curve_Mini_Ethical_Investment_Policy.pdf
WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:
FCA The UK's finance regulator, now policing BNPL.
Section 75 Your provider's on the hook if a purchase goes wrong.
Soft check A background check that doesn't dent your credit score.
Credit score The number lenders use to judge how risky you are.
Earnings season Weeks when public companies report results.
S&P 500 The top 500 US companies.
Magnificent Seven The 7 tech giants dominating the US market.
Divesting Selling investments to cut your exposure.
Emerging markets Fast-growing but riskier economies.
IPO A company's first share sale to the public.
Monopoly One player controls the market, no competition.
Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Abi Foster
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
00:01:42 Abi's back on the pod!
00:03:53 Buy now, pay later: the rules just changed
00:17:43 Should we be divesting from the US?
00:29:53 Pathfinder x The Curve
00:31:05 The $110bn media merger nobody saw coming
00:36:34 Soph's bonus story
00:39:25 The Ethical Hotline
00:45:05 Thank you for listening!
00:46:13 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.

If you've ever felt behind on money, like everyone else somehow "gets it" and you missed the lesson, this episode is for you. Sophie sits down with finance creator Ciara McMahon to break down, step by step, how she went from financially avoidant to having over £200,000 invested, without cutting out the things she enjoys: what compound growth actually means and why it's so hard to grasp at first, what dollar-cost averaging is and how Ciara adapted it into her own "curated" version (holding back a portion each month to invest more when the market dips), what an ETF actually is versus picking individual stocks, why a stocks and shares ISA is tax-free, what "risk appetite" really means, the idea of Coast FIRE and retirement as a financial state rather than an age, and why so many women were never taught any of this in the first place. Ciara is living proof that building wealth doesn't require depriving yourself, just consistency and the right foundations.
Ciara’s links
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ciara___anne/)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ciara__anne)
Want to know your Coast FIRE number? Ciara breaks it down here: Coast FIRE explained (https://www.instagram.com/p/DX2WR6-qOXH/)
Episodes mentioned in this podcast…
Economist Bronwyn Taylor explains why 'Girl Math' is a toxic trend. (https://youtu.be/VEKpsJlReb8?si=tbit37Bn767tMDUk)
Mia McGrath’s Frugal Chic Rules for Building Wealth. (https://youtu.be/nV74s4FoyUI?si=zVHVGU_9hvgrseM7)
Credits:
Host: Sophie Hallwright
Guest: Ciara McMahon
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 Episode Preview
00:01:04 Who is Ciara?
00:02:16 Why women don’t talk about money
00:11:49 Ciara’s financial journey
00:23:04 A conversation with Ciara’s sister
00:32:53 Ciara’s investing strategy
00:43:13 Ciara’s fav ETFs
00:44:34 Jealousy within friendship groups
00:49:52 Thank you for listening!
00:50:19 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.

Today we tackle one of the most controversial money topics out there: should billionaires pay more tax? With a wealth tax vote coming to California and France debating the same fight, Vic and Soph go head to head - one wants a minimum personal income threshold for the ultra-rich, the other says the real fix is corporate tax and preventing this level of wealth concentration in the first place. We also dig into the gender gap behind who's actually getting taxed (only 14% of billionaires are women), then switch gears to break down Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported $20 million wedding - the Madison Square Garden price tag, the donation to NYC, and the prenup drawn up by Taylor's dad. Plus Dua Lipa and Callum Turner's wedding, and why more couples (led by women) are finally normalising prenups.

PLEASE VOTE FOR US! The Curve has been nominated for best Education podcast at The British Podcast Awards 🏆 - if you've ever laughed, learned, or yelled at your phone during an episode, vote for us here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Takes 10 seconds and would mean the world to us.

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

Producer & Editor: Emily Rigby

Editor: Kate Callaghan

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
00:00:55 Generate x The Curve
00:01:13 Quick catch up
00:04:15 Vote for us in the British Podcast Awards!
00:05:51 Should billionaires be taxed?
00:22:51 Generate x The Curve
00:23:36 Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce's $20M wedding
00:32:24 See you Friday!
00:34:57 Thanks for listening!
00:35:34 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.

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.