Q&As:
– The 3 ways a reader has “chowed through” her mortgage
– It’s not wise to skip health insurance altogether
– Reader gives us a stats lesson, through Bonus Bonds
– Banks’ bonus savings products too complicated
– 2 readers tell of easy ways to give to charity
– No I don’t screen readers’ letters because of their attitudes
Notes from a conference
Westpac Massey Fin Ed Centre conference on “Building financially capable communities: our pathways to success”
– Current Financial teaching in schools is not effective, especially for lower sociology economic kids
– Self efficacy — whether you believe your actions and effort will affect your outcomes — is more important to wealth than things like financial literacy. Can it be changed?
– Changes coming to regulate payday lending. Will they help?
Are New Zealanders insured for bad things happening to them? Findings of a recent survey. Letters from listeners and discussion on: Loss of income insurance; Health insurance; Life insurance.
Q&As: Should couple in their 40s splash out on an Italian holiday home?; How to invest savings 5 years before retirement; 3 rules of thumb on how much to spend in retirement …; … And how they apply to one couple.
Rainy Day Money: Why is it so important?; How much do you need?; How might you access the money — including through your mortgage; Where should you keep the money — if you haven’t got a mortgage.
Q&As: Self insure only for the small stuff; KiwiSaver not good for rainy day money – but diversification is important; Can’t beat mortgage repayment after taking tax into account; Mortgage versus KiwiSaver revisited.
Sorting your finances step by step. Based on Mary’s new book “Rich Enough? A laid-back guide for every Kiwi”: Why it’s best to do it in steps. Why the steps are in this order. What the steps cover: Step 1. Start now — it’s easy; Step 2. Kill off high-interest debt; Step 3. Set up insurance — and a rainy day fund; Step 4. Join the best KiwiSaver fund for you; Step 5. Boost your saving painlessly — how and where; Step 6. Stay cool; Step 7. Head confidently towards retirement — and through it; Step ? (when it’s the right time for you — if ever): Buy a house, or sell one.
How to invest $10,000: Inheritance? A win? Goal achieved? Celebrate!; Repay high-interest debt; Emergency fund; Repay mortgage; Investment — how long? risk tolerance? In KiwiSaver?; Short-term; Long-term scared; Long-term brave.
Q&As: Couple can do better with big emergency fund; Is it worth it to renovate a house?; Student has share investing sorted; Another share investor enjoys his lattes.
Q&As: Share investor has excelled — but don’t count on it continuing; A good company is not necessarily a good investment; Couple can’t leave intact KiwiSaver accounts to their daughters; Another way to invest emergency money.