You may have noticed some recent ups and downs in your investment balance. Market volatility is being driven by a range of global events including changes to US trade policy, inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions. While unsettling, periods of volatility are a normal part of long-term investing and past market events have shown that patience is often the best strategy.


Before making any changes, revisit your financial goals and timeframe and instead of reacting to daily movements, focus on the long term. Moving to a lower-risk fund now could mean missing out if/when markets rise again. The questions in the KiwiSaver fund selector and Investment Fund selector can be useful to consider. 

To better understand what is going on in the markets, check out some recent updates:

Simplicity member webinar 7 April 2025:

What do the new US tariffs mean for NZ? [YouTube]

Markets were already unsettled leading up to the US tariff announcement, and have fallen further in response. Understandably, there’s growing concern about the potential for wider trade tensions and how this might impact the global economy.

So what does this mean for your KiwiSaver and investments? And for New Zealand?

Watch our recent webinar and Q&A, where our Chief Economist, Shamubeel Eaqub, and Chief Investment Officer, Andrew Lance, discuss how markets are responding and how to think about your long-term investments during uncertain times like these. They also answer member questions. 

Simplicity Research Hub blogs:

OCR cut is a good start, but NZ must do more

The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR to 3.5%, but more action is needed. With the risks to the global economy rising, NZ must act decisively to protect jobs, growth, and stability.

Liberation day

USA ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs have been announced - which may or may not be changed or reversed, given these types of threats can be powerful negotiating chips. Shamubeel Eaqub's back-of-the-envelope calculations show that these tariffs will add up to a 26.5% increase in US import costs. But what does it mean for NZ? 

The Economy Made Simple (our new podcast):

Episode #1: State of the Nation

This episode covers:

In this episode, Shamubeel unpacks some complex economic trends to help you better understand how these might impact your investments and financial strategy. Armed with this knowledge, you can make more informed decisions, stay resilient in the face of economic fluctuations, and plan more effectively for the future.

The information provided and opinions expressed in this post are intended for general guidance only and not personalised to you. These materials do not take into account your particular financial situation or goals and are not financial advice or a recommendation. This post is not intended to convey any guarantees as to the future performance of any of the investment products, asset classes, or capital markets mentioned. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Information is current at the time of posting, and subject to change without notice. Simplicity NZ Ltd is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver Scheme and Investment Funds. For Product Disclosure Statements please visit our website simplicity.kiwi