Mary Holm https://maryholm.com NZ's most trusted personal finance journalist Sun, 25 May 2025 07:14:12 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.21 NZ Herald 24 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-24-may-2025/ Fri, 23 May 2025 12:00:24 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12537 What, exactly, are bonds? And are they safe? Are bonds no longer behaving as they should? Industry man defends gold Just 2 KiwiSaver providers won’t let you do this Last week’s correspondent “naïve” about tax on rental income QWhy will no one explain all the jargon that surrounds bonds? I have asked you about three or four times to explain bonds, I have asked my stockbroker to explain bonds...

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RNZ Radio 22 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-22-may-2025/ Thu, 22 May 2025 03:15:30 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12536 Changes to employer and employee contributions — and how to avoid them if you wish Government contributions halved No government money if you earn more than $180,000 Good news for 16 and 17-year-olds — tell them about it! Assessment: Bad for self-employed and not employed, and employees pay for their own gains Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary.

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NZ Herald 17 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-17-may-2025/ Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:17 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12530 Gold not the answer for this reader “Should I or shouldn’t I reduce risk?” Couple’s tax idea not fair A reverse mortgage in a retirement village? Can move KiwiSaver overseas with you QI am aged 72, retired two years ago. I have a mortgage-free unit worth about $650,000, and $114,000 in a KiwiSaver conservative fund. I’m too scared to look at the balance as it will have dropped. I also have $40...

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NZ Herald 10 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-10-may-2025/ Fri, 09 May 2025 12:00:06 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12524 Higher returns but no higher risk? When a KiwiSaver fund falters … … And what about cyberattacks on funds? Why I was negative last week Don’t close KiwiSaver account QI note that the new Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS) begins in July. Interest.co.nz lists a number of non-bank deposit takers on its Saving page who are covered under this scheme. Many have returns higher than banks (e.g.

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RNZ Radio 8 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-8-may-2025/ Thu, 08 May 2025 03:15:45 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12523 History of government contributions If changed, how should they do it? Arguments against change Suggestion 1: ban employees paying their employer contributions Suggestion 2: give beneficiaries KiwiSaver help — and prisoners Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions as podcasts. Subscribe free to Mary’s RNZ podcast here.

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NZ Herald 3 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-3-may-2025/ Fri, 02 May 2025 12:00:41 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12515 Don’t get too confident about your investment skills A way to compare paying down mortgage vs shares Home loans get easier over time Putting “princely sums” in context KiwiSaver returns over a decade How banks lend to retired people Move to new provider, at same risk, any time QI am determined to pass away with all, or as much as possible, of my savings intact, having lived on the interest.

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NZ Herald 26 April 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-26-april-2025/ Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:00:53 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12504 Home ownership v shares KiwiSaver funds beat inflation Deposit compensation list released Should woman borrow more than she needs? Where to get into on reverse mortgages and home reversion Boost KiwiSaver contributions any time Shorter questions please Q“There really are two kinds of people in this country; those who would rather own their home outright, even though the math shows that you’d...

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RNZ Radio 24 April 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-24-april-2025/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:15:37 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12503 Marriage Debt Budgeting Investments Less conventional investments Saving for children Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions as podcasts. Subscribe free to Mary’s RNZ podcast here. No paywalls or ads — just generous people like you. All Kiwis deserve accurate, unbiased financial guidance. So let’s keep it free.

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NZ Herald 19 April 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-19-april-2025/ Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:00:25 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12499 How to be fair with gifts to children for home purchases When share investments might not do well over a decade Challenging a family trust distribution Why reverse mortgage interest rates are higher A mortgage fund versus term deposits Winners in book giveaway QSome years ago we gifted money to our son to assist in purchasing a home. Now that we want to do the same for a second son...

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NZ Herald 12 April 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-12-april-2025/ Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:00:16 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12481 He quit KiwiSaver before the downturn, but what now? Conservative fund versus term deposits Finance company interest rates after Depositor Compensation starts Wisdom from her Scottish forebears An alternative to reverse mortgages…. … and the 2 options compared WIN A BOOK! QPhew, good thing I divested from KiwiSaver a little while ago, and went into bank term deposits. AOkay, I’ll admit your timing...

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