Are we celebrating Christmas the best way?
– Survey on what NZers most and least look forward to at Christmas
– Alternatives to big gift giving
– Give to charity in names of your relatives
– Make plans on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve
Also: Update on Simplicity not yet permitting investment in more than one KiwiSaver fund
What happens to your KiwiSaver if your relationship ends
– Applies if married or live together 3+ years, and no pre-nup saying otherwise.
– How much of your KiwiSaver becomes relationship property.
– How differences in KiwiSaver balances can be settled.
– Broke up earlier? You may still be able to get some of partner’s KiwiSaver.
How can men (and some women!) invest better?
– What men do well with their investments
– Where there are problems
– Research on trading frequency
– What to do with a lump sum
The big good change in KiwiSaver
FMA’s annual KiwiSaver report:
– Growth of money in growth funds — and drop in conservative
– Who is not contributing?
– Where are we on ethical KiwiSaver funds?
– Fees fall, but could fall further
– Switches between funds
Banking in tough times — how we’re doing, plus payee confirmation coming at last!:
– How many apply for hardship
– How we run our credit cards
– Types of mortgages — what’s best?
– Use of term deposits
– Payee confirmation — see who you are paying online
Stay put in higher-risk KiwiSaver fund
– Markets WILL drop again some time. Your balance may halve.
– Last big drop — the Covid crash — many reduced risk.
– How much worse off are they now and in retirement?
– Only two good reasons to reduce fund risk.
How is your financial wellbeing?
– Produced by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission
– Doesn’t test financial knowledge, but how well you are coping with your money
– Brief discussion of what’s behind the questions
– If you want to read the quiz, go to the Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission website
Big rates rise? Consider rates postponement
– Some councils offer for everyone, others just for those on lower incomes
– Frees up money for expenses — or fun!
– You pay no rates, but owe your council the money — pay back when you sell house or die
– Some fees plus compounding interest, but house value should grow more than debt
– Check your council’s website
– Another idea: pay smaller amounts more often
A big chance to make big progress with your mortgage
– When your mortgage rate falls, stick to your old payments
– Save big money on total interest paid
– Pay off your mortgage years earlier
– Use the mortgage calculator on Sorted
– A listener who is using his tax cut to reduce his mortgage
Why you should choose index funds or ETFs (exchange traded funds)
– What are they? How they differ from other, active share funds.
– NZ research on why they beat active funds over longer term
– International funds are better
– How to find KiwiSaver index funds
– How to find exchange traded funds
– Money Month on Sorted.org.nz