6 | Investment Excellence Awards 2026 Best Retirement Income Solutions Provider 2026 - New Zealand Like many countries worldwide, New Zealand faces a daunting financial challenge as the tsunami of baby boomers retires, leaving a significant burden for younger generations to shoulder. While this demographic picture may be similar to many developed nations, New Zealand’s financial landscape for retirees lags, with few offerings tailored specifically for those keen to convert their retirement savings into an income that will last as long as they do – and under increasingly challenging economic circumstances. Lifetime Retirement Income has stepped into this space as New Zealand’s only financial services company dedicated to retirement income solutions, helping retirees turn accumulated assets into sustainable income streams and greater financial certainty. The company’s foundations reflect its longstanding commitment to retirement policy and financial wellbeing. Among its founding board members were the late Sir Michael Cullen, a former finance minister and architect of both KiwiSaver and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and former Retirement Commissioner Dame Diana Crossan. Responding to the changing face of retirement While KiwiSaver (a voluntary, work-based savings scheme) and other retirement savings vehicles have helped many New Zealanders build wealth during their working years, there has been less focus on decumulation - helping them convert those savings into a sustainable income once they stop working. This is something the country continues to grapple with. Lifetime Retirement Income was founded in 2013 to address just this. Its flagship Lifetime Retirement Income Fund focuses on generating a reliable fortnightly income to supplement the universal New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) payments from the government, which currently begin at age 65. Focusing on decumulation is proving crucial, as retirement today looks very different from previous generations. New Zealanders are living longer, meaning retirement savings often need to last 20 or 30 years. At the same time, retirees face growing pressures from inflation, rising living costs and market volatility. Managing volatility, not avoiding it Rather than simply chasing investment returns, the flagship Lifetime Retirement Income Fund focuses on helping retirees sleep at night, knowing their income has been designed to endure market downturns, inflation shocks, and longer-than-expected lifespans. To achieve this, the company employs sophisticated actuarial modelling and risk management processes through Chicagobased actuarial and risk management firm Milliman. With annual reassessments built in, it can set income levels with an 80% probability they will not need revising over 20 years. An option for the asset rich, cash poor To help the thousands of Kiwis who have found themselves asset rich, but cash poor, Lifetime launched its award-winning Lifetime Home product in 2024, as an alternative to reverse mortgages. Described as “game-changing”, the product is revolutionary for retirement financing in New Zealand, offering a genuinely innovative alternative to reverse mortgages - which involve taking on debt. Rather than borrowing against a property and accumulating debt, Lifetime Home offers homeowners the opportunity to sell a small share of their home to Lifetime in exchange for regular payments to top up their fortnightly income. This helps retirees better achieve the retirement they had imagined. As New Zealand confronts one of the most significant demographic shifts in its history, Lifetime Retirement Income is helping redefine what financial security looks like in later life. Through innovation, actuarial discipline and a relentless focus on retiree outcomes, it is ensuring more New Zealanders can approach retirement with confidence, despite the volatility around them. Contact: Chelsea Devlin Company: Lifetime Retirement Income Website: https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/ Lifetime Retirement Income is proud to be a leading provider of solutions that continue to positively impact retirees across all of New Zealand. We learn more about the company below as it is recognised in our Investment Excellence Awards 2026. Retirement Income Reckoning: The New Zealand Company Helping Retirees Face the Future
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