Harness Financial

What Harness Financial does

Harness Financial Group is a privately held New Zealand financial advisory firm headquartered in Wellington, operating through two wholly-owned FMA-licensed subsidiaries: Harness Invest Limited (FSP1001475) and Harness Insurance Limited (FSP1004250). Formed in 2023 through the merger of Rees-Thomas Financial (founded December 2014, insurance advice) and Savvy Wealth (founded September 2021, investment advice), the firm combines retirement, investment, and personal/business insurance advisory under two consumer-facing sub-brands: Harness Invest and Harness Insurance. Services are delivered via scheduled consultations (phone, video, in-person, Calendly) targeting individuals and families planning retirement, with secondary segments in business owners and corporate/employer clients. Core technology stack comprises Planolitix for lifetime cashflow modelling, the Consilium Platform (FNZ) for investment portfolio management with access to NZX, ASX, USA, and UK markets, HubSpot CRM, and Fireflies for AI-driven meeting transcription.

The firm earns revenue through a mix of commission, recurring asset-based fees, and project-based professional service fees. Streams include insurance commissions (0.25%-0.50% p.a. on KiwiSaver balances; commissions on life/health/insurance premiums via accredited providers), portfolio management fees (up to 1.00% + GST p.a. on assets under advice, plus up to 0.25% p.a. platform fee), and project fees for financial plan preparation ($2,500 + GST or $250/hr + GST, whichever is greater). Insurance written advice, historically billed at $195 + GST per hour, is explicitly not being charged for the 2025 financial year, shifting near-term revenue more heavily onto recurring platform and commission streams.

The GTM is sales-led and consultative: 'Book a Call' CTAs and direct phone/email are the primary conversion paths, supported by a multi-channel organic presence (LinkedIn, Medium, Vimeo, Facebook, Google Business). Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, with two founder-directors (Samuel Rees-Thomas on insurance, Dieter Timmerman on investments) plus an operations/claims adviser and senior insurance specialist. The firm displays a 5-star customer rating on its website (self-reported, with placeholder testimonials marked 'Coming Soon'), is a member-shareholder of Plus4 Insurance Solutions dealer co-operative, and complies with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, AML/CFT, Privacy Act 2020, and Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

Name

Harness Financial

Legal name

Harness Financial Group

Website

https://harnessfinancial.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harness Financial is a Wellington-based, privately held New Zealand financial advisory firm offering retirement, investment, and personal/business insurance planning to individuals, families, business owners, and corporate clients via FMA-licensed subsidiary brands Harness Invest and Harness Insurance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Commission: Commission received directly from insurance product providers based on premium amounts. For KiwiSaver, commissions range from 0.25% to 0.50% on balance per annum depending on provider.
2. Portfolio Management Fees: Percentage-based fees on assets under advice: up to 1.00% + GST per annum for advice fee, plus platform fee up to 0.25% no GST per annum.
3. Financial Plan Preparation: Plan preparation fee of $2,500 + GST or $250 per hour + GST, whichever is greater, for investment planning.
4. Insurance Advice Fees: Hourly fee of $195 + GST for written insurance advice (capped at 15 hours for standard meetings, capped at 2.5 hours for initial consultations). Note: not charging advice fees for 2025 financial year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harness Financial is a New Zealand licensed financial advisory firm delivering retirement, investment, and insurance advice to individuals, families, business owners, and corporate clients. The firm operates two service lines—Harness Invest (investment planning, KiwiSaver assistance, and portfolio management) and Harness Insurance (life, income protection, trauma, TPD, health, house/contents, car, group, and business risk insurance)—through direct consultations with qualified financial advisers in Wellington.

Product overview

Harness Financial is a New Zealand financial advisory firm offering two main service lines: Harness Invest (investment, KiwiSaver, and retirement planning) and Harness Insurance (personal, business, and group insurance). The firm was established in 2023 through the merger of Rees-Thomas Financial (insurance) and Savvy Wealth (investment advice). Services include lifetime cashflow modelling using Planolitix software, with investment portfolios managed through the Consilium Platform (FNZ) accessing managed funds and direct equities. Insurance offerings encompass life, income protection, trauma, total and permanent disability, health, house, contents, and car insurance through partnerships with major insurers including AIA, Asteron Life, Partners Life, and Southern Cross.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harness Invest: Investment planning, KiwiSaver assistance, retirement planning, and portfolio management services.
• Harness Insurance

Products and services

• Investment Planning Comprehensive investment planning service including portfolio construction, retirement planning, and financial projections for individuals and families. Delivered through Harness Invest via qualified investment advisers using Planolitix cashflow modelling and the Consilium (FNZ) platform.
• KiwiSaver Assistance KiwiSaver scheme advice and account management offered through provider partnerships with Booster, Milford, Generate, and SuperLife, including fund selection, optimization, and ongoing review for New Zealand individuals.
• Portfolio Management Ongoing investment portfolio management service providing access to managed funds and direct investments (shares and bonds on NZX, ASX, and global exchanges) via the Consilium Platform (FNZ), with percentage-based advice and platform fees.
• Life Insurance Lump-sum life insurance paid upon death or terminal illness to protect families and businesses from the financial consequences of losing a loved one or key person, accessed via Harness Insurance through accredited NZ insurers.
• Income Protection Insurance Monthly income protection insurance benefit paid to replace lost income during disability caused by sickness or accident, helping individuals maintain their standard of living while unable to work.
• Health Insurance Health insurance covering private medical treatment costs, specialist appointments, tests, diagnostic procedures, and drugs not funded by PHARMAC, accessed through accredited NZ health insurers.
• Trauma Insurance Lump-sum trauma insurance payment upon diagnosis of defined serious health conditions such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke, providing financial flexibility for recovery and lifestyle changes.
• Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance Lump-sum total and permanent disability insurance paid in the event of disability that prevents the insured from returning to work, providing long-term financial security.
• Business Risk Insurance Business risk insurance solutions for businesses including key person insurance and shareholder protection covering life, trauma, total disability, income protection, and health insurance needs.
• Group Insurance / Employee Benefits Group insurance and employee benefits packages implementing life, income, trauma, total disability, and health cover at discounted group rates for staff, including pre-existing condition coverage for corporate clients.
• House and Contents Insurance House and contents insurance provided through AON StyleCover (Vero), covering replacement or repair of home and contents in the event of loss, damage, or liability.
• Car Insurance Car insurance provided through AON StyleCover (Vero), covering replacement or repair of vehicles in the event of loss, damage, or liability.
• Lifetime Cashflow Modelling Service Financial planning service that uses Planolitix software to model clients' lifetime cashflow, capturing current financial position and projecting trajectory to enhance retirement and insurance planning advice.
• Financial Plan Preparation One-time bespoke financial plan preparation service for investment planning, priced at $2,500 + GST or $250 + GST per hour, whichever is greater, with fees agreed before plan work commences.

Quantifiable outcome

• A modest income of $80,000 PA is worth $2.4 million over 30 years to a 35-year-old who can never work again (per company educational content on TPD insurance)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Consilium Platform (powered by FNZ)coreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary investment platform providing access to managed funds and direct investments including shares and bonds on NZX, ASX, and global exchanges (USA and UK). Enables investment portfolio management for clients.
• PlanolitixcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial planning software used for lifetime cashflow modelling to capture and report on client financial position and trajectory, enhancing insurance and retirement planning advice.
• Plus4 Insurance SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-operative Financial Adviser association dedicated to continual professional development, client advocacy, and adviser advocacy. Rees-Thomas Financial is a member shareholder. Remuneration via dealer group based on overall production.
• Insurance Providers (Accuro, AIA, Asteron Life, Chubb Life, Fidelity Life, NIB, Partners Life, Resolution Life, Southern Cross)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited insurance providers for personal and business risk insurance advice. Multiple agency relationships enabling comprehensive market coverage for life, income, trauma, total disability, and health insurance products.
• KiwiSaver Providers (Booster, Milford, Generate, SuperLife)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited KiwiSaver scheme providers. Company receives commissions from providers on whose products they give advice, based on fund balance.
• AON StyleCover (Vero)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccredited provider for domestic fire and general insurance advice including house, contents, and car insurance.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Forsyth Barr: Large NZ-headquartered investment advisory and wealth management firm offering portfolio management, KiwiSaver, retirement planning, and equities research. Directly comparable service mix to Harness Invest, but at national scale with far larger headcount and AUA.
• Craigs Investment Partners: NZ-owned wealth advisory and investment firm providing portfolio management, KiwiSaver, and retirement planning across the country. Comparable investment-advice product set to Harness Invest, with established brand and broader geographic reach.
• Jarden (NZ): NZ investment and advisory business offering wealth management, KiwiSaver, equities research, and corporate advisory. Overlaps with Harness Invest's investment advisory and portfolio management offering, operating at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Fisher Funds Management: NZ-based KiwiSaver and investment management provider offering managed funds and KiwiSaver schemes to retail investors. Comparable to Harness Invest's KiwiSaver advisory and portfolio construction services, with overlap in target segment.
• Milford Asset Management: NZ investment manager offering KiwiSaver schemes, managed funds, and direct investment solutions. Directly comparable product set to Harness Invest and is also a Harness distribution partner, illustrating peer/partnership overlap.
• Asteron Life: NZ life insurer offering life, trauma, income protection, and TPD cover via adviser distribution. Comparable to Harness Insurance's life-risk product shelf; also an accredited partner of Harness Financial.
• Partners Life: NZ life and health insurer selling through financial advisers. Directly comparable to Harness Insurance product set across life, income protection, trauma, and health cover; also a Harness distribution partner.
• Booster (Booster Investment Management): NZ KiwiSaver and investment provider offering KiwiSaver schemes, managed funds, and retirement-focused products. Comparable to Harness Invest's KiwiSaver advisory offering; also a Harness distribution partner.
• Generate Investment Management: NZ KiwiSaver and managed-fund provider with a generationally-branded retirement focus. Directly comparable to Harness Invest's KiwiSaver assistance and retirement planning services; also a Harness distribution partner.

Others

• Plus4 Insurance Solutions: NZ financial adviser dealer group / cooperative providing infrastructure, compliance, and professional development to member advisers. Harness is a member shareholder; peer as an enabling/cooperative entity in the same ecosystem.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/showcase/10579407
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Harness-Financial/100095044577104
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harness-financial-group

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Harness Financial