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Getting a great mortgage can save you thousands of dollars in interest, and many years’ worth of repayments. But there’s a lot more to it than simply comparing rates by “comparison shopping”. Like anything in life, a little preparation and knowledge will go a long way. Let’s examine what lenders like to evaluate before offering you a mortgage, as well as some tips to improve your current... Read more Read more

Your credit rating – whether you realise it or not – matters! Most adults have a credit history, even if they’ve never taken on any debt. A credit report covers off your history of bill payments and use of credit, as well as any defaults or court judgements. And businesses, employers, and landlords may do a credit check on you when deciding whether to offer you credit, a job, or a... Read more Read more

Used in a smart way, credit cards can be a great source of rewards and additional benefits. Admittedly, this statement flies in the face of conventional wisdom, as most of us have been raised to think that all debt is bad, and to avoid it at all costs. We’ve all seen “financial gurus” chopping up credit cards with scissors, and this is certainly a wise step in many cases – especially... Read more Read more

Many people seem to think that once they start some form of insurance, they don’t have to think about it anymore and it will stay right for them forever. However, there are quite a few things that people need to consider, both before they get insurance and throughout their lives as they hold certain insurance policies. Below are five tips to ensure you are getting the best out of your... Read more Read more

What do you teach your kids about money, prosperity and how to get rich? If you’re like most parents, the answer is probably: not much. If you ever needed a reason to start the conversation about money with your kids, here it is: Kids under the age of 20 today are likely to live to 100 years of age, the cost of living will rise faster than wages, and the national savings rate is appallingly... Read more Read more

It’s a hassle getting around to sorting out your finances, but once you’ve done it, having your finances organised can save a lot of time and boost your savings. Here are 6 easy ways that you can make your life less stressful and really make the most of each pay cheque: 1. Create goals Having short, medium, and long-term goals will help give you motivation to save. Giving every... Read more Read more

The financial markets took a tumble over the past month and have since recovered much of what was lost. However, many in the media largely focussed on the share market falls, talking it up as being catastrophic and unprecedented and warning of impending doom and gloom. However, the recent market fall (technically called a correction) is perfectly normal and historically occurs when... Read more Read more

A few down days in financial markets and a drumbeat of “doom and gloom” from the media can be enough for a typical investor to throw in the towel. Even though the Global Financial Crisis and widespread collapse of finance companies was a decade ago, for some the memories can seem like yesterday. It's not easy to hold your nerve as you watch share markets plunge – but 'stay calm' really is good... Read more Read more

The rise in Bitcoin prices in 2017 was nothing short of meteoric and created an investor and media frenzy. Bitcoin became a polarising topic of discussion between those desperate to speculate on an ever-increasing rise in Bitcoin value vs those who claimed it was nothing short of demonstrating a classic bubble mentality which in due course would come crashing down. Bitcoin has not been... Read more Read more

With the global bull market in equities entering its 10^th year since the financial meltdown of 2008, we have lived through an era of long-term positive investment returns. No matter what has been thrown at these markets over that time, they have (almost) serenely sailed on to new highs. Volatility has all but disappeared and investment returns have been remarkably consistent... Read more Read more

Arguably, your financial success is more determined by your behaviour and attitude about money than your income. So, what are the signs that you will be financially successful? 1. You make yourself a priority As soon as it’s pay day, you should pay your own savings and investment accounts first. Why is this a good idea? Firstly, it converts your saving money... Read more Read more

At the FPA conference in 2017, US-based financial advisers rated running into health problems as their baby boomer clients’ biggest concern – with dementia being top of the list. This has been reinforced by Dr William Reichmann - a global leader in research on aging. He talks about how Alzheimer’s is becoming the number one concern for baby boomers in their 50s and 60s and ... Read more Read more

Bob (not his real name) is a consultant who lives in Christchurch. He’s invested in shares for many years, owns his own home, and is in KiwiSaver. Recently, Bob lost $67,000 through a ‘boiler room’ share scam after an overseas company called him, offering him the chance to invest in a pharmaceutical firm. He said no, but out of interest, researched the company online... Read more Read more

We are living in a world of instant gratification. Want a new product? You can receive it with same-day delivery. Want to watch a movie? Click the movie link and it will stream in seconds. Want a meal? Order it online and get a 30-minute delivery or your money back. According to KISSmetrics, consumers want information so... Read more Read more

Many New Zealanders have all their assets in a family trust. Additionally, New Zealand, like many other countries, has an aging population and we are seeing an increasing number of elderly people losing their mental capacity. When a trustee of a trust loses their mental capacity, it can lead to complications with proper administration of the trust, and in some cases, administration of... Read more Read more

We have seen a substantial rise in investment portfolios over the past 12 months. However, a new government is now in place and it intends to make a number of sweeping changes to the social structure of New Zealand. We know from past experience that there is a long-term trend line with investment values for different assets and if markets rise or fall too dramatically, then they will... Read more Read more

After 15 years in uniform, Joseph Darby was seeking a new challenge. He found it as the Chief Executive of Milestone Direct Limited, the preferred financial advice provider to an increasing number of organisations, including the New Zealand Defence Force. While rising to the rank of Major in the Army, Joseph performed operational tours in Iraq, East Timor, the Sinai, and twice in... Read more Read more

Don’t fret the small stuff when it comes to how your investments will fare as a result of the 23 September 2017 election. We live in a MMP political environment and a degree of uncertainty is created after each election about what the new government will do. We all know that financial markets like certainty, and when it is absent, market sentiment goes negative and values fall. ... Read more Read more

We have now officially said goodbye to winter and are enjoying the first days of spring. Now is the time to take a fresh look at your finances to ensure you are on track to achieve your financial goals. Talk with us about your financial plan but, before doing so, consider the following: Are you getting the best from your mortgage? Interest rates are likely to start rising, so... Read more Read more

KiwiSaver is now well entrenched in New Zealand savings culture. However, there are a multitude of New Zealanders who, for a variety of reasons, still do not fully understand how it works. We have looked back over the past five years at the questions we get regularly asked and have compiled answers to these common misconceptions. Can I continue to contribute after age 65? ... Read more Read more