NZ Herald Q&A Column

NZ Herald 2 July 2011

Q&As: How to find a good financial adviser; Difference between an adviser and a fund manager, and how they charge; Adviser should always make high-interest debt the top priority; 70-year-old KiwiSaver’s plan for her grandchildren.

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NZ Herald 25 June 2011

Q&As: Should KiwiSaver member move to a provider with better investment performance?; Reader “gets it” on why KiwiSaver is so good; Another reader is over-enthusiastic; Is it wise to put more money into KiwiSaver?; Index funds are well and good, but what if everyone invested in them?

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NZ Herald 18 June 2011

Q&As: Why chimpanzee can outdo professional stock pickers; Reader might be able to beat the market in property investment, but he has little chance in shares; Which KiwiSaver providers offer index funds?; Do KiwiSaver changes favour those on high incomes? It depends how you look at it.

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NZ Herald 11 June 2011

Q&As: Should couple with iffy job prospects sell their shares to slash their mortgage?; Young KiwiSaver with an eye on first home help should move to a lower-risk fund; One KiwiSaver doesn’t appreciate how good his deal is…; And another is sick of whingers over the scheme; Did my comment about people’s inability to pick investments cover advisers?

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NZ Herald 4 June 2011

Q&As: Changes to KiwiSaver and NZ Super inevitable — and justified; Negatives about KiwiSaver not so bad; Reader loves KiwiSaver; 3 Q&As on tax credit and timing of it; Immigrants from UK lucky with their timing; UK interest rates not so low.

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NZ Herald 28 May 2011

Q&As: Reader knows more about chemistry than savings schemes; Yes, KiwiSaver does rely on government favours to be attractive, but that’s okay; Timing of the tax credits in the next KiwiSaver year; Some KiwiSavers on total remuneration may want to take contributions holidays; When to bring UK inheritance to New Zealand.

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NZ Herald 21 May 2011

Q&As: Self-employed probably fare worst in KiwiSaver changes, but scheme still really hard to beat; Likelihood of more government changes not a good reason to stay out of KiwiSaver; Abolition of gift tax reduces paper work for family trusts, but doesn’t eliminate it; “Provincial perspective” on changes in house prices over the decades.

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NZ Herald 14 May 2011

Q&As: Foreclosed property seminar reminds me of investment warning lists; Government’s proposed changes don’t affect current KiwiSaver decisions; Do banks lend more than their total deposits?; Am I brainwashed, and perpetuating myths about family trusts?; Fair enough that housing is not cheap here, says American who moved to NZ.

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NZ Herald 7 May 2011

Q&As: A house looks ridiculously cheap in 1958, but let’s put that into perspective; Retiree hit by inflation acknowledges that it could have been worse; Too hard to get by in New Zealand? Fix it or leave, but don’t whinge; A family wants out of its family trust, which is complex, expensive and not benefitting anyone.

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NZ Herald 30 April 2011

Q&As: A reader’s attempt to recover tax on finance company interest is a nice try, but…; Wanting less and working less doesn’t preclude tall poppies; Creative ideas on how to cut household expenses; Did I get the banking system wrong, or did a reader?; At least one bank — sort of — will lend to share investors.

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