Squirrel
Fund Manager based in Auckland
About Squirrel
Peer-to-peer lending platform and fund manager with over $300M in investor funds. 100% NZ owned, arranged over $22 billion in mortgages since 2008. No investor has ever lost money. Squirrel's funds are also available on retail platforms like InvestNow (www.investnow.co.nz) for non-wholesale investors.
Location
Auckland
FSP Registration
FSP354706
Established
2008
17 years track record
Funds Managed (3)
Squirrel Wholesale Construction Loan Fund
Construction mortgages up to $2 million secured by first mortgages. Higher returns for construction finance risk.
Squirrel Wholesale Home Loan Fund
Residential mortgages up to $2 million secured by first mortgage. Conservative lending with lower risk profile.
Squirrel Specialised Income Fund
Diversified higher risk loans secured by residential property including first and second mortgages. Portfolio approach to reduce specific investment risk.
Investment Opportunities(3)
Squirrel Wholesale Construction Loan Fund
OpenConstruction finance secured by first mortgages up to $2M. Higher returns for development lending with first mortgage security.
Squirrel Wholesale Home Loan Fund
OpenConservative residential mortgage fund up to $2M per loan. First mortgage security only with lower risk profile.
Squirrel Specialised Income Fund
OpenDiversified higher risk loan portfolio secured by residential property. First and second mortgages with portfolio diversification to reduce specific investment risk.
Key People (8)
John Bolton
Founder & Squirrel OG
Leadership
Founded 2008. Former GM at ANZ responsible for $60 billion in retail lending and deposits
16 years of experience
David Cunningham
CEO
Leadership
Succeeded Bolton as CEO in 2022
Colin Gardyne
CTO
Technology
Chief Technology Officer at Squirrel
Dave Tyrer
COO
Operations
Chief Operating Officer
Ruth Hamlin
CMO
Marketing
Chief Marketing Officer
Tim Bowen
CFO
Finance
Chief Financial Officer
Tony Lane
CRO
Risk
Chief Risk Officer
Angela Lewis
CPO
People
Chief People Officer
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Quick Info
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a provider is legitimate and trustworthy?
Conduct thorough due diligence before investing with any provider: (1) Check FMA Register - Verify the provider is licensed or registered with the Financial Markets Authority (www.fma.govt.nz/compliance/entities), (2) Review track record - Research past fund performance, years in operation, total funds under management, (3) Check key personnel - Research investment team backgrounds, LinkedIn profiles, previous roles and experience, (4) Request references - Ask to speak with existing investors or portfolio companies, (5) Review documentation - Read Information Memoranda, trust deeds, audited financial statements thoroughly, (6) Understand fee structures - Ensure fees are clear, reasonable, and aligned with industry norms, (7) Check for red flags - Promises of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, unlicensed operators, lack of transparency. All providers on Wholesale Investor NZ are pre-screened for legitimacy, but always conduct your own due diligence.
What questions should I ask a fund manager before investing?
Ask fund managers these critical questions: Investment Strategy - What is your investment thesis? How do you source deals? What's your competitive advantage? Track Record - What returns have you achieved historically (gross and net)? What percentage of investments succeeded vs failed? Can I speak with investors in prior funds? Team - Who makes investment decisions? What's their background? Have there been recent departures? How is the team compensated? Risk Management - What was your worst investment and what did you learn? How do you handle conflicts of interest? What's your downside protection? Fees - Explain management fees, performance fees, and all other costs? What's the hurdle rate? Process - What's the investment committee process? How often do you report? What voting rights do I have? Exit - What's the expected timeline to liquidity? Have you returned capital to investors before? Get answers in writing and verify claims independently.
What is the difference between a fund manager and a platform?
Fund Managers directly manage pooled investment capital, making investment decisions, conducting due diligence, managing portfolio companies/assets, charging management and performance fees, and carrying fiduciary duty to investors. Examples include private equity firms, credit fund managers, property developers. Platforms provide infrastructure for accessing multiple investment opportunities, do not make direct investment decisions (investors choose from offerings), may conduct initial due diligence on providers, charge platform fees or take commissions from providers, and offer comparison and research tools. Examples include investment platforms, crowdfunding sites, syndication platforms. Some hybrid models exist - platforms with house funds. When investing via platforms, you still need to evaluate the underlying fund manager's capabilities, track record, and terms as if investing directly.