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As the clock struck 12:01 on January 1, many of us resolved to make a change in our diet, exercise habits, or personal finances. Others among us are committed to improving our relationships, spending more time doing what we love, or learning something new. As the year that was 2020 becomes a more distant memory, let’s take a look at how we may progress with these goals statistically speaking... Read more Read more

Thousands of indexes track the movements of various sectors, markets, and investment strategies every minute, hour, and day. They are used to determine that market’s health and performance. The most followed index worldwide is the Standard & Poor’s 500, usually referred to as the (S&P 500). The index can also act as a market's benchmark, or way of measuring performance. You... Read more Read more

The new year means you can create a new you – or keep building on the foundation you already have. To help you on your way, here are eight steps to make 2021 the best financial year of your life. 1. Get inspired ”A goal without a plan is only a dream” – Brian Tracy. Without inspiration none of the steps below will work. You need great goals – dreams with a deadline – to... Read more Read more

There are ways to make your hard-earned dollars go further while you have a great summer break, here are eight tips to have a great summer without blowing the bank. 1. Don’t confuse expenses with happiness – the best experiences are often free Have you ever seen a child discard an expensive new present to play with the box it came in instead? The same principle applies to grown... Read more Read more

As the weather warms, the beach and barbeque are probably calling your name. Though something else worth spending a little time and attention on during the holiday season is your finances. Just like your physical health, your financial health needs a check-up at least annually. Before the year that has been like no other winds down, take some time to check in on your financial... Read more Read more

How about the happy couple at the top of this page? – they look so content, right? This year might have seen an adjustment in our international travel plans, but there are still plenty of similar pictures doing the rounds. These images might show individuals or couples laughing and smiling against the backdrop of a mountain or sunset. This is often how we might see our friends, family... Read more Read more

From 1 April 2021 a new tax rate will be applied to NZ’s top earners. This increases the top tax rate for individuals to 39% for the 2021-22 tax year for annual income above $180,000. This is expected to impact about two percent of all NZ earners, approximately 75,000 people. Updated income tax rates NZ’s income tax system is often misunderstood. NZ has progressive tax... Read more Read more

Author and self-improvement guru Mark Manson collated this list of life lessons to excel in your 30s. To compile the list, he collated responses from over 600 people aged 40 and over, and reportedly he was shocked to find just how consistent some of the pointers were! – the same “…pieces of advice came up over and over and over again in different forms across literally 100s of emails. It seems... Read more Read more

Mortgage mistakes can be costly – if not now, in the future. For all of us who already have a mortgage, here are the top six mortgage traps we should avoid, along with a few tips of what we can do instead. 1. Getting extra lending to buy things you don’t need As we repay the loan on our home, and as property prices increase, it’s natural for us to start feeling wealthier. We... Read more Read more

Property investment is nearly an obsession in New Zealand. With low interest rates, increasing property prices, demand for housing, and no capital gains tax, it will probably remain that way. At is simplest, residential property is an easy investment to understand – we all need somewhere to live! To see if you’re ready to take the plunge into property investment, see if you... Read more Read more

The events of 2020 have been a great reminder that there is no hiding from the challenge’s life will throw at you. This is as true as it is for your finances, career, and investments as it is for any other area. Against the backdrop of a changing world, diversification is a way to make your finances as indestructible as possible. What does diversification mean? With... Read more Read more

There is a handy online tool that enables us to measure how we stack up financially against other Kiwi’s, though before we get to that, let’s ensure we’re using it for the right reasons… Comparing our riches – why would we? Humans are designed to understand ourselves and the world around us. The ability to reflect upon things is one of the defining characteristics of humans.... Read more Read more

The fate of British Cycling changed one day in 2003 when they hired Dave Brailsford as their new performance director. At the time, professional cyclists in Great Britain had endured nearly a hundred years of mediocrity. Since 1908, British riders had won just a single gold medal at the Olympics, and they had fared even worse in cycling’s biggest race, the Tour de... Read more Read more

Buying a house, especially when you’re younger is still an incredibly smart financial decision in the majority of cases. Home ownership is accepted as the cornerstone of wealth for most New Zealanders, with a debt-free home by retirement being the most common life goal. On the flipside, society is changing and there have never been more choices for Kiwis to build wealth too. So, here... Read more Read more

Insurance companies are hiking the costs of income protection insurance and are making it tougher to get cover in the wake of major financial losses on the same offering in Australia. Across the Tasman, a situation where consumers being “price-forced” to cancel their policies led the Australian regulator to ban insurers from offering policies which would replace more than 70 per cent of... Read more Read more

First home buyers with a ready deposit and stable employment have been making the most of record low interest rates and a yearlong loosening of deposit rules. This is part of the reason there has been a surge in housing market activity since the Covid crisis first struck. Younger Kiwi’s still love property Before Covid, some had suggested that younger generations might... Read more Read more

“Buy now, pay later” (or BNPL, as the cool kids say) services are becoming more and more popular at checkouts all over your favourite websites. BNPL is taking younger generations by storm, but how is this different to using a credit card or layby? BNPL has quickly become the payment method of choice for many younger adults, with recently released figures from NZ Post showing 77... Read more Read more

The popularity of side hustles has increased in popularity over recent years, which is probably due to: Increased income required to meet increased living costs – especially the “big three” of; housing, food, and petrol/transportation, The internet and digital platforms have made it much easier to connect those with a need to those with the skill or capability to fill it. This... Read more Read more

Have you ever wondered why: At the end of the month you have very little money saved? Or, Maybe you were going to put money away in your savings at the end of the month, but then wonder why there is little to nothing to put away? Both situations are common. Even before the Covid-crisis struck, it was widely known that nearly 4 in 10 Kiwis were living “pay check to pay... Read more Read more

In a word, yes, NZ interest rates are likely to fall further. Here’s why: NZ’s term deposit rate is much higher than in similar developed countries, including Australia, the UK, and Sweden. The Deputy of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) recently cited this as a reason the RBNZ had to do more to bring the interest rates down. The RBNZ is NZ’s central bank. Central bankers... Read more Read more