Share plunge arguably good for KiwiSaver. Despite some irresponsible reporting, the low returns on many KiwiSaver funds in their first few months are no reason not to join up. I’d even say the rough start was good in some ways. The one big worry is that people have read a few headlines and decided to stay away from KiwiSaver without understanding what’s really happening.
Q&As: Does the share price slump disprove standard investment advice? And should advisers make economic forecasts?; KiwiSaver member is doing superbly despite the slump — as are all other members; A reader objects to the idea that KiwiSaver is a gift from the government.
Q&As: Why 20 shares are much better than two; Reader claims diversification is not a great idea. I disagree; Is land a lower risk investment than a share fund?
Q&As: Why don’t banks lend money for share investment?; 2 Q&As on how you can best help your grandchildren (or children) into KiwiSaver; Christmas gifts for those who really need them.
Q&As: KiwiSaver providers that are offering ethical investment funds; More on ethical KiwiSaver funds; Will the KiwiSaver kick-start be around for a while?; Could the government take KiwiSaver money to repay student loans?; Oops! Too much haste; Sack adviser who recently recommended Bridgecorp.
No tricks behind KiwiSaver doubling of money. A reader has “one or two problems” with my last column, in which I said people are silly not to sign up to KiwiSaver. “Your comments that ‘twice as much comes out at retirement’ and ‘triple the money in, triple the money out’… make one huge assumption — that the provider the investor chooses over time does not lose any money — a highly unlikely scenario surely!”, says the reader.
Q&As: What happens to KiwiSaver accounts in a divorce?; How KiwiSaver might affect NZ Super, and what you should do about it; A source of basic KiwiSaver information; The NZ share market index that includes dividends has been misleading in the past. How much does it matter?
Q&As: Nearly 65-year-old should grab chance to join KiwiSaver. People over 60 do particularly well out of it; Why dividends should be included when we look at the performance of the NZ share market.
Q&As: A big fan of property investing scares me with his lack of knowledge; I’m accused of hypocrisy and bias; In praise of boring old index funds and learning about them. Plus: KiwiSaver: Will the kick-start be around for a while? What happens when an employee gets a lump sum? A clarification about access to the money in bankruptcy.
Riding to the rescue of diversification. Diversification — a key element to successful investing for most people — has taken a bashing in the press lately. Even David McEwen, who writes this column alternately with me, quoted criticism of diversification on this page a few weeks ago. I feel bound to leap in and defend it.