Retirement – Mary Holm https://maryholm.com NZ's most trusted personal finance journalist Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:58:58 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.21 NZ Herald 20 December 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-20-december-2025/ Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:00:47 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12734 How to keep inheritance out of relationship property 2 Q&As on living in a retirement village What’s wrong with so many New Zealanders? See you next year — and tips on getting your letter published QI read with interest your response last week to the student who has inherited a large sum of money at 22, as it mirrors the situation my two brothers and I faced when we were in our twenties.

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NZ Herald 13 December 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-13-december-2025/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:00:15 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12724 How 22-year-old should handle inheritance Could NZ funds fail, as they did in Australia? Sell 80-year-old’s home, or get reverse mortgage? And is 75 too young for such a mortgage? How much caution in retirement? QMy mother recently passed away and I, along with my siblings, have received an inheritance which I feel anxious about doing right with. I am only 22 years old. I now own a third of...

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NZ Herald 6 December 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-6-december-2025/ Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:00:40 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12720 Couple in 70s sell home to fund retirement fun While couple in 50s may choose to stay renting How young reader may get into housing market Where are those tiny KiwiSaver fees? QWe are in our early 70s, retired, and will shortly have about $1 million from the sale of our house. Does it makes more sense to tip that sum into KiwiSaver or give it to a wealth management company? We are mortgage-free...

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NZ Herald 8 November 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-8-november-2025/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:00:58 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12690 How gold compares with shares over the short and long term Property fund wrong for 92-year-old Is this a good time to reduce KiwiSaver risk? Cash fund? Term deposits? A bit of both Reader unfair about last week’s Q&A QI started investing in gold when I was 9, with one gold coin gifted by my aunt. During my working life, I remembered her advice to always ensure that part of my portfolio...

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NZ Herald 1 November 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-1-november-2025/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:00:57 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12684 Splurging in retirement not so bad Government’s unrealistic expectations on KiwiSaver Index funds are not for the short term 2 Q&As on cash fund investments and risk QI thought I would tell you my story of not being careful with money. We sold a property in Auckland 10 years ago. We came down to the Coromandel and thought it would be a nice place to live. We bought a two-storey house in...

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NZ Herald 25 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-25-october-2025/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:00:33 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12679 Reader gets no gain from being in KiwiSaver 2 Q&As about last week’s retired couple planning to sell their home and rent Who offers “build-to-rent” properties? Reader challenges 4.6% on a term deposit QI have recently started working for an employer who treats KiwiSaver employer contributions as part of total remuneration, or salary sacrifice. And I am fortunate or...

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NZ Herald 18 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-18-october-2025/ Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12673 Retirees plan to sell home, rent, and have fun How compensation works if finance company fails Your KiwiSaver tax rate is checked by Inland Revenue Clarification on tax when you rent out your bach QDo you see anything wrong with this scenario? My wife and I are in our early 70s, with limited savings and a mortgage-free house that is worth around $750,000 in today’s market. So we can do more...

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RNZ Radio 9 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-9-october-2025/ Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:15:33 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12665 Celebrating 10 years of RNZ segment. Contestants had to write what they learnt from it, in 60 words or less. Themes include: Save regular small amount by direct credit Make a will Repay debt Spend on fun in retirement Ladder term deposits Leave KiwiSaver alone in downturns KiwiSaver works well for self-employed Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary.

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NZ Herald 4 October 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-4-october-2025/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:00:21 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12663 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? QI don’t have any million-dollar properties, so this is probably outside of your usual area of expertise. A few years ago I was kicked out of my rental because...

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NZ Herald 27 September 2025 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-27-september-2025/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:00:42 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12658 Money long ago forgotten Couple in 70s should sell bach and live it up! Avoid dud funds in and out of KiwiSaver Aftermath of a fund closing down Bank acknowledges complaints QI was in business for about 25 years. During that time several people owed me money, either having borrowed it or been told by the courts that they had to pay it. Some debtors were very good at repaying their borrowings.

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