Brandwave

Forsyth Barr vs Kernel:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Kernel had more branded searches than Forsyth Barr among investment platforms in New Zealand. Kernel had about 27,200 branded searches, while Forsyth Barr had 8,980. Kernel made up 15.1% of all investment platform searches we track, and Forsyth Barr accounted for 5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about investment platforms, Kernel appeared in four of the five answers and Forsyth Barr in none.

Among investment platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kernel, about 3 searches for every 1 for Forsyth Barr

Kernel 27.2K searchesForsyth Barr 9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kernel, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Forsyth Barr in 0

Kernel in 4 of 5Forsyth Barr in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kernel, the only one of the two named

Kernel first in 4Forsyth Barr never named

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Top investment platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kernel was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Forsyth Barr did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Sharesies1st
  2. InvestNow2nd
  3. Kernel3rd
  4. Hatch4th
  5. ASB Securities5th
  6. Tiger Brokers6th
  7. Craigs Investment Partners–
  8. Forsyth Barr–
  9. Jarden–
  10. Snowball Effect–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Sharesies5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • InvestNow5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kernel4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hatch4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ASB Securities2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tiger Brokers1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Craigs Investment Partners0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Forsyth Barr0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Jarden0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Snowball Effect0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about investment platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Forsyth Barr or Kernel more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Forsyth Barr and Kernel by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 investment platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Forsyth Barr and Kernel among investment platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Kernel, Forsyth Barr. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSharesiesKernelHatchInvestNowCraigs Investment PartnersForsyth BarrASB SecuritiesJardenTiger BrokersSnowball EffectStake
Oct 202547.6%7.9%16.3%7.9%8.2%4.7%5.2%0.7%0.82%0.21%0.42%
Nov 202544.6%9%15.1%9%9.8%5.4%4.8%0.76%0.78%0.36%0.28%
Dec 202541%9.8%16.9%10%9.1%6%5.4%0.62%0.68%0.27%0.27%
Jan 202646.1%9.4%15.5%9.2%8.3%4.5%5%0.55%0.96%0.25%0.25%
Feb 202645.8%9.3%12.7%9.2%10.1%5.5%4.9%0.93%0.8%0.54%0.25%
Mar 202643.5%10.3%13.5%8.7%9.6%6.3%5.8%0.92%0.77%0.42%0.23%
Apr 202642.8%11.1%14.5%10.5%9.4%5.1%4.6%0.63%0.75%0.34%0.23%
May 202642.5%12.7%14.5%10.4%8.9%4.2%4.6%0.72%0.89%0.34%0.24%
Jun 202642.4%12.7%14.4%10.5%8.5%5%4.6%0.5%0.89%0.28%0.21%
Jul 202637.2%16.6%12.7%11.2%9.5%5.4%4.9%1.1%0.8%0.3%0.18%
Aug 202640%14.9%11.1%9.8%9.8%5.8%5.3%2.1%0.54%0.39%0.23%
Sep 202641.8%15.1%11.6%10.2%9.9%5%4.5%0.83%0.5%0.33%0.21%

How has the Forsyth Barr and Kernel comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand investment platforms in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Forsyth Barr lost share of searches among investment platforms in New Zealand, from 5.8% to 5%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kernel in New Zealand rose 47.2% over 12 measured months, from 18.5K to 27.2K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

21 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Forsyth Barr’s and Kernel’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Forsyth Barr

10 branded search terms

  • forsyth barr
  • forsyth barr events
  • forsyth barr fees
  • forsyth barr hamilton
  • forsyth barr investment
  • forsyth barr investments
  • forsyth barr kiwisaver
  • forsyth barr ltd
  • forsyth barr nz
  • forsyth barr tauranga

Kernel

11 branded search terms

  • kernel cash fund
  • kernel fund
  • kernel funds
  • kernel invest
  • kernel investment funds
  • kernel kiwisaver
  • kernel kiwisaver funds
  • kernel wealth
  • kernel wealth funds
  • kernel wealth kiwisaver
  • kiwisaver kernel

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among investment platforms

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