Top Up Your Retirement Savings Now is a good time to be thinking about whether you are putting enough aside for your retirement. A review of your long term plans should be done on an annual basis and June is a good month for two reasons; firstly because it is too wet and cold outside [...]

Love and Money Relationships are complex and adding financial stress into the mix complicates things even further. Arguments about money are the leading cause of relationship breakdown and it follows that if couples can find a way to reduce financial stress and avoid conflict over money, the chances of a successful relationship are greatly enhanced. [...]

The Price of Good Advice The calendars of financial advisers throughout the country have a big circle around 1 July, 2011. That is the date by which, with a few exceptions, any person giving advice on investment products must be an Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA). An adviser who works for a large company, such as [...]

Advice for KiwiSavers KiwiSaver skeptics will no doubt be saying ‘I told you so’ after the recent changes announced in the budget. A minority of the population have refused to join KiwiSaver on the grounds that the Government will keep changing the rules or mismanage their money. Yes, the rules have changed, but joining KiwiSaver [...]

Happy Retirement! Retirement is something to look forward but ensuring that the experience lives up to your expectations requires some forward planning. These days it is becoming more common for people to work less rather than retire and many pensioners have part time jobs. However, it is good to be working by choice. NZ Superannuation [...]

Invest Offshore Global influences in investment markets have become more powerful over the last decade, due to the effects of technology, globalization of businesses and economic union between countries. The Global Financial Crisis is a powerful example of how interconnected world investment markets are now. This is not necessarily something to be afraid of and [...]

Bank and Lose Investors who retreated to bank deposits after the Global Financial Crisis now find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Do they stay in bank deposits for peace of mind but poor returns or do they venture back into investment markets? It is sensible to batten down the hatches when a [...]

Suddenly Rich Dreams sometimes come true! Occasionally some of us suddenly receive a large sum of money. For the luckiest, it might be a lottery win, for some it might be an inheritance and for others the sale of a business or property. Suddenly being rich is exciting, but for most people it is also [...]

Check your PIE April marks the start of a new tax year, and is a significant month for investors. KiwiSaver members or investors in any other Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) need to ensure they start the new tax year on the correct tax rate. These investments are taxed at what is called the Prescribed Investor [...]

Are you a Shopaholic? Severe overspending is a problem for around 10% of the population. Like any other addiction, it is usually triggered by an emotional or behavioural issue and followed by feelings of remorse and guilt. The overspender may then make promises and attempts to change but after that the cycle starts all over again. [...]