This article was published on 22 October 2020. Some information may be out of date.

Share investing for fun

  • 2 reasons to invest in shares: long-term growth and entertainment
  • New Zealanders’ interest growing fast — especially 25–44s and males
  • Like 1980s?
  • Unlikely to beat the market
  • Watch for pumping and dumping
  • Don’t be an insider trader
  • Margin trading and options
  • 2 helpful websites
  • Conclusion: only money you can afford to lose

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Mary Holm, ONZM, is a freelance journalist, a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. She is a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) and a former director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it. Send questions to [email protected] or click here. Letters should not exceed 200 words. We won’t publish your name. Please provide a (preferably daytime) phone number. Unfortunately, Mary cannot answer all questions, correspond directly with readers, or give financial advice.