Craigs Investment Partners Review

Updated 9 November 2025

Summary

Craigs Investment Partners LINK is one of New Zealand's largest investment advisory firms, managing over $30 billion for 65,000+ clients through 20+ branches nationwide LINK and around 200 qualified investment advisers.
With over 40 years of experience, they offer personalised wealth management through an adviser-led model backed by extensive local research capabilities and global partnerships.
Our review outlines exactly what Craigs offers and what investments they recommend
Our guide, Craigs vs JBWere vs Forsyth Barr LINK, provides detailed comparisons with other investment advisers.
The minimum investment ranges from $100/month (mySTART) LINK to $250,000+ (premium services) LINK.

What We Cover
Craigs offers a range of investments from global and local shares, to property, fixed interest, cash and alternative assets.

Who is Craigs Investment Partners and What Does it Offer?

Craigs LINK occupies a specific niche in New Zealand wealth management - they're an established player for New Zealanders looking for personalised, professional management without the private banking limitations of what's offered by ANZ, BNZ, ASB or Westpac LINK.

Craigs offers tailored investment solutions to match their clients’ circumstances and goals, from DIY investing to true private wealth managment, although our research team understands that many of Craigs' clients have a significant net worth.

While Sharesies LINK democratises trading for beginners and ASB Securities LINK appeals to larger DIY investors, Craigs serves the "mass affluent" - successful professionals, business owners, and retirees with $250,000 to $5 million (and more) to invest.
Craigs competes for clients alongside Forsyth Barr and JBWere - our comparison of these investment advisers LINK has more details.

Craigs offers nationwide branches, private wealth services, portfolio management, access to analysis from an experienced research team LINK, share investing brokerage LINK, UK pension transfers LINK and other services. We outline more about what's on offer in detail:
1) Physical offices
Craigs maintains over 20 physical offices, with advisers located throughout the country. They communicate via phone, email, and in-person meetings.

2) Research team
Craigs Investment Strategy Group comprises one of New Zealand's largest private wealth research teams LINK. While many financial advisers rely on external research or the performance of the funds they recommend to their clients, Craigs produces proprietary analysis on New Zealand and international equities, fixed income, and portfolio strategy, as well as accessing leading global research from international partners like J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

3) Full-service
Unlike boutique firms specialising in one area, Craigs handles everything - investment management, KiwiSaver LINK, UK pension transfers LINK, broking, and estate planning. In addition to private investors, Craigs’ caters to corporate clients through its investment banking and institutional equities divisions, and impact focused organisations like community trusts and Iwi through its specialised wealth advisory team.

Who Uses Craigs - Understanding Suitable Investor Types

Craigs has a wide client base; we outline typical investor profiles to help you determine if they're right for you.

The Successful Business Owner

These are often individuals who have sold a business or farm for $1 million or more and understand business, but not financial markets.
Such individuals require someone to manage the transition from business wealth to investment wealth.
This is what Craigs specialises in and invests in on behalf of those experiencing the specific challenges of sudden liquidity events.

The Time-Poor Professional

Professionals earning $200,000+ lack the time to go further into investing.
Craigs' DIMS service LINK means such clients never have to think about rebalancing or tactical asset allocation.

The Inheritor

It's not uncommon for adult children to inherit significant sums of money ($600,000 or more).
Craigs provides professional supervision and a conservative investment approach focusing on investing in quality companies at a reasonable price. This enables them to effectively risk manage inheritances.

The Sophisticated Retiree

For retirees who have accumulated $1.5+ million and need it to fund 30 years of retirement, Craigs' focus is on income generation and capital preservation.
Craigs also advises on (and manages) decumulation phase investing.

Craigs may not suit other investor types, including:

The Self-Directed Investor: For those who read annual reports and have opinions about Fed policy, Craigs may not be suitable because DIY investing will likely appeal more and avoid paying for delegation that's not wanted.
The Cost-Conscious Accumulator: Craigs charges higher fees than those offered by index funds LINK and low-cost KiwiSaver funds LINK.
The Innovation Seeker: Craigs offers stable and proven long-term investments. It does not invest in crypto, seed funding or highly-leveraged funds. Craigs is deliberately conservative focusing on investingin quality companies at a reasonable price. Arguably, their management likely views "unproven innovation" as a risk and not an opportunity for the bulk of a portfolio

Craigs' Core Services - DIMS, MPS, KiwiSaver, UK Pension Transfers and mySTART

We outline Craigs' specialist services in detail - for more information, you can visit the Craigs website LINK.

DIMS: Discretionary Investment Management Service

DIMS means complete delegation - your Craigs adviser trades without asking permission first - they buy, sell, and rebalance based on their assessment of markets and your goals. The Craigs adviser maintains the balance of the portfolio according to the settings agreed with the client at the outset. Discretion is used to act on the necessary buys and sells in order to comply with the clients original agreed portfolio.
What Happens:

Your adviser monitors markets daily, rebalances portfolios regularly, and may make tactical asset allocation decisions when deemed beneficial.
During market volatility, DIMS clients often find their portfolios adjusted before they're aware of the turbulence.
This works if you genuinely want to delegate investment decisions. It's arguably not suitable if you're going to second-guess every move your Craigs adviser makes.

Often suitable for: Executives who understand delegation, trustees managing money for others, and investors who prioritise time over direct control.
Minimum: $250,000

MPS: Managed Portfolio Service

MPS gives you the final say on all transactions. Your adviser researches and recommends - "Sell Fletcher Building at $4.80, buy Ryman Healthcare at $2.50" - but you approve each trade.

What Happens:

MPS clients typically develop investment knowledge over time -after 18-24 months, you'll understand portfolio construction, market cycles, and asset allocation principles. Some clients eventually transition to self-directed investing.
You're paying for advice you might decline. If you regularly reject recommendations, the value proposition may become questionable.

Often suitable for: Investors wanting professional guidance while maintaining transaction control.
Minimum: $250,000

KiwiSaver: 250+ Investment Options

Most KiwiSaver schemes LINK offer 5-7 funds - Craigs offers 250+ investment options, allowing complete customisation of your KiwiSaver portfolio. An example allocation may include:

30% specific NZ dividend stocks (individual companies, not funds)
20% Australian banking sector
30% global technology ETF
20% sustainable bonds

This service often appeals to investors who find standard KiwiSaver options too restrictive or simplistic.

Warning: Flexibility creates opportunities for poor decisions - without understanding tax efficiency LINK and diversification, a complex KiwiSaver portfolio can harm returns.
Minimum investment: None
Often suitable for: Sophisticated investors seeking KiwiSaver customisation

UK Pension Transfers (QROPS)

Craigs operates a specialist team for UK pension transfers. This involves complex compliance requirements that most advisers avoid. Craigs' service navigates HMRC regulations, avoiding transfer penalties, and optimising tax treatment across jurisdictions.

Craigs' QROPS service is suitable for returning expats with substantial UK pension assets; however, we suggest reading our detailed QROPS guide LINK to see more options.

mySTART: The Entry Point

mySTART allows $100 monthly contributions LINK or $1,000 lump sum investments as an entry point to Craigs services.

At these investment levels, fees represent a significant proportion of assets. You're paying premium pricing for a small portfolio.

Craigs likely views mySTART as relationship building rather than profitable business, and that small account holders today may become substantial clients later.

mySTART LINK is likely suitable for young professionals on wealth accumulation paths, parents investing for their children's futures

The Client Journey Explained

If you're looking for a managed investment, either with DIMS or MPS, the investment process is outlined below.

Step 1: Meeting One: Financial Overview

Your first meeting with a Craigs adviser isn't about products - it's about you. You can expect 60 minutes of questions about:

Your money story (entrepreneur, salaried employee, business owner, inheritor or accumulator, etc.)
Your biggest financial fear
What wealth means to you
Past investment mistakes and your current investment portfolio
Family dynamics around money

Craigs will assess your risk tolerance through questionnaires and conversation. They'll categorise you from "Defensive" to "High Growth".

Generally, there are five categories:

Conservative: You'll accept 4-5% returns to avoid 10% (unrealised) losses of capital
Balanced: You want growth but will panic at 20% losses
Growth: You can accept 30% drops for 8-9% long-term returns
High Growth: You won't check your portfolio during crashes
Aggressive: You are comfortable with significant volatility for higher returns.

Step 2: The Investment Policy Statement (IPS)

Within a week or so, you'll receive a comprehensive IPS. This details a range of estimates - we have used an example on an aggressive category on an investment of $500,000:

Expected return: For example, 5.9% to 6.9% annually
Income yield: For example, 2.04% - $10,183 on $500,000
Volatility expectation: For example, negative returns for 6.5 years in 20
Maximum historical loss: For example, -35.1%
Recovery period: For example, 48 months
Worst year scenario: For example, -$165,325

This document becomes your investment constitution. Everything follows from here.

Step 3: Portfolio Construction

For example, for a $500,000 High Growth portfolio, the investment allocation may look like this:

3.3% Cash ($16,301) - Liquidity buffer
25% NZ Equities ($124,999) - Home country bias and tax efficiency
17% Australian Equities ($84,970) - Regional exposure and tax efficiency for FIF-exempt Australian shares
47.7% International Equities ($238,731) - Global growth
7% Alternative Assets ($34,999) - Growth and diversification

The Actual Holdings include institutional-grade funds:

Craigs Investment Partners NZ Core Equity Fund (diversified NZ exposure, also known officially as the Smartshares CIP NZ Core Equity Fund)
BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (quality factor investing)
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (US market beta)
Hamilton Lane Global Private Assets (alternatives exposure)

You will not find big investments in Tesla, Bitcoin and bets on options and calls - Craigs offers institutional-style diversification.

Step 4: Signing Off on the Portfolio Construction

You'll take a few days to review the proposed portfolio before signing, as this is the final check to ensure the allocation aligns with your stated objectives.

What You're Approving:

Specific fund selections and weightings
Expected income distributions
Rebalancing triggers (typically when allocations drift 5% from target)
Fee structure breakdown

The Documentation: You'll sign an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) detailing:

Your investment objectives
Risk tolerance classification
Portfolio benchmark
Performance reporting frequency
Fee schedule

Understand the DIMS vs MPS Difference:

DIMS clients sign a broader discretionary authority. MPS clients approve the initial construction but retain the right to approve future investment decisions.

Know This: It's not unusual for clients to question the cash allocation ("Why hold cash earning 2% or 3% p.a. when markets return 7%+ p.a.?"). Your adviser will explain liquidity requirements and rebalancing opportunities.

Step 5: Ongoing Management

Quarterly Reviews: You'll receive comprehensive reports including:

Performance vs benchmark and peer group
Asset allocation drift analysis
Rebalancing actions taken
Market commentary and outlook
Income received and reinvestment

Annual Strategy Meetings: Your adviser schedules face-to-face reviews covering:

Life changes affecting investment strategy
Performance attribution analysis
Tax optimisation opportunities
Estate planning updates
Risk tolerance reassessment

The Rebalancing Discipline:

Craigs systematically rebalances when allocations drift beyond tolerance bands. When international equities reach 55% (target 48%), they trim and reallocate to underweight assets.
This disciplined approach typically adds 0.5-1% to returns annually.

Communication Style:

Craigs clients receive quarterly written updates, annual meetings, and ad-hoc contact during significant market events.
DIMS clients receive transaction notifications after trades, while MPS clients receive recommendations before implementation.

Performance Monitoring: Your portfolio performance is measured against:

Agreed benchmarks
Peer group performance
Inflation and target return
Your specific income requirements

Understand the Fees

Craigs charges fees in a number of ways, as we outline below:
Management FeesCraigs' tiered structure rewards larger accounts, which are allocated on a scaling basis.
Fees for Craig's other premium services product, DIMs, are 0.20% p.a. higher but include brokerage costs.

Example: An investor with $500,000 under management is charged $5,000 annually, or $1,250 quarterly - that's approximately $96 per week for professional management.

Transaction Costs
While DIMs clients are not charged brokerage, clients of other Craigs services are if they invest in direct shares, bonds, or ETFs.

As Craigs offers in-house broking services, brokerage fees can be lower than with firms that outsource brokerage.

Other fees to consider:

Foreign Exchange: This may apply for certain international investments
Fund Fees: Some underlying funds may charge an additional 0.10% to 0.75%. No additional fees are charged on direct holdings.
Cash Drag: That 3% cash earns 4% while markets return 8%? That's 0.15% annual performance drag.

Our Estimate: All-in annual cost including service fees, brokerage, and potential external fund fees for a $500k portfolio is around 1.2% to 1.5% per year
On a $500,000 investment, that's around $6,000 to $7,500 per year. What you get is:

Drawdown Protection: Craigs' disciplined approach is designed to reduce portfolio losses during market crashes. While DIY investors often hold losing positions in the hope of a recovery, advised portfolios implement stop-losses and defensive positioning.
Behavioural Coaching: The primary value isn't stock picking - it's preventing emotional decisions. Craigs advisers talk clients through market volatility, preventing panic selling at market bottoms and euphoric buying at peaks.
Tax Optimisation: Craigs works with clients’ accountants with dividend imputation credit management and claiming of foreign tax credits. These strategies typically add 0.3%-0.8% annually to after-tax returns.
Asset Allocation and Rebalancing Discipline: Regular rebalancing ensures target allocations are maintained. When growth assets outperform, Craigs sells high and buys underperforming assets low. It’s arguable that many DIY investors never rebalance effectively.
Peace of Mind: Professional oversight enables clients to focus on their careers and families, rather than constantly monitoring markets and making investment decisions.
The Research Evidence: Academic studies consistently show that advised clients achieve 1.5-3% higher annual returns than self-directed investors LINK. This outperformance comes from better investor behaviour, asset allocation, and rebalancing, not superior stock selection. Craigs keeps clients invested during volatility when instincts suggest selling.

Who Are Craigs’ Most Suitable Clients?

Potential clients include:

Successful but time-constrained professionals ($500,000+ portfolios, no interest in DIY investing)
Complex financial situations requiring coordination (multiple accounts, tax considerations, estate planning)
Investors needing behavioural guidance (emotional decision-makers, panic sellers)
Those who value personal relationships (prefer human advisers over digital platforms)
Comprehensive service requirements (investments plus broader financial planning)

Arguably unsuitable clients:

Portfolios under $250,000 (minimum fees may erode returns on small balances)
DIY investment enthusiasts (who may feel constrained by the conservative approach)
Cost-sensitive investors who do not want to pay for a full service experience
Innovation-focused investors (approach too conservative)
Simple investment needs (index funds provide adequate solutions)

Should I use Craigs? What are the Alternatives?

Before going any further, critical questions include:

Value Assessment: Do I want to pay for a full service tailored to my needs?
Trust Evaluation: Do I trust this specific adviser with my wealth?
Delegation Readiness: Do I genuinely want to transfer investment control?
Alternative Consideration: Could I achieve similar results at lower cost elsewhere?

Alternative Options include:

Forsyth Barr LINK: Similar full-service model with fees of 1.5-2.5% annually. Strong institutional research capabilities but fewer branches outside main centres.
JBWere LINK: Premium positioning with higher minimum investments ($1 million+), arguably more aggressive investment approaches and institutional-grade research - costs estimated to be 2% to 3% annually.

DIY Platform Options:

Tiger Brokers/Sharesies/Hatch LINK: Suitable for portfolios under $100,000. Annual costs typically range from 0.3 to 0.8% but require self-direction and investment knowledge.
ASB Securities and Invest Direct LINK: Share investing platforms - limited advice but institutional backing and familiar banking relationships.

Index Fund Approach:

Vanguard/Smartshares: Direct index fund investing costs 0.2-0.5% annually. Requires discipline for rebalancing and behavioural coaching. Suitable for knowledgeable, disciplined investors.

Financial Planners + DIY Hybrid:

Annual planning fee ($3,000-5,000) plus self-managed portfolio. The total cost is often 1.5%-2% annually, depending on the portfolio size. Requires more investor involvement but reduces ongoing fees.

The Bottom Line

Craigs Investment Partners provides private wealth management for successful New Zealanders who prioritise personal relationships over digital solutions and professional advice over self-directed investing. Craigs approach is to preserve and build wealth through long-term investment portfolios, with a buy and actively monitor approach to investing.
At 1%-1.2% annual fee, Craigs charges more than some low cost DIY providers. However, for appropriate clients - typically those with $500,000+ portfolios, complex financial situations, and a genuine desire for delegation - the value proposition often justifies the premium. The combination of local presence, comprehensive services, and behavioural coaching addresses needs that low-cost alternatives cannot.
Craigs' strength (and, for some investors, limitation) is its deliberately conservative approach, focusing on investing in quality companies at a reasonable price. In an era of financial innovation, they offer stability and proven strategies for long-term wealth creation. Whether this warrants a 1%-1.2% annual fee depends on individual circumstances and preferences.
For investors under 40 with portfolios of less than $250,000, lower-cost alternatives typically offer better value. For established professionals and retirees seeking comprehensive wealth management, Craigs delivers professional, personal, and methodically conservative investment oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the minimum investment for Craigs services?

It depends on the service. mySTART LINK requires just $100/month or a $1,000 lump sum, but their premium services (DIMS and MPS) require a minimum of $250,000. At smaller amounts, fees become proportionally expensive - you're essentially paying premium pricing for a small portfolio.

What's the difference between DIMS and MPS?

DIMS (Discretionary Investment Management Service) means complete delegation - your adviser trades without asking permission first. MPS (Managed Portfolio Service) keeps you in control - you approve every trade recommendation. Both require a minimum of $250,000 and incur similar fees.

What are Craigs' total fees?

Beyond MPS client fees (which we estimate will range from around 0.20% p.a. to 1.00% p.a. based on the amount invested, some one-off fees may also apply in certain cases such as brokerage (around 1%) and foreign exchange. We understand brokerage costs can be discounted for larger clients and when new portfolios are established.

Fees for Craigs’ other premium services product, DIMs, include brokerage costs.

Some underlying funds may also charge fees (0.10%-0.75%) but no additional fees are charged on direct holdings. Total annual costs including brokerage and potential external fund fees typically runs 1.2% to 1.5% of your portfolio value.

How does Craigs' KiwiSaver differ from others?

Most KiwiSaver schemes offer 5-7 funds. Craigs offers over 250+ investment options, allowing you to build completely customised portfolios with individual shares,as well as funds. This appeals to sophisticated investors but requires significant investment knowledge to avoid costly mistakes.

What investment approach does Craigs follow?

Craigs is deliberately conservative, focusing on institutional-style diversification through established funds and ETFs. You won't find cryptocurrency, seed funding, or highly leveraged investments, although they have recently introduced alternative asset classes. They prioritise capital preservation and steady income generation over innovation or aggressive growth strategies.

Who typically uses Craigs?

Successful business owners (often post-sale), high-earning professionals ($200,000+), inheritors managing significant sums ($600,000+), and sophisticated retirees ($1.5 million+) requiring decumulation strategies.
Generally, people who want professional delegation but find bank wealth management too limiting.

When might Craigs underperform compared to other investment approaches?

Craigs' conservative, institutional-style approach can lag in several scenarios. During tech booms or small-cap rallies, their diversified portfolios might return 15-20% while concentrated growth strategies deliver 40%+.

In stable bull markets without corrections, their fees become more noticeable compared to index funds charging 0.25% LINK, especially when their behavioural coaching and risk management add less value.

Craigs also typically avoid tactical plays like sector rotations, currency bets, or commodity trades LINK that DIY investors might exploit for short-term gains while Craigs aims to maintain steady returns through disciplined asset allocation.