Bryan Scott Financial Adviser

📉 “Your instinct in a downturn is to panic. That’s normal. But it’s also why we rebalance.”

Market dips feel awful—for everyone. It’s human nature to want to pull out, go to cash, or just do something when things are falling.

But here’s the truth: downturns aren’t a crisis. They’re part of the cycle.
And for disciplined investors, they’re a feature—not a bug.

Rebalancing helps you use those moments instead of fearing them.

It’s the quiet process of selling some of what’s gone up (growth assets), and buying more of what’s temporarily down (like bonds or alternative assets)—so your portfolio stays in line with your long-term goals.

No emotion. No guesswork. Just structure.

The more you understand rebalancing, the more you stop dreading downturns—and start seeing them for what they are: an opportunity.

If no one’s talking to you about that, it might be time we did.

📉 If you spend too much time on Twitter / X, you’d think the world is ending.

But step back—and things look a lot more normal.

The S&P 500’s price-to-earnings ratio has pulled back to around 19.4. That’s almost bang on the five-year average, and not far off the ten-year norm.

In other words: this isn’t the end. It’s a reset.

Markets don’t go up in straight lines. This kind of pullback is how the market rebalances itself—quietly, systematically, and often uncomfortably.

For long-term investors, this is not a time to panic. It’s a time to check your strategy, stay disciplined, and let the numbers do their work.

And maybe… spend a little less time scrolling.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Most of us (slightly!!) older advisers love bonds... because this isn’t our first financial meltdown.

So what is a bond—and why does it matter in a portfolio?

After my last post, a few people asked about bonds and rebalancing. I’ll tackle bonds today—one of my favourite topics and, believe it or not, not as boring as they sound.

A bond is simply a loan. To make investing easier, they’re often packaged into groups—bond funds.

Here’s how it works: A company borrows money by issuing bonds and promises to pay interest (say 6%) and return the capital at the end.

What makes bonds special?
In most cases, bondholders get security over the company’s assets. Let’s take Auckland Airport—one of the largest issuers in New Zealand—as an example.

If Auckland Airport (or any company) hits financial trouble, shareholders wear the ups and downs. But in extreme stress, like bankruptcy? Bondholders go to the front of the line.

They can claim infrastructure, sell it off, and recoup their money first.
Shareholders? Second-class citizens. They get what’s left—often, nothing.

Building a portfolio isn’t about shooting for the stars. It’s about building a base.

And please don’t assume being in KiwiSaver exempts you from this conversation.
In my view, every KiwiSaver fund should include bonds—because rebalancing is key.

More on that tomorrow.

🧠📉 "I’m not convinced by these ultra-aggressive KiwiSaver funds with zero bond exposure."

No bonds. No rebalancing. And no accounting for how the human mind reacts under pressure.

That’s not a strategy—it’s a gamble.

When markets drop (and they always do), people don’t usually stick to the plan. Without the ballast of bonds or a disciplined rebalancing process, portfolios can unravel—right when you need them most.

Bonds may not be exciting, but they bring structure, stability, and priority access to capital if things go bad. That’s not boring—that’s smart.

At Resilient Financial, we build portfolios that work with human behaviour, not against it.

If your investments are all gas and no brakes, it might be time for a rethink.

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻?
I recently met a client who thought they were retirement-ready. Reality check: they would need to work 7 extra years to maintain their lifestyle.
This isn't rare. Here's what I typically find:

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗞𝗶𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀
Many overestimate what their KiwiSaver will provide
Small planning adjustments today can prevent major lifestyle downgrades later

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀?
With strategic planning, we created a roadmap that closed their retirement gap without sacrificing their current lifestyle.
Financial freedom isn't about luck – it's about having a tailored plan.
Ready for your retirement reality check? I offer complimentary retirement readiness assessments. Then if I can offer value, great. If not no problem and no charge.
Comment "FREEDOM" below or DM me to secure your spot.

🚨 Where Are the Customers' Yachts? 🚨

If you've ever asked why the financial industry keeps growing while some investors seem to fall short, Fred Schwed Jr.'s Where Are the Customers' Yachts? offers an insightful answer. The book is funny but a little dated, reveals a tough truth: sometimes, those giving financial advice are making more money than their clients.

💡 It's worth considering: Are the fees you're paying aligned with the service you're receiving? Are you getting the most value for your financial decisions?

Taking a closer look at your financial choices can help you make sure your hard-earned money is being used wisely and working toward the future you want.

1. Do you know how much of your returns you are giving back in fees
2. If fees are 3% or 4% justifiable when the S&P 500 returns approximately 9% over the long run?
3. Will your adviser happily discuss performance of their funds over the last 5 years
4. Getting uncomfortable here.... but can do you actually know the total fees charged?

I presented last week to Queenstown Airport staff a great session on mastering your financial journey! Arranged by Pathfinder so many thnaks

Thanks to everyone that attended. I could tell by the questions that people got somehting out of it. But as is the nature different folks gained form different parts.

If you would like me to present to your team just reach out. Definitley the fun part of the week

Here's what we covered:​

Budgeting Tools: Practical strategies to track and optimize your spending.​

KiwiSaver Insights: Maximizing benefits for a secure retirement.​

Debt Management: Effective techniques to reduce and eliminate debt.​

Financial Freedom Planning: Steps to achieve long-term financial independence.​

The energy and engagement were phenomenal! A huge thank you to everyone who participated and shared their insights. Let's continue this journey toward financial empowerment together!

🚨 Choosing the wrong KiwiSaver fund? You might just be making your working life longer—on purpose! 🚨

KiwiSaver is there to help you secure a better future, but if you're not in the right fund, you could be setting yourself up for more work down the track.

⚖️ Risk levels should match your situation, and if your fund isn’t aligned with your needs, you might not be getting the most out of it. A simple shift in the type of fund can make a big difference down the line.

👉 If you’re not sure your current fund is right for you, or you're just curious about your options, do reach out to your financial adviser. These fund types need to be reviewed regularly

KiwiSaver Default Funds: Better Than Nothing, But Not By Much

KiwiSaver default funds exist for one reason: to park your money somewhere until you actually make a choice. They’re not designed to be the best option for you. In fact, sticking with the default could mean working years longer than you need to.

The right fund could help you retire much earlier. How much earlier? That depends on things like fees, asset allocation, and whether you’re actually invested for growth rather than just sitting in neutral.

Not sure if your KiwiSaver is working for you? Grab a financial adviser and have a chat.

We dont bite......and most adviser like myself wont charge upfront fee for KiwiSaver advice.