Speaker 1: 0:10

Hello and welcome. Today I am joined by one and only wonderful award-winning ex-banker, kunjai Adams. Hello Kia, ora, hi Kunj, how's it going?

Speaker 2: 0:25

Good, very good. We are well week three hanging out with Dibudo and the team.

Speaker 1: 0:33

Yay, this is exciting because we're going to tell you guys all about my journey with Kunj, and then Kunj is going to talk about her journey with life and we're going to share our goals for life and what we can do for those that are listening. So, kunj, do you want to just briefly dive into what you do? Well, what you did, let's go with what you did and what brought you here and who you are.

Speaker 2: 1:03

Yeah, sure. So finance career started when I was 20. So I got my first role at one of the big fours. Did that for about what? 18 months, I think. So that was like credit cards, personal loans. And then I got pregnant. Oh, was that a surprise? Yes, okay, she's now 16. So, yay, but yeah, got pregnant, went on maternity leave, and we were just talking earlier about how that did Short, it was back then Maternity leave was only 12 weeks paid.

Speaker 2: 1:41

So, yeah, after 12 weeks, back into the job world. So that was a bit hard, like you know, leaving your firstborn still breastfeeding. Who looked after the baby? Did you have family? I was fortunate enough to have family, so my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, helped me out a lot. But I only went back and lasted a month. Wow, full time, wow, I couldn't do it. Yeah, so after that I found a role closer to home, closer to home, which I did part-time as well. So, yeah, closer to home, part-time, 20 hours, back in the workforce, and that's because I had to go back to work as well to be able to, you know, afford rent and things like that. And then eventually did that part-time and then eventually found a full-time role at another bank, which I was previously there for 14 years.

Speaker 1: 2:42

Wow, that's a long time to be in the same bank and over the time. I know you went up a few levels within the same bank, because obviously you were good at what you did. But, you were good at what you did because you had the heart for it. You had the passion for it.

Speaker 2: 2:57

Yes, yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:58

So tell me a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up?

Speaker 2: 3:02

You've got a very unique name just like me, yes, just like you. So, kunchai, what does it mean and where are you from? It actually means sweetheart. So I'm originally from Laos. Um came to New Zealand when I was five as a refugee with my family, um, and pretty much grew up in Porirua In.

Speaker 2: 3:25

Porirua, it's down the road. Yeah, porirua girl, um, I say um, but yeah, just worked my way through my roles and, um, I guess you know, having English as your second language, you kind of have that self-doubt and you're always like I've got to work harder, I've got to prove myself. And also, I guess the passion comes from that community aspect, like that community that has given to me.

Speaker 2: 3:55

Yeah, you know I want to give back, so that's how the journey in terms of joining you is. I guess I get to work with a more diverse group of people.

Speaker 1: 4:08

I had a good sales pitch to you. I think I was like come on, coach, we can make difference in people's lives. I can't do it all on my own.

Speaker 2: 4:19

There's only one of me to go around and there's so many we want to help, so I need you. I need you on my team.

Speaker 1: 4:22

And I'm so glad you took that risk and you joined, because obviously on this side it's completely different, right.

Speaker 2: 4:29

It is. It's already different already, like the amount of people that don't think they can. I've seen you help and that's what I'm most excited about is that all they need to do is just have that one conversation with us and then it sparks up. You know, their home buying journey, their home ownership journey, which, yeah, like I said, some people didn't think they could. Yeah, and now they are, which is amazing and I want to be a part of that.

Speaker 1: 5:02

The people that we would have declined at the bank right. Correct Like back in the day when I worked in the bank, you worked in the bank it's black and white. Yeah, it's like if it's not great doesn't fit. See ya Bad credit. See ya Made some bad mistakes when you were younger. See ya Like we can't help you. Versus here.

Speaker 2: 5:19

It's like oh, actually, maybe if this bank doesn't, someone else will Correct correct and I've already seen that, like you know, when you're at one place, you're bound by that one policy, you know, whereas here you've got options to tap into other options as well. It's not not just bound by just the one place. Yeah, which is quite exciting to see. Yeah, and I can't wait to you know, help more, do more yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 5:46

So, originally from laos, came here with um as a refugee, as a five-year-old, incredible story, like your parents must have, my god, just absolute legends to take that risk and to travel across to this foreign country, foreign language yeah, how many siblings do you have?

Speaker 2: 6:03

I'm one of four, I'm the oldest of four, but even till this day I don't even know how my parents did it like not a single word of english. Um, and I like to say that all four of us have turned out okay. I mean like I've got one sister who's a nurse, one social worker, and then I've got my brother who's at the airport. So I mean like I think we're doing okay, you're doing.

Speaker 1: 6:31

Okay, it's really funny because when I first met you so let's go into this a little bit when I first met you, I was like who is this girl? Like she looks like she's from purirua, like you. Just you did because your name is different. I'm like that does not make sense, because, like kun chai is a very, um, different name. It's not like a, you know, a maori name or an island name or english name. It's a very different name. But then your surname is Adams. I'm like, well, that's a very, you know, local surname. And then you… it's very Kiwi, isn't it?

Speaker 2: 7:04

Yeah, it's very Kiwi.

Speaker 1: 7:06

Adams, yeah, and then you look very like you're local to Porirua. So I was like that just blew my mind. And then I discovered, yeah, your little background there and I was like, wow, it's amazing how we morph into the environment.

Speaker 2: 7:21

The community we grew up in.

Speaker 1: 7:23

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:24

Yeah, yeah, I get mistaken all the time for being Pacific Islander, for being Filipino. Hawaiian, I'll take Hawaiian. Hawaiian would be cool. Yeah, but yeah for 100% Hawaiian. I'll take Hawaiian. Hawaiian would be cool. Yeah, but yeah for 100% Laos.

Speaker 1: 7:39

Yeah, 100% Laos. So growing up you lived in Porirua. Did you venture out of Porirua anywhere else? Not at all.

Speaker 2: 7:46

Wow, yep grew up in Porirua, so you lived all your life in Porirua yeah pretty much 33 years in Porirua. Oh my God.

Speaker 1: 7:54

I mean like traveled, yes, but other than that, but always came back home.

Speaker 2: 7:59

Yeah, the man I met from Porirua.

Speaker 1: 8:01

Yeah, oh, your husband is an absolute honey, if I can say that.

Speaker 2: 8:07

We're not going to put this on. The podcast are we, we are. We are putting this on the podcast. We're actually going to also include a picture of you, like, raving about my husband.

Speaker 1: 8:16

But we just raved about James' wife, so that's okay. That's okay and you've got two kids together. Yes, two girls together.

Speaker 2: 8:23

How old are they? 16, and one is turning 12 on Sunday actually 16 and 12, awesome.

Speaker 1: 8:31

So what are your hobbies? What are your values? What do you get up to in your spare time?

Speaker 2: 8:36

sports. So our family loves our sport. So I play football. So during the winter I play football for a woman's football team and I've been doing that since I was eight. I think it's a privilege to be able to move our bodies and to still be able to do it at nearly 40. So I think I'll continue to do it until my body tells me to stop. And then, of course, rugby through Hayden. The girls one's a netballer and then one's a softballer, so we're very busy in our sports life, I think. And then we've got the two girls are also very into their Maori culture, so they participate or perform in their kapa haka group and things like that. So I feel like I'm like an Uber driver for them, driving them to all their sports and all their extra curriculum activities and things like that. But that also, you know being a part of community, right.

Speaker 1: 9:37

And that's the beauty of what we do as well, right, like it's quite flexible. We can pick up where we were left off sometimes, and you know whether you need to pass it on to a colleague and then run off, do a drop-off, pick up, whatever, and then at the same time meet someone from the community that actually might look distressed and you might just even ask a question of hey, how's it going? And they might say to you the roof is leaking, can't afford, I don't know how to repair it. And you could be like, hey, actually we can help you with that. So this is what I found from my journey and I think this is what you will find as well.

Speaker 2: 10:10

That's what I'm looking forward to is just being able to help solve those problems that you think they or they think they can't sort of thing. Yeah, I mean, like even myself or my home buying journey, like I think we were like what, 10 years ago we brought our first home and didn't think we could sort of thing, and we managed to do it. And then, yeah, we've just kind of stepped in the property ladder since then.

Speaker 1: 10:40

yeah, have you learned much about money growing up like what's your background?

Speaker 2: 10:45

no, so I wish, because obviously money was always tight. Yeah, um, when we were growing up, you know, it was just enough for food, sort of thing. I got my first job when I was 14 because I wanted to have things that my friends had, so you know, the latest kicks, the latest, you know branded stuff. My parents couldn't afford it. So I was like I'm going to get a job, I'm going to go and get it myself, but then with the job I was always spending because I'm like I've got the money, I can spend it, sort of thing.

Speaker 1: 11:23

Nobody told you, nobody told me, nobody told little Kunj Kunj, don't do that. Put your money into shares, put your money into savings, put your money into somewhere, not even into shares.

Speaker 2: 11:33

It was like, I think at 18, know, you get your finished college and then you get your um full-time job at eight dollars an hour, I think it was, or something like that and you're like, yes, I got a bit of money now, but instead of you know putting some away, it was, oh, I want to buy a new car, sort of thing. So you know you spend like you get a loan out. You spend like 20, buy a new car, sort of thing. So you know you spend like you get a loan out. You spend like 20 grand on a car, sort of thing.

Speaker 1: 11:57

And it was a whole culture at that time, wasn't it? I mean? I'm not sure about now, but I remember, like the moment you turn 18, it's your rite of passage You've got to go get a car loan, you've got to go get a credit card because that's a credit record on your file that you have to get. Nobody educated us better to not do that.

Speaker 2: 12:14

Correct. Nobody just said, hey, maybe don't spend 20 grand on the car, spend five and use the other 15 as a deposit for a house. Because I could you know, if someone had just said that, in the mindset I am in now, I would probably have 20 properties, sort of thing. You know, because you spend 10 years it's not a five-year loan. And I think also, if I hadn't gotten a job at a bank, I probably wouldn't have the financial literacy I've got now.

Speaker 1: 12:47

That was going to be my question, like, did you learn this now because of what you did and your job at the bank and how you've seen people operate their money?

Speaker 2: 12:56

Yes, yes, and I think it's actually quite a privilege also to have that power and knowledge now. To understand my own financial literacy and then to be able to pass that on to other people is what I'm most excited about is actually yes, I can help you with your home loan, but then we can have a chat about everything else as well and how to plan, you know, your future, or like help them achieve their goals, because I think like you know the problem back then and I'm not sure about now, but like the moment you turn 18, it's all about getting a car loan, a credit card.

Speaker 1: 13:37

It's a rite of passage into the credit score world.

Speaker 2: 13:41

Credit world.

Speaker 1: 13:42

Credit world, but people don't realize it's actually not good for your credit. Don't do that. You don't need to have that flashless car. You don't need to buy things on afterpay. If you can't afford, just don't get it, and maybe, yeah, redirect your money into smarter ways, and luckily we've got KiwiSaver now right Back then we didn't have a KiwiSaver, it only came in 2008,.

Speaker 1: 14:04

I think 2009. So yeah, I've missed out on KiwiSaver for my first home and I see now how helpful it is for people to have that money taken out of the paycheck and an employer adding to it as well.

Speaker 2: 14:23

Yeah, and also you've got the option now with KiwiSaver you could go from 3% contributions up to 10% contributions and most of the providers allow you to change those contributions, or online as well now. So it's quite easy. So you can see some like, for example, like some of my friends or family members who aren't homeowner yet, but maybe possibly looking sort of thing, quick conversation over some drinks and be like hey, have you just changed your KiwiSaver contribution from you know, your three to a six or even a ten. That's an automatic saving for you to not even having to think about it. Yeah, like, yes, you might put it in a savings account, but then you go, oh, I can see it, I I'm gonna touch it, sort of thing, whereas your kiwi saver it's an automatic yeah, you can't touch it unless you're buying a house, correct?

Speaker 1: 15:24

or if you're in a financial hardship.

Speaker 2: 15:25

Yeah, it's, it's locked in and it's for your first home. You can withdraw it for your first home and I think that's quite a easy way for um people to be able to save without even having to try is to increase that contribution. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1: 15:41

Hi guys, this is not financial advice, by the way.

Speaker 2: 15:43

No, not financial advice, but, yes, quite an easy way to not think about it.

Speaker 1: 15:48

Yeah, that's one of the things that they can do right to improve their lives. So back to you. So growing up in Porto not knowing much about money, landing a job at the bank, learning about money. Now here you are, you've got a property, you've got some other big goals about where you want to be and what you want to do. And then you meet me yeah, yes, and I say come over and you're like no.

Speaker 1: 16:17

Yes guys, she's been trying for a while. You're like no, I'm not, I've got a really good job at the bank. Um, what appealed you? I know we've touched on it just briefly about helping communities and stuff, but what else appeals you about this job?

Speaker 2: 16:30

I think it's um a different right, like, yes, I've learnt one bank's rules and regulations sort of thing. Now I get to tap into a wider selection of that as well. So I'm quite excited about that challenge and, yeah, just stepping outside my comfort zone, like we are not bound by a nine to five, as I've just worked out the last three weeks, so we but then it's like a give or take as well. So I'm really looking forward to that flexibility as well, being able to do this role from anywhere, as you've already proven as well. So you can help anyone from anywhere as well.

Speaker 1: 17:21

So, yeah, Well, yeah, last year was fun. I think I've traveled to multiple countries. I was in Turkey, I was in Tajikistan, I was in Russia, I was in Prague and throughout all I was in Sydney. I think, gosh, I've covered half of it, yeah and you were working.

Speaker 2: 17:34

I was in Sydney I think gosh, I've covered half of it, yeah and you were working, and I was working Through that time, like you know. I remember a phone call Kunj, I'm in Turkey. I'm like what are you doing there?

Speaker 1: 17:43

And poor banker Kunj was just sitting there going and I'm sitting in the bank.

Speaker 2: 17:48

I would have been Turkey too. Yeah, so I think you know the flexibility of that as well, and no day is the same, right, like you know, we were quite structured where we were, you know, and there's what they call an operating rhythm. Where you're, you know, there's a meeting, there's lunch, there's this, there's that. Here you're free for, basically, I know you're missing the coffees at the bank, the coffee breaks, coffee breaks.

Speaker 1: 18:10

I know you're missing the coffees at the bank, the coffee breaks.

Speaker 2: 18:13

Coffee breaks? No, but it's like you've had Zoom meetings of clients at their time as well, so you've got to always be available for the clients when they're available. So, yeah, that is something that is obviously exciting, but also adjusting to working at 7 pm or 8 pm, which?

Speaker 1: 18:38

I love, because for me obviously it works, because I put my babies down to sleep and then I call them babies. I know they're not babies.

Speaker 2: 18:45

They're still babies. They're always babies.

Speaker 1: 18:48

Because I do like to spend that time in the evening with my kids. So between 6 to 8, this is our go-down, the bedtime routine of me lying down with each child and making sure we catch up on how the day has been and you know what they're grateful for, how's it going and any challenges. So I do a lot of coaching with my kids.

Speaker 2: 19:06

Well, I don't even know how you manage to do all that. And you know be a boss lady, you know. So that's quite inspirational as well. You know managing a household of four young ones little wee ones as well as you know, creating and growing this um awesome team that we have now amazing team, amazing business that you chose me to be, a part of, which I'm like, like me.

Speaker 1: 19:32

Yeah, I mean, there were lots of other options. Exactly Definitely, I picked the best.

Speaker 2: 19:37

I reckon, I reckon the paths have crossed and they were meant to cross.

Speaker 1: 19:41

Yeah, the faith brought us together.

Speaker 2: 19:43

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:44

And I mean you helped me tremendously as well.

Speaker 2: 19:49

Last year.

Speaker 1: 19:49

I was going through something very significant in my life financially and when I sat there thinking who can help me to get across the line was my finances. I knew you were the person. I've reached out to a few others, but you're the one that really went extra extra mile and through your job with me I could see how you were interacting with the client, because suddenly I was a client, you were a banker. I could see your passion in it as well, that you know you were also replying to me outside of work hours and stuff like that. So you definitely went above and beyond and that to me proved okay. She's the one. I sort of tested you.

Speaker 2: 20:25

I think there was a bit of a test there, kunj.

Speaker 1: 20:28

But yeah, you went above and beyond and I was like, cool, this is the person I want on my team because I know I go above and beyond. Yes, sometimes we drop balls. Look, sometimes we're all human right. Human error, human errors happen, system errors happen, you know. Sometimes system malfunctions we don't get notification that the client has done xyz. We don't follow up. You know, things get left out whatever things happen.

Speaker 1: 20:49

Um, I mean, last year I had, you know, my favorite grandma passed away. So I had to go through a lot of grief. You know, my, my marriage fell apart. Um, you know, I had to. I had to go through a lot of stuff and, um, and I think emotionally did take a toll on me at some point. And then my team members left, my new team team members arrived, so it was just going through a constant change of training new people and adjusting to new things. So things have been a little bit crazy, I would say, in the last 12 months, but it's so cool to see that I am on the other side now. I am building my team. I've got awesome people joining me. Like the universe has just opened up this floodgate of amazing people entering my life and I just can't believe how I think 2025 is going to be an amazing year.

Speaker 2: 21:37

What did you say it's going to be?

Speaker 1: 21:39

2020? Thrive, thrive, yeah.

Speaker 2: 21:43

So we're going to grow, glow and flow. I love it, I think that's it. That's what it was right. That's the motto. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:54

And I think, like I'm excited about bringing your wealth of knowledge, because you've been in the bank longer than I have. I've only spent in the bank what six, seven years, and I've been in this industry for six, seven years, so together we've got you slightly, have got a few more years than me.

Speaker 1: 22:16

But I think together we bring like almost 30 years of experience right, yeah, 30 plus years of experience together and we can share that. And the goal is to do these sessions, you know, on a daily basis and share our knowledge with people as we have different case studies coming through, because, as you've seen, we're dealing with all sorts, right?

Speaker 2: 22:28

Yes, I've seen. What have you seen so far?

Speaker 1: 22:30

Tell me like you've only been a few weeks here.

Speaker 2: 22:38

What have you seen so far? Tell me, like you've only been a few weeks here. What have you seen so far? Well, one is a property that is situated on the street. You're going to mention that one, aren't you? Yeah, well, it's just like it blows my mind that you know that is looked into where the property is on the street of gang members. You know, I'm just like, does it matter Well, the agent put it down as a disclosure.

Speaker 1: 22:58

I mean the agents. I know the agents are really scared at the moment. They have to put down everything they know. So the agent? Let's give it a bit of a context, right? So the agent put down on a disclosure that the house is situated on the street where a gang member lives. The bank has picked up on it and sent it off to credit. Yes, and then what happened?

Speaker 2: 23:20

And then they didn't approve the property. Yeah, and that's just shocking. I'm just like, but that's the choice that the um purchaser has chosen to buy that property. Yes, maybe it's a risk, but that the house they want to live in and they're okay with the gang members they're not all gang members are how they're perceived. Yeah, exactly Right. So I'm just like, like growing up in my community. I lived down the road from them. You know I went to school with.

Speaker 1: 23:53

It was probably one of the safest streets, to be honest, because they usually wouldn't do anything dangerous in their own street.

Speaker 2: 23:59

So I, I, I myself, just can't understand that Like that's something, I'm just like wow, but then I think we did manage to overturn it with another bank, right?

Speaker 1: 24:10

So yeah, and that's the thing, that's the reality of it, right? One bank will say no. The other bank will be like actually, we don't mind this risk, we already have this on file, it is what it is. So it's really interesting to see that and this is what I'm excited about is having these chats with you on a daily basis and your view on it, and educating our listeners about things that can go on out there and start giving them the actual numbers and actually having someone to chat with, because I don't like talking to myself. I know it seems like I'm a very chatty person, but I don't like talking to myself, so I'm excited to have you as a chat person, a buddy, a buddy. So we'll have to come up with a name for you.

Speaker 1: 24:51

So James on our team is going to also have an episode with me, and we're going to call James Shears. I've decided I made an executive decision. Haven't episodes with me and we're going to call James Shears. I've decided I've made an executive decision. Okay, I haven't run it through with the producer Matt, but it is going to be James Shears. James Shears, his knowledge. Yeah, james, shears and Kunj, what are we going to do with you? Oh, my God, I haven't even thought about it. There you go, there's your homework. Yeah, think about what you want the episodes to be called. Yeah, and we're going to do this on, you know, daily, weekly basis, because I think this is important to bring that message across to people that none of the like the two situations could be completely different.

Speaker 2: 25:29

Yeah, yeah, you know, or we could go quench back to basics or something like that. Like just break it down, like I mean, like buying a home is already confusing, like you know, you've got LVRs, you've got deposits, you've got KiwiSaver, you've got this, you've got that. I think, if you just like do a back to basic, just you know what's KiwiSaver, what's LVR, sort of thing. I think that is helpful because again, and just coming on in my last three weeks, actually people don't actually know, like they don't know that.

Speaker 1: 26:08

My staff members or the clients no no, like clients. Oh, thank God my staff know what it is. I would be in huge trouble if my staff didn't know what LVR is. You know?

Speaker 2: 26:15

but I took it for granted because I guess where I left my last role was, you know, working with high net clients who are very well educated and know all that. So I think, if we, yeah, peel it back to basics and just explain everything and easy to understand language.

Speaker 1: 26:41

Yeah, exactly Because, like you, English for me was a second language as well. I didn't know much about finances, you know, I had to learn it all the hard way, and also through the banking career, I've learned a lot. So I think, yeah, breaking it down back to basics and dealing with people on a human level, and I mean and I think this is the feedback I was always getting from my clients that I don't speak at them, I speak with them, and I think this is important to keep in mind always that you know we have to speak the language they will understand and help our I think, also help our vulnerable clients. Yeah, because we've had another case where a situation went a little bit sideways for our client, where someone took advantage of their vulnerability, of not understanding how the whole mortgage life works, and we could expand on that in one of our other episodes. Yeah, but Kunj, back to you, so, so you're now with us.

Speaker 1: 27:43

We've talked about the opportunities, you see, we've talked about the challenges that you've had. Um, what are your goals for the for the next 12 months? What are your big goals? What do you want to do?

Speaker 2: 27:52

I think my big goal is just to be, just to be visible out in my local community, so out in the Porero area I think that's a little area that needs a bit more financial literacy and things like that. So, yeah, that's one of my goals is actually, you know, financial literacy out in that area. Try and tap into, you know, some of the communities, when they have community functions and things like that, and just prepare them, get them ready, or like put a plan in place for people to buy their first home or buy the next property and things like that, and then obviously help you achieve our goal, our goal.

Speaker 2: 28:41

Yes, now we've got some big goals, our big goals, so, yeah, so if we, I think what's um, yeah, what's the saying? They say do the money, get the treats, which is like do the work, you get the treats. Right, yeah, so I think um, just to get out there now, that's cool.

Speaker 1: 28:58

I'm excited about that, conch. Thank you so much. Um, looking forward to our regular episodes and what we can achieve and help you back to basics. Going back to you reckon, let me sleep on it. Yeah, you sleep on it. We'll have to get producer matt's ideas yeah, we'll just ask chat gbt chat, gpt.

Speaker 1: 29:20

Here we come um. Well, we laughed a lot about in the beginning, because my tagline used to be for a while and I mean on local radio stations that I have um advertisement on is unforgettable service, unforgettable name. And when you came on board, I'm like we can just keep that. I mean I think we should the unforgettable name just sticks, you know, with your name and my name yeah people either remember that or not.

Speaker 1: 29:42

Like it's it'll be like the two hardest names yeah, on the coast, like on the coast or in the wellington area, and see and that's why, like I always said, I cannot afford to have a bad reputation, because my name is a very unique name. I can't hide behind being a Sarah or Emma. So I had to, you know, make sure that my name is, you know, holds up its own value and reputation. So, koenj, I'm sorry to say, you're now in the same boat as me.

Speaker 2: 30:18

Oh, she's sitting the bar high guys.

Speaker 1: 30:21

You cannot fail. You cannot have a bad reputation because of your name.

Speaker 2: 30:26

No, you can't forget, kunca, I will zip a nistle.

Speaker 1: 30:29

No, no you can't, so here we go. Thank you so much for coming on board today and sharing about who you are. And yeah, let's see what we can do.

Speaker 2: 30:39

Yeah, let.