Is KiwiSaver leaving some people behind?
– Increasing calls to change this
– Lower income people less likely to contribute
– Hardship withdrawals increase
– Suggestions: children’s accounts, change govt incentives, contributions to beneficiaries, sidecar accounts
Sad stories and help for financially struggling people
– Retirement Commission (Te Ara Ahunga Ora) — conference highlights.
– Stories of financial hardship
– How financial mentors help — but they’re losing funding
– How banks are helping
– Some good news
Are you making the most of bank deposit insurance?
– What is covered and what not?
– How to make the most of it
– Use a higher-risk deposit taker to get more interest?
ACT’s good KiwiSaver idea — and the 2 KiwiSaver changes I most want
– ACT idea: $500 to every Year 11 student. Learn about investing. Reward at end.
– My change 1: Govt pays 3.5% KiwiSaver contributions for beneficiaries.
– My change 2: Sidecar KiwiSaver accounts to use in emergencies.
Laddering — best way to invest bank term deposits. Can also ladder mortgages.
– Advantages: Often better interest rate. Frequent access. You won’t get it wrong with all your money!
– How to set up laddering.
– Ladder your mortgage.
– Also — bargain with your bank.
Stick with US shares?
– US ETFs and other US share investments — how have they done?
– Pick another country instead?
– The answer — go global, or reduce risk level
– How to make the move
2 KiwiSaver changes from April 1 — how to make the most of them, especially for teens
– Employee and employer contributions rise from 3 to 3.5%
– You can get a temporary hold on this
– Employer contributions start for 16 and 17-year-olds
– How to help teens get KiwiSaver head start
Investing in individual shares — and why I don’t!
– How you can invest
– 4 reasons not to invest in individual shares — versus share funds
– One exception
– But if you still want to … 4 rules
How to pick the best KiwiSaver fund for you
4 steps: (Also applies to non-KiwiSaver funds)
1. Most important: Work out your risk level
2. Choose a fund at your risk level — including why you should largely ignore past returns
3. Other info on Smart Investor
4. Check the ethics of funds
Is gold a good investment? And silver and bitcoin?
– Recently all down lots. Why?
– Gold compared with shares long term — not good
– Can be good diversification — but in a small way