How to pick the best KiwiSaver fund for you
4 steps: (Also applies to non-KiwiSaver funds)
1. Most important: Work out your risk level
2. Choose a fund at your risk level — including why you should largely ignore past returns
3. Other info on Smart Investor
4. Check the ethics of funds
Q&As:
– House-sitting their way to home ownership — and keeping debt down
– Gold v share funds v rental property
– Is burying your gold a good idea?
– Unusual Simplicity fund investments
– Correction on share fund tax
Winners of 10 copies of updated edition of “Rich Enough? A Laid-back Guide for Every Kiwi”
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
Why it’s best to choose low-fee funds over high-performing funds
– But first: 10th anniversary of this segment coming up. Here’s how to win a book!
– Research shows 2024 was a great year for NZ-based world share funds…
– … and NZ share funds did well too
– But was your fund’s performance all that strong? Most funds did worse than the share index.
– Especially true with long-term returns
– Adjustments for survivorship bias — many funds closed down
– Conclusion: Outperformance doesn’t last. Choose low-fee funds.
Q&As:
– Deposit compensation up and running
– What if someone pulls out of the scheme?
– KiwiSaver total remuneration defended
– What’s fair for over-65s in KiwiSaver?
– Total remuneration tempts people, who will later regret it
– Best way to self insure for health costs
– Couple has been lucky with health — so far!
Renters — are you a financial failure if you don’t buy a home?
– Changing attitudes to renting for life
– Are you financially worse off renting?
– Worry about being kicked out
– Other negatives of renting
– Positives of renting
Q&As:
– Good way to help family members with a mortgage
– Don’t try to predict share crashes — it doesn’t work
– 2 Q&As on why you may not need health insurance
Plus:
– Scam warning
Emergency (or rainy day) money — how much? And where?
– Lack of fund is source of stress
– Priorities with your money
– How much?
– Where to save — including idea for those with mortgages
– How to build a fund
– A “charity fund”?
– If you use the money…
Q&As:
– Should parents monitor older teens’ bank accounts?
– Pay down mortgage or save?
– Reader: Shares are not high-risk
– Am I a Boglehead?
– Low-fee funds winning for this family
– Can employer not do KiwiSaver?
Q&As:
– A different investment for retirement
– How costs of care affect retirement savings …
– … And one couple’s experience
Plus:
– The Stock Picking Game