Retirement Life
20 August 2025
Lifetime Home named finalist for the FSC’s Innovation of the Year
A fresh approach to unlocking retirement income has earned Lifetime Home a coveted finalist spot for Innovation of the Year in the Financial Services Council (FSC) of New Zealand’s 2025 Awards.
Launched in mid-2024, Lifetime Home is the only debt-free home equity release product offered in New Zealand, providing a much-needed injection of innovation in the retirement funding space.
Where traditional reverse mortgages rely on borrowing and accumulating interest, Lifetime Home flips the model on its head. Instead of taking on debt, retirees sell a pre-agreed portion of their home to Lifetime Home in exchange for tax-free, fortnightly payments for 10 years, all while retaining the right to live in their home for life.
“This past year has brought economic challenges, but the resilience and commitment of our sector shine through,” said FSC CEO Kirk Hope.
“The popularity of [our awards] reflects our collective drive to support New Zealanders and grow together. Finalists exemplify how our industry can innovate to directly improve the financial wellbeing of Kiwi communities.”
A new way forward for retirees
For many retirees, the family home is their most valuable asset, yet its value is largely locked away, even as day-to-day living costs continue to rise faster than NZ Super. Lifetime Home offers a practical, fair, and transparent solution.
“Lifetime Home is a game-changer,” said Ralph Stewart, founder and managing director of Lifetime Retirement Income.
“We designed this product in response to a clear need: a way for older New Zealanders to unlock the value of their homes without going into debt, losing control, or feeling like they’re gambling with their future. This model provides certainty, simplicity, and peace of mind. And we’re delighted the FSC has recognised this, too.”
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The key innovations of Lifetime Home include:
- No debt, no interest: It’s not a loan. Instead, it’s a shared ownership model based on independent valuation.
- Predictable income: Payments are made every fortnight for 10 years, helping retirees plan ahead and budget with confidence.
- Transparency and control: Customers know upfront the amount of equity they’re giving up and what they’re keeping. There are no hidden surprises.
- Lifelong housing security: Homeowners retain the right to live in their home for as long as they can.
- Shared market exposure: If property values rise or fall, both parties share the outcome, balancing the risk.
Meeting a growing need
Since launch, Lifetime Home has struck a chord with retirees, advisers, and financial experts alike.
One of Lifetime Home’s earliest customers, Judith, shared her story: “Going from a steady paycheck to just the pension was tough. I considered downsizing, but it wouldn’t have left me any better off financially. Lifetime Home has made a big difference. Having that extra income means I can pay my bridge fees, put petrol in the car for trips, and even save a little. It’s a great feeling.”
For customers like Judith, Lifetime Home is more than a financial product, it’s a lifeline to independence, dignity, and a better quality of life.
Long-term impact for the sector
The FSC’s Innovation of the Year award recognises new initiatives that deliver measurable, sustainable benefits to customers and the wider financial services sector. According to the FSC, the judging panel faced “a tough but inspiring task” in selecting finalists from a high-quality field.
Lifetime Home ticks all the boxes. Beyond early success with customers, the model also opens the door for wider transformation in how New Zealand approaches retirement planning.
Historically, the industry has focused on helping people save for retirement, but less attention has been given to how people actually spend and manage their money once they get there. Lifetime Home is helping shift that narrative.
“People are living longer and spending more time in retirement than ever before,” says Stewart. “We need solutions that match this reality. By turning home equity into a sustainable income stream, without debt, we’re helping people live better for longer.”
A shift in retirement thinking
Project your retirement income.
Independent research commissioned by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission (Click to View) recently found that home equity release products could benefit up to a quarter of older households in New Zealand, particularly those with low incomes and high home ownership.
Lifetime Home addresses this need while maintaining strong ethical and compliance standards. Every customer must receive independent legal advice before signing, and is encouraged to weigh all options, including downsizing or other equity release tools.
With Lifetime Home, Lifetime Retirement Income is helping rewrite the playbook for retirement, recognising the real-world needs of older New Zealanders and offering a fairer, more empowering path forward.
Written by:
Vanessa Glennie
Vanessa is Head of Communications at Lifetime Retirement Income. She’s an experienced investment writer, having spent more than a decade writing about financial markets in the global fund management industry.
Invest with Lifetime for a retirement income managed for living.