Making KiwiSaver Better: Compulsion?; Change default fund investments?; Get rid of total remuneration?; Change contribution holidays rules?; Rename tax credit and contributions holidays?; Help with income and investments at retirement?; Reminder about tax credit.
A New Idea For Rainy Day Money: What is rainy day money?; New proposal that could help many; Currently — sources of emergency cash; Where to keep rainy day money; Let charity pay!
Men, women, spending and investing: Letter from a listener; People who spend too little; Gender differences in money management; Gender differences in investing; Why the differences might be there.
How to find a financial adviser who has your interests at heart: Why use an adviser?; How to make a short list of possible advisers; Questions to ask them — initially by email; Meet the candidates for the job of advising you.
Why timing the markets doesn’t work: People always move too late — or too early!; Research on this; When SHOULD you move your investments?; What type of investor are you?; Move gradually — even in KiwiSaver; 2 listener’s letters.
Why sticking with NZ investments is foolish: Diversification — NZ is a tiny portion of world markets; How to invest offshore — in KiwiSaver and elsewhere; What about foreign exchange risk?; How much of your investments should be offshore?; Is investing offshore disloyal to NZ?; What is hedging, and is it good?
Is home ownership the only way to go?: Decision to rent for life — or at least in the meantime; Weighing up the finances; Need to save big retirement sum; Short-term pluses of renting; Short-term minuses of renting; Longer-term issues; Psychological issues.
Has rental property had its run?: The market is slowing; Government changes — mortgages, tax on gains etc; Pros and cons of investing in a rental; Why rentals are riskier than they seem; Comparing rental and share returns; The landlord personality.
When insurance isn’t boring — when you need it but haven’t got it: Possible reasons for under-insurance; Which types of insurance are worst?; Basic idea of insurance — why it’s best to be a “loser”; What cover do you really need?; When to review your insurance; Who to get your insurance from.