If investing in NZ’s top stocks is generating a 5.3% dividend yield and a 6% non-taxable capital gain, why would you leave money in a term deposit? You can currently select term deposit time frames and ‘enjoy’ the fruits of the yield (i.e. interest rates), so too can you receive interest payments from ‘the NZ dividend fund’ every July and December – and your capital is not constrained by a term, it is liquid….
Read MoreIt’s probably fair to say that the range of personal insurance options available to Kiwis is a bit overwhelming. From contents to car, life to income protection, funeral cover to pet insurance and everything between. Being aware of what insurance covers exist let alone understanding what they do is a challenge….
Read MoreAsk five different people ‘what is financial planning?’ and you’ll likely get five completely different answers. It’s this very confusion that often puts people off the idea of financial planning altogether – so this week we thought we would break down the FoxPlan model of financial planning to the very basics….
Read MoreConsumer New Zealand have produced their latest KiwiSaver satisfaction ratings and it’s sobering reading for nearly all New Zealand KiwiSaver providers….
Read MoreWe live in an age of convenience. Whatever we want, we can have delivered to our doors - increasingly within minutes rather than hours or days. This convenience is useful, we’ve all experienced the struggles of being time-poor so where we can make our lives easier, we jump at the chance….
Read MoreRetaining staff is a challenge faced by all Kiwi employers, no matter how big or small. The current employment climate with its low unemployment and rising wages is amplifying the challenge for many businesses as staff review their options and take increasing responsibility for their own career paths…
Read MoreThe first of April brings with it a new financial year for New Zealanders so this week we thought we would cover the major changes around Taxation and KiwiSaver that kick in from 1 April 2019….
Read MoreThe horrendous tragedy that took place in Christchurch this month has brought back in to focus the concept of ethical (socially responsible) investing. In the wake of this horrible event, some KiwiSaver funds have chosen to sell their shares in Facebook whilst the NZ Super Fund is set to withdraw from gun investments entirely….
Read MoreWe often hear the phrase “good with money” being thrown around, usually in a negative sense talking about “not being good with money” – Impulse purchases, spending first and saving what’s left (more than often, not a lot). But what does it mean to be good with money?
Read MoreWhen buying an apartment, it’s likely to be one of the largest purchases you will ever make. You’ll will need to arrange & talk to your professional team Mortgage Adviser, Lawyer, Valuer, Property Inspector and deal with the Real Estate Agent….
Read MoreIf you’re looking to invest in property it’s very important to have an investment strategy. Long term property investing can form part of retirement planning and generally you’ll buy a property and hold for a length of time, paying down debt and gaining passive income over time. …
Read MoreWith 12 months to go until I depart from FoxPlan the current MD has suggested both clients and staff might enjoy reading an old hands perspective of current events as they pertain to various aspects of our transitioning profession – with relevance to client outcomes.
Read MoreASB and Kiwibank have cut interest rates to two-year lows, the Auckland auction clearance rate for last week hit a five-month low at 29% and GDP growth is predicted to soften. Yet in February, Harcourts saw sales increase in the Wellington Region by 7%, Christchurch 6.3% and the South Island 2% whilst Barfoot & Thompson saw a 28% reduction in sales in Auckland. The New Zealand property market is acting in a localized fashion that we have not seen for several years, ….
Read MoreA mortgage is essentially an obligation to repay a debt, with the property purchased being the collateral or security on which the loan is obtained. Mortgages are either interest-only, principal and interest, with either fixed or variable interest rate options…
Read MoreThe Commission, in my opinion one of the great things previous Governments have established & supported, has amongst its key goals, raising the awareness of the value of financial capability across NZ.
Read MoreWhen buying a house, it’s likely to be one of the largest purchases you will ever make. You’ll will need to talk to your Mortgage Adviser, Lawyer, Valuer, Property Inspector and deal with the Real Estate Agent….
Read MoreGenerally, you’ll need a minimum deposit of 5% of the purchase price. If you have 20% or more as a deposit, that’s even better, as the mortgage lender won’t normally require mortgage insurance to guarantee your loan.
The larger your deposit, the less you’ll actually have to borrow and subsequently repay….
Read MoreI along with many others in our industry have long waited on and welcomed this review, and had high hopes for it, while for years we have jointly strived to lift standards and improve client outcomes ..........but what a disappointing and seemingly poorly researched piece of work it has turned out to be.
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