Investing in retirement – Mary Holm https://maryholm.com NZ's most trusted personal finance journalist Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:50:17 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.21 NZ Herald 6 December 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-6-december-2025/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:00:40 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12720 Couple in 70s sell home to fund retirement fun While couple in 50s may choose to stay renting How young reader may get into housing market Where are those tiny KiwiSaver fees? QWe are in our early 70s, retired, and will shortly have about $1 million from the sale of our house. Does it makes more sense to tip that sum into KiwiSaver or give it to a wealth management company? We are mortgage-free...

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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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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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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 20 September 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-20-september-2025/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:00:42 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12654 Buying a rental not a good idea for 69-year-old A way for kids’ KiwiSavers to grow fast Fund closures worry a reader Trusts and other depositors covered by compensation scheme Smart device required for this bank account QMy father has never been into the money part. He is 69, a single pensioner in a fully paid for home, and has around $30,000 of savings he’s itching to do something...

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NZ Herald 19 July 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-19-july-2025/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:00:44 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12582 Low-risk way to invest in rentals Another good way to invest in property, but … Easy way to give to charities KiwiSaver versus term deposits in retirement Big KiwiSaver fee savings, and getting risk right Best way to compare KiwiSaver fees QWhat are your thoughts? My dad, an accountant and 78 years old, has been a landlord coming up 55 years, and he’s never once talked about capital...

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NZ Herald 5 July 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-5-july-2025/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:00:16 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12572 How rental market works in one apartment block … and in the whole economy Am I biased? And socialist? QI write regarding last week’s letter about landlords being charitable for too long and needing to raise rents. Landlords need to remember that their market is individuals with limits on what they can pay in rent. These individuals are also not a charity to support indigent landlords.

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NZ Herald 31 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-31-may-2025/ Fri, 30 May 2025 12:00:09 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12547 Another good reason to get children into KiwiSaver KiwiSaver works well in retirement Keep life insurance for ex? Gold has seen big losses as well as gains One way to plan savings in retirement QAs a grandparent of five, aged between 4 and 10, I have opened a Sharesies account in the Smart US Large Growth ETF fund for each of them, investing a very small regular amount each month.

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NZ Herald 17 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-17-may-2025/ Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:17 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12530 Gold not the answer for this reader “Should I or shouldn’t I reduce risk?” Couple’s tax idea not fair A reverse mortgage in a retirement village? Can move KiwiSaver overseas with you QI am aged 72, retired two years ago. I have a mortgage-free unit worth about $650,000, and $114,000 in a KiwiSaver conservative fund. I’m too scared to look at the balance as it will have dropped. I also have $40...

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NZ Herald 10 May 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-10-may-2025/ Fri, 09 May 2025 12:00:06 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12524 Higher returns but no higher risk? When a KiwiSaver fund falters … … And what about cyberattacks on funds? Why I was negative last week Don’t close KiwiSaver account QI note that the new Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS) begins in July. Interest.co.nz lists a number of non-bank deposit takers on its Saving page who are covered under this scheme. Many have returns higher than banks (e.g.

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