RNZ Radio

RNZ Radio 30 January 2020

Recommended changes to KiwiSaver
The Commission for Financial Capability has made 19 suggestions on how to improve KiwiSaver. Mary and Jesse discuss four of them:
– Set up “Small Steps”, so people’s contributions rise gradually each year if they wish
– Add “sidecar savings” to KiwiSaver for short-term emergencies
– Exclude fixed fees from KiwiSaver accounts with balances under $5000
– Show members how much their fees are likely to total over the years in KiwiSaver, compared with average fees for that type of fund
Also: an unusual letter from a listener — grow marijuana or join KiwiSaver?

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RNZ Radio 12 December 2019

What financial decisions would I do differently, with hindsight?
Based on an email challenge from a listener.
– Timing — in the share market and property market
– Gearing — borrowing to invest in a share fund
– A foreign exchange investment
– House buying
– Rental property?
– Higher paid work?
Also:
– My holiday message: Be terrific in traffic

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RNZ Radio 28 November 2019

Notes from a conference

Westpac Massey Fin Ed Centre conference on “Building financially capable communities: our pathways to success”
– Current Financial teaching in schools is not effective, especially for lower sociology economic kids
– Self efficacy — whether you believe your actions and effort will affect your outcomes — is more important to wealth than things like financial literacy. Can it be changed?
– Changes coming to regulate payday lending. Will they help?

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RNZ Radio 14 November 2019

Why are people not in KiwiSaver? – Part 2

Emails and texts from listeners:
– No income of her own
– Self employed
– Employer talked worker out of it
– Worries about investment
– Fees
– Ethical investing
– Too little money
– Too old
– Control of investments
– Don’t trust govt
– Lack of govt guarantee

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RNZ Radio 31 October 2019

Why are people not in KiwiSaver?

Analysis by Commission for Financial Capability of negative comments on social media and internet discussion boards, plus emails from listeners:
– Lack of security
– Government policies
– Other “better” investments
– Earning too little to bother

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RNZ Radio 17 October 2019

THE BEST WAY TO INVEST IN SHARES
A listener’s letter and Mary’s response:
– Starting early is good
– Drip feeding is good
– You don’t need to research companies
– Buy more or less randomly — but vary industries
– Understand a share’s volatility

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RNZ Radio 3 October 2019

Ways to boost your everyday saving. Last time we looked at setting a savings goal. This time, it’s other tips to boost savings: Open a separate savings account; Pay yourself first; Start small and gradually increase savings; Play mind games — take a “pay cut” or use a picture; Seize big opportunities when expenses fall or income increases; Take inspiration from champion savers or extreme saver movements.

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RNZ Radio 19 September 2019

How to set a goal for saving or debt repayment
Importance of setting a goal, Goals that work are SMART: Specific; Measurable; Achievable; (W)ritten; Time-bound.

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RNZ Radio 5 September 2019

Is ethical investing becoming mainstream? Notes from a conference held in Auckland this week: Problems with naming; Importance of the issue; “Short termism” in the financial world; The big issue: trust; What government is doing; What KiwiSaver providers are doing; Why investors aren’t doing more; What investors can do easily.

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RNZ Radio 22 August 2019

Are New Zealanders insured for bad things happening to them? Findings of a recent survey. Letters from listeners and discussion on: Loss of income insurance; Health insurance; Life insurance.

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