Q&As:
– Compound interest can do astounding things over long periods
– Could helping adult children through an offset mortgage leave parents in the lurch?
– How do others on average incomes save for a house?
– The risks for Bonus Bond holders in waiting for the wind-up
– What if you think your deceased relative had unredeemed Bonus Bonds?
What to do about low interest rates at banks (and the demise of Bonus Bonds)
– Not as bad as people think
– But still many unhappy
– Suitable alternatives — safe, low volatility — offset mortgages, cash funds, low-risk KiwiSaver funds
– Be braver? — if long-term money — middle-risk KiwiSaver funds. Probably not higher-risk funds or shares or rentals
Q&As:
– A clever way to reduce mortgage risk a little
– Westpac denies age discrimination in mortgages
– Boomer vents about NZ Super, but misunderstands
– How to keep inheritance away from separated sister-in-law
Q&As:
– 72-year-old should buy house she rents. Plus how to make her savings last
– Last week’s indebted reader should get a mortgage
– No choice but to apply for overseas pensions
– No government handouts without rules — but help is available
Q&As:
– When debt can be good…
– … And when it’s not
– Job seeker benefit not easy to apply for
– Is this NZ Super reduction fair?
Q&As:
– A “bit of bitcoin” is OK, but don’t get carried away
– Realistic recommendation on fixed versus floating mortgage rates
– KiwiSaver could be more welcoming to newcomer with mortgage
– KiwiSaver timeframes all over the place
Q&As:
– Should out-of-work couple keep contributing to KiwiSaver?
– Why I worry about the share market recovery
– A way for special needs daughter to gain more financial flexibility
– How to decide which mortgage term to go for
– Best choice for employee who effectively pays his own KiwiSaver employer contributions
Plus:
– How to improve your chances of being answered in this column
Q&As:
– Help abounds for young man who helped parents get a mortgage
– My tax info not good enough for accountant
– How to tell how strong your bank is
– Can you be in more than one Simplicity fund?
– House buying plan depends on two impossible forecasts
– Put most of savings into house deposit
– Young man loses house deposit in receivership
– Divorced woman, 59, should put most money into new home
Q&As:
– Am I helping the big guys at the expense of small investors?
– Why you might want to be in more than one of your provider’s KiwiSaver funds
– Tax on KiwiSaver and other funds is gentle
– Limit buys can work well when buying shares
– Investing versus paying down mortgage in low-rate environment …
– … and taking diversification into account
– Be in KiwiSaver as well as making extra mortgage payments
– Take mortgage “holiday” or spend savings?
Take advantage of mortgage rate drop
– Try to keep up old payments and reduce your term and total interest
– Or set up a rainy day fund
– A warning: Don’t expect rates to stay this low forever. How would you cope if rates rise?