How the New ‘Smart Investor’ Tool Can Help You. What is Smart Investor? Listeners’ letters and how the tool might help them: Investing beyond term deposits; Mortgage or KiwiSaver? And saving outside KiwiSaver; Diversifying beyond KiwiSaver.
Q&As: Should readers put inheritance into a rental property?; Should another reader keep their rental or seek higher returns?; Property versus shares over the last 10 years; Couple in late 70s should reconsider shares — and their adviser; Reader perhaps overrates paying down 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.
Playing with numbers. 1. Dollar cost averaging: How it gives you bargains; Does it work if you have a lump sum? 2. Rule of 72: How long for an investment to double?; If investment has doubled, what was your return? 3. 40 years in KiwiSaver: 3 times as much in high-risk fund; 1.5 times as much with lowest fees.
Q&As: Should first home buyer put KiwiSaver money into the purchase?; Should pay rise go into mortgage or KiwiSaver?; Is health insurance necessary?; Reader misunderstands role of NZX; NZ Super rises faster than costs, despite reader’s numbers.
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.
An important message for everyone in KiwiSaver. Mary answers listeners’ questions on: Whether to switch funds when your balance falls; Whether to move KiwiSaver money to term deposits in retirement; How the self-employed can make the most of KiwiSaver; How to tell if your fund is low or high-risk.
Q&As: KiwiSaver balanced fund investor should relax; Wait until 65 not as bad as it seems; Real estate fees should be lower — shop around; Mum gets more NZ Super, and I sign off for the year.
Q&As: “Better area” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better investment; TSB is like Kiwibank on term deposit rules; Should superannuitant put inheritance in KiwiSaver to avoid means test?; Parents in 70s should quit work and get assistance; Advantages of not getting residential care subsidy; 55-year-old might as well retire.
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.