Archives
Read Mary's current Herald and syndicated columns on-line now,
or search the archives for previous subjects.
|
Something About Mary
 Qantas Media Award-winning columnist Mary Holm writes a Q&A personal finance column in the Weekend Herald. She is a part-time senior lecturer in financial literacy at the
University of Auckland, a member of the Financial Markets Authority board, and a director of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme. She also presents seminars, and frequently discusses personal finance on radio and television.
Mary is the author of five books, three of which were on the NZ bestseller list. They include "Get Rich Slow" and "Investing Made Simple" (both published by Penguin), and three books about KiwiSaver (published by Random House but now out of print). She has also written three booklets for the Reserve Bank, the most recent being Upside, Downside – a guide to risk for savers and investors".
She holds a BA in economic history (Victoria University of Wellington), MA in journalism (University of Michigan) and MBA in finance (University of Chicago, where she was taught by Nobel Laureate Merton Miller and graduated in the top 15%.).
Mary is a member of the External Advisory Group working with Treasury on its Long-Term Fiscal Statement to be published in 2013. She was a member of the Savings Working Group in 2010-11 and the Capital Market Development Taskforce in 2009, and worked for the 1997 Todd report on retirement income. She has been business editor of the Auckland Sun and Auckland Star, and has covered personal finance for the
NZ Listener, Australian Financial Review and Chicago Tribune.
She enjoys movies and plays, walking in wild places, swimming, and meeting with friends.
PLEASE NOTE: The opinions Mary expresses in her writing and on this website are in no way connected with the Financial Markets Authority or the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.
What Readers Say
Mary routinely edits out compliments from letters before running them in her columns.
But here are some recent comments:
- I have just stumbled across your column, and I've been reading back all morning. It's great, and an easy way to understand some things that I thought were more complex. It's so nice to have things explained a bit more simply, and also sometimes from the perspectives of others.
-
Firstly I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your NZ Herald column - you're opinions always seem well considered, balanced and coming from a depth of experience - I'm really thankful for the information you've shared as its really helped me in my own decisions around finance and investment. Keep writing your column – it’s a New Zealand institution :)
-
Every week I thoroughly look forward to reading your column in the NZ Herald. It’s interesting, informative and always provides a wealth of information that I am very thankful for.
-
Greetings. Thanks for the contribution you make every weekend, which I get to b4 any other news item.
-
Love your column and your sense of humour.
-
P.S. Great column by the way.
-
I spend $3.20 on the weekend Herald each week because of the value of your column...have done for ages. I could read it on the net but like to pore over it on a Sunday morning with a coffee...a newspaper generation thing I guess. Thank you for common sense advice written so readably…. this week's column was particularly reassuring. Keep up the great work! Know you are appreciated.
-
Keep up the good work. The financial scene is complex and we need people like you to explain in easy to understand articles, columns such as yours.
-
As a regular reader of your column in the Herald for many years I have considered writing about many topics you have raised in past issues. However, have restrained myself till now to share with you, and hopefully your readers, the excellent outcome of your advice of more than five years ago ie to join Kiwisaver I trust the attached letter spells out my opinion and heartfelt thanks for that advice … Take care and continue with such a valuable advisory for us ordinary folk.
-
Bravo on the booklet, Mary
-
I just want to share my respect for your advice after following your column over the last +7 years. When I first started reading I was an American living in New Zealand. However, my kiwi wife and I have moved back to the USA. Through the good and bad (pre global recession and post global recession), I have found your instincts and philosophy so helpful, and grounded in common sense. Even 2.5 years after moving back to the USA, I still check in to read many of your Saturday columns. I haven't found comparably well-grounded financial writer in the USA, so yours still shines through as among the best I have ever found both home and abroad. Thanks, keep up the good work.
-
Welcome back. Missed your column.
-
I enjoyed my normal Saturday morning ritual of reading your column a little more than usual last Saturday with some references to the Reverse Mortgage sector.
-
I thought you answered a very difficult question exceedingly well re the couple who were losing sleep over the compounding effects of their loan.….Anyway Mary, as always I liked your approach and make these comments in support.
-
PS: I have asked for your advice previously and am really pleased to say that we have been consumer debt-free for more than 3 years, our business (which I previously ran as volunteer and as a free community service) is now leaping ahead and I just employed my first staff member. Grateful thanks Mary for your very kind advice in the past, it was years ago now…J, but I listened and it worked.
-
Thank you for your wisdom over money matters…. I’m very grateful for KiwiSaver and it’s due to your encouragement that I went with it in the beginning.
-
I am an avid reader of your column and have always thought your advice is very practical and 'down to earth'.
-
PS On a personal level I’d like to say how much I enjoy your columns – they’re very helpful and I’ve learnt a lot, especially as I haven’t been as astute with my money as I could have been. Sigh! So thanks very much.
-
Well done, Mary. Your first letter on Saturday was right on the button – concise, clear, caring and likely very helpful to the correspondents.
-
You must get very many of these emails but just a note to say you do a fantastic job and we are very lucky to have you to read each week. I've taken a great deal of your advice over the years and continue to get a lot out of your column every Saturday, so thank you again.
|
