2 unhappy listeners: on home ownership v renting, and active v passive fund managers
– Email from woman with mortgage-free house challenging my statement about renting being cheaper than home ownership
– Text from man challenging what I say about active fund management
Q&As:
– Is it time to move out of growth funds?
– Bank KiwiSaver funds not in compensation scheme
– Gold v shares? What about costs?
– Preference shares not an alternative for term deposits
Q&As:
– 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?
Why it’s best to choose low-fee funds over high-performing funds
– But first: 10th anniversary of this segment coming up. Here’s how to win a book!
– Research shows 2024 was a great year for NZ-based world share funds…
– … and NZ share funds did well too
– But was your fund’s performance all that strong? Most funds did worse than the share index.
– Especially true with long-term returns
– Adjustments for survivorship bias — many funds closed down
– Conclusion: Outperformance doesn’t last. Choose low-fee funds.
Q&As:
– Where to put proceeds from downsizing house
– Consider non-banks for term deposits — but is it easy?
– 2 Q&As on the best way to do health insurance
– Fairness and KiwiSaver contributions to over-65s
– Employers’ role in KiwiSaver
– … and one former employer’s good approach
Q&As:
– A way to build family wealth
– When a couple of percentage points matters
– Don’t drop health insurance …
– … how much in savings do you need if you do?
– When you should and shouldn’t switch risk level
– Timing markets not as easy as it sounds
Which government has been better for KiwiSavers?
– KiwiSaver at the start
– Bad changes — National-led governments
– Good changes — Labour-led governments
– 2025 Budget changes — winners and losers
Plus:
– Easy way to do hard quiz question
Q&As:
– A different investment for retirement
– How costs of care affect retirement savings …
– … And one couple’s experience
Plus:
– The Stock Picking Game
Test your financial knowledge
– 7 questions to test your financial knowledge
– How to do test at your own pace, and get explanations of the answers
Q&As:
– 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