Q&As: When investing in four funds is not necessarily better than investing in one; How employees can go about topping up their KiwiSaver contributions; Plus: “Too many providers” and other gripes of non-KiwiSavers who took part in a survey.
Q&As: It’s top-up time for many people in KiwiSaver; More ideas for couple having trouble affording their first home; 3 Q&As on the government’s new student loan repayment bonus.
Q&As: Tips on how to ease back into investing in share funds; Have I been too upbeat about the outlook for shares?; If the Dow Jones index is so bad, how come so many in the news media highlight it?; Auckland couple on $60,000 could buy a home if they really want to.
Q&As: First home buyers should be prepared to buy a “dump”; 2 Q&As on KiwiSaver help for first home buyers — including new information for non-employees and people going overseas. Plus: KiwiSaver book giveaway — be in to win!
Q&As: Changes to the KiwiSaver first home subsidy rules; Subsidy could suit couple well; Where to invest if you plan to go for first home subsidy.
Q&As: Don’t try to time markets. Stick with your regular retirement savings, although you may want to modify where you save; Teen’s worries are unfounded about how Dad’s income would affect KiwiSaver first home subsidy — but other subsidy issues still undecided; Tax-wise, it’s better to borrow for taxable activities than to buy a family home. Plus: Clarification on the taxation of interest on loans between family members.
Q&As: Couple approaching retirement should spend most of their savings on paying off their mortgage; Yes, you can get KiwiSaver tax credits as well as NZ Super; Reader who distrust government confuses KiwiSaver with NZ Super Fund; Was this column wrong last week about withholding tax on interest paid on a loan within a family?
Good fairy turbocharges lower income people’s savings. You’re struggling on a low income, as a part-time or full-time worker. All this talk about saving is fine for those making plenty, but you feel you can’t spare anything. Fair enough. Enter the Good Fairy. “How about a deal?” she says. “If you can set aside just a few dollars a week, I will multiply your savings five-fold, eight-fold, thirteen-fold — the lower your income the more I will boost your savings. It will really help you get ahead in the long term. Interested?”
Q&As: Terminally ill reader should get his money out of KiwiSaver and eat, drink and be merry; Reader on invalids benefit can benefit from joining KiwiSaver — and an obliging friend could make it work better for both of them; Many employee KiwiSavers will be better off reducing their contributions to 2 per cent after April 1 — but not all; Lending within the family can get complicated when it comes to withholding tax on interest.