Q&As: Just because a so-called financial expert is confident, that doesn’t mean he or she is right; If you haven’t worked for a while any time in the last five years, you may well be in for a tax refund; Don’t delay joining KiwiSaver, even if you’re worried that you could be made redundant; KiwiSaver tax credit lark for the newly retired is too good to be true.
Secrets of real estate agents. Sorry — this is my third column in a row about real estate commissions. It’s just that readers keep responding. Lately it’s been agents or former agents, letting us in on their secrets.
Q&As: Wealth doesn’t have to equal filth — New Zealanders’ attitude to money may leave them more worried about financial issues; Take your pick between share fund managers who try to outperform the market and those who don’t; Members of work super schemes can do well by also being in KiwiSaver.
Q&As: Reader explains why he won’t invest in shares; Data suggest New Zealand doesn’t actually over-invest in property; New Zealanders’ lack of interest in shares hurts more than just individuals; Help is available for horseracing “addict”.
Readers love or loathe real estate fee idea. The subject of real estate commissions brings out strong emotions — as reader response to my last column shows.
Q&As: 2 Q&As on whether New Zealanders over-invest in property; Is 50 too old to take out a mortgage?
Q&As: Reader’s sad story about racing tips company; Horse breeder and racer gives his perspective on tips companies; When is a KiwiSaver cash fund not a cash fund?
A fairer deal for all on real estate agent commissions. Now — with real estate agents hungry for listings — might be a good time for home sellers to negotiate a new way of paying agents. This is not about kicking a man when he’s down. What I’m proposing shouldn’t leave an honest agent worse off. In fact, if she or he is good at their job, it will leave them much better off.
Q&As: Steps a middle-income family can take towards buying their own home; Scams not always easy to spot; The presence of family trusts could prevent governments from means testing NZ Super; Has the worst already happened for kids in KiwiSaver?
Q&As: Several signs that company offering racing tips is not the path to riches; Managers of Westpac’s poorly performing KiwiSaver cash fund ask investors to be patient; Happy investor says “KiwiSaver rocks” — even though he’s too pessimistic over the future of NZ Super.