So much for the “can’t afford to save” excuse. Practically all New Zealanders can save. If they want to. In the wake of the release of the Savings Working Group (SWG) report on February 1, various people have been saying that many New Zealanders just can’t afford to save. I don’t buy it — or should I say save it.
A financial gift for both the giver and recipient. Christmas or not, here’s a way you can give to someone else and also gain yourself. Sponsor an adult who is struggling financially to make the most of KiwiSaver.
Q&As: Bank’s handling of a fee inquiry leads customer to switch banks; One good proverb deserves another; Should Gareth Morgan Investments be under more scrutiny? Plus: Meaningful Christmas gifts.
How to get more out of KiwiSaver. About 40 per cent of people in KiwiSaver don’t know what kind of fund — conservative, balanced or growth — their money is invested in. Many of those won’t be in the best fund for them.
Q&As: How to weigh up contributing to KiwiSaver versus repaying your student loan, now that there’s a repayment bonus; Gold investors should take care about who is storing their bullion; How long should it take to process a KiwiSaver application?
Non-KiwiSavers’ reasons don’t stand up to scrutiny. Many New Zealanders who haven’t joined KiwiSavers are missing out on their fair share of the government booty because they misunderstand how it all works. Meanwhile, others in the scheme are not getting as much as they could out of it.
Q&As: With extra to pay off a mortgage, should you add to principal repayments or shorten the term of the loan?; Graph of gold price history tells some interesting stories; Transferring money from UK to New Zealand to take advantage of higher interest rates here could be risky; Under what circumstances can Inland Revenue take money out of your KiwiSaver account?
Q&As: Can a reader foresee gold and silver prices, and foreign exchange rates? Time will tell; Eggs in baskets matter as much now as ever — plus the difference between active and passive fund management; Can you invest with more than one KiwiSaver provider?; KiwiSaver for New Zealand resident with overseas employer — plus how to choose a provider.
Q&As: KiwiSaver is not guaranteed by the government — but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t join; Is it wise to have your KiwiSaver account with your bank?; Banks said to be “stealing” KiwiSaver members from other providers; Does a reader who is speedily repaying her mortgage need a savings account?
Are we bad savers, or was it a bad survey? A recent report on New Zealanders’ savings habits annoyed me — and not because it starts by saying that the Savings Working Group, of which I’m a member, “is likely to face a tough challenge”. What got my goat was its misleading conclusion.