NZ Herald Q&A Column

NZ Herald 30 May 2020

Q&As:
– Where to put your money if you’ve lost faith in all financial assets
– Why being in a balanced fund isn’t always equal to being in both low- and high-risk funds
– Suggestion for last week’s couple unable to buy a home because of his parents’ mortgage
– Tax on PIEs and uneven tax burden
Plus:
– How to make use of new info on KiwiSaver statements

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NZ Herald 23 May 2020

Q&As:
– Help abounds for young man who helped parents get a mortgage
– My tax info not good enough for accountant
– How to tell how strong your bank is
– Can you be in more than one Simplicity fund?
– House buying plan depends on two impossible forecasts
– Put most of savings into house deposit
– Young man loses house deposit in receivership
– Divorced woman, 59, should put most money into new home

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NZ Herald 16 May 2020

Q&As:
– Am I helping the big guys at the expense of small investors?
– Why you might want to be in more than one of your provider’s KiwiSaver funds
– Tax on KiwiSaver and other funds is gentle
– Limit buys can work well when buying shares
– Investing versus paying down mortgage in low-rate environment …
– … and taking diversification into account
– Be in KiwiSaver as well as making extra mortgage payments
– Take mortgage “holiday” or spend savings?

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NZ Herald 9 May 2020

Q&As:
– Who’s right about fund choice — husband or wife or neither?
– Which bank products are subject to haircut if bank fails?
– What about government bonds, Bonus Bonds and safe deposit boxes?
– Halt to dividend payments should strengthen banks
– ETF tax problem no big deal
– It’s great to continue contributions to KiwiSaver and other funds in down markets
– Don’t assume gloom will continue — and a look at past recoveries
– Drip feeding not quite so good with lump sums

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NZ Herald 2 May 2020

Q&As:
– One less worry: KiwiSaver as an inheritance
– Keep an eye on what’s in your will
– Challenging Westpac over help for KiwiSaver investor
– What happens when KiwiSaver account is empty
– Which is safer, bank deposit or low-risk fund?
– Don’t panic about security of banks
– Ignore past returns when choosing KiwiSaver provider — so how should you choose?
Plus:
– Message to mothers

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NZ Herald 25 April 2020

Q&As:
– Reader regrets panic move out of KiwiSaver — and how to follow share trends
– Many more people are buying shares
– Should self-employed use up savings before asking for government help?
– Index funds not at a disadvantage in market downturn
– How can index funds beat the market?
– Which index for an index fund?
– Any time is fine for switching KiwiSaver provider

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NZ Herald 18 April 2020

Q&As:
– New share investors should skip single shares and use a fund
– Short-term share trading up — but most people don’t win
– Index funds proving themselves in down markets
– How “Preservation Fund” lost money — and is it better than bank term deposit?
– Angry reader wants gold in NZ dollars — but would it boost his case?
– Last week’s gold fan takes another look
– Gold helps with diversification

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NZ Herald 11 April 2020

Q&As:
– How different is it this time?
– Is this a good time to subdivide?
– Was I too tough on last week’s mother?
– Is gold a good investment these days?
– How would bank deposit insurance work for term deposits?
– Bank credit ratings vary — and should you move money to Australia?
– Pay down mortgage with bank deposits — especially if nervous

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NZ Herald 4 April 2020

Q&As:
– Daughter, 21, puts her Mum right on switching KiwiSaver funds
– Son seeks research on trading versus buying and holding shares, to convince Dad
– Got your visa? Get into KiwiSaver
– Don’t wait until markets recover
– Is it wise to take a “mortgage holiday”?
– Are different bank accounts treated differently if “haircut” happens?
– Should retiree try his luck again on timing the market?
– 20-year-old should get into share market cautiously
– Moving to higher risk is a good move

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NZ Herald 28 March 2020

Q&As:
– Reassurance for share owners — based on holiday home value
– 2 readers worry that their bank savings are in danger
– Clever timing with KiwiSaver moves unlikely to work out well
Plus:
– A note to other concerned correspondents

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