What Forsyth Barr Limited does

Forsyth Barr Limited is a New Zealand-founded (1936) private, majority staff and NZ-owned investment firm that delivers full-service investment advisory, portfolio management, sharebroking, research, and investment banking services. It serves individual retail investors, institutional clients, KiwiSaver retirement savers, farmers seeking off-farm diversification, and women investors through a hybrid distribution model combining 220+ qualified investment professionals across 26 nationwide offices with digital self-service channels.

The firm's product architecture layers a registered managed investment scheme (Forsyth Barr Funds — 14 funds spanning Cash, Bond, NZ/AUS equities, Property, and global thematics including Tech, Healthcare, Climate Change, Sustainability, and Gold) underneath advised services (Fully Managed Portfolio, Premium Advisory, Navigator tailored fund portfolios) and digital surfaces (the Tempo guided investment app and a secure client portal with two-factor authentication). Forsyth Barr Capital Markets, launched in 2026, is a wholly-owned subsidiary providing dedicated investment banking and institutional broking. Adjacent offerings include the Summer KiwiSaver scheme, margin lending, property investment alternatives, off-farm investing, and the Her Wealth programme connecting clients to female advisers.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but the firm mixes recurring advisory and fund management fees, transactional commissions, capital markets professional services fees, and KiwiSaver management fees, distributing through both adviser-led direct sales and self-serve digital channels. Forsyth Barr manages approximately NZD 30 billion in client funds and runs award-winning research covering 65+ NZX-listed companies.

Name

Forsyth Barr Limited

Legal name

Forsyth Barr Limited

Website

https://forsythbarr.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Forsyth Barr Limited is a New Zealand-founded (1936) private, majority staff-owned full-service investment firm providing advisory, portfolio management, broking, research, and investment banking to retail and institutional clients across 26 offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management & Investment Banking

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fundamental/Discretionary Equity Long/Short (FSAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fund of Funds & Multi-Manager Mutual Funds (FSAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Investment advisory services
• Portfolio management solutions
• Sharebroking brokerage
• Investment banking advisory
• Kiwisaver scheme provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory and Management Services: Revenue generated from managed portfolio services, fully managed portfolios, premium advisory, and tailored fund portfolio services. Fees are charged for investment management and advisory services.
2. Transactional Services: Revenue from buy and sell transactions and advice-as-you-need-it services for clients transacting in investments.
3. Investment Funds Management: Forsyth Barr Funds are registered managed investment schemes issued by Forsyth Barr Investment Management Limited, powering Tempo and Navigator services. Revenue from fund management fees.
4. Capital Markets Services: Investment banking and institutional broking services, including acting as bookrunner for IPOs and capital markets transactions.
5. KiwiSaver Scheme: Summer KiwiSaver scheme provides managed superannuation savings products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forsyth Barr is a New Zealand investment firm providing retail investment advisory, sharebroking, managed portfolio services, Forsyth Barr Funds, the Summer KiwiSaver scheme, the Tempo guided investment app, and institutional capital markets services (broking and investment banking) through 26 offices nationwide. The firm combines personalised adviser relationships with digital self-service platforms to deliver portfolio management, transactional execution, retirement savings, and equity capital markets services across New Zealand.

Product overview

Forsyth Barr is a New Zealand-based investment services firm offering a comprehensive financial advisory and brokerage platform. The core offering includes a platform-plus-advisory model where Forsyth Barr Investment Services combines managed portfolio services (Fully Managed Portfolio, Premium Advisory, Navigator) with transactional services and digital access. Key product lines include Forsyth Barr Funds (a registered managed investment scheme with 14 fund options spanning Cash, Bond, NZ/AUS Companies, Property, and Global strategies including Tech, Healthcare, Climate Change, and Gold), the Tempo guided investment app, and Forsyth Barr Capital Markets for institutional services. Additional offerings include the Summer KiwiSaver Scheme, Her Wealth programme, Property Investment Alternatives, and Off-Farm Investing services. The platform provides digital access via desktop and mobile apps, and access to research through the Forsyth Barr Research Library.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tempo: New Zealand's first guided investment app, powering investment in Forsyth Barr Funds.
• Summer KiwiSaver Scheme
• Forsyth Barr Funds
• Navigator
• Her Wealth

Products and services

• Forsyth Barr Investment Services Full-service investment advisory and brokerage platform offering managed portfolios, transactional services, and personalised investment advice across multiple asset classes for New Zealand retail and wholesale clients.
• Forsyth Barr Funds Registered managed investment scheme issued by Forsyth Barr Investment Management Limited, providing access to 14 diversified funds spanning Cash, Bond, NZ Companies, AUS Companies, Property, and global strategies (Quality, Value, Growth, Sustainability, Climate Change, Tech, Healthcare, Gold). Powers the Tempo app and Navigator service.
• Forsyth Barr Capital Markets Dedicated capital markets platform focused on investment banking, institutional broking, IPO underwriting, and trading services for institutional investors and corporate issuers.
• Tempo (Guided Investment App) New Zealand's first guided investment app. Users set goals, make deposits, and receive automated portfolio recommendations built from Forsyth Barr Funds for self-directed investors.
• Summer KiwiSaver Scheme KiwiSaver scheme managed by Forsyth Barr to help individuals save for retirement through diversified managed investment options.
• Fully Managed Portfolio Comprehensive investment management service in which Forsyth Barr manages the entire portfolio on behalf of the client, with full adviser oversight.
• Premium Advisory (Build Your Own Portfolio) Build-your-own portfolio service offering personalised investment advice and portfolio construction support from Forsyth Barr investment advisers.
• Navigator (Tailored Fund Portfolio) Adviser-managed diversified portfolio composed of Forsyth Barr Funds, built on a comprehensive understanding of the client's financial situation and goals.
• Transactional Services (Buy and Sell) Buy and sell execution services for self-directed investors, with personalised advice available as needed on a transactional basis.
• Off-Farm Investing Investment services tailored for New Zealand farmers to diversify wealth beyond agricultural operations into listed equities, fixed interest, and managed funds.
• Property Investment Alternatives Managed-portfolio exposure to property and infrastructure as a diversification alternative to direct property investment.
• Margin Lending Leveraged investment service allowing clients to borrow against their investment portfolio to amplify purchasing power.
• Investment Portfolio (Digital Platform) Online platform for accessing investments, following market movements, reading research, and managing watchlists across desktop, iOS, and Android with two-factor authentication.
• Her Wealth Programme Programme providing tailored education resources, focused events, and connection to a nationwide team of female advisers to help New Zealand women achieve their financial goals.
• Research Library Award-winning research library offering Wealth Weekly analysis, quantitative screening, company reports, and Forsyth Barr MST Access Research across NZ and global markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 billion NZD in client funds administered
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Forsyth Barr partnered with Air New Zealand to lead sustainability initiatives by purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates, making it one of the first New Zealand companies to support SAF.
• Deloitte New ZealandminorOthersForsyth Barr participates in the annual Deloitte Top 200 Awards programme as a finalist company, recognizing outstanding performance among NZ's largest organisations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Milford Asset Management: Milford is a prominent NZ-based investment manager with KiwiSaver, managed funds, and private wealth offerings. Listed on the NZX, it competes with Forsyth Barr's Summer KiwiSaver scheme and Forsyth Barr Funds for both retail and adviser-distributed mandates.
• Craigs Investment Partners: Craigs is another longstanding NZ full-service investment advisory and broking firm with a national office network, private wealth management, and institutional research. It mirrors Forsyth Barr's platform-plus-adviser model and competes directly for retail HNW clients, advisory mandates, and NZX institutional broking.
• Fisher Funds Management: Fisher Funds is one of New Zealand's largest active fund managers, offering KiwiSaver, managed funds, and investment solutions. While more product-focused than Forsyth Barr's full-service model, it competes directly for KiwiSaver members and managed-fund AUM within the same NZ retail channel.
• Jarden (including First NZ Capital): Jarden is one of Forsyth Barr's closest New Zealand-based full-service competitors, offering investment advisory, sharebroking, research, and investment banking. Following the First NZ Capital acquisition, Jarden now has the largest NZ equities research and capital markets footprint, competing head-to-head with Forsyth Barr across all major service lines.

Broad incumbents

• ANZ Bank New Zealand (wealth division): ANZ NZ operates a large wealth and KiwiSaver franchise leveraging its millions of banking customers. Following its 2022 acquisition of Fisher Funds' wealth business, it is one of the largest NZ wealth managers, competing with Forsyth Barr for retail advisory and KiwiSaver AUM via embedded bank-channel distribution.
• UBS Investment Bank (NZ/Aus): UBS is a global investment bank with substantial Australia/NZ operations covering equities research, capital markets, and wealth management. It has already co-mandated with Forsyth Barr on the BlackBull Markets dual listing, illustrating direct overlap on NZ institutional broking and ECM deals.
• Macquarie Group (NZ wealth): Macquarie operates a broad NZ wealth and capital markets presence, including Wrap platform, KiwiSaver (via Brook), and investment banking. It competes with Forsyth Barr across managed portfolios, funds, and institutional services as a much larger global incumbent with deeper product breadth.

Emerging players

• Kernel Wealth: Kernel is a NZ digital-first KiwiSaver and managed funds provider with low fees and a strong brand among younger New Zealanders. It targets the same KiwiSaver and retail managed-fund AUM as Forsyth Barr's Summer scheme and Forsyth Barr Funds via a low-cost digital channel.
• Sharesies: Sharesies is a leading NZ digital investment platform that has democratised self-directed investing for younger cohorts. It competes with Forsyth Barr's Tempo and transactional services by offering low-friction retail share and fund investing outside the traditional adviser-led model.
• Hatch (by Kiwi Wealth / FMG): Hatch is a NZ digital platform providing access to US and global equities for retail investors. It competes with Forsyth Barr's international equities and transactional offerings for self-directed retail customers seeking low-cost global market access without an adviser.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forsyth-barr
• Xx.com/forsythbarr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forsyth Barr Limited