Investments

Think you may need financial advice? Watch this step-by-step video showing the process of getting financial advice through Milestone Direct. Read more Read more

We believe that advice should be affordable and accessible wherever you are in New Zealand. To do this we embrace technology to deliver a low cost, high quality service. At Milestone Direct our advisers are trained and obliged to put your interests first. We are here to ensure your financial goals are understood and an appropriate financial recommendation is presented to you and your family:... Read more Read more

Part 6 of a series of 8 videos where Assoc Prof David Tripe of Massey University discusses mortgages with Milestone Direct Limited. 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

Term deposits are perhaps the most well-known type of investment. A term deposit is essentially an agreement with a bank to deposit a lump-sum for a fixed period, for the benefit of receiving a specified rate of interest. What’s little known are the risks and disadvantages of investing in term deposits - the seven points below explain how your term deposits could be your worst enemy... Read more Read more

With the global bull market in equities (shares) 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... 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

An unlikely form of financial and investing inspiration was provided by the first groups to reach the South Pole. During December 1911 and January 1912, separate British and Norwegian expeditions were the first to reach the South Pole. They arrived within a few weeks of each other. As you would hope, both teams were led by well-regarded people: Roald Amundsen led the Norwegians. He... Read more Read more

Retirement calculators seem to be popping up everywhere, and people are betting their financial future on them every day. Unfortunately, the calculators are often giving fictitious outputs based on assumptions that have little to no chance of being accurate. Here are six reasons you can’t trust retirement calculators, and what you can do to ensure you’re getting the best predictions... Read more Read more

In early August, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) lowered the official cash rate to a record low of 1.0%, and indicated it could go lower. Along with some of the other possibilities described below, this has revitalised the old saying that “cash is trash” – or in other words, cash left for the long term in bank accounts is rubbish compared with what can be achieved by properly investing... 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

What is a bottom drawer investment? Some of you may have heard the old saying about bottom drawer investments. It refers to buying a bunch of reliable shares (often called stocks), then sticking them in your bottom drawer along with other valuables, to be forgotten about. This old saying ignores one unavoidable fact: nothing stays the same. When it comes to investing,... Read more Read more

In a perfect world, we would all have a financial adviser who you could check in with regularly, including calling before making any investment decision or big purchase. But while nearly everyone benefits from working with a financial adviser, the cost often prevents it being worthwhile. Clearly, advisers must charge a certain amount to make a living (and don’t even get us started on the... Read more Read more

A new survey has identified that rich people are much happier with their lives than those on middle and low incomes. Many people could have guessed that without a poll! But the reason this survey is interesting, is because a widespread range of earlier studies have shown there's a happiness "saturation point" - the mark beyond which more money doesn't have much impact on your day-to-... Read more Read more

You may have heard the old saying that ‘cash is king’. Once upon a time, this was a true statement. Since then, cash has been toppled from the throne. The word save is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as: 1. Keep safe or rescue (someone or something) from harm or danger. 2. Keep and store up (something, especially money) for future use.... Read more Read more

Early retirement is the major lifestyle goal of many people. However, early retirement isn’t always all it’s made out to be, so it pays to be aware of potential issues and how to avoid them. Here are the top four pitfalls of an early retirement: 1. Spending too much during the early years of retirement The primary challenge when choosing to retire early is making sure... Read more Read more

Imagine if what we know now about finances, we knew back in our teen years – how much better off would we all be? When most of us were in high school, we didn’t learn anything about money, budgeting, or investing. However, nowadays, by the time you leave your teenage years, you’re hopefully no longer financially clueless. Here are six of the best financial lessons you wish you knew as... Read more Read more