Q&As:
– Reader wants to invest specifically in oil and gas industry
– Crash prediction didn’t happen
– 2 letters on investing in shares only if you have a 10-year horizon
– Longer vs shorter mortgage, and paying down mortgage vs investing
– KiwiSaver government contribution as you turn 65
– Are KiwiSaver fees tax deductible? And what are all those fees?
Buy now pay later — good or bad?
– What is it, and how does it work?
– Some examples
– Who uses it most, and what are they buying?
– Growth in use
– Problems, and consumer protection issues
– How to use it well
Managing your mortgage
– Survey: Half people with mortgages are ahead on their repayments
– Penalties on repaying fixed loans early
– Why being ahead is good news: retirement savings, security, goal setting, easy “investment”
– But is this best thing to do with spare money?
– The future: rising interest rates, what to do if you can’t meet payments
– Best strategy: fixed or floating? Several terms?
Going through our Lucky 13 Money Quiz
– Questions and answers to online quiz for Money Week
– Discussion on the harder ones
– The one question few people got right — about house prices
Q&As:
– Pay son’s student fees or help with home purchase?
– Researcher challenges value of KiwiSaver
– What does this reader mean?
– House buyers should do more research
Plus:
– A quiz and upcoming talks
Q&As:
– Mindful Money website helps you invest in what matters to you
– 3 KiwiSaver providers invest in community housing
– Another organisation helps people in debt traps
– Overpaying tax leads to big smiles
– 2 Q&As on tax ramifications of parents helping children into housing
– Readers wants unpaid work acknowledged
Changes to consumer lending – harder to borrow but less spiralling debt
Notes from Financial Services Complaints Ltd conference on May 4
– Changes in effect last year: Caps on interest and fees.
– Changes in October 2021: Lenders must assess whether borrower can afford loan.
– Consumer Data Right: Government considering this. Consumers can choose to give their financial data to providers, budgeting platforms or comparison websites, etc.
– Another topic: “A complaint is a gift”.
Q&As:
– Where to get help for worrying family member
– One way to help your child into the house…
– … And tax changes shouldn’t get in the way
– Capital gains already taxed if you aimed at profiting
– Tax on NZ Super when you continue to work
– Quitting job ‘best thing I could have done’
Is paying down your mortgage still the best strategy?
What to do with extra savings — beyond KiwiSaver minimums etc.
Also lump sums — inheritance, redundancy, win
– Mortgage used to be the winner — after include tax and fees. Now — with 2–3% loans?
– Other options: more into KiwiSaver, non-KiwiSaver funds, shares, rental property?
– The main issue: risk — needs to be high enough risk, long-term. Can you cope with volatility? Are you strong financially?
– Other issues: security (psychological and financial), simplicity, but diversification, learning about markets
– Penalties for paying fixed-term mortgage early
– Conclusion: perhaps do what you want!
Q&As:
– Rule shows how long it takes for an investment — and a debt — to double
– One reader quits Bonus Bonds for term deposits…
– … While another suggests a way to keep the fun rolling on
– Bonus Bonds exit annoys businessman
– Move from term deposits into KiwiSaver fund ups the volatility
– Better to leave the money in two countries than one
Plus:
– Your questions, a webinar and a guide to investing