Happy Prime
Why People Buying Their First House Are Irrational: The Heart Is Stronger Than the Mind
Discover why first-time homebuyers often let emotions take the wheel, leading to decisions that defy pure financial logic.
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News & Insights
The latest credit, data and regulatory news, trends and insights from our team of credit risk specialists.
Happy Prime
Nov 27
Time for lenders to back Kiwi talent, not just property
New Zealand's property-focused lending stifles SME growth. Shifting to business-backed loans can unlock potential in tech & services.
Happy Prime
Nov 8
Celebrating Seven Years of Excellence at Happy Prime Risk Consultancy
It’s our birthday! As we celebrate our seventh anniversary, we’re not merely resting on our laurels.
Happy Prime
Oct 30
Buy Now Pay Later - Happy Prime's Meurig Chapman on RNZ
Will Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) face the same demise as peer-to-peer lending?
Happy Prime
Oct 22
We’re not here to f*ck spiders
At Happy Prime Risk Consultancy, we believe in straight talk and decisive action.
Happy Prime
Oct 21
We're proud to be partnering with Women in Credit Risk & Collections
Happy Prime has partnered with Women in Credit Risk & Collections.
Happy Prime
Oct 18
Monopolised capital market hinders Kiwis’ access to finance
Recent changes to the CCCFA, while welcome, are unlikely to significantly improve Kiwi access to finance.
Meurig Chapman
Sep 17
Whataboutism in Credit Risk Management: A dangerous distraction
Addressing 'whataboutism' in credit risk improves clarity, risk assessments, and keeps discussions productive for effective strategies.
Meurig Chapman
Sep 11
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): What are they and are they bad for Kiwis
In this blog post, we explore what BNPL is and the pros and cons associated with this payment method.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 20
What Is Bootstrapping in Scorecard Development?
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how bootstrapping works in scorecard development.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 13
Credit risk cycle
Monitor the credit risk cycle to reduce losses and maintain a healthy credit portfolio with effective risk management measures.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 9
Reject inference
In this blog, we will discuss the concept of reject inference and how it is used in scorecard development.
Happy Prime
Aug 5
Climate change an imminent and unfolding storm for NZ homeowners
NZ faces rising uninsurable property risks from extreme weather. Happy Prime CEO urges action to prevent financial disaster for Kiwis.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 1
Strategic precision: Unveiling the power of X Matrix planning in credit risk
Align objectives, actions, KPIs, and responsibilities with the X Matrix Planning tool for strategic credit risk management.
Happy Prime
Jul 24
RBNZ’s DTI restrictions to make rich richer and poor poorer
Happy Prime is cautioning about the potential drawbacks of the new DTI measures.
Meurig Chapman
May 29
Information Value
Information Value (IV) measures a variable's predictive power in credit risk scorecards, aiding robust and accurate credit scoring.
Meurig Chapman
May 21
Explaining observation and performance windows in scorecard development
Explore how observation and performance windows enhance credit risk assessment accuracy and reliability in scorecard development.
Meurig Chapman
May 15
Application scorecards
Explore the essential role of application scorecards in credit risk management, focusing on accuracy and reliability.
Meurig Chapman
Mar 21
Is 2024 the year for Loud Budgeting?
What exactly is Loud Budgeting, and why might it be the financial buzzword of the year?
Meurig Chapman
Mar 18
The capital conundrum: Why banks lean towards residential mortgages
Why do banks find house lending far more appealing? In this blog, we aim to unravel the intricacies of this capital-driven strategy.
Meurig Chapman
Mar 12
Unlocking innovation in New Zealand's financial landscape
Discover the contrast between Australia's financial innovation and New Zealand's lag in the sector.
Meurig Chapman
Mar 7
Empowering the future: Celebrating International Women's Day and advocating for women in credit risk
Happy Prime Consultancy is proud to join the global celebration of International Women's Day.
Meurig Chapman
Feb 20
I can’t afford to pay my loan, what should I do?
Discover practical advice for managing financial difficulties.
Meurig Chapman
Feb 13
The unintended consequences of the Reserve Bank’s DTI requirements
Explore the nuanced debate on Debt to Income vs. Uncommitted Monthly Income assessments in banking.
Meurig Chapman
Jan 22
Unmasking unintentional bias: The hidden dangers in application scorecards
We look at the dangers associated with unintentional bias in application scorecards and its profound implications on fairness, equality,...
Meurig Chapman
Jan 18
The use of recovery curves in collection and write-off management
Discover how recovery curves can improve collection and write-off management, boost financial health, and enhance organisation's processes.
Meurig Chapman
Jan 17
The use of Markov Chains to forecast loss in credit risk
Markov Chains are a powerful mathematical framework that plays a crucial role in credit risk management.
Meurig Chapman
Dec 13, 2023
Deck the halls with boughs of holly and the scent of freshly printed credit reports – it's that time
We’re adding a sprinkle of financial wit to your festive season with some secrets to a credit-smart Christmas.
Meurig Chapman
Dec 11, 2023
What is the optimum sample size to build an application scorecard?
We explore what factors influence the choice of sample size and how to strike the right balance to ensure a robust and reliable method.
Meurig Chapman
Dec 7, 2023
Will AI replace traditional logistic regression models in credit scorecards?
The future of credit scorecards lies at the intersection of traditional logistic regression models and AI.
Meurig Chapman
Nov 23, 2023
Broken rule reports
Broken rule report is a valuable tool in credit risk management.
Meurig Chapman
Nov 20, 2023
I’ve just graduated: Is a career in credit risk management right for me?
Delve into what credit risk management entails and factors to consider when deciding if it’s the right career choice for you.
Meurig Chapman
Nov 2, 2023
Six things I've learned in the last six years
Six things I've learned in the last six years since starting Happy Prime.
Meurig Chapman
Oct 19, 2023
Understanding the Philips Unemployment and Inflation Curve in credit risk management
The Phillips Unemployment and Inflation Curve is a valuable tool in credit risk management.
Meurig Chapman
Oct 12, 2023
Does an inverted yield curve mean a recession is imminent?
Find out more about what an inverted yield curve is, how it works, and whether it truly signals an imminent recession.
Meurig Chapman
Sep 19, 2023
Incorporating Climate Change into Credit Risk Assessment
As businesses and financial institutions face a growing number of climate-related challenges, it’s imperative to ask the question: should...
Meurig Chapman
Sep 18, 2023
Celebrating Excellence: Happy Prime Sponsors "Team Spirit" at FSF Awards
At Happy Prime, our commitment to collaboration and positive change within the financial sector is unwavering. We're excited to announce...
Meurig Chapman
Sep 14, 2023
The 3 Lines of Defence
Find out why banks and financial institutions that adopt the 3 lines of defence model are better equipped to manage credit risk and...
Meurig Chapman
Sep 6, 2023
Reverse Mortgage Vs. Debt Consolidation
The choice between reverse mortgages and debt consolidation hinges on your unique financial circumstances, goals, and preferences. Both...
Meurig Chapman
Aug 23, 2023
What is Survival Analysis?
One of the primary benefits of using survival analysis in credit risk management is that it allows lenders to identify high-risk customers
Meurig Chapman
Aug 22, 2023
CCCFA | The Positive Impact on Kiwi Consumers
Learn how the recent change in requirements made by the CCCFA have positively impacted lenders in New Zealand.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 9, 2023
Evaluating a Borrower’s Creditworthiness
Lenders and financial institutions use different methods to evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness.
Meurig Chapman
Aug 1, 2023
Climate-Related Financial Risk and Opportunities Reporting
The RBNZ requires registered banks and licensed non-bank deposit takers to report on their climate-related financial risk.
Meurig Chapman
Jun 30, 2023
The 3 C's of Credit Risk Explained
Understanding the importance of the three C's in credit risk management and how they're used to assess the creditworthiness of entities.
Meurig Chapman
Jun 15, 2023
Automated Valuation Models
What are AVMs? And how do they help estimate the market value of a property? Read more to understand their advantages and limitations
Meurig Chapman
May 17, 2023
Net Worth and Discretionary Spending
What is net worth and does it have an impact on discretionary spending? We explore how the relationship is not always straightforward
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