Getting in and out of share market a losing strategy. Many people with share investments — including KiwiSaver and other funds that hold shares along with other assets — are probably eying the 37 to 39 per cent drops in the New Zealand, US and Australian share markets last year and considering taking flight to lower-risk investments. Don’t.
Q&As: Advisor’s mortgage offer looks too magical to be true; Children more likely to be angry because their parents didn’t sign them up to KiwiSaver than because they did; Too much on KiwiSaver in this column?
Q&As: Government’s KiwiSaver changes include a big improvement on their pre-election plans; New taxation of KiwiSaver employer contributions is fair enough. Plus: readers’ views of my political leanings vary widely.
Q&As: Couple can afford to retire youngish, especially if they are willing to eat into their savings; Cash PIE not always a good substitute for a term deposit — but there’s another way to achieve reader’s goal using PIE tax advantages.
Q&As: Repaying a mortgage — on a home or rental property — almost always better than saving with term deposits; KiwiSaver works well for children; 3 Q&As on charitable Christmas giving.
Christmas giving that makes you happier too. Struggling retailers aren’t going to like this, but how about we make 2008 the year we stop spending ridiculous amounts on Christmas presents we don’t need — and often don’t even like?
Q&As: Does charity begin in the home country? Salvation Army programme looks good; List of overseas charities with Christmas gift offerings; National’s KiwiSaver changes could discourage single Mum trying to get ahead — but there’s hope they will be altered; The whole KiwiSaver mortgage diversion issue will be much easier for many under National’s changes. Plus: Readers on KiwiSaver.
2 Q&As on National’s proposed changes to KiwiSaver. Meaningful Christmas presents. Readers’ views on KiwiSaver.
To hedge or not to hedge? There are two key questions around investing overseas: Should you do it? And if you do, should you hedge your investment, so it’s not affected by movements in the New Zealand dollar. The first answer is “Yes”. The second is trickier.