NZ Herald 8 August 2009
Q&As: 2 Q&As on whether New Zealanders over-invest in property; Is 50 too old to take out a mortgage?
Q&As: 2 Q&As on whether New Zealanders over-invest in property; Is 50 too old to take out a mortgage?
Q&As: KiwiSaver still great for children, even though the fee subsidy is gone; Now might be an okay time to get into a rental property — for family in the right circumstances; Should young retiree switch some savings into a share fund?; Two Q&As offer advice — on school fees and insurance — to woman with dying husband.
How would you have done in financial knowledge survey? It’s question time. How would you have answered the following in a recent survey: “Which is generally considered to make you the most money over the next 15 to 20 years: a savings account, range of shares, range of fixed interest investments, or a cheque account?”
Q&As: Should fun be the deciding factor for 20-year-old’s savings?; 2 Q&As about topping up KiwiSaver accounts to get the maximum tax credit. Plus:Survey finds top KiwiSaver gripe is lack of information.
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: History tells us to hang in there with shares; NZ Super rise on its way.
Q&As: Tips for retired couple whose interest income has halved; Savings accounts may pay more interest than term deposits — but take care; Tax on foreign shares seems tough in current environment.
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.
Getting in and out of share market a losing strategy. Many people with share investments — including KiwiSaver and other funds that hold shares along with other assets — are probably eying the 37 to 39 per cent drops in the New Zealand, US and Australian share markets last year and considering taking flight to lower-risk investments. Don’t.