Choosing who manages your money is a decision worth taking slowly, and the best investment advisers in Hastings range from independent fee-only firms to NZX participant broking houses with research teams behind them. These five cover portfolio management, retirement planning, KiwiSaver advice and overseas pension transfers, and every one is a licensed Financial Advice Provider or authorised under one. Stewart Group and Craigs Investment Partners are two of the most established names locally.
1Stewart Group
Stewart Group started life in central Hastings in 1987 when Don Stewart founded DL Stewart and Associates, and it now runs offices in Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. It is independent, non-aligned and fee-only, taking no product commissions on investment business, and it manages model portfolios under its own Discretionary Investment Management Service licence. The fiduciary certification is genuinely rare in New Zealand.
Services
- Wealth management, including portfolio construction and ongoing management
- Retirement planning
- KiwiSaver advice
- UK pension and Australian superannuation transfers
- Risk insurance, estate and business succession planning
Highlights
- Trading since 1987, so nearly four decades in Hastings
- Holds a Discretionary Investment Management Service licence, allowing it to manage portfolios directly
- CEFEX certified fiduciary, one of only eight such firms in New Zealand and two in Hawke’s Bay
- Certified B Corp and a founding member of the Global Association of Independent Advisors
- Fee only on investment business, taking no product commissions
Location & Contact
Name: Stewart Group
Address: 204 Karamu Road North, Hastings
Phone: 06 878 8961
Website: stewartgroup.co.nz
2Craigs Investment Partners
Craigs opened its Havelock North branch in 2019 to serve the Hastings District, paired with a second Hawke’s Bay office in Napier. It is an NZX participant firm offering both discretionary and advisory portfolio management alongside sharebroking, backed by an in-house research team. The local adviser team is described as carrying more than a hundred years of combined experience.
Services
- Wealth management for individuals, families and family trusts
- Discretionary Investment Management Service
- Managed Portfolio Service
- Sharebroking
- KiwiSaver management, UK pension and Australian superannuation transfers
Highlights
- NZX participant firm with an in-house research team
- Havelock North branch opened in 2019, with a second Hawke’s Bay office in Napier
- Also advises charities, foundations, iwi and family offices
- Publishes a Financial Advice Provider disclosure statement
Location & Contact
Name: Craigs Investment Partners
Address: Level 1, 15 Joll Road, Havelock North 4130
Phone: 06 826 2500
Website: craigsip.com
3Forsyth Barr
Forsyth Barr is New Zealand owned, founded in 1936, and unusually for Hawke’s Bay it runs two established offices in the region, at Havelock North and Napier. Its Hawke’s Bay page names seven local investment specialists, and it offers both fully managed portfolios and self directed advisory options. It also owns the Summer KiwiSaver Scheme and Octagon Asset Management.
Services
- Fully managed portfolios
- Premium advisory, where you build the portfolio with adviser input
- Tailored fund portfolios
- Sharebroking and transactional advice
- Fixed interest, equities and cash management
Highlights
- Founded in 1936 and New Zealand owned
- NZX participant firm
- Two established Hawke’s Bay offices rather than a single branch
Location & Contact
Name: Forsyth Barr
Address: Level 2, 17 Joll Road, Havelock North
Phone: 06 974 5550
Website: forsythbarr.co.nz
4Milestone Financial Hawke’s Bay
Milestone Financial Hawke’s Bay was established in 2008 out of the wealth management arm of a long standing local firm, and joined the national Milestone group in 2020. It is run by directors Richard Maloy and Stephanie Maloy, both financial advisers. Notably it advises only on investment, KiwiSaver and retirement matters and refers mortgages and insurance elsewhere, which is a deliberate narrowing of scope rather than a gap.
Services
- Investment advice, including portfolio construction
- KiwiSaver scheme advice
- Financial and retirement planning
- Australian superannuation transfers
Highlights
- Operating since 2008
- Holds its own Financial Markets Authority licence rather than operating under a third party
- Deliberately scoped to investment and retirement only, referring out home loans and insurance
- Two director level advisers based in Hastings
Location & Contact
Name: Milestone Financial Hawke’s Bay
Address: 310 Avenue Road East, Hastings 4122
Phone: 06 242 2210
Website: milestone.co.nz
5Financial Advice Hawke’s Bay
Financial Advice Hawke’s Bay is a non-aligned financial planning firm that has provided investment and retirement advice in the region for over 25 years, with roots running back more than a century through Government Life and TOWER. It is a licensed Financial Advice Provider in its own right and its team includes Certified Financial Planner professionals and a Chartered Financial Analyst. It works across Hawke’s Bay including Hastings and Havelock North.
Services
- Financial planning
- Investment advice
- Retirement planning
- KiwiSaver advice
- Personal and business insurance
Highlights
- Licensed Financial Advice Provider in its own right, not authorised under another firm’s licence
- Team includes Certified Financial Planner professionals and a Chartered Financial Analyst
- More than 25 years providing investment and retirement advice in the region
- Member of Financial Advice New Zealand
Location & Contact
Name: Financial Advice Hawke’s Bay
Address: Level 1, 20-22 Munroe Street, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 834 0974
Website: fahb.co.nz
Investment Advisers in Hastings at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Stewart Group | Hastings | Trading since 1987, so nearly four decades in Hastings |
| Craigs Investment Partners | Havelock North | NZX participant firm with an in-house research team |
| Forsyth Barr | Havelock North | Founded in 1936 and New Zealand owned |
| Milestone Financial Hawke's Bay | Hastings | Operating since 2008 |
| Financial Advice Hawke's Bay | Napier | Licensed Financial Advice Provider in its own right |
How to Choose the Right Investment Adviser in Hastings
- Check how the adviser is paid, whether by fee, by commission, or both, because it is the single question that tells you most about whose interests the advice serves.
- Ask whether they are aligned to particular products or genuinely non-aligned, since an adviser tied to one provider has a narrower shelf to recommend from.
- Look at the scope of the licence, as some firms hold a Discretionary Investment Management Service licence allowing them to manage a portfolio directly while others advise only.
- Ask what qualifications the adviser holds, since designations such as Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst require substantial study and ongoing standards.
- Verify the firm on the public register yourself rather than taking the website at face value.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Investment Advisers
Is financial advice regulated in New Zealand?
Yes. Since 2021 anyone giving regulated financial advice must either hold a Financial Advice Provider licence from the Financial Markets Authority or be authorised under one, and be listed on the Financial Service Providers Register. Advisers must also meet a code of conduct and put the client’s interests first. The regime is administered by the Financial Markets Authority.
How do I check an adviser is licensed?
Search the firm or adviser on the Financial Service Providers Register, which is public and free. Every firm here publishes a disclosure statement naming its licence and FSP number, and you are entitled to ask for that document before engaging anyone.
What is the difference between fee only and commission?
A fee-only firm is paid by you and takes no commission from product providers, which removes one source of conflict. A commission-based adviser is paid by the provider whose product you buy. Both models are legal and must be disclosed. One Hastings firm on this list is explicitly fee-only on investment business.
What does a DIMS licence mean?
A Discretionary Investment Management Service licence allows a firm to buy and sell within your portfolio without seeking approval for each transaction, within a mandate you agree. It is a higher level of licensing than advice alone. Two firms here hold one, which suits people who would rather delegate day to day decisions.
Do I need an adviser just for KiwiSaver?
Not necessarily, though advice can help with fund choice, contribution rates and how KiwiSaver fits alongside other savings. Some advisers are aligned to a single provider and others select across the market using independent research, so it is worth asking which applies before taking a recommendation.
Can they help transfer a UK or Australian pension?
Yes, several here list UK pension and Australian superannuation transfers as a service. These transfers have specific tax and eligibility rules in both countries and are not a simple administrative exercise, so specialist experience matters more than usual.
What should I take to a first meeting?
A rough picture of your assets, debts, income and KiwiSaver balance, plus what you want the money to do and by when. Most firms offer a first conversation at no charge. Bring your questions about fees and conflicts to that meeting rather than leaving them until later.
What if something goes wrong?
Every licensed provider must belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme, which is free for you to use, and must tell you which one. Complain to the firm first, then escalate to the scheme if it is unresolved. Nothing on this page is financial advice, and any decision should be made with an adviser who knows your circumstances.
How We Chose the Best Investment Advisers in Hastings
Every business in this guide was found by searching for investment advisers in Hastings, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.