Hobson Wealth

What Hobson Wealth does

Hobson Wealth was a New Zealand-based, staff-owned wealth management company headquartered in Auckland that provided investment planning, share broking, and managed portfolio services to individual investors and wealth clients across the country. Its offering centered on personalized financial advisory, fully managed portfolios, tailored investment strategies, and comprehensive financial planning, distributed through a network of financial advisers delivering face-to-face service rather than through digital channels. The firm's revenue model was fee-based, charging advisory and portfolio management fees tied to client assets, consistent with standard wealth management economics.

The company was founded in 2016 and operated with 51-100 employees, positioning it as a mid-sized independent player in the New Zealand market. Its competitive positioning rested on the quality of its adviser relationships and personalized service rather than on proprietary technology, scale advantages, or differentiated investment products. The firm operated exclusively within New Zealand, did not maintain disclosed AI or digital platform capabilities, and did not publish pricing or financial details publicly.

In December 2023, after a roughly two-year strategic review of growth alternatives, Hobson Wealth was acquired by Forsyth Barr, one of New Zealand's largest wealth management firms. The transaction received unanimous shareholder approval and took effect on 11 December 2023. As a result, Hobson Wealth ceased to operate as an independent entity, with its clients and advisers absorbed into Forsyth Barr's network of over 220 financial advisers across 25 offices. The combined firm now offers an expanded suite of services including digital advice through the recently launched Tempo app, though the source material does not specify which capabilities apply to the legacy Hobson Wealth book versus Forsyth Barr's pre-existing operations.

Name

Hobson Wealth

Legal name

Hobson Wealth

Website

https://hobsonwealth.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hobson Wealth was a New Zealand-based, staff-owned wealth management firm that provided investment planning, share broking, and managed portfolio services to individual investors and wealth clients, before being acquired by Forsyth Barr in December 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed Accounts & Unified Managed Accounts (UMAs) — Multi-Asset (FSAAAJAE), Alternative Investments for Private Wealth (Hedge Funds, PE/VC Access, Private Credit) (FSAAABAI)

Keywords

• Wealth management
• Investment advisory
• Portfolio management
• Financial planning
• Share broking

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wealth Management Advisory Services: Hobson Wealth generated revenue through wealth management advisory services, providing fully managed portfolios, tailored investment advice, and financial planning services to high-net-worth and retail clients. Following the acquisition by Forsyth Barr, the combined entity offers a comprehensive suite of wealth management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Hobson Wealth was a New Zealand wealth management company that provided investment planning, share broking, and managing portfolio services to individual investors. The firm delivered fully managed portfolios, tailored investment advice, and financial planning through a network of financial advisers. Following its acquisition by Forsyth Barr in December 2023, the offering was folded into Forsyth Barr's broader wealth management suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wealth Management Advisory Services Personalised wealth management and financial advisory services delivered by financial advisers to individual investors and wealth clients across New Zealand, including investment advice, wealth planning, and ongoing portfolio oversight.
• Fully Managed Portfolios Discretionary and tailored investment portfolio management services for individual investors and wealth clients, providing professional investment construction and ongoing oversight.
• Share Broking Services Execution of equity transactions for clients, enabling purchase and sale of shares as part of the firm's broader investment services offering.
• Financial Planning Services Comprehensive financial planning services for individual investors covering wealth accumulation, preservation, and goal-based planning, integrated with the firm's broader advisory and investment management offerings.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Forsyth BarrcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2023Forsyth Barr, a New Zealand-based wealth management firm, acquired Hobson Wealth in December 2023. The acquisition followed a thorough due diligence process and received unanimous shareholder approval from Hobson Wealth's board. The transaction combined two businesses sharing a clear view on delivering great results for clients through first-class advice and quality research. The combined entity now operates with over 220 financial advisers across 25 offices in New Zealand.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights2 records

Emerging players

• Kernel Wealth: NZ digital investment platform offering low-cost managed funds and KiwiSaver. Emerging player in NZ wealth — overlapping with Hobson Wealth in serving NZ retail investors but differentiated by a fully digital, low-fee model that pressures traditional advisory fees.

Direct peers

• Milford Asset Management: One of New Zealand's largest independent fund managers offering active managed portfolios and KiwiSaver products. Direct peer to Hobson Wealth in managed portfolio offerings and HNW/retail wealth management, though more product-led versus Hobson's pure advisory model.
• Fisher Funds: NZ investment manager managing retail, KiwiSaver, and institutional portfolios. Comparable to Hobson Wealth in serving NZ investors with managed investment solutions, though Fisher Funds is more product/fund-led while Hobson was relationship-advisory-led.
• Craigs Investment Partners: NZ-headquartered full-service wealth manager and investment bank offering advisory, portfolio management, and broking to retail and institutional clients. Directly comparable to Hobson Wealth in product mix (advice + execution), client base (HNW and retail), and NZ-only distribution.
• Generate Investment Management: NZ-focused KiwiSaver and managed funds provider with growing wealth advisory offering. Comparable to Hobson Wealth as a NZ retail wealth manager serving similar customer segments, though differentiated by a technology-led distribution approach.
• Booster Investment Management: NZ wealth and KiwiSaver manager offering managed funds and financial advice to retail and workplace clients. Comparable to Hobson Wealth in the NZ retail wealth segment and managed portfolio offerings, with overlap in target customer profile.
• Forsyth Barr: New Zealand-based wealth management, investment research, and capital markets firm with 220+ advisers across 25 offices. Direct peer — acquired Hobson Wealth in December 2023 and now houses the Hobson client base within the combined entity, sharing the same advice-led, NZ-only model.
• Jarden (formerly First NZ Capital): NZ investment and advisory firm providing wealth management, research, and capital markets services. Comparable to Hobson Wealth as a mid-large NZ wealth manager with overlapping advisory, broking, and research capabilities for retail and institutional clients.

Broad incumbents

• Macquarie Group (New Zealand wealth): Global financial services group with NZ wealth management operations through Macquarie Asset Management. Broader incumbent — overlaps with Hobson Wealth in managed portfolios and HNW advisory but operates as part of a global platform with institutional scale advantages.
• ANZ Wealth (ANZ Bank New Zealand): NZ wealth arm of ANZ Banking Group offering KiwiSaver, investment, and insurance products through bank branches and advisers. Broader incumbent — overlaps with Hobson Wealth's managed portfolio and advisory services but operates within a much larger banking group with mass-market reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hobsonwealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Hobson Wealth