Q&As: Government action needed to help out retirees withdrawing their KiwiSaver money; No tax when you take money out of KiwiSaver; KiwiSaver gets good and bad report cards, depending on your approach; 2 readers explain how they financially helped their student children.
Q&As: How much financial support a reader gives their student son; Two banks offer mortgages that get around problems with revolving credit loans; An accountant’s offer boosts reputation of the profession; Two Q&As about means testing of NZ Super in some circumstances, and how KiwiSaver fits in; Yes, there are plenty of companies that don’t pay dividends.
A year of change for KiwiSavers — and would-be joiners. We’re in for a mixed year with KiwiSaver. Contributions from the government and employers will decrease. Still, there’s a good reason for employees who haven’t yet joined the scheme to get in now. Meanwhile, some over-65s will become eligible — for the first time — to withdraw money in retirement.
Q&As: A disadvantage of revolving credit mortgages — it can be hard to keep track of your money; Should John Banks and co. have shared the profits on the sale of their KiwiSaver scheme with members?; The one situation in which NZ Super is affected by your KiwiSaver account; A call for info about student spending.
Q&As: Most people still get their money doubled in KiwiSaver, or close to that…; …And no, KiwiSaver is not self-funded by members; What happens in April 2013 to KiwiSavers who pay their own employer contributions; Good and bad employers and KiwiSaver; A little book that says it all — almost.
Take action now to avoid bill blues next January. Ah, summer. Time for beaches, baches, barbecues — and facing probably the year’s biggest credit card bills, or even demands for payment from loan sharks.
Q&As: Are employers allowed to take their employer contributions to KiwiSaver out of employees’ pay?; How a KiwiSaver in that situation can stop employer contributions — although it won’t gain her much; Pluses and minuses of the suggested “life stages” KiwiSaver default funds; Professionalism “the kiwi way” can be a winner in the tourism industry; Motel owners don’t tend to do it for long.
Q&As: 2 Q&As suggest it’s not always easy to go into the motel business, or other tourism or hospitality businesses; Should couple stop health insurance and set up their own fund to cover medical expenses?; Is KiwiSaver still worth being in, given changes that make it less attractive?
Don’t wait for change on how advisers are paid. It’s one of those situations in which, 20 or 30 years from now, I reckon people will say, “I can’t believe they used to do it that way.”
Q&As: Three readers offer advice to early 60s couple looking for jobs — go and look around the country; check out motels; try a B&B; AMP responds to a KiwiSaver’s concerns about returns; A Christmas message; More letters from readers giving advice to couple seeking work.