Your financial circumstances have changed. Start here.

Where do you stand? Tick what you have already dealt with.

Take it at your own pace. The steps you have not done yet are where to focus first.

• 1 Stop and take stock before big decisions Avoid irreversible moves in the first weeks. A clear picture first costs days, a rushed decision can cost years.
• 2 Know what has actually changed Income, costs, assets, debts and dependants may all have shifted. Start from the new numbers.
• 3 Protect your cash flow first Everything else depends on covering the essentials. Decide what to pause and how many months you have.
• 4 Find out what support and entitlements apply Redundancy pay, leave, benefits and other entitlements are often missed. Ask before you assume.
• 5 Review your debts and commitments Talk to lenders early. Options narrow once payments are missed.
• 6 Review insurance and KiwiSaver Cover can lapse and contributions can stop when circumstances change. Check both.
• 7 Update your legal documents and beneficiaries Wills, powers of attorney and nominations often name people who no longer fit.
• 8 Get independent help before big moves Before selling a home, withdrawing savings or buying a product, find out who benefits from the advice.

A checklist tells you what to ask. A plan tells you what to do.

If you left several boxes empty, that is normal, and it is the reason a written plan exists. See what a Statement of Advice looks like, or browse the other free tools.