What financial decisions would I do differently, with hindsight?
Based on an email challenge from a listener.
– Timing — in the share market and property market
– Gearing — borrowing to invest in a share fund
– A foreign exchange investment
– House buying
– Rental property?
– Higher paid work?
Also:
– My holiday message: Be terrific in traffic
Q&As: Difficult for beneficiary to gain from inheritance; Is there anything in KiwiSaver for retirees? …; … Reader replies to that, but worries me; Does KiwiSaver beat other funds in retirement?; 2 readers have fun with last week’s tiny tax refund letter.
2 “expert” suggestions in a rising share market — one good, one bad. The good one — Rebalancing: What is it?; Why it can be hard psychologically; How to rebalance. The bad one — Get out of passive (or index) funds: Who does the research?; NZ in last year’s small downturn; US in two market crashes; Conclusion — stick with passive.
Q&As: Reader disagrees with my views on inheritances; KiwiSaver index funds, and performance of NZ share index; Choose risk level first, then go for low fees; A penny saved is better than a penny earned.
Q&As: Market timing is upside down – but reader shouldn’t do it anyway; Another reader seeks advice on timing, plus switching KiwiSaver providers; Use bond funds, not balanced funds, in retirement; Have I followed my own financial advice?; A correction about percentages of retirees in long-term residential care.
Q&As: What is short selling, are index funds involved and is it risky?; Puzzling that real estate commissions haven’t fallen; Seller of unit needs to keep bright-line test in mind; Teachers’ pay huge compared to support staff.
Q&As: House prices do fall — plus what to do if you’re worried about new rateable values; Tips if you’re considering a tiny house…; …or a mobile home; Why I’m sticking with passive — or index — funds.
Q&As: Should teacher buy in Whanganui now so she can move there later?; Reader gets it wrong about share market index; Mixed bag of comments on shares v rentals.
Response to a listener’s challenge on index and active share funds: One of his examples argues against him; The other is a questionable choice; The issue of US vs NZ data; Long terms prove nothing; Why fees matter; Another reader asks what if everyone did index investing.
Q&As: Million-dollar savings goals do more harm than good; Retirement expectations rise and so should saving; Don’t like one housing forecast? Here are some more; Several NZ passive fund providers.