KiwiSaver back to positive! Also, new KiwiSaver help for new parents
– Returns January to March positive for almost all KiwiSaver funds
– Are the best short-term funds also the best long-term?
– Main points: Hang in there; higher risk = higher return; never judge by short-term performance
– Government helps KiwiSavers on paid parental leave
Q&As:
– How to avoid the boss’s meanness — a different way to contribute to KiwiSaver
– Credit card interest rise alarming
– Don’t bail out of KiwiSaver
– Funds’ relative performance all over the place
– 2 more providers let you withdraw dividends from funds — which can work well in retirement
– A reader’s story: Lessons learnt boost confidence
Q&As:
– Rental property comparison with KiwiSaver not valid
– Working out your true income can help you curb spending
– How reader can keep getting some benefits after 65
– A pity more managed fund providers don’t distribute dividends to investors
– A reader’s story: Recovery from divorce, and 21st birthday presents
Laddering — a clever way with term deposits and perhaps your mortgage
– What is laddering?
– Who might be affected?
– Why do it? — gives longer-term returns on deposits (which are usually higher); frequent access to some of your money; some protection from bad luck with timing.
– How it might work with a mortgage
Q&As:
– Reluctant shopper passes on helpful tips
– Differences between ETFs and unlisted index funds — not huge
– A comment on capital gains tax
– A reader’ story: key messages over the years
Q&As:
– Rental property not always the winner over managed funds
– The risk of borrowing to invest
Readers’ stories about how the column has helped them
– 9 lessons learnt
– Move to growth fund made big difference
– We don’t like shopping!
– “Spend more” message is not for everyone
Setting up emergency money
– Many NZers don’t have access to emergency money
– A good tradeoff — increase hardship but gain mental health
– Imagine your pay has been cut
– Where to put emergency money
– Make use of mortgage situation
Q&As:
– A reader’s disappointing run with managed funds
– When it can be bad news to own shares in company you work for …
– … or to buy the building that houses your business
– Confusing numbers on KiwiSaver fund performance
– A reader’s story: gaining confidence to buy shares
25th anniversary of this column!
– Reflections on what we’ve looked at over the years
– Readers’ stories about how the column has helped them
How to complain about any financial service in NZ:
– What firms are covered
– The financial disputes system in NZ
– Free to you, and you don’t have to accept decision
– How they are funded
– What they do — and don’t do
– Your first steps to getting help