Mary Holm https://maryholm.com NZ's most trusted personal finance journalist Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:06:09 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.21 NZ Herald 8 November 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-8-november-2025/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:00:58 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12690 How gold compares with shares over the short and long term Property fund wrong for 92-year-old Is this a good time to reduce KiwiSaver risk? Cash fund? Term deposits? A bit of both Reader unfair about last week’s Q&A QI started investing in gold when I was 9, with one gold coin gifted by my aunt. During my working life, I remembered her advice to always ensure that part of my portfolio...

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RNZ Radio 6 November 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-6-november-2025/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:15:36 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12687 Diversify mortgage types and terms Ladder term deposits Don’t time markets — despite current trends. Keep drip feeding in KiwiSaver and elsewhere Don’t have to own a home to do well financially. Get set up and stay put: kill debt, have emergency fund, right investments for you. Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions...

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NZ Herald 1 November 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-1-november-2025/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:00:57 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12684 Splurging in retirement not so bad Government’s unrealistic expectations on KiwiSaver Index funds are not for the short term 2 Q&As on cash fund investments and risk QI thought I would tell you my story of not being careful with money. We sold a property in Auckland 10 years ago. We came down to the Coromandel and thought it would be a nice place to live. We bought a two-storey house in...

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NZ Herald 25 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-25-october-2025/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:00:33 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12679 Reader gets no gain from being in KiwiSaver 2 Q&As about last week’s retired couple planning to sell their home and rent Who offers “build-to-rent” properties? Reader challenges 4.6% on a term deposit QI have recently started working for an employer who treats KiwiSaver employer contributions as part of total remuneration, or salary sacrifice. And I am fortunate or...

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RNZ Radio 23 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-23-october-2025/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 02:15:07 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12676 Be in KiwiSaver — get the free money Get the right risk level — most important Don’t assume success will continue Diversify within one type of asset: shares, bonds Diversify over different assets Plus some listener questions Next time: The rest of the top ten — about mortgages, term deposits, timing markets, home ownership, and staying put. Listen to the segment below, or click here to read...

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NZ Herald 18 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-18-october-2025/ Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12673 Retirees plan to sell home, rent, and have fun How compensation works if finance company fails Your KiwiSaver tax rate is checked by Inland Revenue Clarification on tax when you rent out your bach QDo you see anything wrong with this scenario? My wife and I are in our early 70s, with limited savings and a mortgage-free house that is worth around $750,000 in today’s market. So we can do more...

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NZ Herald 11 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-11-october-2025/ Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:00:03 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12669 Renting out a bach can be complicated Don’t give bank account number to a possible scammer Defining managed, active and passive funds Problems with proving who you are Rare praise for a bank QRenting out a holiday home is not as straightforward as implied in last week’s column. As I’m sure you know, it can incur GST if the turnover goes over the $60,000 threshold, or if you are...

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RNZ Radio 9 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-9-october-2025/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:15:33 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12665 Celebrating 10 years of RNZ segment. Contestants had to write what they learnt from it, in 60 words or less. Themes include: Save regular small amount by direct credit Make a will Repay debt Spend on fun in retirement Ladder term deposits Leave KiwiSaver alone in downturns KiwiSaver works well for self-employed Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary.

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NZ Herald 4 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-4-october-2025/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:00:21 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12663 A bank account for a couch surfer No, it’s not me! Scam warning Reader excited by recent returns … … While another gets a little bit brave Now retired, we’re selling our rental Is renting out bach a good idea? QI don’t have any million-dollar properties, so this is probably outside of your usual area of expertise. A few years ago I was kicked out of my rental because...

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NZ Herald 27 September 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-27-september-2025/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:42 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12658 Money long ago forgotten Couple in 70s should sell bach and live it up! Avoid dud funds in and out of KiwiSaver Aftermath of a fund closing down Bank acknowledges complaints QI was in business for about 25 years. During that time several people owed me money, either having borrowed it or been told by the courts that they had to pay it. Some debtors were very good at repaying their borrowings.

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