Blog
Should teens learn essential life skills at school?
Posted in Kiwisaver, Retirement, Savings on
English, Biology Statistics and everything in between are still obviously essential school subjects. But Erin Reilly thinks a Life class is essential too – one that should be compulsory. In this class, students could learn how to be safe (and kind) on the internet, including how to identify fake news and read critically. It would dive right into money management; not simply budgeting, but making money work for them including spending well, saving, investing, giving, Kiwisaver and retirement, buying a house.
View moreNew Zealand has one of least generous pensions: OECD report
Posted in Kiwisaver, Retirement, Savings on
Retirees in the Netherlands receive more than 100 per cent of their country's average working wage but Kiwi superannuitants get just 43 per cent - ranking it 6th worst equal with Australia. But it could be worse.
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Rather than focusing on the flaws of individuals, governments might do better to explore their own behavioural biases towards retirement savings
Posted in Kiwisaver, Retirement on
There is no shortage of opinion pieces or expert commentary making the case that Kiwis are financially illiterate. Apparently we’re not good with savings, we don’t plan for the future, and we do not take even simple actions (like switching out of our default KiwiSaver funds) to optimise our future financial security. But are individuals wholly to blame?
View moreSix moves to boost your KiwiSaver balance
Posted in Kiwisaver on
It can be difficult making decisions for the future when many of us have the day-to-day pressures of the here and now, but boosting your KiwiSaver fund does not have to cost money. Canstar looks at six ways to improve your balance without throwing money down the drain on fees.
View moreDiana Clement: The mistakes you're making with KiwiSaver
Posted in Kiwisaver on
It's human nature to ignore something that is only going to happen decades in the future. As a result New Zealanders are making mistakes with their KiwiSaver funds. Even a $5 or $10 weekly payment will grow over time into a decent-sized financial bonus in your retirement.
View moreDon't panic, but your KiwiSaver has gone down
Posted in Kiwisaver on
It's satisfying watching your KiwiSaver climb higher every day. You can even get it attached to your bank accounts, so that you can keep an eye on it as part of your daily banking. You watch your nest egg increase in value, secure in the knowledge you're planning for your retirement and looking after your future. Except watching it so closely can be a terrible idea. Especially if the recent sharemarket jitters have made you nervous.
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Plague of financial insecurity, and those unwilling to be victims to it
Posted in Retirement, Savings on
Eight in 10 people believed it was "up to them" to pay for their retirement, Mercer reported in a global survey on "The New Imperative for Financial Security". Half of people surveyed believed they were solely responsible, believing governments would not be able to pay living pensions as populations in the developed world aged. And Mercer found what appeared to be a willingness by the majority of people to do more to give themselves a rosier financial future.
View moreUnderstanding the highs and lows of KiwiSaver investing
Posted in Kiwisaver on
Veteran economist John Carran is unruffled by jitters in global stockmarkets. There is nothing especially abnormal about a drop of five per cent in a sharemarket, he says. Markets move "up by the stairs" with occasional "sharp corrections".
View moreHow did your KiwiSaver fund perform in 2017?
Posted in Kiwisaver on
All 146 KiwiSaver products offered by 16 providers generated a positive return for their investors in 2017, a year that delivered strong gains on equity markets with the local benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index jumping 22 per cent.
View moreGenerate #1 performance in two categories for 2017
Posted in Kiwisaver, Retirement, Savings on
The latest KiwiSaver survey for calendar year 2017 shows the following fantastic results for the Generate Funds: * The Generate Focused Growth Fund's return was 1st for calendar year 2017 in the KiwiSaver Aggressive category with an after-fee return of 23.9%. * The Generate Growth Fund's return was 1st for calendar year 2017 in the KiwiSaver Growth category with an after-fee return of 19.1%.
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