New Zealand appears to be stuck in an economic malaise. Household debt has never been higher, wage growth tends to lag, and gross domestic product per capita (everyone’s share of the economic pie) annual growth has been shrinking. And this was with interest rates already at record lows. Solution? Cut interest rates further.
Don’t risk being under-insured
Owning something valuable, such as a house, car or boat, without insuring it means taking a huge financial risk. For that reason, around 95 per cent of New Zealanders have insurance to protect against loss due to disaster, accident or theft. However, when it comes to protecting themselves and their family’s future, the majority have little or no insurance cover.
Five Lessons from a Ponzi scheme victim
Ross Asset Management was the biggest Ponzi-scheme ever happened in NZ when it unfolded in 2012 – it is said investors had $450 million with Ross but only $10m was recovered. In reality the figure invested was closer to $110m as most of the $450m were accumulated fictious returns. About 200 have signed up to the claim so far.
The Cricket World Cup, Outcome Bias and Outrageous Fortune
Given how unfathomable the game of cricket is for the uninitiated (and initiated) I am at pains to reference such a wonderfully convoluted activity; however, sometimes sport offers up such vivid examples of our behavioural biases in action that it proves irresistible subject matter.
The IPO Saga
The hype in new IPOs continues to be huge. The recent announcement by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council approving to float a 45% stake in the Napier Port on July 15th has stirred up a lot of interest among many investors in New Zealand.
Using and Abusing Warren Buffett quotes
Heard of Warren Buffett? You probably have. You might not really know much about him, but that’s ok. World’s most famous investor. World’s greatest investor. Take your pick. He’s reasonably well known and has been reasonably successful, to put it mildly.
Strategies for the five ages of KiwiSaver
There are five ages of KiwiSaver. Each of them calls for different strategies to get the best from New Zealand's $50 billion savings scheme offers. People jumped into KiwiSaver, many when the $1000 kickstarter was still available for their kids, and what happened was they became disengaged.
Have you got it covered?
Our income is our most valuable asset. If you had to stop working due to an injury or illness the Government’s safety net (ACC) would catch you, but only just.
Make sure you have a 'fire drill' for your investment plan
An adviser once said he did not so much have people with investment problems as he had investments with people problems. Your assumed rationality can vanish in a crisis. So why not build your human imperfections into your game plan?
Convictions are great until they arn't
Neil Woodford has a neck thick like a rugby player and a head shaped like it was chiselled out of granite, it could be mounted somewhere on Easter Island. Imposing is an appropriate word to describe his appearance. Woodford is a man screaming conviction.
The Siren's Songs
In Greek mythology Sirens were beautiful half-bird/half female creatures, but you couldn’t trust their appearance. They lured passing sailors with beautiful music and melody toward their island home. While not quite as dramatic, the world of investing has never been short of sirens and their songs. These mostly manifest, not in tune, but in story.
John & Alice's Story
“Like me, I’ve got mates who were dubious about the value of insurance and whether claims will actually be paid. But right from the beginning, working with Scott and our insurer has been completely hassle-free.”
Where there's a Will, but no way
Is your will drawn up? Do you have a power of attorney? Aside from ensuring your investments are right for you, your financial adviser should have a healthy interest in ensuring a few other things in your life are addressed.
Disruption and Diversification
Any company can run into difficulty. Most potential good news is already built into the stock price of a blue-chip favourite. Bad news tends to be unexpected and can cause significant damage to the share price.
Three Wise Birds
As a topic of conversation, investment is like sports. Everyone has an opinion. And the strongest opinions often come from those who spend more time in front of the TV than out on the field. Practitioners, meanwhile, are wary of anything labelled a sure thing.
How much do you need to retire?
Determining how much you will need to save for retirement will depend upon several variables, including your current age, health, income and level of debt. Here are a few guidelines to help you evaluate your retirement needs.
Déjà vu all over again
Investment fads are nothing new. When selecting strategies for their portfolios, investors are often tempted to seek out the latest and greatest investment opportunities.
Take the rough with the smooth
A key to a successful investment experience is understanding how markets behave and developing the discipline to avoid rash decisions based on short time periods.
Better investment decision making
Making sensible investment decisions is difficult. We are subject to a range of behavioural biases. We have to cope with incessant noise around financial markets. We behave in ways that are inconsistent with our long-term investment objectives. So, what can we do about it?
Key Changes to KiwiSaver in April 2019
Some positive KiwiSaver changes are coming into effect from 1 April 2019 and later in the year. These changes will provide greater options for New Zealanders to see their retirement savings increase over time.
