How does mental wellbeing shape the way New Zealanders manage debt and, what does it mean for financial advisers?
Join Dr Jasmine Fang, (co-author with Shen Yu and Dr Wei-Huei (Wendy) Hsu), for a discussion on their research paper Mind Over Money: The Hidden Influence of Mental Health on Debt Management.
Drawing on data from the ANZ New Zealand Financial Wellbeing Survey (2021), the study explores the relationship between mental health and debt participation with a particular focus on financial accessibility, confidence as well as formal and informal support.
The findings reveal that poor mental health significantly reduces the likelihood of holding long-term financial commitments like mortgages and personal loans.
Your learning outcomes:
- Understand how mental wellbeing affects debt choices and participation in long-term loan commitments such as mortgages.
- Learn why financial accessibility is a key driver behind these outcomes.
- Understand how early financial education and empathetic advice can improve client resilience.
- Gain insights to integrate mental-health awareness into your advice and client-care practices.
Technical Expert
Dr Jasmine Fang, PhD (Finance), CFP (Academic)
Dr. Jasmine Fang, CFP (Academic), is Senior Lecturer and Director of Financial Planning Programmes at Massey University. She leads Massey’s suite of Level 5 and CFP®-aligned financial advice qualifications, working closely with regulators, industry bodies, and international partners to advance the profession.
Jasmine’s research focuses on financial literacy, household finance, retirement savings, and advice behaviour, with publications in leading journals such as Journal of Banking & Finance, Journal of Portfolio Management, and Regional Studies. Her work has attracted strong industry attention and has been cited by sources including the Financial Times, LSE Business Review, CFA Institute, and the European Central Bank, among others. She also serves as Associate Editor for Financial Services Review and has served as Vice President – International with the Academy of Financial Services (US). Passionate about student success and professional standards, Jasmine actively mentors the next generation of advisers and scholars.
Member: Complimentary | Non-member: $50 (+GST)
A separate Zoom Registration Link will be emailed to registrants