The Channel Island of Jersey sits 22 km from the French coast.

It is an offshore finance centre with an outsized banking and funds industry. The island has a resident population of 104,000, but administers almost $1 trillion in funds. (New Zealand administers just over $360 billion.)

There are benefits in offering a safe haven for wealth. By GDP per capita, Jersey would sit among the world’s highest-income jurisdictions.

When we lived there, our apartment on the North Coast looked across the English Channel to Normandy. On a clear day, I could see a facility that sometimes made me question this idea of safety.

Flamanville Nuclear Plant, France. Source: Wikimedia Commons

During my time, Flamanville was never connected to the grid due to safety concerns. It finally came online in 2024, long after I had left Jersey.

The first French nuclear station to join the grid in 23 years, it was originally budgeted at €3.3 billion. It ended up costing an estimated €23.7 billion (including financing). The project took 17 years from construction to providing nuclear power.

Well, you can imagine having a plant that had faced commissioning challenges so close to Jersey was of some concern for the islanders. I recall hearing the government had enough iodine tablets for the entire population.

This indicates the challenges we face with electricity today. Some say nuclear is one of the best options to generate economical power at scale. The story of Flamenville is a reminder of how challenging that can be.

Yet the world’s demand for electricity is accelerating. The global stock of electric vehicles is set to more than triple by 2030, with EV electricity demand rising fourfold. Meanwhile, the AI revolution is driving explosive growth in data centre power consumption.

A world hungry for energy is reshaping investment opportunities — and that’s exactly what we’ll explore at our next Coffee & Capital Event in Auckland.

We’ll also examine the end of New Zealand’s long property supercycle, rising interest in passive income, and the shifting political and economic landscape across Australasia.

This is your invitation as a Wealth Morning reader — with a special offer for our Quantum Wealth subscribers and Managed Account clients.

Invitation: Coffee & Capital Event

Does financial freedom matter to you? Are you looking for common sense? Well, I want to extend an invitation for you to come join us at our next live event. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• The property supercycle in New Zealand is now drawing to a close. It’s the end of an era. How can investors adapt to this historic shift?

• The National Party is pushing for KiwiSaver contributions to go higher. But is it time to look beyond nanny-state politics? Is it time to make better personal choices for growth and passive income today?

• Economic worries and tax grievances are now hitting Australia. Could this actually benefit New Zealand in the long run? We’ll discuss why New Zealand might be the better choice for investors.

• In the aftermath of the Iran war, the world is hungry for energy. Is this creating an opportunity to invest in high-value infrastructure?

• We look forward to engaging with you in person. And as always, your comments and questions.

COFFEE & CAPITAL

Friday, 7 August 2026
11:00am to 12:00pm

✅ Register For Your Place Now

 Fields Café (Function Room)
4 Appian Way, Albany, Auckland

$37 per person / limited spaces
Includes any menu item, coffee

[ Special Member Price ]
For Managed Account clients & Quantum Wealth subscribers

✅ Register For Your Place Now

$27 per person / limited spaces
Includes any menu item, coffee

Regards,

Simon Angelo

Editor, Wealth Morning

(This article is the author’s personal opinion and commentary only. It is general in nature and should not be construed as any financial or investment advice. Please contact a licensed Financial Advice Provider to discuss your personal situation. Wealth Morning offers Managed Account Services for Wholesale or Eligible investors as defined in the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.)