Q&As:
– The 3 ways a reader has “chowed through” her mortgage
– It’s not wise to skip health insurance altogether
– Reader gives us a stats lesson, through Bonus Bonds
– Banks’ bonus savings products too complicated
– 2 readers tell of easy ways to give to charity
– No I don’t screen readers’ letters because of their attitudes
Q&As:
– Clever ways to make Christmas less expensive and more fun
– Who’s creaming it, the lawyers or the banks?
– Bonus Bonds give reader nothing over 48 years
– An argument against online donations
– Give now rather than in your will, reader says
– Reader reckons he deserves his pension, after paying for others
Plus:
– List of charities offering meaningful Christmas gift programmes
Q&As:
– Bonus Bonds work well as on-call account …
– … But not so well as a gift for grand-daughter. Other options for her
– Means-testing NZ Super may cost more than it saves
– Lower-income retirees already get more
– Take care with charity donations in wills
– Tell charities how you want to be treated …
– … Here’s what to do if they ignore your requests
Q&As:
– What to do with a $200,000 Lotto win
– How does Inland Revenue handle Islamic banking?
– Drop in fund value explained
– 2 Q&As on handling charity donations after the donor dies
– Reader explains why millionaire could be aggrieved about NZ Super
– Another reader doesn’t buy my arguments on means-testing Super
– Is means-testing a far left idea?
Q&As:
– Family tree doesn’t explain why women are worse off in retirement
– Should we give more NZ Super to those in need?
– Reader seeks ideas on giving to charity
– Offset mortgage one way parents can help children buy a home — but not a tax break
– Look beyond bank adviser
– Investors in KiwiSaver and other funds pay slightly less tax
WOMEN AND MONEY
Q&As:
– A new kitchen might be best use of $15,000 no longer needed
– What can 66-year-old do to improve her situation? Maybe work longer
– How to find a suitable managed fund
– When lending to family, have a way to get your money out
Q&As:
– Loan within family might work, but there’s lots to consider
– How to find KiwiSaver funds that are pretty much fully invested in shares
– No rules about KiwiSaver fund names
– Tax rate should be called “marginal” — or should it?
Q&As:
– Couple should make children their priority while the kids are young
– KiwiSaver gives children a good start, despite the lack of incentives
– Don’t blame bank for getting son’s KiwiSaver tax rate wrong
– Expanding the “cut back on gifts” idea to birthdays, Christmas and Mother’s Day
– Inflation tougher on superannuitants, but reader still has options
Plus:
– I’m doing two talks in Tauranga on November 3
Q&As:
– Low interest not as bad as it seems — when we check out inflation
– Ideas for retiree struggling because of low interest
– Should retirement savings go into high-earning KiwiSaver fund?
– Apartment ownership not worry-free
– My tax gripe shot down
Q&As:
– Reverse mortgages risky in early retirement
– Last week’s correspondent probably meant rental losses are now ring-fenced
– Tax system lacks integrity, here and in the UK
– Did I muddle money and percentages last week?
– Another idea for couple moving to Coromandel but wanting an Auckland option