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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

Trusts are an important part of New Zealand society and the economy. It is estimated there are between 300,000 to 500,000 trusts in New Zealand. The Government is moving to update and improve the general law governing trusts for the first time in 60 years. Generally, the proposed reforms seek to clarify core trust concepts such as what constitutes a trust and what duties a trustee has.... Read more Read more

Part 4 of a series of 8 videos where Associate Professor David Tripe of Massey University discusses mortgages with Milestone Direct Limited. This video discusses splitting a home loan over multiple terms. Read more Read more

In many of the world’s urban centres, homes are becoming prohibitively expensive for people with moderate incomes. As a city’s real-estate prices rise, some inhabitants may feel compelled to leave. Of course, if that inhabitant already owned a house there that they can sell, they may regard the price increase as a windfall that they can claim by departing. If not, however, they may be forced... Read more Read more

As the father of three Millennials (identical twin girls aged 23 and a son aged 26), I pay a great deal of attention to articles and studies on this largest generation – especially since our kids keep coming home and thinking that what is in our fridge should rightfully be theirs. Given the sheer size of this generation, and its vast effect on the economy for decades to come, we should all be... Read more Read more

History shows that investors tend to do the opposite of what works. Prior to the Global Financial Crisis, when stocks were expensive, everyone was piling in. After the crash, when they were cheap, they were selling (which is of course why stocks were cheap). That pattern is repeated throughout history. As much as we might recognise it, somehow it never changes. It’s odd, when you... Read more Read more

Part 3 of a series of 8 videos where Associate Professor David Tripe of Massey University discusses whether to split your mortgage over multiple terms. Read more Read more

Part 2 of a series of 8 videos where Associate Professor David Tripe of Massey University discusses mortgages with Milestone Direct Limited. In this episode, Associate Professor Tripe compares fixed to floating and answers which is better for your mortgage. Read more Read more